These are VERY GOOD strings, but they are not T.I. Jazz Flats. Period.
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LaBella LTF-4A Low Tension Flat love thread
- Thread starter Mike Vee
- Start date
I haven't tried TI's myself, but I'm curious to know how they compare. What would you say is the difference, and why do you like TI's better?
I recently discovered these and now have them on my Joe Dart and a P bass... hands down, best flatwounds I've ever played.
Night and day. The La Bellas (including LT) are classic flats.
TI Jazz Flats have a nylon winding (or alloy?) that make them quite different. More like orchestral strings for acoustic instruments, but with metal that pickups work with.
Eh? Nylon winding? where? ... TI JF344 are stainless steel, roundcore, flatwound strings of excellent quality, durability and with a very, very vintage-oriented sound .. they are the most flexible flats on the market and are a joy to play.
LaBella LFT4-A are also low-tension flats; they have a marvellous vintage tone, a super-smooth skin but they are stiffer then TI JF344, the neck relief is more difficult to adjust and, in general, slightly less easy to play ...
I find the TIs to be more modern than vintage sounding. My TI sets don't sound at all like the Motown thumpy flats of James Jamerson, which is what I think of when you say vintage-oriented.
The LTFs do have that Labella thump and old school sound. I haven't had any issues with neck adjustments or ease of play with either the TI or LTF sets. I would venture to say that the silky smoothness of the LTFs makes them easier to play... no friction.
Opinions are opinions .. I played everything that's on the market with the exclusion of the Optima 400RL (a lot of money wasted actually, the top of it was that thrown out of the window when I bought two packs of Dunlop flats).
Both strings are excellent; LTF are a tad smoother at the touch but they are stiff; less stiff than standard LaBella strings but stiff though.
TI is the planet of easy-playing; tone? Both do produce a vintage tone.
LTF probably a tad more early '60s tone than TI.
Price?
In Europe TI do not cost a lot, I mean they are sold at the same price as the LTF; in the USA i guess the situation is different.
Thomastik-Infeld JF344 Jazz Flats Bass Guitar Strings
Silk is wrapped around the core, and the outer winding is a rather soft alloy.
Good to know they seem SS on the outside .. no issues they are the best of the best .. I suggest LaBella to adopt the silk interlayer as well eh, eh
I really enjoyed the LaBella LTF's on my recently departed Carvin 5. That being said, I prefer the character of the EB Cobalt Flats which, unfortunately, are available only in a single standard gauge (45-130) which is a tad stiffer than desired. Not to worry: I can purchase singles in the lighter gauges or a light gauge 4 string set (40-95) and add the 130 B.
Riis
Riis
Don't see silk around core on La Bella, but might have missed it: [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Does "narrower ribbon" mean silk around the core?
No, the ribbon is the outer, flat winding. The fact that it is narrow apparently makes the string more flexible. Makes sense too. The above being said, there might be a silk inlay around the core too. Don't know. Anyone feel like taking one apart, for the sake of science?
I have the LaBella LTF’s on my precision bass. Have not had to adjust the neck in years. Tone for days.
IIRC, Labella LTFs have silk between core and wraps just like TI's. I have a pair and they are my favorite strings on my fretted bass. To my ears, they are more modern sounding than the traditional flats from LaBella, which I have put on several basses before. I haven't played on TI's, but I have read that LTF is labellas answer for that type of string. I've read somewhere that LTF feel more even across the strings than TI, but I have no experience.
For those reading and wondering, "how low is low tension?" It's not as low as you think. To my fingers, they feel tension wise like rounds (and on a short scale!). So they do get a little more tone because of that. They are only "low tension" when comparing to other flats. I put a set of light gauged white tapes on my daughters p bass, and those are noticeably more floppy. She wants LTF on her bass now. I put the tapes to make it easier to fret, etc for a beginner.
I would describe the sound of the LTF to be more "modern and compressed" than their DTF. Just my $0.02.
As a reformed roundwounds user, I went from Pyramid Golds to TI Jazz Flats, then tried a set of La Bella LTFs last year. They're my go-to strings now - just a wee bit tighter than the JFs, but still supple and smooth to the touch. In my appraisal, the tone is ideal for recording. They sound punchy, focused and mellow, neither ringy nor tubby, and seem to bring out the best in any bass I put them on.
