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LaBella LTF-4A Low Tension Flat love thread

#181
I just threw a set of the LTF 42-100s on my Fernandes Bomber BO-60 neck thru P-bass in order to counteract some of the flexibility of the neck with roundwounds. Not only did these strings prevent the up-bow, but the strings drew out the low mids that didn’t not appear as defined out as well with the rounds. Now the bass has its true voice on display.

I previously had a set installed on my Washburn AB-45 5 string to counteract the harshness of the piezo and really can’t put a different string on that bass now given how close that it sounds to an upright now.
 
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#182
Selim said:
If thump is important to you, the La Bellas are the obvious choice between them and TIs.

Also, getting that warm, creamy La Bella tone right out of the pack is a real achievement on LB’s part. Most of the work is done for you — playing thru different backlines, there’s very little fiddling around with EQ — the strings are doing that for you (if you’re starting from a good sounding bass).

These are the 2 main reasons I use these.
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Been a FS 45-105 user for ages on P's, and just put some on my Geddy--we'll see how it goes, if I end up wanting something a little lower tension for that bass. Thing is I'm all about vintage thump, and I lean toward heavier gauges for that reason. The 42-100 of the LTFs sounds really light to me! Which to me would translate as less vintage/more modern? But maybe they've got it sorted - when I switched from FMs(49-109) to FS I was pleasantly surprised--sounded the same . . .
 
#183
pbass2 said:
Been a FS 45-105 user for ages on P's, and just put some on my Geddy--we'll see how it goes, if I end up wanting something a little lower tension for that bass. Thing is I'm all about vintage thump, and I lean toward heavier gauges for that reason. The 42-100 of the LTFs sounds really light to me! Which to me would translate as less vintage/more modern? But maybe they've got it sorted - when I switched from FMs(49-109) to FS I was pleasantly surprised--sounded the same . . .
Click to expand...
LTFs aren’t modern, they’re vintage thump 100% without the unnecessary neck pull and tension of heavier gauges.
 
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#185
I just had these on my G&L JB for a week. Thought they sounded dead & were still quite stiff. Went back to DR high beams. I liked the regular labella flats better when I tried them in the past.
 
#186
jivetkr said:
I just had these on my G&L JB for a week. Thought they sounded dead & were still quite stiff. Went back to DR high beams. I liked the regular labella flats better when I tried them in the past.
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Strings don’t always match every bass. In my experience anyway. They may work well for some but not others, sometimes even the same style of bass. So it’s a good thing we have so many kinds to choose from.
 
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#188
Glazenn said:
Invalid Link Removed too for my LTF-5A set (this April).
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The LTF-5A set I had ordered from Strings-On-Line delivered an amazing tone with my G&L JB-5. I had GHS Precision flats and Chromes strung on it before, but the LTF-5s happen to be what I just need with my bass.
Unfortunately, for an unknown reason, the D-string in the set was defective and buzzing too much (from fret 5 onwards), whatever high the action, even with the D-saddle set up to 2.5mm (100 mil) higher than the other strings. And same defect observed on each of my other basses.
I contacted Matt at Strings-On-Line, and had the choice of either an immediate refund or a full set replacement. That's customer service at its best.
Thank you, Matt.
 
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#189
Glazenn said:
The LTF-5A set I had ordered from Strings-On-Line delivered an amazing tone with my G&L JB-5. I had GHS Precision flats and Chromes strung on it before, but the LTF-5s happen to be what I just need with my bass.
Unfortunately, for an unknown reason, the D-string in the set was defective and buzzing too much (from fret 5 onwards), whatever high the action, even with the D-saddle set up to 2.5mm (100 mil) higher than the other strings. And same defect observed on each of my other basses.
I contacted Matt at Strings-On-Line, and had the choice of either an immediate refund or a full set replacement. That's customer service at its best.
Thank you, Matt.
Click to expand...

Matt is awesome helpful guy, a great person from String by mail. Almost instant reply and solve issue much faster than another online bass string seller.
 
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#191
How does the tension of the LTFs compare to the La Bella 750N (50-105) black nylon tapewound strings? I have a set of the LTFs on my precision bass and love them. I was thinking about putting a set of the LTFs on my jazz bass, but am now considering the tapes, which I've never used before.
 
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#193
profb said:
How does the tension of the LTFs compare to the La Bella 750N (50-105) black nylon tapewound strings? I have a set of the LTFs on my precision bass and love them. I was thinking about putting a set of the LTFs on my jazz bass, but am now considering the tapes, which I've never used before.
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I don’t know the exact measurements, but they have a similar feel for tension and (lack of) stiffness.
I’ve used the lower gauge Labellas in the black, white, copper sets, as well as the LTFs,
on several different basses. I preferred the white and white/copper sets for the hybrid sound.
(Thumpy and with a roundwound top end sound.) The black ones have a clackier URB ish type of sound.
I do think LTFs sound fantastic on a J bass.
 
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#196
Are these low tension flats easier on the hands? I put some Chromes on my Jazz Bass. I love the sound but they are hard on my right hand. I had a hand accident a few years back so I have to stick to light gauge strings. I've been looking for a set of more forgiving flats. I'm not sure if such a thing exists lol
 
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#197
GazzBass said:
Are these low tension flats easier on the hands? I put some Chromes on my Jazz Bass. I love the sound but they are hard on my right hand. I had a hand accident a few years back so I have to stick to light gauge strings. I've been looking for a set of more forgiving flats. I'm not sure if such a thing exists lol
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They might be a little better for you. Try them, they are good strings.
 
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#198
GazzBass said:
Are these low tension flats easier on the hands? I put some Chromes on my Jazz Bass. I love the sound but they are hard on my right hand. I had a hand accident a few years back so I have to stick to light gauge strings. I've been looking for a set of more forgiving flats. I'm not sure if such a thing exists lol
Click to expand...

I would say absolutely they are easier on the hands. The string surface is smooth and it doesn’t take near as much effort to dig in. I have an aggressive attack to begin with, and I had to learn that it doesn’t take much to get these strings to do what they need to do.
 
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#199
GazzBass said:
Are these low tension flats easier on the hands? I put some Chromes on my Jazz Bass. I love the sound but they are hard on my right hand. I had a hand accident a few years back so I have to stick to light gauge strings. I've been looking for a set of more forgiving flats. I'm not sure if such a thing exists lol
Click to expand...

Trust me, LTF4A are absolutely comfortable and gentle on your plucking hand.

But , if you love the chromes sound on your jazz bass, how about EB Cobalt flat 40-95 ? EB Cobalt flat i play 45-100 are pretty close to Fender 7250L 45-100 stiffness. And the E string sound lasting (more than 18 months on my jazz bass )than ECB81 or 9050L i wear in past.

Here is the sound sample on my jazz bass with EB 2814 (45-100)

 
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