Double Bass La Bella introduces new upright bass string line at Namm

[littlebun]

I was at Namm this weekend and saw 3 new double bass string set offerings and a reboot of the 980 set from La Bella. I'll try to post pictures from my phone today. This packaging is temporary packaging and they're going to do the true artwork this spring apparently. If you look inside one of the descriptions you'll see that they alluded to their new Slap 'n' Pizz set that is still being developed. I played the test set as it's being developed and it's pretty amazing with it's low and unique tension. The E and A strings have a tension that seems low at first but once you get used to it you find them very comfortable and very capable, and unusually loud with a long sustain of the fundamental. They're still tweaking the G string, but it's almost ready to go. The thing about these hybrid sets is the new nickel E and A strings that are used throughout for each set. It's a very clear and sustaining sound from these newly developed strings, and you think it's an unusual pairing with a gut but it actually isn't, as you play them in they match beautifully...you just need to get through that odd maybe four or five days of adjusting any new metal string. They have more clarity than most on the market now, and the sustain is profound on these. I consider these new hybrid gut sets to be a contemporary take as they aren't as old school sounding, and the sustain, particularly on the Jazz Hybrid set is longer than normal guts.

 

[sean_on_bass]

i'm listening. any clue on the pricing on these? are these Oliv killers?

 

[littlebun]

No idea

 

[stefaniw80401]

i'm listening. any clue on the pricing on these? are these Oliv killers?

Only if they're bowable.

 

[labravajazz]

Standing by for updates on these sets

 

[eh_train]

I was at NAMM as well, and was given a set of the Jazz Hybrid Golds to review. I think Littlebuns assessment is pretty spot-on. The pairing seemed unusual at first, but the E and A project really well and just need a little time to settle down. The guts sound great, right from the start. The winding, to my mind, makes the D and G a little more predictable than unwound gut. The winding helps them feel more consistent throughout the length of the string, and imo, tames the sound slightly (but not in a bad way).

Unfortunately, the one area where the wound La Bella guts don't perform well is with a bow. Not an Oliv killer. However, in my experience, Oliv strings self-destruct pretty quickly. No need to kill them, they do it to themselves...

 

[bassically_eli]

So the E&A strings are the same in each set, but you have the options of gut wrapped with gold nylon, black nylon, or plain gut. Which of these would be likely to bow the best? Plain gut?

What exactly is the point of the nylon wrapping, anyway, durability? Or do people just prefer the feel of it? I know it is super common for gut strings, but I don't know why.

 

[AGCurry]

... you have the options of gut wrapped with gold nylon, black nylon, or plain gut. Which of these would be likely to bow the best? Plain gut?

Yes, plain gut.

 

[littlebun]

My experience with these is that make up of each nylon used for each individual set loads the strings differently. Sustain is added particularly with the black nylon. It's just an overall more controlled response with the nylon wound gut. The Jazz Hybrid Gold is just a real elegantly playing gut set with an organic sound. The Jazz Hybrid Black is a lot more contemporary sounding with more sustain and volume due to the custom developed black nylon wrap construction. Also the string feel is more firmer on the black versus the gold.

 

[littlebun]

The 980H hybrid set which is metal E and A with plain gut D and G would work with a bow.

 

[H4mi0]

The new 980 gut set is on the La Bella website now, just waiting on the hybrid sets to become available!

980 Gut & Gut Wound Double Bass Strings

www.labella.com

 

[Brian DeJesus]

Has anyone used these strings so far? What do you think?

 

[littlebun]

I have seen packaging examples of the upcoming new Synthetic Hybrid Line and the Gut Hybrid Line. So they are a reality and are underway, but only La Bella knows when they will be released. The synthetic with metal line and the gut with metal line are pizz only, with the 980H and 980 Classic being arco friendly.

 

[littlebun]

I just received word that the new La Bella synthetic metal with nylon hybrid line of strings will be released at the upcoming 2025 NAMM show. I believe there will be three new sets.

 

[PBandJazzBass]

Does anyone know if any of the new sets are going to be metal wrap with synthetic core for all 4 strings like Evah Pirazzi, Obligato, Zyex, etc?

 

[littlebun]

All nylon d and g with all metal e and a.

 

[PBandJazzBass]

All nylon d and g with all metal e and a.

Well, maybe someday.

 

[DeepSouth]

Any updates on the new strings? Gollihur music had a placeholder listing for them but no longer. Can't find anything when I was searching on the Labella website.

Was really hoping we could get a less expensive string similar to an Olive. Always wanted a set but can't justify $800 before tax price.

 

[littlebun]

Email La Bella. They are in their 2025 catalog, but I haven't seen them selling at any sites yet.

 

[Sam Dingle]

just went to the labella website and it seems these were discontinued...again?