Labella 760FM tone equivalent

[Phaidrus]

I feel like I ought to clarify the title of this post. At first look on line, I didn’t realize that the gauge of LaBella 760 strings were identified by the two-letter suffix FM, FL, FX, so I was going to ask if there was a different type of LaBella flat (like the LTFs) that still sounded like the 760 FMs. I had already started the thread when I figured out the two-letter suffix was the gauge, so 760FL or FX should obviously sound like 760FMs.

There's also the LaBella 760FS set, which is standard 45-105 gauge. Had them on for a while and felt normal stiff for flatwounds. Fender and Dunlop flats are considerably more flexible but also have a different tone character that you may not like.

 

[NotAnOnto]

I would recommend Dunlop flats 45-105. They are less stiff than Labella flats 43-104, similar to regular rounds. I find they also have a sound similar to Labella's, although they might take longer to settle into that flatwound thump.

 

[Grinderman]

A mistake that might be made is string tension expressed in pounds being conflated with string stiffness vs. flexibility. They're not the same thing nor do the two always equally correlate. (between brands/makes, models/styles, construction designs--e.g. cores, wraps, shapes, cross-sections, metal types/alloys, etc, and gauges.)

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Several brands, including LaBella, don't publish tension for individual strings or sets expressed in pounds of pull. The best we're going to find here in regards to those are SWAGs.

Lower Tension Flats: LaBella markets a line of string sets they call LTF/Low Tension Flats yet we still don't know what the actual pounds of tension for those strings are for comparison.

//Part of what I'm venting here is, yeah, it bugs me when string brands refuse to disclose pounds of tension for the strings they sell.

 

[TN WOODMAN]

22 posts & no one has said it. TI Jazz Flats. I have other strings in play but if I was able to have only 1 string for everything this is the one.

 

[Timmy-Watts]

I found the 760FL (43-60-82-104) quite manageable in terms of overall stiffness and playing feel. They're still stiffer than the EB Cobalt Flats 40-100, but not uncomfortably so.

OP, this is the correct answer. Or if you wanna spend a little more for a similar but even better string, get the Dunlop flats. More manageable tension and that same old school thump but with slightly more clarity on the fundamental.

 

[Grinderman]

OP, this is the correct answer. Or if you wanna spend a little more for a similar but even better string, get the Dunlop flats. More manageable tension and that same old school thump but with slightly more clarity on the fundamental.

Perhaps if they'll intonate properly, a problem I've encountered with Dunlop flats to such an extent I had to move on to other options. Multiple entire new sets of strings and individual replacements of strings were tested on two different basses. The root of the issue was 100% positively a problem with the strings; likely due to defective core wire. Much money, time, and effort was wasted. Buyer beware.

Better is subjective but intonation isn't.

 

[DCCat]

Lower Tension Flats: LaBella markets a line of string sets they call LTF/Low Tension Flats yet we still don't know what the actual pounds of tension for those strings are for comparison.

Actually, that set is one of the few, if not the only one for which LaBella includes tension info on their website (134.9 lbs, total). But as many have reported, they feel significantly stiffer than one might expect for strings with that tension.

 

[Grinderman]

Actually, that set is one of the few, if not the only one for which LaBella includes tension info on their website (134.9 lbs, total). But as many have reported, they feel significantly stiffer than one might expect for strings with that tension.

That's interesting, good to know. They don't provide that information on any of their DTB 760__ and Olinto Sig flats.

 

[Prodigus Filius]

Actually, that set is one of the few, if not the only one for which LaBella includes tension info on their website (134.9 lbs, total). But as many have reported, they feel significantly stiffer than one might expect for strings with that tension.

A little less overall tension than TI set JF344. Interesting that La Bella only puts up tensions for the LTF. Wish they could do the same for the Orig 54's

 

[Tim Skaggs]

I like the 760FM tone a lot. This is the first LaBellas I’ve had since mid to early 90s and the first ever DTFs. I had blacklisted all LaBella products in the 90’s after getting a bad set of nylon core acoustic bass strings that LaBella wouldn’t replace. They were strangely discontinued shortly after….

I wouldn’t have had the 760FMs if they hadn’t been a gift. I’ll likely try a set of the 760FX.

 

[13bass]

Anyone ever mix the strings from one set with another? Like the D and G string from the 760FM with the E and A from 760FS? Just to get a little thicker D and G string?

 

[Prodigus Filius]

A mistake that might be made is string tension expressed in pounds being conflated with string stiffness vs. flexibility. They're not the same thing nor do the two always equally correlate. (between brands/makes, models/styles, construction designs--e.g. cores, wraps, shapes, cross-sections, metal types/alloys, etc, and gauges.)

------------------

Several brands, including LaBella, don't publish tension for individual strings or sets expressed in pounds of pull. The best we're going to find here in regards to those are SWAGs.

Lower Tension Flats: LaBella markets a line of string sets they call LTF/Low Tension Flats yet we still don't know what the actual pounds of tension for those strings are for comparison.

//Part of what I'm venting here is, yeah, it bugs me when string brands refuse to disclose pounds of tension for the strings they sell.

True.
Even downtuned Jamersons stay stiff. Whilst the tension is way less. I tune to C# and I like the stiffness cancelling out any flop

 

[Grinderman]

String tension is a function of the string's mass per unit of vibrating length and pitch/tuning.