LaBella 760FL 43-104. Wow!

[Barton Lee]

Can anyone comment on the differences between the 760FL and the TIs? How do the Low Tension Flats compare to these sets?

I've used both strings on multiple basses in recent years, TI flats more than the La Bellas.

FWIW, I really liked the 760FL sets at the start. They sounded like a proper flat and the tension was great. After a couple of three-hour gigs and some break in though, they lost their charm for me. Too much thud, not enough character. Just kind of "there." One of the basses they were on was my '66 P which is about as obvious a choice for La Bellas as there is. Same result.

TI flats are lower in tension than I like, yet I continue to use them though not nearly as much as once. Unlike the 760FLs, TI flats (long and short scale - I use both), retain their sound for years and that sound has a lot more of midrange content and general character than others (I play finger-style only by necessity, and I could see liking a higher tension, deader sounding flat if I were using a pick). TI strings aren't as perfect as some make them out to be IMO, but if forced to choose between these two only, all my basses would wear TI flats.

I've never tried the La Bella LTFs. I do like and am currently using 40-100 Chromes, Fender 9050L and DR Legends on some of my basses and like them a lot for each specific instrument. All of those would be my choice before the 760FLs. Most definitely, YMMV.

 

[DJ Bebop]

Once broken in ~~~ HOLY WOW !!!!

 

[jmlee]

I've been through the various gauges of the Labella DTFs, and it seems to me that the standard gauge 45-105 (760FS) easily *sound* the best. They're a hair heavier than the light gauge 760FLs at 43-104 which @Thom Fioriglio has been enjoying, but still plenty soft under the hands and very smooth. I find the standard gauge to be fuller and warmer than the light gauge—sufficiently so that I've changed the two out more than once, and every time been much happier with the standards. The comment about the E is interesting. The Labellas are very sensitive to having any residual twist in the string after mounting, and it can make the E string sound dull. Mounted properly, the E string in the standard set sounds clear, focussed, and very well-matched with the other three strings.

 

[DJ Bebop]

All this La Bella talk is making me want to play my Jamerson flats bass, if I can get the cat off of it…

 

[Thom Fioriglio]

All this La Bella talk is making me want to play my Jamerson flats bass, if I can get the cat off of it…

View attachment 7374482View attachment 7374483View attachment 7374484

Now THAT is the reason Leo created those chrome covers!!

 

[jmlee]

Cat-tray covers!

 

[Yahboy]

I've used both strings on multiple basses in recent years, TI flats more than the La Bellas.

FWIW, I really liked the 760FL sets at the start. They sounded like a proper flat and the tension was great. After a couple of three-hour gigs and some break in though, they lost their charm for me. Too much thud, not enough character. Just kind of "there." One of the basses they were on was my '66 P which is about as obvious a choice for La Bellas as there is. Same result.

TI flats are lower in tension than I like, yet I continue to use them though not nearly as much as once. Unlike the 760FLs, TI flats (long and short scale - I use both), retain their sound for years and that sound has a lot more of midrange content and general character than others (I play finger-style only by necessity, and I could see liking a higher tension, deader sounding flat if I were using a pick). TI strings aren't as perfect as some make them out to be IMO, but if forced to choose between these two only, all my basses would wear TI flats.

I've never tried the La Bella LTFs. I do like and am currently using 40-100 Chromes, Fender 9050L and DR Legends on some of my basses and like them a lot for each specific instrument. All of those would be my choice before the 760FLs. Most definitely, YMMV.

It depends on what kind of P pickup on your Pbass.

I been use 769FL on my previous CiC Squier cv60P Pbass and I experience this fully broken in 760FL flat with stock pup, PV63, Ori 62P, GZR , SPB1, Underwoud 9K P, China Donlis P, Benson HW P and german Bi Pollar P. Meanwhile, this bass has Fender .1uf wax cap and DIY mute foam.

760fl sound rock when fresh, has strong upper mid like 9050L or ECB81 , but 760FL are purpose for old school vibes.

Once broken in, I found the best match tone when mix with both Fender Ori62 and underwound 9k P.
Finger or pick.

Legend flat are nice too, but sound too dry to my ear.

I am currently use low tension Ti flat on 2 of my Pbass and love LTF4A on some Pbass. Ti flat work better with P pickup that wound over 11k.

 

[Thom Fioriglio]

I love how they sound now. I wonder if once worn in if I still will.

 

[Yahboy]

All this La Bella talk is making me want to play my Jamerson flats bass, if I can get the cat off of it…

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Try call your cat name " Bella ....... come over here ...." next time

 

[PCR]

I tried a set of LaBella Deep Talking 760FL 43-104 flatwounds on my new Vintera II Road Worn 60s Precision Bass, and wow!! I had tried LaBella’s before. I think it was the standard 45-105 set and hated them. The E was too dull and the tension too high. These are perfect and man, do they sound good! It sounds like a P bass should. And I was able to get some low action and it plays so smoothly. I’m really happy with them.

+1 on this for sure.

My new EBMM Stingray BFR 2025 is super bright, and I wasn't thrilled with every set of round wound strings I put on them; just too much highs and upper harmonics for what I was looking for.

I've played TI flats for years on my other basses. But since I was setting this bass up to be tuned a half step down, the TI's would have been too floppy.

The 760FL are a perfect fit! Great fundamentals and thump with just the right tension I was looking for.

Love these strings.

 

[Nille]

I've used both strings on multiple basses in recent years, TI flats more than the La Bellas.

FWIW, I really liked the 760FL sets at the start. They sounded like a proper flat and the tension was great. After a couple of three-hour gigs and some break in though, they lost their charm for me. Too much thud, not enough character. Just kind of "there." One of the basses they were on was my '66 P which is about as obvious a choice for La Bellas as there is. Same result.

TI flats are lower in tension than I like, yet I continue to use them though not nearly as much as once. Unlike the 760FLs, TI flats (long and short scale - I use both), retain their sound for years and that sound has a lot more of midrange content and general character than others (I play finger-style only by necessity, and I could see liking a higher tension, deader sounding flat if I were using a pick). TI strings aren't as perfect as some make them out to be IMO, but if forced to choose between these two only, all my basses would wear TI flats.

I've never tried the La Bella LTFs. I do like and am currently using 40-100 Chromes, Fender 9050L and DR Legends on some of my basses and like them a lot for each specific instrument. All of those would be my choice before the 760FLs. Most definitely, YMMV.

Thanks for chiming in! I agree, for playing with a pick, the TIs do not have enough tension. It is possible, just doesn‘t feel right.

The pretty drastic change in tone of the DTFs after breaking in is what kind of puts me off of them a bit. I‘m a little wary of liking them at first, only to end up with a sound that‘s too dark for the places I‘m playing.

Hm. Still have to think about that a little more. I might try the LTFs, we‘ll see.

The comment about the E is interesting. The Labellas are very sensitive to having any residual twist in the string after mounting, and it can make the E string sound dull. Mounted properly, the E string in the standard set sounds clear, focussed, and very well-matched with the other three strings.

Now that you mention it, that may very well have been the problem. If I recall correctly, the problem did occur after a string change and was slightly alleviated after another. However, even before that, there was a notable difference in how the E string sounded, compared to the rest of them. It became much duller, much quicker than the other strings, probably due to breaking in faster.

I don‘t want to talk down the DTFs, as I mentioned I played and absolutely loved them for quite a while. I guess over time, my preferences have changed a bit. I play with a pretty light touch and found that once getting used to the feel of the TIs, they allow me to play much longer without getting tired or sore.