LaBella Low Tension Flats...gig report

[armybass]

I have been a LaBella 760FL player for a long time and have found them to be the perfect flat for me, or so I thought. For the past 5-6 years I played in a band that tuned to Eb and that half step down made the 760FL's very supple and playable for me. However my new band and much of my sub work is currently tuning to pitch and I have recently found the 760 FL's to be more than I can handle for a four hour gig. I am a Type I Diabetic with neuropathy and carpel tunnel. A few weeks back on the last few tunes of a 4 hour gig my hands were cramping with the 760FL's and I could barely make it through the gig with them tuned to E.

Greg at Rocket Music suggested I try the LaBella Low Tension Flats and I got a set a few weeks back and put them on my main gigging P Bass tuned to E. They felt like TI's but with the tone of a broken in set of 760's..... I know right!!!!

Well I play my first gig with them last night and they were amazing... they truly have a feel that is very close but not quite TI's which I think is perfect because sometimes TI's can be a little too floppy for me. But the amazing thing was I had the tone of a well worn set of 760's instead of that bright harsh tone I usually get from a new set of 760's. In short.... these are MY STRINGS..... I love them. They give me the tone I am after and the feel that allows me to play without the string inhibiting me and they do not cause any pain or discomfort to my feeble old @$$.....

Win win win!

 

[RocketMusic]

I second that emotion! The low tension flats are my strings, too. I put them on everything. Killer tone, great tactile feel, and the lower tension is just dreamy. I can bend and use vibrato effortlessly, they really let you play more expressively than a typical set of old-school flats.

 

[Gravedigger Dav]

Great, Thanks! I gotta try some. I had recently abandoned all flats because of the tension issue and trying to make it through a 4 hour gig.

 

[michael_t]

Well I play my first gig with them last night and they were amazing... they truly have a feel that is very close but not quite TI's which I think is perfect because sometimes TI's can be a little too floppy for me. But the amazing thing was I had the tone of a well worn set of 760's instead of that bright harsh tone I usually get from a new set of 760's. In short.... these are MY STRINGS..... I love them. They give me the tone I am after and the feel that allows me to play without the string inhibiting me and they do not cause any pain or discomfort to my feeble old @$$.....

Thanks for this report.

My big 6-0 is coming up in February and my body is starting to let me know in not-so-subtle ways I won't be invincible forever. The 760FL has served me well so far and I'm hoping I can stick with them for quite some time. But I also know there will come a time when I should go easy on my hands and it's good to know these LTF's will be there when that time arrives.

I've been fortunate in that I haven't had any major health issues, except for the trigger finger surgery I had done on my left middle finger back in June and another one coming up in Feb (two days before my big 6-0) for my right middle finger. We'll see how that goes...

 

[RocketMusic]

They're fairly inexpensive, too. No more expensive than a typical set of roundwounds.

 

[armybass]

Indeed. What a great deal. Can't say enough good things about these bad boys.

 

[woodyng2]

I've used a set on a fretted Rick bass,and bought a new set recently for my Rick fretless,which has really given me problems coming up with a string set i liked for it.(gone through rw's,2 different types of tapewounds,and a set of pressurewounds,non of which i liked overall).
The LTF's seem to be pretty much perfect on that bass,and like you said,they sound great immediately. (No waiting).
I got a set of Chromes on a P bass,that still sound clangy to me after being on for 3 monthes,so i think i know what my next move is.

 

[bassbully]

I find your post interesting...very interesting.

 

[justbass57]

I had tried the TI's on a fretless that I used to own, and I got tired just chasing them around to play.
Now, my go to flat on the LB-100 is the GHS Precision Flats. How would the tension compare to the GHSs? More towards the TI's or the GHS's?

I'm just curious, I do like the GHSs quite a bit.

(the big 60 next year as well and a type 1 too boot!)

 

[woodyng2]

I had tried the TI's on a fretless that I used to own, and I got tired just chasing them around to play.
Now, my go to flat on the LB-100 is the GHS Precision Flats. How would the tension compare to the GHSs? More towards the TI's or the GHS's?

I'm just curious, I do like the GHSs quite a bit.

(the big 60 next year as well and a type 1 too boot!)

The LTF's have a nice lower tension feel compared to ghs flats (which i also like),but they're not quite as loose as TI's,nor do they have that tendency to roll under your fingertips when played harder.
So far at 62,my athritis hasn't hampered me too badly,but i do find staying away from high tension strings makes my hands happy.

 

[Bassamatic]

Agree - the new LTFs are terrific! Put them on my new Fender P/J and love the feel and the sound. A bit less middy than the T.I.s and a great price.

 

[tallboybass]

Thanks for this report.

My big 6-0 is coming up in February and my body is starting to let me know in not-so-subtle ways I won't be invincible forever. The 760FL has served me well so far and I'm hoping I can stick with them for quite some time. But I also know there will come a time when I should go easy on my hands and it's good to know these LTF's will be there when that time arrives.

I've been fortunate in that I haven't had any major health issues, except for the trigger finger surgery I had done on my left middle finger back in June and another one coming up in Feb (two days before my big 6-0) for my right middle finger. We'll see how that goes...

Don't forget about the 760FX set...39-96. A nice step between the LTF's and the 760FL'S, with no downside that I can find. They feel and sound great!

Also, today is my 60th birthday!!

 

[IanA]

Thanks for the review, I am going to order a set and give them a try after reading your comments

 

[smeet]

Do they come in a 5-string set, and if so how is the B string?

 

[quickfix]

Do they come in a 5-string set, and if so how is the B string?

Yes. All I can tell you about the B string is that it's .118" thick.
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[michael_t]

Don't forget about the 760FX set...39-96. A nice step between the LTF's and the 760FL'S, with no downside that I can find. They feel and sound great!

Oh yes... I will definitely try the FX before the LT. I'd like to age gracefully and GRADUALLY.

Also, today is my 60th birthday!!

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[babaseen]

Interested in using the 5 string set...always had a problem liking a flatwound B string but maybe the .118 is the right gauge. I'll check it out and report back. I'm also interested in slapping these flats and heard that these may be the easiest option since they are low tension.

Yes. All I can tell you about the B string is that it's .118" thick.
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[RocketMusic]

I'm out of the 5-string set at the moment, but I do have more on order! I hope to see them before the end of the year...

 

[GroovyBaby]

Revival, I'm loving the 5 string set on my L2500. I had to adjust to playing softer but so nice

 

[armybass]

Yes I use the 5 string set on my G&L JB5 and they sound so so good.

Also just tried the 4 string set on a Rickenbacker and man what a killer old school yet very Ric tone. I love the tone and feel of these strings three years on now.