• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

LaBella LTF vs. 760fx - the winner is clear

#21
Next Time just get the T.I. Jazz Flats. These are the strings that the LTFs try to copy. There is nothing like them. Amazing sound amd feel.

Just an FYI - My dealer friend asked they why they were so expensive. The T.I. rep told him that the machines that grind the strings so incredibly smooth run at half the typical speed. They take longer to make, so higher cost.
 
#22
Bassamatic said:
Next Time just get the T.I. Jazz Flats. These are the strings that the LTFs try to copy. There is nothing like them. Amazing sound amd feel.

Just an FYI - My dealer friend asked they why they were so expensive. The T.I. rep told him that the machines that grind the strings so incredibly smooth run at half the typical speed. They take longer to make, so higher cost.
Click to expand...

I don't think the LTF are copying anything. The TI JF use their own alloy and they have a different tone in that sense. The TI JF should be copying the LTF for the A string. 0.070 is stupidly annoying!
 
  • Like
Reactions: TDR1138 and antfarm
#23
Bassamatic said:
Next Time just get the T.I. Jazz Flats. These are the strings that the LTFs try to copy. There is nothing like them. Amazing sound amd feel.

Just an FYI - My dealer friend asked they why they were so expensive. The T.I. rep told him that the machines that grind the strings so incredibly smooth run at half the typical speed. They take longer to make, so higher cost.
Click to expand...

I think the higher price for the Thomastiks in the US is mostly due to them being produced in and shipped from Europe. In Europe, they cost about the same or a little less than US made strings like the LaBellas.

At Thomann Germany, Europe's largest musical instruments online shop, the Thomastik Jazz Flats cost 55 EUR, which is just a little more than the 51 EUR average price of the 35 four string flatwound sets they offer. The LaBella LTFs cost 59 EUR btw.

www.thomann.de

Thomann Flatwound E-Bass Saiten kaufen bei Thomann

Flatwound E-Bass Saiten + Zubehör online kaufen bei Europas größtem Musikhaus ✔ Schneller Versand ✔ 30 Tage Money-Back ✔ 3 Jahre Thomann Garantie
www.thomann.de www.thomann.de
 
Last edited:
#24
Mike Vee said:
I have been a huge fan of LaBella LTFs on my P bass for many years. However, I could never settle on them or leave them on for more than 3-4 months. Played lightly, they sound and feel amazing, but when you start to dig in things get ugly quick, IMO. Sort of a "plastic" sound. Plus, the G just sucks on the LTF set. It's different than the other strings and sounds thin and plucky, and often rattles in some sets. I had always wished they were just a TAD more stiff, like 10-15% or so, and this always leads me to searching for something more perfect for my "60s" bass. (760FL is way too stiff for me.)

Enter the 760FX. Only negative compared to LTF is that they feel just a little bit thinner (40-100 would have been perfect) but I am sure I can get used to it.

Besides that, they beat out LTF in every category. They are just a wee bit stiffer BUT it's the hex core that makes them behave differently (better). They can go lower and still feel more stable than the LTF without introducing buzz or other unwanted artifacts. Digging in doesn't bottom them out. The E sounds better (deeper, better attack with more thump) and the G is very stable and sounds the same as the other strings. And this is only after maybe 30 minutes of play!

Anyway if you ever felt just a little dissatisfied with LTF, try the 760FX. Genuine deep talkin' flats!!

View attachment 7289102
Click to expand...

Thanks for sharing, I recently started a thread on the topic of the weak G string of the LaBella LTFs (Flatwounds with a full and warm G).

The 760FX look interesting, and what you say about the G string makes me want to try them next. I have the 760FL on my Player Precision and the 760F-MUS on my Squier CV Mustang and like them a lot, but wanted a bit less tension for my AO '60s Jazz Bass.
 
Last edited:
#25
antfarm said:
Thanks for sharing, I recently started a thread on the topic of the weak G string of the LaBella LTFs (Flatwounds with a full and warm G).

The 760FX look interesting, and what you say about the G string makes me want to try them next. I have the 760FL on my Player Precision and the 760F-MUS on my Squier CV Mustang and like them a lot, but wanted a bit less tension for my AO '60s Jazz Bass.
Click to expand...
They are definitely worth a try. The G string feels a little bit small, but the sound is much better than the LTF G. It matches the set.
 
#26
Bassamatic said:
Next Time just get the T.I. Jazz Flats. These are the strings that the LTFs try to copy. There is nothing like them. Amazing sound amd feel.

Just an FYI - My dealer friend asked they why they were so expensive. The T.I. rep told him that the machines that grind the strings so incredibly smooth run at half the typical speed. They take longer to make, so higher cost.
Click to expand...
Oh, I’ve had at least 10 different sets of TIs. Great strings but completely different from the LaBella sound and feel. They are by far my favorite string for a jazz bass. Not a huge fan on a P bass. A little loose feeling played over the pickup area. They do great on a Jazz closer to the bridge.
 
#27
antfarm said:
Thanks for sharing, I recently started a thread on the topic of the weak G string of the LaBella LTFs (Flatwounds with a full and warm G).

The 760FX look interesting, and what you say about the G string makes me want to try them next. I have the 760FL on my Player Precision and the 760F-MUS on my Squier CV Mustang and like them a lot, but wanted a bit less tension for my AO '60s Jazz Bass.
Click to expand...
Another set you may enjoy is the Optima RB flats. Lower tension but not quite as low as TI or LTF. I also like the ECB80 chromes but the break in is very long. But the feel is the best of any string IMO.
 
  • Like
Reactions: antfarm
#28
If you liked FX set - try olinto flats. In my case FX introduced metal clank if I set action too low, because they are still kind of stiff. So if you pluck above pickup it clacks at the end of fretboard, because string is still quite stiff and refuses to bend.

Olinto flats are thin core, so when you pluck them the deformation doesn’t reach the freatboard. And vibration amplitude is not enough to clack. So they are clack-less even with low action and such a joy to play.

Olinto have similar tension to FX, but feel less sticky, produce less fret noise and easier to pluck and fret, without being a rubber band.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Yahboy
#29
aff said:
If you liked FX set - try olinto flats. In my case FX introduced metal clank if I set action too low, because they are still kind of stiff. So if you pluck above pickup it clacks at the end of fretboard, because string is still quite stiff and refuses to bend.

Olinto flats are thin core, so when you pluck them the deformation doesn’t reach the freatboard. And vibration amplitude is not enough to clack. So they are clack-less even with low action and such a joy to play.

Olinto have similar tension to FX, but feel less sticky, produce less fret noise and easier to pluck and fret, without being a rubber band.
Click to expand...

I agree i with you on the sound of the Olintos, but I disagree about the tension. I would say the Olintos are closer to the FL than the FX set. I've used all 3, Olintos are my favorite for an old school flat.
 
#30
aff said:
If you liked FX set - try olinto flats. In my case FX introduced metal clank if I set action too low, because they are still kind of stiff. So if you pluck above pickup it clacks at the end of fretboard, because string is still quite stiff and refuses to bend.

Olinto flats are thin core, so when you pluck them the deformation doesn’t reach the freatboard. And vibration amplitude is not enough to clack. So they are clack-less even with low action and such a joy to play.

Olinto have similar tension to FX, but feel less sticky, produce less fret noise and easier to pluck and fret, without being a rubber band.
Click to expand...
I’ve been interested in those too for sure.
 
#31
bassboysam said:
I agree i with you on the sound of the Olintos, but I disagree about the tension. I would say the Olintos are closer to the FL than the FX set. I've used all 3, Olintos are my favorite for an old school flat.
Click to expand...
I really like the way that FL feels, but I definitely find them to be too stiff. Would you say that the Olinto is slightly more, or slightly less tense?
 
#32
Mike Vee said:
I really like the way that FL feels, but I definitely find them to be too stiff. Would you say that the Olinto is slightly more, or slightly less tense?
Click to expand...
Olinto flats are noticeably less stiff than typical “deep talking bridge cables”. But not as soft as TI flats.

If you want that classic sound and thump without fighting the strings - Olintos are the answer. A bit brighter at first but it goes away, or can be rolled out with tone knob.
They are also less sticky somehow.
 
  • Like
Reactions: bassboysam
#33
aff said:
Olinto flats are noticeably less stiff than typical “deep talking bridge cables”. But not as soft as TI flats.

If you want that classic sound and thump without fighting the strings - Olintos are the answer. A bit brighter at first but it goes away, or can be rolled out with tone knob.
They are also less sticky somehow.
Click to expand...
probably more of a gap between the windings. regular DTFs are a bit TOO smooth, so they create resistance, especially with any amount of moisture,
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back