LaBella LTF-4A Low Tension Flat love thread

[LetItGrowTone]

Wow, @PrairieThunder13, I might like P better if I could make one sound that nice. Nice song, tone, note selection, mix. Thanks.

Maybe it sounds like "La Bella" but the lowest notes are much clearer than the thicker ones. Must have that. I don't like Motown type thump much.

I haven't been able to tell the difference between LTF and FX, but they're on very different basses.

 

[Mike Vee]

I've had the FX set on 2 different basses and I didn't find much love for them, TBH. They are just a thinner version of any 760, which I find a little stiff and difficult to manage. The LTF are way more fun!!!

 

[ShawnG]

Can anyone compare/contrast LTF with Sadowsky Blue Label Flats? Thx.

 

[JEDI BASS]

Wow, @PrairieThunder13, I might like P better if I could make one sound that nice. Nice song, tone, note selection, mix. Thanks.

Maybe it sounds like "La Bella" but the lowest notes are much clearer than the thicker ones. Must have that. I don't like Motown type thump much.

I haven't been able to tell the difference between LTF and FX, but they're on very different basses.

Don’t forget, that bass has a DiMarzio Model P. That’s the pickup that ended my 30 year dislike for P basses. They can convert a P hater!

I now have a few Ps and PJs with Model Ps and Dimarzio Relentless pickups, as well as several other P pup equipped basses. Once I fell, I went on a buying spree LOL.

 

[JEDI BASS]

Can anyone compare/contrast LTF with Sadowsky Blue Label Flats? Thx.

Here’s a clip of a bass I bought. It was (and still is) wearing Sadowsky blue label flats.

They’re great strings. But, they’re higher tension than LTFs. So, I’ve since bought some lighter gauge blue label sets (1 new and 1 used) that I’ve yet to install and compare.

 

[ShawnG]

Here’s a clip of a bass I bought. It was (and still is) wearing Sadowsky blue label flats.

They’re great strings. But, they’re higher tension than LTFs. So, I’ve since bought some lighter gauge blue label sets (1 new and 1 used) that I’ve yet to install and compare.

Thx. I’ve got a set of 40-100 Sadowsky Blue Label Flats in my LB-100 and am really happy with them.
Just wondered how the LaBella LTFs might sound compared to them. More “thumpy” or more similar than different?

 

[CameronJohnson]

If anyone is curious how a set of LTFs sound on the neck pickup of a Jazz (Xotic XJ), here ya go:



They've been on the bass for barely 24 hours and I love em already. Very similar in feel to Thomastiks, but very slightly stiffer and smoother which for me makes them easier to play. Biggest plus is they sound like the flatwound tone in my head straight out of the pack and I’m sure they’ll only get better with age!

 

[OldSchoolFlats]

I ended-up with the slightly heftier DTF 760FL-B set, but just had to note La Bella definitely makes good strings.

Had the DTF 760FM set years ago, so was surprised when the 760FLs were about like rounds re: stiffness and tension. In addition to the classic thump and pick sound, I even get a bit of a slap thing out of these strings on an active bass with the treble maxed.

Also glad to see some love on TB for flats. Was feeling like “grandpa” about my love for flats.

 

[friend33]

I’m about to pick up a 5 string Jazz and those LTFs sound great @CameronJohnson ! Going to keep those in mind…

 

[noeinstein]

Labella's customer service is excellent, too. I broke the E string on my first set of LTF's by stringing it through the body (my fault, they clearly state that is a no no, but I don't read instructions until something goes wrong). Anyway, I called to buy a replacement, admitting guilt, and they just sent one gratis. That and the way they play has settled me on Labella LTF's.

 

[CameronJohnson]

I’m about to pick up a 5 string Jazz and those LTFs sound great @CameronJohnson ! Going to keep those in mind…

I highly recommend them! I’ve tried a few types of flats - TIs, EB Cobalts, Dunlops, LaBella 760 - but after only a day of playing these LTFs are my favourite to date. All the others I put on my basses and think “hmm, I’ll have to wait for these to break in a bit before I truly like them” but the LTFs made me grin immediately.

 

[andare]

I ended-up with the slightly heftier DTF 760FL-B set, but just had to note La Bella definitely makes good strings.

Had the DTF 760FM set years ago, so was surprised when the 760FLs were about like rounds re: stiffness and tension. In addition to the classic thump and pick sound, I even get a bit of a slap thing out of these strings on an active bass with the treble maxed.

Also glad to see some love on TB for flats. Was feeling like “grandpa” about my love for flats.

?
Flats are universally praised here.

 

[Mike Vee]

If anyone is curious how a set of LTFs sound on the neck pickup of a Jazz (Xotic XJ), here ya go:



They've been on the bass for barely 24 hours and I love em already. Very similar in feel to Thomastiks, but very slightly stiffer and smoother which for me makes them easier to play. Biggest plus is they sound like the flatwound tone in my head straight out of the pack and I’m sure they’ll only get better with age!

amazing! great playing, love it AND PERFECT TONE

 

[donhank]

Another vote for LTF-4As. I really like the smooth, comfortable feel, and the soft tension and neutral tone work well for my playing style. Unlike many here on TB, I don't keep them in service forever. Whenever I hear, feel, or see a difference I go ahead and change them out. Typically 12 - 18 months .

 

[CameronJohnson]

Some would dismiss that as unnecessary @donhank but 12-18 months is still damn good value for a set of strings. In old English money, that’s as little as £2.78 per month. Not too shabby!

 

[donhank]

Some would dismiss that as unnecessary

Even I would admit changing the strings this often is "unnecessary." But it does satisfy my desire for shiny new objects affordably!

 

[woodyng2]

Hey there, Don!
I see you have the more recent sets with the beefier A string.
I’m still using an older set on my JB2, that had a lighter A (70 instead of 75).
I bought a new set to replace them, but even after about 3 years, the old set still sounds great.
The new ones might end up on a Rick that currently has the Optima RB set on….
both sets feel very similar, but have pretty different sounds.

 

[Jason Schulhz]

I have tried every string imaginable and La Bella Low Tension Flexible Flats run a bulldozer over the competition. If you’re going to play bass, then own the lower frequencies with some thump to complement the kick drum. The low tension makes these the most playable and forgiving strings imaginable.

I would put TI Jazz Flats as my second favorite, they have a similar tension. But they lack the low end thump and woofer shaking mids that La Bella LTF’s produce.

 

[donhank]

I’m still using an older set on my JB2, that had a lighter A (70 instead of 75). I bought a new set to replace them, but even after about 3 years, the old set still sounds great.

I remember the change from 70 to 75 . . . we were all freaking out because LaBella kept shipping with the old packaging (showing .70 A) until they ran out !!

I would put TI Jazz Flats as my second favorite, they have a similar tension. But they lack the low end thump and woofer shaking mids that La Bella LTF’s produce

Tried the TIJF once, and took them off immediately . . . they are nickel wrapped, and made my skin itch and turn green.

 

[fig]

How’s their 5-string set(s)? Wondering how well that pesky B string does on a 34” Fender knock-off (Sire)?

Been using the 5 string LTF's version for years. Have written about it in a couple of places in the forum.

Besides the quality sound, the B string, being .118inch gauge, allowed me to have clear, in-tunes notes above the octave, sometimes up to the 24th fret. Avoided the B string above about the 6th or 7th frets with .125's or larger for years. This opened up easier hand positioning when playing higher up the neck.

The above applies to my 34 inch scale bass. And my bass is crud, an ill-regard Ocean Laguna with the crud active preamp stripped out and full passive now.

The B string isn't floppy. May be low tension (pulling force between the ends), but the stiffness is fine.

Anyway, if you 5 string players of 34 inch scale basses want to play the B up past the octave using flatwounds, give the LTF-5A'a a try. For what it's worth, when I switch to roundwounds, the B is .115 inch. Still gives in-tune notes up past the octave. Smaller gauge B's seem to be the secret sauce for 34 inch 5 string basses.