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LaBella LTF-4A Low Tension Flat love thread
- Thread starter Mike Vee
- Start date
I’d suggest just be patient and give it time. The G on my set is perfect, don’t recall how long it took to break in but they all do eventually.I had an old lightly used set of DTB La Bella flats in my strings box so I swapped in the .045 G from that set, to see if the “zing” thing could be attenuated… what do ya know it was just as zingy, and a whole lot stiffer and not at all a comfortable feel compared to the loose, easy playing feel of the other 3 LTFs… so it came off quick. And I am less inclined now to also try any other gauge of DTB flat G in search of one that will blend better (ie, be less zingy) with the LTF set.
So I next went the route of trying to treat the LTF G string. First a wipe down with some thick mineral oil. No discernible difference in zing.
Next a wipe down with chapstick, per Stax guitar legend, Steve Cropper. And I have to say I believe I am now hearing a difference… we’ll see if the perception is lasting and not just some confirmation bias… but so far, it’s making the G a better blend with the rest of the set. YMMV!
For the inquiring minds: Blistex Five Star Lip Protection. SPF 30. In the gold colored tube.
That’s definitely an option… but all the same, I am much happier with the G now that I gunked it up and knocked down the zing and got the sound I want now, no more waiting! After a day or so I think the gunk may be wearing off a little, so it may require a few treatments, or periodic upkeep… still preferable to the sound mismatch IMHO!
No test needed on pickups, LTF G tone imbalance was obvious even unplugged. Can be attenuated with EQ, but then that’s your EQ and may not be optimal for all tastes. La Bella should add some dampening (silk thread?) inside their G strings and make their sets more balanced without months of playing in or applications of wax (chapstick). Or I could try other strings… good to have options! Happy Friday, all!
That’s interesting. I saw on YouTube channel “Bass Whisperer TV” some years ago a comparison with LTF and DTB strings. He didn’t really say this, but I thought his new LTF were actually mellower than his 10 year old DTB strings which still had a metallic zing to them! I tried to relocate that video but could not…..darn.I had an old lightly used set of DTB La Bella flats in my strings box so I swapped in the .045 G from that set, to see if the “zing” thing could be attenuated… what do ya know it was just as zingy, and a whole lot stiffer and not at all a comfortable feel compared to the loose, easy playing feel of the other 3 LTFs… so it came off quick. And I am less inclined now to also try any other gauge of DTB flat G in search of one that will blend better (ie, be less zingy) with the LTF set.
So I next went the route of trying to treat the LTF G string. First a wipe down with some thick mineral oil. No discernible difference in zing.
Next a wipe down with chapstick, per Stax guitar legend, Steve Cropper. And I have to say I believe I am now hearing a difference… we’ll see if the perception is lasting and not just some confirmation bias… but so far, it’s making the G a better blend with the rest of the set. YMMV!
For the inquiring minds: Blistex Five Star Lip Protection. SPF 30. In the gold colored tube.
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What is the tension like on the LTF short scale strings? Like them on my 34" scale jazz bass, but worried that they might be too loose on a short scale. I have a set of GHS Precision flats on a short scale, if they're not looser feeling than those, I think they might be what I'm looking for...
Sorry no experience with short scale LTF, hope others will chime in there, but recent experience with some other short scale flats (Chromes), surprisingly were giving me right hand aches bc being shorter length, they flex/give a little less to the right hand when plucked (imagine the difference in force needed to break a short stick vs a longer stick) even though they do have less tension which seems most noticeable to the fretting hand. It was odd but even a 40-100 set of Chromes was wearing my right hand out and I bailed on them for some rounds. I’m keen to try the LTF short scale.
I’ve got the medium scale LTF on a Guild Starfire 2. It’s actually short scale 30 3/4”, but needs medium scale due to the long tail on the bridge. Sounds and plays really nice. Pyramid Golds are good on that bass too, kind of similar.
I also tried short scale LTF and the GHS Precision Flats on an old 1969 EB-0. That has a 30 1/2” scale (actually 30 1/4” measured).
Compared to short scale GHS Precision Flats, the LTF were more flexible, but same tension, smoother, more polished, mellower tone without a metallic growl, warmer, woodier right away. The GHS has a nice little “vintage rock” growl. Very similar though. The gauges are pretty similar, 42-100 vs. 45-95 for the GHS.
Generally I think, you want a more flexible, lighter gauge flatwound on a short scale so the E string in particular performs well. A stiff string like a heavier gauge old school flat can have a clunky E string with bad intonation and sharp harmonics. The Roto 77 definitely. We all know how E strings can be clunky anyways. But, the LTF and GHS I ended up thinking we’re just too light and loose for the EB-0. Partly due to the feel and higher action needed. Partly due to the light gauge flat accentuating bass frequencies which the EB-0 already does too well. I ended up with GHS Brite Flats on there 49-108, much higher tension, low action needed, but flexible since they’re actually ground rounds. Good E string performance, more mids in the sound, but still a classic sound vs. an actual round wound especially as they deaden up. Those strings were recommended for EB-0 by others on this site, right on. Generally I think ground rounds are a bit boring vs. either flats or rounds, but this was a good compromise, round performance with flat-like tone.
Sorry a bit long there!
I also tried short scale LTF and the GHS Precision Flats on an old 1969 EB-0. That has a 30 1/2” scale (actually 30 1/4” measured).
Compared to short scale GHS Precision Flats, the LTF were more flexible, but same tension, smoother, more polished, mellower tone without a metallic growl, warmer, woodier right away. The GHS has a nice little “vintage rock” growl. Very similar though. The gauges are pretty similar, 42-100 vs. 45-95 for the GHS.
Generally I think, you want a more flexible, lighter gauge flatwound on a short scale so the E string in particular performs well. A stiff string like a heavier gauge old school flat can have a clunky E string with bad intonation and sharp harmonics. The Roto 77 definitely. We all know how E strings can be clunky anyways. But, the LTF and GHS I ended up thinking we’re just too light and loose for the EB-0. Partly due to the feel and higher action needed. Partly due to the light gauge flat accentuating bass frequencies which the EB-0 already does too well. I ended up with GHS Brite Flats on there 49-108, much higher tension, low action needed, but flexible since they’re actually ground rounds. Good E string performance, more mids in the sound, but still a classic sound vs. an actual round wound especially as they deaden up. Those strings were recommended for EB-0 by others on this site, right on. Generally I think ground rounds are a bit boring vs. either flats or rounds, but this was a good compromise, round performance with flat-like tone.
Sorry a bit long there!
I haven’t tried but looked into them. Obviously the Olinto are a heavier gauge. It says they are brighter than the LTF or the Deep Talking flats. Gauge on the Olinto is 47, 68, 80, 107. vs. LTF
42 56, 75 100
In one video they said the Olintos were designed to get the tone of having heavier gauge strings, but to be more flexible so as to produce less hand fatigue playing, vs the DTB. Apparently they do this by having a thin core.
yeah I found all of that. I’ve played on both DTF and LTF, and the LTF had a little extra musicality to them. I wish I could have hooked it up to a spectrum analyzer to know what my ears heard. If I had, making a decision would be easier…
Tried the LTF 5 string set, struck by how thumpy the B string was, like it was being palm muted even when played normally, with less sustain than all the other strings. Didn’t really match the set. Swapped on a DTB .109 to use as a low B with the rest of the LTF set. I dig it. Clear sound, good sustain, and makes a nice transition from the LTF E string. Tension a smidge light but compatible with my playing style at least, and fits with the LTF set overall pretty well IMHO, but YMMV. Would love to try the .110 from the 1954 set but couldn’t find that .110 available as a single. Supposedly the 1954 set has thicker cores than the DTB sets, so its .110 tuned to low B might feel pretty good with the LTF set. The .109 as a B feels good to me, I’m just curious to try both.
You might try Dunlop flatwounds for a five string. I tried their four string set before…. Sort of a modern sound for a flat but very good performance and balance which is a challenge for five string especially.
By modern sound, I mean clear and hi fi, not so plunky, woody, or muted.
By modern sound, I mean clear and hi fi, not so plunky, woody, or muted.
Good to know. For the moment this LTF set, with the DTB .109 for a B string is working. There is a slight plunk to them, which I dig, but now it’s more consistent from string to string.
Corrigenda -
At the time of the above posts, the La Bella Olinto Signature Flatwound sets (OSF-4, OSF-5 and OSF-6) did not come with the anti-stringthru warning.
However, the warning was recently added to their product pages as well.
In other words, the only thru-body kosher La Bella flats are
- the LTF-4A and LTF-5A from the Low Tension Flats line
- the 760FS-TB (Deep Talkin' Bass flat standard, thru-body version)
- the 760F-MUS (Deep Talkin' Bass flat for the thru-body-only Fender Mustang)
- the 760-FD (Deep Talkin' Bass flat for Danelectro short-scale basses), for some reason (either the light gauge or the fact that only in a sub-short scale bass would they fit through the body)
[The nylon tapewounds (whether black, white or custom coloured) are really, like the near-totality of the competition, roundwound under the tape, and accordingly come without the warning.]
__
The above having been said, all La Bella flats and tapes carry another warning, about correct headstock-end length fitment (the strings should taper before the tuning post).
Just put the 760F-MUS on my Mustang. Thru body
And they are perfect for me and that bass.
And they are perfect for me and that bass.
Had a set of LTF’s on the ‘75 P-bass for about 2 months and I’m lovin’ ‘em. Tried the DTF’s but couldn’t deal with the tension. I’m not really the kind of guy that reads instructions though, except when nothing else works. Stumbled on this thread today and checked the bass and noticed these issues and had to ask if this is gonna be a problem.
The E string silk is well past the tuner post, as is the taper. Would it be beneficial to remove the string and add a spacer at the bridge or would the risk of damaging the string in the process be worse than leaving it like it is?
The E string silk is well past the tuner post, as is the taper. Would it be beneficial to remove the string and add a spacer at the bridge or would the risk of damaging the string in the process be worse than leaving it like it is?
I’d leave it and maybe consider a spacer next time. Fwiw, the LTF can sustain much more bend without issue than the DTF.
the wound part doesn’t really bend much around post, so you should be fine. I’d totally be happy with your setup
