La Bella Super Polished Ian Martin Set

[kevk]

I’ve order a few more sets (4’s and 5’s)…for sure not a “flat’s replacement” for me, but every time I take them off a round’s-dedicated bass for some other round’s option…I miss them. They uniquely bring out a mid’s quality in my bass tone, that’s very addicting. I also alcohol clean before installing…really helps with their initial use.

 

[Dusky Bass]

OK, now that I've got them on my IMA5, they do seem to be a bit smoother than the average Steel string, so there's that, but still not quite as smooth as any flat I've ever played. That being said, I like the strings well enough. I feel like once you play them a bit and the tackiness lessens, they feel and sound great.

Right - I fully agree; not nearly comparable to a Flatwound but still not a grippy, zippy Roundwound. IME, with more time I spend on them they seem to start to feel more similar to Rounds (in a good way) as I switch back and forth between my Jazz V w/ rounds.

 

[Dusky Bass]

I’ve order a few more sets (4’s and 5’s)…for sure not a “flat’s replacement” for me, but every time I take them off a round’s-dedicated bass for some other round’s option…I miss them. They uniquely bring out a mid’s quality in my bass tone, that’s very addicting. I also alcohol clean before installing…really helps with their initial use.

Oh, good tip on the alcohol wipe down... might try that next time. I agree; they're a solid string option and I'm pretty happy with them so far.

 

[SunByrne]

Definitely going to try these. I like the gauges. La Bella's more recent sets having a .107 E and only an .080 A has puzzled me.

If the goal is balanced tension from string to string, that's actually probably correct. The D'Ad balanced set is 45-60-80-107. For some strings balanced is more like 45-60-80-110. But balanced tension isn't everyone's goal. YMMV, etc.

 

[specs]

I just at this moment put a set on my jazz bass,

In my book: I like them! To my fingers, smoother then a traditional roundwound, but still has that big ol’ punch when you give it a good strike.

Got a gig this weekend, I’ll report back.

 

[specs]

As promised, here is my little review!

Really even and punchy! They sounded great with my band, the tackiness goes away pretty quick, not a smooth as flats but still pleasing to the fingers.

Then they start to mellow out and you get this really awesome broken in sound.

No problems here!

 

[Jonahlane]

Can anyone speak to how this set ages? Put them on my T-40, and loving them so far. Curious as to how I’ll like them as they deaden out further.

 

[smatanovic]

Just put a set of these on a Fender Precision: my go-to rounds are the heavy 50-115 GHS round core boomers. Ive only played them for about 15 mins, but I like the feel of them vs typical rounds, though the lighter gauge is going to take some getting used to. These are the first steel strings I've ever used (aside from flats).

 

[elktronics]

I just put these on my Lakland 55-01. I like the tension a lot. I think I prefer the regular super polished. In fact, if I were good enough to have a signature set, I’d probably ask them to polish the regular super polished a little bit more.

I top loaded these and they fit on a 35” scale just fine.

 

[FenrirofOld]

Not every bass has gotten along with these strings, but I really dig the tone I'm getting out of my American Pro ii. Here is a little snippet I did the other night.

 

[tindrum]

Not every bass has gotten along with these strings, but I really dig the tone I'm getting out of my American Pro ii. Here is a little snippet I did the other night.

Sounds nice and throaty. Excellent tone!

 

[FenrirofOld]

Sounds nice and throaty. Excellent tone!

Thanks so much! That really means alot, especially with all my hours of tone tweaking haha.

 

[fishdude101101]

I have a set of their previous Non-Ian-Martin-Allison Superpolished and really like them. (.047 - .107)

For context, i hate the sound of new Roundwounds. I hate when strings are too bright. I like full spectrum, but not the metallic twang of new Rounds, and i don't like when the high-mids and highs overpower the lows and low-mids.

I feel like the Superpolished let me skip the break-in period when Rounds are too bright and twangy and go right into their natural-sounding phase. And i like that they're articulate like rounds, while still being beefy and full-bodied.

Curious what these lighter gauges will do to the tone and feel.

This is why I've always been a big GHS fan.

 

[smatanovic]

It's funny, I put them on essentially the same bass and they sounded much more bright for me (not a good thing). I ended up removing them after a few days.

 

[littlebun]

They can be easy playing on one bass, and slightly stiffer on another. A chameleon set tone-wise, depending on the bass. Close to being the perfect all-round string for my needs.

 

[SteveFromBerlin]

I too like them A LOT! The perfect string for my Stingray Special and I really like them on my Jazz Bass too. I am going to try the regular Super Polished now on a Stingray Classic. Saw the video of Donny Benét and his P-Bass with old Super Polished that sounded really good... could it be the perfect compromise between Bernard Edwards and regular rounds for rock stuff?!

 

[BigDrew]

I just put them on a 3 band Stingray and I like them a lot! No break in either...it seems.

 

[littlebun]

I assume they are all hand finished, so that makes for some slight variances between sets; I actually like that aspect because I have one set that feels a lot more like a true flat than the other set I have on another bass -but both still have that long sustain of the fundamental note that these are known for. Great, great strings!

 

[smatanovic]

It's funny, I put them on essentially the same bass and they sounded much more bright for me (not a good thing). I ended up removing them after a few days.

I replaced the IMA set with TI flats and am much happier with the result, once they settled in. Oh well, like they say, the bass finds its strings.

 

[groovaholic]

This is really, really dorky...which means it's squarely in my wheelhouse!

I just took magnified pics of the E string on my basses. The magnification makes the differences REALLY obvious...