Labella DTFs, here I come

[Dan_reeves]

I tend to be a one string manufacturer at a time kind of guy. I don't know it's OCD or I am just simple, but it always made sense to me to go in on one string brand for all my basses. My basses are all very different, so I always figured I was just eliminating a variable by doing this. I don't know if that makes sense, but it does somehow to me. I also get super bored. I think it's really the pandemic where this hit me square - outside of church (1-3 Sundays a week, depending on the month) I just haven't had a lot of gigging opportunities. So I have had sometimes of boredom which leads me to tinker and experiment, but I digress.

In 2020, I primarily used Ernie Ball Slinkies, then GHS Precision Flats, then Daddario Nickel XLs. In 2021 I started with GHS Boomers, and now I am using DR Hi Beams. Those have run their course, and now I have ordered some Labella 760FLs which should be here next week. I am pretty excited - I have varied musical tastes and those have sort of swung back in the flats direction.

I have used all kinds of strings over the years, but in late 2019/early 2020 I really got into parts and kits basses. I probably have the more basses now that I have ever had. No real experience with Labellas, so I am excited to see if their reputation lives up to the hype. I'll find out soon enough.

Who else uses them, and what should I expect?

 

[Corigan]

I dont have alot of experience with with flats. I've only tried Chromes on a few basses and just recently put labella 760fls on my pbass. I absolutely adore them. They don't seem near as stiff as the chromes and I don't forsee me swapping these out anytime soon. I plan on leaving them on for years.

 

[michael_t]

In 2020, I primarily used Ernie Ball Slinkies, then GHS Precision Flats, then Daddario Nickel XLs. In 2021 I started with GHS Boomers, and now I am using DR Hi Beams. Those have run their course, and now I have ordered some Labella 760FLs which should be here next week. I am pretty excited - I have varied musical tastes and those have sort of swung back in the flats direction.

It's funny how the tone quest pendulum keeps swinging back and forth in opposite directions, isn't it?

La Bella 760FL was the very first set of flats I tried on my P bass when I got it in 2015. I was hoping they would help me sound like Jamerson, but it didn't quite work out that way. Very nice strings if you want the classic thump without the high tension and the stiffness of the 1954 Originals.

Make sure to check out this thread:

**The LaBella 760FL Deep-Talkin' Flats LOVE Thread**

 

[Dan_reeves]

So, initial impressions: I have installed them on my 5 string and my short scale Bronco. On both basses well seasoned Hi Beams were what was being replaced. Honestly I am a little disappointed with the Labellas - to my ears they sound like the old Hi Beams but with a blanket thrown over my cab. Is this just the initial sound? I am questioning my choice now. I hear a lot of lows and some highs and that's kind of it. Also, I felt like the E string had noticeably less volume than the other strings and the G was way louder than the rest. I realize a set up is in order for any new string, but I was a bit surprised at the sound imbalance.

 

[michael_t]

So, initial impressions: I have installed them on my 5 string and my short scale Bronco. On both basses well seasoned Hi Beams were what was being replaced. Honestly I am a little disappointed with the Labellas - to my ears they sound like the old Hi Beams but with a blanket thrown over my cab. Is this just the initial sound? I am questioning my choice now. I hear a lot of lows and some highs and that's kind of it. Also, I felt like the E string had noticeably less volume than the other strings and the G was way louder than the rest. I realize a set up is in order for any new string, but I was a bit surprised at the sound imbalance.

Going from SS rounds to traditional flats like the La Bella DTF, what you're experiencing is not uncommon. Patience, my friend, patience...

 

[jallenbass]

So, initial impressions: I have installed them on my 5 string and my short scale Bronco. On both basses well seasoned Hi Beams were what was being replaced. Honestly I am a little disappointed with the Labellas - to my ears they sound like the old Hi Beams but with a blanket thrown over my cab. Is this just the initial sound? I am questioning my choice now. I hear a lot of lows and some highs and that's kind of it. Also, I felt like the E string had noticeably less volume than the other strings and the G was way louder than the rest. I realize a set up is in order for any new string, but I was a bit surprised at the sound imbalance.

How long have they been on the basses? I usually play them for a week before making an assessment. I have found that strings even out a few days after the initial installation.

 

[Dan_reeves]

How long have they been on the basses? I usually play them for a week before making an assessment. I have found that strings even out a few days after the initial installation.

Brand spanking new - 2 days. Yeah, I will give them more time.

 

[bignc]

Brand spanking new - 2 days. Yeah, I will give them more time.

I had to make sure they were broken in and (MOST IMPORTANTLY) the witness points were set good before the basses would intonate. I honestly haven't ever had to do that with rounds of any kind but it was 100% necessary to keep the 12th fret to bridge side from being sharp with my DTFs. They are a few months old now on both basses and awesome. I even get good harmonics when I want them to ring.

 

[mikeswals]

I tried em, didn't like em. then I tried Dunlop flats, theose are the only ones I actually like.

 

[Dan_reeves]

Ok, so after some extensive playing they are starting to come into their own. I actually really like what I am hearing - I suppose I won't really know what to think until I get to play them live. But so far, so good. I am excited to hear how they age, which I have heard is a feature of Labella - they get better as they go.

 

[OldSchoolFlats]

Disclaimer: I only play for fun (since the '70s).

Wow: from Hi-Beams to DTF? Yeah, that will sound different...

My thing when I played out the most in the '70s (teen-years, parties indoor or out, and loud) was 2x15" speakers, flats, and a solid thump. Palm-muted pick. Mmmmm!

Tried TI Jazz Flats and DR Low-Riders about 10 years ago with a Church folk-group, but they just did not satisfy. Slapped-on some DTFs, and I was home again.

Anyway, Hi-Beams to DTF is a whole different world. With the DTFs, think Motown, the Holies, the Beatles, tube-amps, 15" speakers: a sound intended to mimic an acoustic double-bass.

These days, I'm actually warming-up to medium-gauge hex-core nickel rounds. While DTF strings are my old stand-by, I am currently leaning towards the rounds, with the passive tone down (read: a capacitor), and a P pickup.

 

[Dan_reeves]

Disclaimer: I only play for fun (since the '70s).

Wow: from Hi-Beams to DTF? Yeah, that will sound different...

My thing when I played out the most in the '70s (teen-years, parties indoor or out, and loud) was 2x15" speakers, flats, and a solid thump. Palm-muted pick. Mmmmm!

Tried TI Jazz Flats and DR Low-Riders about 10 years ago with a Church folk-group, but they just did not satisfy. Slapped-on some DTFs, and I was home again.

Anyway, Hi-Beams to DTF is a whole different world. With the DTFs, think Motown, the Holies, the Beatles, tube-amps, 15" speakers: a sound intended to mimic an acoustic double-bass.

These days, I'm actually warming-up to medium-gauge hex-core nickel rounds. While DTF strings are my old stand-by, I am currently leaning towards the rounds, with the passive tone down (read: a capacitor), and a P pickup.

I will admit my setup is a bit out of the ordinary- all my basses are passive and equipped with very aggressive (high output) pickups - so i more trying to tame the beast, reach an equilibrium, etc. So I don't want Motown, per se, but definitely want more meatiness, if that makes sense. Also, I think I may have a really mild nickel allergy - when I play say Slinkies or XLs, they really start to bother my fingers after a long set. Boomers actually bother me the least - and really have a sound I prefer the most also. Don't really have any issues with stainless rounds - which is why I wonder about the nickel thing vs say general roughness of the winding.

All this, and I admit I am a serial tinkerer that likes to try new stuff.

 

[OldSchoolFlats]

I will admit my setup is a bit out of the ordinary- all my basses are passive and equipped with very aggressive (high output) pickups - so i more trying to tame the beast, reach an equilibrium, etc. So I don't want Motown, per se, but definitely want more meatiness, if that makes sense. Also, I think I may have a really mild nickel allergy - when I play say Slinkies or XLs, they really start to bother my fingers after a long set. Boomers actually bother me the least - and really have a sound I prefer the most also. Don't really have any issues with stainless rounds - which is why I wonder about the nickel thing vs say general roughness of the winding.

All this, and I admit I am a serial tinkerer that likes to try new stuff.

Ah yes: the "ultimate sound". Been searching for that for decades!

Mind-you I am just a hobby player, but I do know a thing or two about physics and waveform.

For me, the "meat" comes from:

• A strong fundamental, and mids. String-choice is an issue here.
• A P pickup. To me, J pickups dance around too much, and big hum-buckers sound too zingy or muddy. You might seek out LowEndLobster though, here and on YouTube. I just goof around, but he reviews a lot of pickups and basses.
• A heavy body. Ash is my go-to (scooped sound), but many other options are out there. Lots of folks swear by lighter basses though, so take this with salt.
• A little natural distortion. Cranking the volume gets the speakers and room to color your sound. Tube amps have a wonderful natural triangular distortion when pushed, but solid-state is more square-wave (clipping). I only play at low volumes (not gigging), so I get some "meat" out of my Boss GT1B. Was listening to Marcus Miller playing with a French orchestra. If my ears didn't deceive me, on one song he was using an octave-effect for lots of "meat". Surprised me, since he normally seems to just EQ and use a compressor.

I love flats for palm-mute pick, but otherwise they can be kind-of limiting. Someone referred to them as "grandpa strings", which sort-of stuck with me.

BTW, you may try some TI Jazz Flats. Lots of mid-range meat, easy on the fingers since they are flats. Mushy feeling (silk winding around core), but great for articulation if you like some notes to stand-out (dig in). Check the alloy (metal) though. Don't know what the alloy is.

 

[OldSchoolFlats]

Just checked: the TIs have a nickel alloy: [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

 

[Dan_reeves]

I am one of weirdos here on Talk Bass that really don't like Jazz Flats. I tried them and really disliked them when I did.

 

[Dan_reeves]

As a follow up to this - I have found the 760FLs to have a similar tone, regardless of the bass they're on. It is like they have a signature tone regardless of pickup option. Maybe that is obvious to everyone else that uses them. And I am not saying that's a bad thing, as it's a cool and usable sound.

 

[michael_t]

I have found the 760FLs to have a similar tone, regardless of the bass they're on.

I've tried the same set of the 760FL both on my P and on my J. To my ears, they definitely sounded better on the P.

 

[68Goldfish]

As a follow up to this - I have found the 760FLs to have a similar tone, regardless of the bass they're on. It is like they have a signature tone regardless of pickup option. Maybe that is obvious to everyone else that uses them. And I am not saying that's a bad thing, as it's a cool and usable sound.

So did you stick with them? If so what are your thoughts on them now? I put a new set of 760FL's on a new to me P bass about a month ago and to me they are sounding better and better every day. I especially like playing the bass acoustically. The bass is a HEAVY piece of ash that seems to match perfectly with the strings. It started with the E string but slowly the A string followed suite and have mellowed to the point where there's this deep heavy vibration to open notes and a serious thwack to fretted notes. The D and G strings are not far behind. They've lost their initial high brittleness and have mellowed out as well. I only mention this because I've read a lot of posts about these strings sounding unbalanced when first put on to the point were a lot of people think there's something wrong with the E string. I'm sure it's been said a thousand times but patience is the key here.

 

[Dan_reeves]

So did you stick with them? If so what are your thoughts on them now? I put a new set of 760FL's on a new to me P bass about a month ago and to me they are sounding better and better every day. I especially like playing the bass acoustically. The bass is a HEAVY piece of ash that seems to match perfectly with the strings. It started with the E string but slowly the A string followed suite and have mellowed to the point where there's this deep heavy vibration to open notes and a serious thwack to fretted notes. The D and G strings are not far behind. They've lost their initial high brittleness and have mellowed out as well. I only mention this because I've read a lot of posts about these strings sounding unbalanced when first put on to the point were a lot of people think there's something wrong with the E string. I'm sure it's been said a thousand times but patience is the key here.

So, I used them for a while, then switched to DR Sunbeams, now I am back with the DTFs. I like how they sound. They sound good to me on many of my basses. I am not going to say they are my string to end all strings, but I am happy at the moment. I mostly use a pick at this time so I prefer these to the Sunbeams from a playability standpoint. They sound good but I'll probably try something else eventually. I have multiple basses I rotate through so it'll probably take me a while to truly age each set.

 

[Dan_reeves]

BTW, I have never really noticed the E sounding way different, or differently than I'd expect. I have always expected an E string (or B) to sound a bit bassier than others, regardless of what manufacturer they are. This comes back to how I play and set up my basses that is unique to me as a player.