La Bella White vs Copper-White vs Gold-White?

[Karl Kaminski]

I haven't yet gotten around to trying nor enquiring (is it really BEADG? ball ends or not? winding length, ball to taper? gauges?) about these:
Fisoma F2716 Classical 5 string Bass Guitar 860mm Medium Light Tension Ball end Bass Classical 5 string
Fisoma F2716 Classical 5 string Bass Guitar 860mm Standard Tension Ball end Bass Classical 5 string
(available in "light" and "standard" tension, as linked to, as well as other scale lengths and tunings)
but Fisoma is a Lenzner brand (currently owned by SchneiderMusik, online string vendors and the folks behind Optima as well), so they are likely to be close or identical to what you seek.

HI just heard back from Carl at LordofTheStrings, he confirmed these Fisoma sets are B-G 5 string sets (but didn't specify the gauge/sizes) I'll probably give them a try, along with the Galli. (I'll be posting about both these over at the Galli Synthesis thread)

 

[HaphAsSard]

HI just heard back from Carl at LordofTheStrings, he confirmed these Fisoma sets are B-G 5 string sets (but didn't specify the gauge/sizes) I'll probably give them a try, along with the Galli. (I'll be posting about both these over at the Galli Synthesis thread)

He replied to me as well! I'd forgotten and not checked that email account.

Here are the answers:

1) do the strings have NYLON CORES, as I suspect (and hope)?

Yes

2) does the medium-scale (810 mm) version have ball ends

I should have to check, we’ve received them in both versions, but it should be ball-end

3) are they for B0-E1-A1-D2-G2 TUNING?

Yes

4) what is the WINDING LENGTH, from ball-end to the end of the outer winding at the headstock?

You mean speaking length? No idea, we would have to remove them from the package, and since silver-plated sets easily tarnish we would rather not remove them.
If you have a standard one-piece bridge configuration you can pick the intended scale length, if you have a separate tailpiece/bridge configuration we advise the 860mm version.

5) what are the GAUGES?]
These are not published, but with this type of classical construction the diameter does not really offer a reference,

Let us know if we can be of any further service

^ To whomever it may NOT concern: sincere apologies for the extended off-topic.
You may now resume your regular La Bella White Nylon Tapewound programming.

 

[Alain Bass]

He replied to me as well! I'd forgotten and not checked that email account.
^ To whomever it may NOT concern: sincere apologies for the extended off-topic.
You may now resume your regular La Bella White Nylon Tapewound programming.

Thank you very much for that.
Now some of you could may be answer to me:
Do you feel a difference in sound between light gauge 750 and stronger gauge 760,
a loss of what makes the character of these strings.
Thank’s to share your experiences.

 

[Karl Kaminski]

Hi Alain I have already answered you. And since you already have your own experience swapping 750-760, trust that what you experienced is true.

I’m sure you realize that not everyone is swapping gauges (or reading this thread). Best course of action would be to search TB for the other very active threads on labella flats.

please let’s us know what you find.

 

[HaphAsSard]

Paging @DCCat and @Loring - below, a question about *tone* differences between light (750) and standard (760) La Bella tapes:

Do you feel a difference in sound between light gauge 750 and stronger gauge 760,
a loss of what makes the character of these strings.
Thank’s to share your experiences.

 

[Alain Bass]

I read that thread because as a user of the black nylon, I could may be change for some white. And in that case, I would be interesting in the lower gauge 750,
but as my experience with the black 750 wasn’t very good, I wonder if I will find the same problem with some white or not, using piezo pickup. This is why I am interesting to share with the experience of others.

 

[Karl Kaminski]

re-read pg 1, grab the set of your choice and start testing.

...then post your findings here

 

[Alain Bass]

There is nothing in the page 1 concerning the dffce between the diffts gauges. Just the diffce between the difft white strings.
May be I will have the chance that somebody else read me and could answer me.

 

[Loring]

Paging @DCCat and @Loring - below, a question about *tone* differences between light (750) and standard (760) La Bella tapes:

Light gauges - oddly sound deeper - it’s counter intuitive but because they have less tension, the fundamentals become stronger. Personally I prefer a lighter gauge sonically snd now that I’m used to playing them - prefer them overall.

If you like to dig in and use a low action - maybe a heavier string is better.

 

[Alain Bass]

Thank's Loring for your input. Are you using magnetic pickup or piezzo ? the diffce I found between the two gauges may be different, according to the type of pickup you use. I didn't mention that I was using a piezo with an accoustic bass, not a magnetic pickup.

 

[Karl Kaminski]

Im using a piezo PUP on an ABG. I find no discernable difference in the pickup tone between 750 and 760. the only difference for me is in the feel. YMMV

 

[Karl Kaminski]

HAs anyone played the LaBella "Purple haze" (limited edition)? They seem like Gold-Whites with a fancy visual silk appeal. Im more curious about sound/feel, any differences?

 

[Karl Kaminski]

I just installed the LaB Copper-Whites, played over an hour. They're nice but the low B has similar issues for me as the G-W and black tapes. (needs a spacer for the taper, the B lacks 'center' to the pitch, also it doesn't intonate well up the neck). And in general, I don’t like the plastic-y feel (and I know alot of ppl love them) just my personal preference. But of all the LaB tapes ive tried— I like the C-W the most.

I havent played the LaB Whites yet. But comparing G-W to C-W, I find the C-W to be smoother, a little brighter, and alittle more 'give in the hand' than the G-W.

I'd break the 750s down as: (hard to do a graphic chart within the thread lol)

Black — G-W — C-W
Darker <—> Brighter​

"Thumpier" <—> Smoother

Stiffer <—
Sustain ≤​

 

[Karl Kaminski]

I post the String Demo here> [ABG] LaBella 750s Copper-White Tapes

 

[Karl Kaminski]

BTW...
there are a few Labella (and other) string sets from my string demos in the Classifieds if anyone is interested in trying them.

 

[FeltTipPen]

I have tried all three on the same bass. 760 sets for all three.

Copper->Gold->White is correct in brightness.

The original Whites pretty much just sound like a stainless string if you softened the top end and got rid of all string/fret noise. Not as bright as a regular stainless round, but as bright as a lot of nickel strings. These are the most flexible, almost like a 40-95 set.

Gold's have the most low mids and fundamental by quite a bit. They also have a really nice presence in the upper mid and are plenty bright for most styles of music. They are HiFi clear, too. I would say they are about as bright as a just broken in nickel XL. They are the best recording string if you want a solid traditional bass tone to cover a lot styles (except maybe bright slap tones or prog metal (maybe with enough high mid boost and distortion)). They can be burby and growly if you want, but get fat and round when plucked soft near the neck. These also have the highest tension of the three and are not as flexible.

Coppers are more mid focussed and have a bit of natural distortion to their high mids that makes them sound really warm. Their lows are round, but not as full as the Golds. Their highs are also there, nice and extended, just not enough to poke out in a mix. The have a little looser tension than the Gold's.

I used them with series and parallel pickups, p-type grindy neck tones to Matthew Garrison emulating bridge tones. Anything from traditional R&B, country, jazz, soul, folk, rock, and contemporary Christian.

For fretless, you could put the Coppers on and probably never want to try another type of string.

For fretted, I liked the Gold more. The extra highs and clarity just add a little something more. The bit of distortion from the Coppers can also make the grind/growl of the frets not as clear. The Whites are just a little plain. Like McCormick Mayonnaise plain, adds a little flavor to a sandwich but nothing special.

I recently swapped out LaBella Black Tapewounds (760) for their Gold White set on a fretless bass with Bartolini Original Soapbars. I really like this combination. Definitely not as dark as the Black Tapewounds, but I needed that, especially for the low B. I am very curious as to how the Coppers would sound on this bass and I will likely try them!

 

[winegamd]

I recently swapped out LaBella Black Tapewounds (760) for their Gold White set on a fretless bass with Bartolini Original Soapbars. I really like this combination. Definitely not as dark as the Black Tapewounds, but I needed that, especially for the low B. I am very curious as to how the Coppers would sound on this bass and I will likely try them!

The Coppers will have more mids and the bass response is tighter with a peak in the upper bass instead of the low bass like the Golds. There is also some natural harmonic distortion in the Coppers that adds a little more aggressiveness to the upper mids. They are more flexible, too, with maybe slightly less tension.

 

[Karl Kaminski]

agreed. (currently the Copper-whites are my favorite for all the reasons you mentioned.)

 

[FeltTipPen]

The Coppers will have more mids and the bass response is tighter with a peak in the upper bass instead of the low bass like the Golds. There is also some natural harmonic distortion in the Coppers that adds a little more aggressiveness to the upper mids. They are more flexible, too, with maybe slightly less tension.

Thank you and also to @Karl Kaminski!