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La bella

Johnnyguru

Johnnyguru

Jul 19, 2024
34
39
#1
Just got a Chowny swb1, know nowt about bass’s😬
So just asking the question???
I want to fit la bella black tape wound, I have worked out the scale length but not sure on the gauge?
Would 60-115 be ok?
 
#5
Johnnyguru said:
Just got a Chowny swb1, know nowt about bass’s😬
So just asking the question???
I want to fit la bella black tape wound, I have worked out the scale length but not sure on the gauge?
Would 60-115 be ok?
Click to expand...
It would be preferable, actually: the 750N is, reportedly, on the verge of being too light even at 34" scale.
Nut slots will need some widening, with the 60-115 set.

michael_t said:
"Scale length" is one thing, but do you know what "winding length" this bass needs for a proper fit?
Click to expand...
Yes, they do:
HaphAsSard

Post in thread 'Tape wound'

Johnnyguru said:
Has anyone fitted La Bella or similar tape wound to a Chowny swb1.
Can they be threaded through the body or should they be fitted directly to the bridge?
Click to expand...
I believe you'll need the medium-scale version, if you choose to string through the body:
30.75" scale, plus whatever the body thickness is, is likely to be more than the 32.25" length, from ball end to tuner-end silk, La Bella short-scale strings are wound to.
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#6
So I ordered a set of medium scale labella strings from bass direct,
They got back to let me know they are out of stock.
Got a nice phone call from Mark who insisted I had ordered the wrong strings and that short scale strings are what I need??
Will have to wait till they arrive and if they do not fit send them back🫤🤔🫤
 
#7
Johnnyguru said:
So I ordered a set of medium scale labella strings from bass direct,
They got back to let me know they are out of stock.
Got a nice phone call from Mark who insisted I had ordered the wrong strings and that short scale strings are what I need??
Will have to wait till they arrive and if they do not fit send them back🫤🤔🫤
Click to expand...
It's very simple. Here's the La Bella bass string length guide:
(should you find the font offensive...they put up another one, otherwise identical
https://www.labella.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/La-Bella-Strings-Bass-String-Guide-2-1.pdf )

As you can see, winding length for their short-scale strings is 32 ¼”. Does this measurement fall in between the ballend-to-nut and the ballend-to-tuner distances on your bass, if you top-load ( = if you don't install the strings through the body)? Are you willing to topload?
If the answer to both questions is yes, then follow Mark's advice and get the 760N-S.

If the answer to either or both questions is no, get the 760N-M.
Its winding length, also per the guide, is 34 ¼”.
Would this be too long (exceed the ballend-to-tuner distance, when going through the body)? I don't believe so.

[If I'm wrong. and distance the ball-end to low E tuning post is less than 34.25", some full-gauge portion of the low-E string will end up on the tuning post, which La Bella advise against happening, but
1) it can be a deal with flatwounds and low B strings, seldom so for roundwound E strings (which this one is under the tape), let alone thinner strings
2) the -M set would still be the closest fit, again assuming you don't want to topload, and/or if the -S set fits at all in case you do.]
 
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#8
HaphAsSard said:
It's very simple. Here's the La Bella bass string length guide:
(should you find the font offensive...they put up another one, otherwise identical
https://www.labella.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/La-Bella-Strings-Bass-String-Guide-2-1.pdf )

As you can see, winding length for their short-scale strings is 32 ¼”. Does this measurement fall in between the ballend-to-nut and the ballend-to-tuner distances on your bass, if you top-load ( = if you don't install the strings through the body)? Are you willing to topload?
If the answer to both questions is yes, then follow Mark's advice and get the 760N-S.

If the answer to either or both questions is no, get the 760N-M.
Its winding length, also per the guide, is 34 ¼”.
Would this be too long (exceed the ballend-to-tuner distance, when going through the body)? I don't believe so.

[If I'm wrong. and distance the ball-end to low E tuning post is less than 34.25", some full-gauge portion of the low-E string will end up on the tuning post, which La Bella advise against happening, but
1) it can be a deal with flatwounds and low B strings, seldom so for roundwound E strings (which this one is under the tape), let alone thinner strings
2) the -M set would still be the closest fit, again assuming you don't want to topload, and/or if the -S set fits at all in case you do.]
Click to expand...
Thank you this is all very helpful.
Mark was very insistent that the small set is what I need and that they fit short scale to all swb1’s🫤
But going by my top load measurements, from where the ball end fits into the bridge to the nut (assuming I am making the correct measurement and not including the ball itself?) I get 33 inches.
I have emailed these sizes to Mark but he still insists the s set is correct🤯
Will post the outcome.
 
#9
Johnnyguru said:
Thank you this is all very helpful.
Mark was very insistent that the small set is what I need and that they fit short scale to all swb1’s🫤
But going by my top load measurements, from where the ball end fits into the bridge to the nut (assuming I am making the correct measurement and not including the ball itself?) I get 33 inches.
I have emailed these sizes to Mark but he still insists the s set is correct🤯
Will post the outcome.
Click to expand...
I'w wondering whether the bass has always been 30.75".
How about one of the other measurement? Specifically: how long from ball end to tuner, when the ball is stopped by the back-of-body ferrule and the string installed through the body?
(You may want to use an actual string, thru-body it, mark it at the post with a sharpie, then remove it, straighten it and measure; alternatively, measure from saddle to tuning post, then remove the string and measure from ball to saddle bend.)

If the measurement is over 34.25" (87 cm), the medium-scale version will fit anyway, regardless of whether the short-scale one does.
 
#10
Getting refunded from Bass Direct. After another phone conversation insisting that because my bass is a short scale it MUST have short scale strings fitted.
Will continue looking for a set of medium Labella tapes.
Never thought buying strings would be so stressful😊
 
#11
Johnnyguru said:
Getting refunded from Bass Direct. After another phone conversation insisting that because my bass is a short scale it MUST have short scale strings fitted.
Will continue looking for a set of medium Labella tapes.
Never thought buying strings would be so stressful😊
Click to expand...
Why do you insist on thru-body? I don't use any tapewounds for myself, but if I did, I would top-load them and call it a day. 32.25" winding length is long enough for your bass, isn't it?
 
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#20
Johnnyguru said:
Around 66
Click to expand...
I was wondering because I happened to notice Strings By Mail has three sets of the 760N-M in stock. They do ship internationally but they're based in the US, so there will be international shipping cost.

You can shoot an email to Matt there at [email protected] to find out what kind of cost is involved in ordering from them. I'm in Canada and have dealt with them fairly regularly because their international shipping rates are quite reasonable.

Invalid Link Removed
 
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