La Bella flats

[booch29]

So after 5 years with ghs p flats on my p bass(which are my favourites), I wanna try some la bella’s- which set would you recommend that will have the closest tension to the p flats?
I’ve had the Jamerson set once, which sounded good, but I couldn’t bear with the tension!
Please don’t offer me other brands Of flats, I know I wanna go with la Bella.
Thx!

 

[Bootrice]

Hi there! I would recommend the LaBella Low Tension Flats. Consensus here is that they deliver 99% of the old school thump of the higher tension LaBellas, but are kinder to one‘s fingers and the bass‘ neck. Package is green-yellow-ish, and lots of people rave about them. I dug through tons of flatwound threads, and far more experienced users regularly place these and the T.I.s in their top three lists.
Cheers, Bootrice

 

[jmattbassplaya]

Hi there! I would recommend the LaBella Low Tension Flats. Consensus here is that they deliver 99% of the old school thump of the higher tension LaBellas, but are kinder to one‘s fingers and the bass‘ neck. Package is green-yellow-ish, and lots of people rave about them. I dug through tons of flatwound threads, and far more experienced users regularly place these and the T.I.s in their top three lists.
Cheers, Bootrice

I just ordered a set myself and am excited to give them a try

 

[woodyng2]

Another vote for the Labella low tension flexible flats set. I prefer lower tension strings in general,and this set sounds and feels really great. I know you said not to mention other brands,,but i also really love the Optima RB flatwound set. Different metal composition to the Labellas, maybe a tiny bit thumpier.
I think the Labellas are a bit brighter sounding.

 

[PBandJazzBass]

I've been using the 760FS strings for years on my main BG (Fender Precision) and I'm happy with them. I've also thought about trying the Low Tension Flexible Flats because I've heard nothing but things about them.

 

[friend33]

Please don’t offer me other brands Of flats, I know I wanna go with la Bella.
Thx!

What? Who would ever do such a thing?

 

[booch29]

Thx guys, i have a ‘heavy’ Right hand...I don’t know if the low tension will fit my playing style- I sometimes like to dig in a bit(without noticing of course)...I have a set of ti’s, which I also like but I find myself liking a bit more tension, plus, my p bass neck can take a lot of tension without even move...

what do guys think of the 760FL set?

 

[LetItGrowTone]

LTFFs are great, but "99% of the thump" is a big exaggeration (that's good because I don't like thump).
Yes, other than that they do sound like the other La Bella flats, which is very good.
*

...I have a set of ti’s, which I also like but I find myself liking a bit more tension...

"a bit more tension" = probably happy with 760FL

 

[aproud1]

Thx guys, i have a ‘heavy’ Right hand...I don’t know if the low tension will fit my playing style- I sometimes like to dig in a bit(without noticing of course)...I have a set of ti’s, which I also like but I find myself liking a bit more tension, plus, my p bass neck can take a lot of tension without even move...

what do guys think of the 760FL set?

Haven't tried those. 760FS are magic on a P bass. Second only to Pyramid Flats.

The low tensions are great as well and not low tension like TI's. I still think I prefer the 760FS. FL's should be similar to your GHS flats.

 

[LetItGrowTone]

The *tension* of LTFs is a little less than TIJF (134.9 vs 140), but (some say) they feel tighter because they're *stiffer*.
I don't know for sure about the feel because I've only tried La Bellas on short scales, but I do see it a little when comparing unmounted strings.
*
I'll share some numbers but I didn't document where I found them:
LTF 134.9
TIJF 140
GHS P L 147.2 (probably GHS published number)
760FL 170 (estimated)
GHS P M 184.6 (probably GHS published number)
760FS 185
760M 229

 

[Alex J]

I find the LTF feel like they have lower tension than the TIs. Some of that could be do to with setup differences between the two basses. Either way, there's not much in it.

The LTF sound huge though, and were pretty much broken in straight out of the packet.

 

[bassdude51]

Get these..............they are excellent and the tension is less than the Jamersons. In fact, the tension is fairly normal for what a set of flats should be.

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[LushPuppy]

I’d say the FL’s are closest to GHS flats in tension. I personally really love the LTFs with slightly higher action, opposed to FL or FS with lower action - similar tension, but a bit more thump and less buzz with the strings a lil higher.. can’t go wrong with 760FL’s tho!

 

[bassman10096]

I’d say the FL’s are closest to GHS flats in tension. I personally really love the LTFs with slightly higher action, opposed to FL or FS with lower action - similar tension, but a bit more thump and less buzz with the strings a lil higher.. can’t go wrong with 760FL’s tho!

They are definitely lower tension than the Jamersons (I think they're now called Vintage 1954). The Vintage E string is a thick .110". FLs and FS's are both slimmer gauges (.104 and .105) without getting into TI or other low tension ranges. I've used the Vintage (Jamerson?) and the FLs and found the Vintage actually tiring to play for any period of time while the FLs (and the GHS precision flats) were just the right tension for me (especially since I tend to dig in too often).

 

[EatS1stBassist]

Have you ever tried the LaBella White Nylon? Incredible. I use the Black and White on my Basses and TI on the other two. Also very happy with those.

 

[booch29]

They are definitely lower tension than the Jamersons (I think they're now called Vintage 1954). The Vintage E string is a thick .110". FLs and FS's are both slimmer gauges (.104 and .105) without getting into TI or other low tension ranges. I've used the Vintage (Jamerson?) and the FLs and found the Vintage actually tiring to play for any period of time while the FLs (and the GHS precision flats) were just the right tension for me (especially since I tend to dig in too often).

That sounds exactly what I’m after, I’ll order the 760FL and see how it works for me...

 

[Holdsg]

another vote for the Low Tension Flats. Pretty much my favorite flat now, have them on several basses.

 

[bassgrackle]

So after 5 years with ghs p flats on my p bass(which are my favourites), I wanna try some la bella’s- which set would you recommend that will have the closest tension to the p flats?
I’ve had the Jamerson set once, which sounded good, but I couldn’t bear with the tension!
Please don’t offer me other brands Of flats, I know I wanna go with la Bella.
Thx!

Labella Low Tension Flats are by far the best.

 

[iiipopes]

So after 5 years with ghs p flats on my p bass(which are my favourites), I wanna try some la bella’s- which set would you recommend that will have the closest tension to the p flats?
I’ve had the Jamerson set once, which sounded good, but I couldn’t bear with the tension!
Please don’t offer me other brands Of flats, I know I wanna go with la Bella.
Thx!

You don't say which set of GHS P-Flats you use. Please let us know the gauges that you use so we may better recommend a set of La Bella Flats that may feel similar. FWIW, many folks like the feel of the La Bella 760FL, 42-104, as a good all-round set that is not too tight, not too loose, and has great feel, tone, and sustain.

 

[booch29]

You don't say which set of GHS P-Flats you use. Please let us know the gauges that you use so we may better recommend a set of La Bella Flats that may feel similar. FWIW, many folks like the feel of the La Bella 760FL, 42-104, as a good all-round set that is not too tight, not too loose, and has great feel, tone, and sustain.

You’re right, it’s 45-105 and I love the tension