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LaBella LTF-4A Low Tension Flat love thread

#202
Yahboy said:
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)

Click to expand...

Nice. The cobalt flats sound almost like rounds, vs the LTFs have that real deep lovely rich sound.
 
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#203
Regarding Chromes stiffness, when I tried them I decided to build a custom set from singles at Fret Nation, 40-55-75-95. I like flexible strings, and while not as flexible as I might like, this set was not too stiff. For those who like Chromes tone (turns out I didn't, but that's another story) but not the stiffness, this could be an option.

I did something similar with EB Group Flats, to build a custom set slightly lighter than Group IV. Turns out I didn't much like the tone of those either (hard to please, I guess), but the feel was good. Building custom sets, when the singles are available and you know what gauges you're likely to like, is a good option.
 
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#204
Doug4321 said:
Nice. The cobalt flats sound almost like rounds, vs the LTFs have that real deep lovely rich sound.
Click to expand...

That's the reason why I always recommend jazz bass player who wanna move to flatwound without loose their roundwound growl bass tone.

Compare to fresh ECB81, the Cobalt flat sound much open and the brightest spread wider. After several months, the E string on chrome sound get dull , A D string get fuller sound but the G still bright like hell. Overall string to string balance also notable unbalance in my hand.
The EB Cobalt flat has no such issue after 18 months use.
 
#205
Has anyone tried these now that the colored ball ends are in play?

I've been playing a set of these for several months now on my backup P, and they sound fantastic. Not quite as much upper mids as the old Sadowsky Black Label Flats, but they seem to keep their pitch definition/clarity like the Sadowsky's did. I'm finding these to be a more expressive and adequate substitute for the old Black Labels.

I'm asking about the colored ball ends, because I'd like another set for my Jazz Bass.... but I really want them to sound like the set I have on the Pbass.
 
#216
My LaBella LTFs came in today from GearNuts (Sweetwater). They have color ball ends like everyone's reporting. I am going to hold off on putting them on as yesterday's practice my Fenders 9050 flats were sounding really muddy and dark. Since I dropped off the bass to be worked on at Lakland, I asked them to put on Lakland Custom Wound Nickels (45-105) for now. I will try these at that new rehearsal space and go from there. Could be the fact my speaker was in the corner (no more space there for my SL212) and caused boominess. Ugh.
 
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#218
ookla the mok said:
Sounds great! What do you use for your foam mute? I've had mixed results using different materials as well as pre-made mutes sold online. Usually the pre-made mutes require me to completely retune the bass after applying. Any advice?
Click to expand...

No special secret, it just a foam.
But the EA foam are thicker and taller than DG foam, because both EA string need more foam to get same "decay sustain" as the DG .
IMG_20220813_081541.jpg


Regards the retune issue after apply mute-foam, just choose medium to low density foam.
 
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#220
I'm trying to rectify somehow ending up with Chromes on three basses: one was put on by a shop after a setup, the second came equipped from a bass I bought on the classifieds, and the third was actually put on by me on a five string after some recommendations.

I had LTFs on a Lakland Decade and loved them, but I no longer have the bass nor the strings. Thinking about putting them on a p bass and on the five string. I know this thread is about the 4A but I was wondering if anyone had experience with LTFs on a fiver? I'm remembering that mellow thump and how easy they felt on the fingers but have no clue how that would be translate to a B string. Current gauge I have is .132 and that may be too thick.
 

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