• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

LaBella flats not suitable for Hipshot bridge?

dae666

dae666

Apr 4, 2013
24
4
Denmark
#1
Yesterday we tried to install LaBella 760FL-TBs on my Cort A4, with a friend I've met here at TalkBass, who kindly agreed to help me. Result is a snapped A string when we pulled it somewhat hard during installation, and the rest of the strings as in the pictures below. I can fit my nail into the hole on E string. What do your flats look like? Is that even normal?

I knew that LaBellas are somewhat fragile and that the company warns that I should use a thru-body version (which we did), but I didn't expect this. We wondered if my Hipshot bridge has too sharp an edge on the top and maybe not suitable at all for LaBellas -- even flatwounds in general?

IMG_2933.jpg
IMG_2935.jpg
 
#2
That Hipshot Trans Tone Bridge has the option of top loading the strings. You could opt for top-loading them if the breakpoints felt risquée for you.

For comparison, this is the picture when I had Chromes strung thru-body on my late Cort A6 with also the Trans Tone bridge:
WIN_20150813_22_24_45_Pro_zpsjvbawscu.jpg


Chromes don't have a special TB version as La Bella's, but those strings survived just fine. Even years after when I moved them to another 6 string, which was my first fretless bass.
 
#3
Aidil said:
That Hipshot Trans Tone Bridge has the option of top loading the strings. You could opt for top-loading them if the breakpoints felt risquée for you.
Click to expand...

I don't know how I didn't even notice that it's possible to top-load the Hipshot. It might actually make sense to top-load flats, but on the other hand the LaBellas on my A4 don't look so different from how your Chromes looked on the A6, so should probably be safe, even though I've read that the Chromes have a more flexible core compared to LaBellas.
 
#6
Contact La Bella, they MAY send a replacement.

I've strung regular DTFs through body before with success, but I see that there is a higher failure rate when compared to other, more flexible flats.

I do agree that your saddle has a sharp point that could have possibly slipped through to the core and cut it, but that's just a wild guess. Another guess would be the sharp angle put too great a break angle on the string compared to a more barreled saddle. Regardless, it's done, and you know what to do now. I've tried stringing DTFs on various instruments…they do not want to angle about too much.
 
#11
Well, it's your bass; of course you're free to string it however you want. However...
- yeah, the saddles do look awfully sharp, and the break angle seems really abrupt. Way too sharp and abrupt, IMO, for flats - of any description. Round wounds strung thru-body can deal with that bridge because the outer wrap wire is round, and can roll against the adjacent wire. Flat wound outer wraps can not; they have no option other than to split open. With the results you've seen... Yeah, La Bella TB flats, and some others - most noticeably TI Jazz Flats - can be strung that way. But, if the break angle is steep enough, and the saddle is sharp enough? Very, very few flats can deal with it, without doing what yours did.
- Personally, I don't have much use for thru-body stringing. I only have one bass - out of 20 or so - that can be strung that way; an '06 Carvin LB-20 with a Hipshot A bridge. I strung it thru-body once - but not with flats. Frankly, I found it to be a great deal of fuss and bother, for absolutely no improvement in tone that my poor old ears could detect. It was re-strung with the strings top loaded, and... I've lived happily ever after, since. And, if I was ever to acquire a bass that had to be strung thru-body? If it couldn't be quickly re-fitted with a top loader bridge, I'd get rid of it - quick as a bunny...:cool:
 
  • Like
Reactions: Abner and Murch
#12
Followed the advice and wrote to LaBella. Their support people have been extremely helpful, and they are sending a replacement A string. So that's a win!

However they also confirmed that LaBella flats are not suitable for thru-body installation on the Hipshot Transtone bridge on my A4. I also tried but cannot top-load the extra-long TB strings because they are too long: The naked string (without the red silk wraps) will have to go around the tuner and will break. Since I cannot afford another set of strings right now, I'll try and very carefully load the A-string and hope that it won't break too soon. Might let you know when they do break. :)
 
#13
getBAK said:
Flats and thru-body bridges just don't mix.
Click to expand...

Not to single you out, I hear and read this frequently. It's confusing. To my sketchy knowledge roundwound bass strings did not exist until the mid-60s. So what flatwound strings were commonly used on Fender Precision split coil string-thru bridge basses from 1951 through 1956 when the new Precision top load bridge was introduced?

La Bella markets a series of Original 54s not recommended for string-thru bridges, yet states on their website they do offer a string-thru version of the Original 54 they don't sell directly but can be bought through Sweetwater, etc.

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

All of this is clear as mud.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: 2saddleslab
#14
marchone said:
Not to single you out, I hear and read this frequently. It's confusing. To my sketchy knowledge Roundwound bass strings did not exist until the mid-60s. So what flatwound strings were commonly used on Fender Precision string-thru bridge basses from 1951 through 1956 when the new Precision top load bridge was introduced?

La Bella markets an Original 54 not recommended for string-thru bridges, yet states on their website they do offer a string-thru version of the Original 54 they don't sell directly but can be bought through Sweetwater, etc.

La Bella Strings

All of this is clear as mud.
Click to expand...
I've strung La Bellas through body on that old school 2-saddle bridge. They worked just fine. Once you get them on, bent over the saddle, you're good. The original '51 also used those Bakelite saddles that seemed to have a wider arc and were likely more kind to the string break angle (didn't have any issues at the plate, either. A too sharp break there can lead to unwinding). No matter what, do not let the non-wrapped portion of the string wrap around the tuning post. I've tried it twice and both times the string broke.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: marchone
#15
dae666 said:
However they also confirmed that LaBella flats are not suitable for thru-body installation on the Hipshot Transtone bridge on my A4. I also tried but cannot top-load the extra-long TB strings because they are too long: The naked string (without the red silk wraps) will have to go around the tuner and will break. Since I cannot afford another set of strings right now, I'll try and very carefully load the A-string and hope that it won't break too soon. Might let you know when they do break. :)
Click to expand...
The A string tuner is located furthest away. The extra long 38" winding length shouldn't be caught on the tuning post.
 
#16
If that happened to me, I would be taking a file to those saddles and rounding them out a bit. I might also lower the saddles height and possibly use a shim under the bridge to get a higher action. I shim a lot of my Basses, either under the whole bridge or some just a piece of metal on the plate right below the saddle screws.
 
  • Like
Reactions: AboutSweetSue
#17
Dave TB Killer said:
If that happened to me, I would be taking a file to those saddles and rounding them out a bit. I might also lower the saddles height and possibly use a shim under the bridge to get a higher action. I shim a lot of my Basses, either under the whole bridge or some just a piece of metal on the plate right below the saddle screws.
Click to expand...
Not a bad idea. Those saddles are unnecessarily sharp.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Dave TB Killer
#19
I'd also not use thru body stringing. With flats, the thru body will rid them of ever so little highs they will have, while soundwise you will gain nothing. Thru body makes some little sense with extra light rounds, in my experience. But to each his own.

You might put a strip of paper between the string and the saddle, instead of filing the saddles.

I think the 'nail hole' in the winding at the saddle does not matter at all, sound-wise or durability-wise.
 
#20
Aidil said:
The A string tuner is located furthest away. The extra long 38" winding length shouldn't be caught on the tuning post.
Click to expand...

Hey, I might do that! I would be worried about how that might affect the tone of the A string though... Try and see I suppose.

Dave TB Killer said:
If that happened to me, I would be taking a file to those saddles and rounding them out a bit. I might also lower the saddles height and possibly use a shim under the bridge to get a higher action. I shim a lot of my Basses, either under the whole bridge or some just a piece of metal on the plate right below the saddle screws.
Click to expand...

Yes, I might file the sharp edges. But lower saddle + shim is also not a bad idea. Can I ask why you shim your basses? What purpose does that serve?
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back