LaBella 760FS (Thru Body) vs 760FL (Top Load)

[Anditore]

Hey guys,

I decided to order a tort pickguard and LaBella flats for my AmProII Precision bass.

I can install the strings topload or through body.
I‘ve heard many good things about the 760FL, especially about their balance, but you can „only“ install them top load.
If I want to use the ThruBody option, I can only use the 760FS-TB.

What would you recommend?

Better String Balance vs ThruBody Installation?

Thank you!
Andy

 

[michael_t]

I can install the strings topload or through body.
I‘ve heard many good things about the 760FL, especially about their balance, but you can „only“ install them top load.
If I want to use the ThruBody option, I can only use the 760FS-TB.

What would you recommend?

Better String Balance vs ThruBody Installation?

"Thru-body" is overrated. If I were you, I would just get the 760FL and top-load them. No real benefit to thru-body for improving the tone anyway.

 

[iiipopes]

"Thru-body" is overrated. If I were you, I would just get the 760FL and top-load them. No real benefit to thru-body for improving the tone anyway.

Especially with flats and a good bass, as the OP has. You will have as much sustain as you need.

 

[GIBrat51]

Hey guys,

I decided to order a tort pickguard and LaBella flats for my AmProII Precision bass.

I can install the strings topload or through body.
I‘ve heard many good things about the 760FL, especially about their balance, but you can „only“ install them top load.
If I want to use the ThruBody option, I can only use the 760FS-TB.

What would you recommend?

Better String Balance vs ThruBody Installation?

Thank you!
Andy

My recommendation? Well...
Thru-body - Up to you, really. I only have one bass (an '06 Carvin LB-20) that I can do this with. I tried it - once. It was kind of a pain, and gave me nothing - except annoyance and inconvenience. I tend not to repeat that kind of thing... There are some basses where the extra down pressure on the bridge might be a good thing; but, all the ones I can think of don't have this option, anyway. As for the strings you want to do this with? Again - up to you. There are people around here who use regular La Bella DTFs this way with no problem. They probably walk of a casino with $$ in their pocket, too... If it were me? I'd go with the 760FS-TBs. Actually, I'd probably use some other brand of flats that are more likely to survive this kind of abuse...
Top Load - Like I said; no advantage to thru-body that I can see - or hear. Most strings are designed with the assumption that this is how they'll be used; if you want proof? Read all the whinging on this forum sometime, from people who had problems trying to use **** strings on a thru-body bass. Either it's "my strings broke"; "my ***'s are too short"; or "Does (insert string maker here) make ****'s that will fit a string-thru (insert bass here)?" Personally, I just top load the strings I want to use; do it with no problems; and then, play the snot out of them.
So... my advice? I recommend you be like me; top load your strings of choice, and play the snot out of them...

 

[Deleted member 271037]

The 760FL set isn't just better balanced, it also feels a lot nicer than the 760FS set IMO.

760FS felt a lot stiffer to me than the relatively small increase in gauge would suggest. The increased fatigue was really noticable on the same bass with the same setup.

Through body doesn't offer any benefits to the tone whatsoever as long as you've got sufficient pressure over the saddles IMO. Unless your bass has serious issues you will get more than enough pressure over the saddles with top loading.

There are SOME basses that could perhaps benefit from a little more pressure over the saddles (like Danelectros) but none of those offer through body. With 99.9% of electric basses this isn't an issue unless the bass has serious issues (like tail lift on a Rick).

Get the 760FL set.

 

[Anditore]

So I finally got the 760FL and they sound fantastic, even fresh and not broken in.
The only thing that surprised me is that they feel very low tension to me. I changed from a set of Pure Blues 45-100 and the truss rod doesn‘t need adjusting. Also they feel lighter than this set and waaay lighter than the Fender stock strings.
I don‘t want to say it but the tension or resonsiveness seems similar to the Thomastik.
I remember the Chromes 45-100 were really high tension.

 

[pbass2]

I prefer the 45-105 gauge of the FS - the FL are too light for my preferences--too bendy. I like more stiffness for a classic thumpy feel, and the FS sound the same as FMs to me(which I used for years). I never sensed anything about the FL that was "better balanced" than the FS, they're just...lighter.
I have used both top load and thru-body FS's on my Lakie Glaub, and I agree, no real discernible tone improvement either way. The last set I put on are TB and have been on for years, and hopefully I'll never need to change 'em. If I did I'd go top load or TB, either would be fine.

 

[cavemanbass]

It is surprising that the small difference in gauge between the FL and FS is noticeable but I also prefer FLs. And while there may not be any feel or Sonic difference between top load v TB I still like the idea of TB strings on my pbass. So I strung a set of FL through body, they did not break, there was a minor ripple in space time continuum but those strings were fine for several years until I replaced them with something different.
No idea why FL were ok on that bass, I’ve broken many LaBellas over the years they are very fragile regarding any kind of sharp bend.
Another option - similar but not the same as FL, is the LTF.