La Bella Deep Talkin': Best. Strings. Ever.

[Tim Skaggs]

Every string company has bad runs or batches once in a while, part of the game.

To me the TIs are wonderful strings but a different kettle of fish compared to LaBellas. I like them both but for different reasons. What it comes down to is that strings have their own voice, and though each might have similar qualities it still won't mean you'll like them or not. In the end I find I can't make a decision until I've heard them, and even then it has to be on a particular instrument. I've had some surprising results with strings that just don't work on certain basses.

Just musing here...

How would you (or anyone who has tried both) explain the difference between the LaBella FL760's and the TI JF344 set? What I like about the TI's is the flexibility / tension being much like medium or light rounds. That, combined with their slick surface, makes them very fast / smooth playing.

Are the LaBella 760 lights around the same tension and surface finish as the TI's or miles away?

 

[Dragan]

I currently have 760M (jamerson set) on my P bass and TI on a J. TI are very flexible - almost too much, have very silk surface. generaly, they are great strings. it's personal thing - but i like la bella more for that "right" sound/feel,especially after 6 or more months.

 

[jasper383]

Are the LaBella 760 lights around the same tension and surface finish as the TI's or miles away?

La Bella makes a 760FX set that is very, very close to the TI flats in terms of stiffness.

The 760FLs aren't bad either.

I have found that I can get used to any tension after a short while. The hands adapt.

 

[moshuajusic]

Damn you guys! I just ordered my first set.

 

[SGD Lutherie]

The 760FLs are my favorite flats! They aren't overly thumpy. I used to slap on them. I had a set on my Rick for over 3 years... and then I broke one.

I like them better than the TIs. The TIs are too loose feeling to me, and the 760FLs are brighter.

 

[CamiloDíaz]

+1 on the FS set. They're just so right

 

[ReidK]

As long as we're chiming (or thumping?) in, I've got the 760M Jamerson (a.k.a. "Klingon") set on my P. I love them, but they do work the fretting hand a bit harder than most others.

Reid

 

[odin70]

The La Bellas, at similar gauges to the Rotos, will feel less stiff, in my experience.

In my experience its the opposite.

 

[totallyfrozen]

...My action is sky high and these things are still a dream to play (gotta do an adjustment later, though)...

Come back and let us know what you think of the tone after you've lowered your action and done a full setup. You'll probably still like them, but they might sound a bit different to you.

 

[C-60 Bass]

0760M's on my 78 P. Loving them and tension isnt a problem. Only thing is that all notes on the E sound a bit 'woofy' compared to the others. Any solutions/causes guys??

 

[SGD Lutherie]

0760M's on my 78 P. Loving them and tension isnt a problem. Only thing is that all notes on the E sound a bit 'woofy' compared to the others. Any solutions/causes guys??

Well that's what flats sound like. Because of the edges of the wraps rubbing on each other, they tend to lose some definition. This is why Entwistle wanted different strings, and they went with round wire at Rotosound.

Even Half Rounds start to sound like that after a while:

Link Removed

I always found the E on the FL set to be on the hollow sounding side, but not woofy. The M set is a bit different though, but even Jamerson's E was woofy.

 

[One Drop]

In my experience its the opposite.

My experience is closer to Jasper353, similar guage Roto flats are higher tension and stiffer feeling than LaBellas. The last time I took off a set of Roto .105 flats that came on a used bass, and replaced them with .104 Labellas, I had to loosen the trussrod to get some relief back in the neck. The Labellas felt slinkier as well. I really don't like high tension on slimmer strings, for some reason on thicker ones I don't mind as much, one of the reasons Roto and the older fender flats aren't for me.

 

[dogbluedrummer]

Well, I just orderd some FL's to go on my 1993 Peavey Fury (P) that was wearing Chromes. Call my crazy, but I couldn't tell much difference between my Peavey P with Chromes and my Squire J with Sunbeams. Yes, the J was a little brighter, but not by much. I want a tight thump, not a muffled boomy sound.

 

[denton57]

LaBella FS is the only string I have used in the past 3 years. I actually bought a new set recently to replace the 18 month old ones I have been using..mistake. The magic really starts happening after a few hundred hours of use

If you have a P or J and like vintage tones, you owe it to yourself to get LaBella DTF. The FS set is .105 and perfect.

 

[dogbluedrummer]

So my DTF's are in the mail, ready to go on my Fury P. I'll take off the Chromes, and put them on my Squire VM Jazz. That means the Sunbeams will have to come off.....and I don't have a bass for them. Hello eBay! I'm the proud owner of a new (to me) Peavey Cirrus BXP. It's getting the Sunbeams.

I hate these threads. They make me buy stuff!!

 

[Surly]

Hey guys, bought a set of 760FL's for my P-bass and they appeared to be too long. Had to swap them out for a show. Anybody have this issue, I have never used these strings before?

 

[mazdah]

Got 760FL's on mine, they're just perfect long.

 

[dalkowski]

They are my favourite string as well.

However, be cautioned that they do sound different after a few weeks of playing. Once they are broken in they lose alot of their zing... which is just how I like them.

If you want zing go for the newer chromes.

Hmmm. Maybe I should change out the Chromes on my P for DTBs and put Chromes on my Bongo 4 HH.

Hmmm.

 

[SGD Lutherie]

Hey guys, bought a set of 760FL's for my P-bass and they appeared to be too long.

Did you buy "extra long" instead of "standard long" scale?

Otherwise they should fit.

 

[Surly]

Did you buy "extra long" instead of "standard long" scale?

Otherwise they should fit.

No I didn't buy the extra long! I sent an email to the store where I bought, and I may call Labella today.

On a P-bass, for example, how close should the silk ends be to the tuner posts? On my set they were all almost touching (as opposed to Chromes where all the silk ends lay around the nut). The E metal part of the string was partially wrapped around the post.