LaBella 760FX

[TimB 619]

I've used a lot of different flats over the years. Last night , I finally broke down, and tried some LaBella deep talking flats on my Peavey Millenium BXP 4 passive bass. I wondered-do these flats live up to the hype surrounding them? Many of my favorite players have used these, although not in the really light gauge. I have some foan underneath barely touching the strings.

Well, they didn't disappoint! Whether using a pick or fingers (I'm not a slapper) they sounded great! Full and punchy, with no harshness, no matter how I set the pickups. They are not only really smooth, but the FX set feels very low tension to me. They also stay in tune.

The bass I use them on seems to sound better with flats on it. I think these deep talking flats will stay on for a long time.

 

[TomB]

I've had 'em on so long I don't even remember how long. They always sound good! I think mine are FL's but it's been a long time - don't know for sure. All I know is I don't think about replacing them.

 

[shawshank72]

I loved them too.
But too light for my style.

 

[michael_t]

My Am Std P + 760FL = Till death do us part. The FX would be a bit too light for my taste.

 

[TimB 619]

I may try the FL's next set I get. I'm gathering they are nicely balanced like the FX set is.

 

[tallboybass]

The 760FX set KILLS! If you haven't tried them, don't write them off because the gauges look too light on paper...they work.

And I play them in Eb sometimes too!

 

[Thuddy Waters]

The 760FX set KILLS! If you haven't tried them, don't write them off because the gauges look too light on paper...they work.

And I play them in Eb sometimes too!

Have you ever tried TI flats? How does the tension of the 760FX set compare to TI flats?

 

[TimB 619]

I think they feel pretty close. I like the bottom end of the LaBellas better, but the TI's are still great strings.

 

[tallboybass]

Have you ever tried TI flats? How does the tension of the 760FX set compare to TI flats?

Yes, these have more tension than TI's but not too much IMO. I like the sound of the FXs much more.

 

[Mastermold]

Yes, these have more tension than TI's but not too much IMO. I like the sound of the FXs much more.

I just ordered a short scale set of 760FXs to go on a '72 Mostrite bass I just picked up. I usually use the 760FL set but thought the lighter FX might go better with a short scale. I'll reply back with my impressions.

 

[CatSquare]

Have you ever tried TI flats? How does the tension of the 760FX set compare to TI flats?

TIs feel much different. The actual amount of tension isn't that different, but the way they make TIs gives them a more supple feel (round core on the TIs, hex core on the La Bellas).

 

[HaphAsSard]

A number of posters have wondered about the difference in tone and feel between the La Bella FX and the La Bella Low Tension Flexible Flats, but I'm not sure if anyone ever tried both, let alone reported back in detail.

 

[Ricky Rioli]

A number of posters have wondered about the difference in tone and feel between the La Bella FX and the La Bella Low Tension Flexible Flats, but I'm not sure if anyone ever tried both, let alone reported back in detail.

I remembered coming across this post recently, so now that I have a set a of the FX, I've come back to it. (I'm using them in D Standard, but I did bring them up to E Standard so that I could respond to this.)

When I first put on a set of the Low Tension Flats on this bass earlier this year, I enjoyed the La Bella family resemblance, but I immediately could see why La Bella did not include them in the "Deep Talkin Flats" umbrella. Now I put the FX on, I'm going, ahhh, that's what I remember from the FM and FL sets. It immediately reminded me the line by @edfriedland about how the DTF's attack, clarity and punch lives on, no matter how old the strings get. There's a degree of solidity and responsiveness that the LTFs don't quite achieve.

Tuned DGCF, the strings affect my maxed-out truss-rod seemingly about the same as a set of Roto Bass 35-95 tuned EADG, which means their tension at normal tuning will be about 160 lbs

 

[SteveFromBerlin]

I used them in this video, maybe it helps someone. One day I'll be going back to FL because the G-string is almost too lose for my playing. But I really like them. A LOT!

 

[Lo-E]

I’ve used the LaBella Danelectro set on my old Dan Armstrong/Dano for decades and those are very light but I hadn’t tried LaBellas on a 34” scale bass in a very long time. …until recently, that is.

After getting fed up with the ridiculously high tension of GHS Precision Flats on my ‘51 reissue P-bass, I went looking for a change.

When I play flats on a long scale I usually use either TIs or Ernie Ball Group IV. TIs don’t have the sound I wanted for this bass so I was about to order a set of the EBs, which I would say sit somewhere between the strong mids of TI’s and the deep thump of more traditional flats, but I decided to give the LaBella FXs a chance in the hopes of getting a little more thud. I remembered disliking the tension of the heavier LaBellas so FX was the obvious thing to try.

Through an odd set of circumstances, I ended up with the through-bridge version on the E and A and the standard version on the D & G but I’ve been assured that it’s the same as having a full through-bridge set. The silks don't match but I’ll survive.

So far I’ve been very pleased with these strings. The tension is almost as low as the TIs but they’re not as flexible as the TIs so they feel more like a “normal” flat. I’d say the tension is just a little lower than the EBs but, again, not as flexible. Tonality is exactly what LaBellas are known for, to my ears at least.

I’m calling the experiment a success. I’m looking forward to hearing how they sound in another few months.

 

[Brian Patterson]

I'm a new bass player and added these to my project Yamaha BB324 along with new pickups, tuners and bridge. It is sultry!

 

[TomB]

I’ve used the LaBella Danelectro set on my old Dan Armstrong/Dano for decades and those are very light but I hadn’t tried LaBellas on a 34” scale bass in a very long time. …until recently, that is.

After getting fed up with the ridiculously high tension of GHS Precision Flats on my ‘51 reissue P-bass, I went looking for a change.

When I play flats on a long scale I usually use either TIs or Ernie Ball Group IV. TIs don’t have the sound I wanted for this bass so I was about to order a set of the EBs, which I would say sit somewhere between the strong mids of TI’s and the deep thump of more traditional flats, but I decided to give the LaBella FXs a chance in the hopes of getting a little more thud. I remembered disliking the tension of the heavier LaBellas so FX was the obvious thing to try.

Through an odd set of circumstances, I ended up with the through-bridge version on the E and A and the standard version on the D & G but I’ve been assured that it’s the same as having a full through-bridge set. The silks don't match but I’ll survive.

So far I’ve been very pleased with these strings. The tension is almost as low as the TIs but they’re not as flexible as the TIs so they feel more like a “normal” flat. I’d say the tension is just a little lower than the EBs but, again, not as flexible. Tonality is exactly what LaBellas are known for, to my ears at least.

I’m calling the experiment a success. I’m looking forward to hearing how they sound in another few months.

Hah! I’m an FL guy (at least in 34”) but I remember having a set of FX and thinking “this is the string for the TI players who would like their strings to sound like DTF’s”. They are a tad stiffer, but they do have the DTF thump. You couldn’t get them for a while (pandemic?) but maybe that’s solved now.

 

[HaphAsSard]

Much appreciated.

I remembered coming across this post recently, so now that I have a set a of the FX, I've come back to it. (I'm using them in D Standard, but I did bring them up to E Standard so that I could respond to this.)

When I first put on a set of the Low Tension Flats on this bass earlier this year, I enjoyed the La Bella family resemblance, but I immediately could see why La Bella did not include them in the "Deep Talkin Flats" umbrella. Now I put the FX on, I'm going, ahhh, that's what I remember from the FM and FL sets. It immediately reminded me the line by @edfriedland about how the DTF's attack, clarity and punch lives on, no matter how old the strings get. There's a degree of solidity and responsiveness that the LTFs don't quite achieve.

Sooooo... The Low Tension Flats have a smoother attack, less articulation, possibly more upper lows? Am I on the right track?

And they are, as well as feel, quite a bit lower-tension.

Ta again.

 

[Ricky Rioli]

Sooooo... The Low Tension Flats have a smoother attack, less articulation, possibly more upper lows? Am I on the right track?

The attack of the LTFs .... not so much smooth as veiled and sleepy. (But in a good way? )

But speaking of smooth, the LTFs felt more plasticky than the three DTF sets I've now had.

Getting back to the FX set... With both the FM and FL sets, I found that I had to upgrade my usual gentle touch with a more muscular style to get the real character of the strings out. The FX don't need that, they sound good whether tickled or plunged into.

Re downtuning: while the LTFs sounded really indistinct when I momentarily tried them in D Standard, the FX are still nice and clear down there.

All in all (and despite being someone who is only playing low tension strings because he lost at G&L Trussrod Roulette) I'm finding the FX downtuned sufficiently pleasing to make me unfussed by the bother of learning how to play in D Standard.

Edit: final thought — the FX set often gets mentioned in conjunction with the LTFs, but it deserves the Deep Talkin Flats moniker and despite the gauges is truly a brother of the FM and FL sets.

160 lbs might be light in comparison with the Jamerson set etc, but it's still heavier than, eg Swing Bass 40-100, Pro Steels 45-100

 

[michael_t]

My Am Std P + 760FL = Till death do us part. The FX would be a bit too light for my taste.

It's kind of funny reading my own post from 2016 as this marriage only lasted for three months. It didn't take me long to realize these LaBella flats were a little too old school for what I needed at the time.

That said, if I ever decide to go old school, I would try the FX for sure instead of the FL.