LaBella Olinto Flatwounds - Stunning!

[MIJ Fender Guy]

I almost feel like since I've been playing bass, I've been in search for the perfect flatwounds. I've tried them all. 5 times over.

Today I installed the Olinto flats on my Precision Bass. WOW.

I would describe them much like 760FL, but much easier to play. Like a mix of LTF, 760FL and the Pino Smoothie flats. They feel and look so good. The finish is slightly different than the DTF series. It's better. They are so thick yet somehow very easy to play. I can able to achieve a ridiculously low action with these strings, making them even easier to play. They must be pretty tense, because compared to LTF I really had to crank my truss rod, but somehow they still feel very flexible. The sound, so far, seems almost identical to DTF. Maybe a tad less thumby with the E. They feel very balanced, and the G feels nice and thick. ZERO G buzz with these strings. I wasn't sure how I would feel about the silks, but they actually look pretty cool. They seem to be a lot more durable than the usually LaBella silk, too. (The white part did fray a bit, but nothing my hand nose trimmers couldnt handle )

Highly recommended strings! These are probably never coming off. They tick every box. If I had my wish, each string would be like 5% thinner, but that's just a nitpick.

BOTTOM LINE:
If you are looking for something in between LTF and 760FL, that feels better than both, this is it. Best flats I ever tried upon initial impression. WIthout a doubt.

 

[Thom Fioriglio]

Hmm, you got me interested. I have a set of LaBella 760FL on my Fender 60s Road Worn Vintera II and the E is now thuddy while the other strings still have some nice tone to them. I was thinking of trying the LTF. Maybe I'll give these a try.

 

[winston]

It's funny how we all hear/feel things differently.
Out of several Low Tension Flat sets, Deep Talkin' Flat 760FLs & 760FX and 2 sets of Olintos -
I like the DTFs the best, and I find the 760FLs easier to play compared to Olintos.

On the same bass the O's required tightening the truss and felt stiffer overall compared to 760FL. Both my sets of Olintos had noticeably deader B/E strings right out of the pack - I clean new strings with alcohol to get off any finishing gunk, and know how to properly install strings so they don't twist and sound weird. Also the silks on the Olintos have a strange wax that's not present on the other LaBellas.

The less I say about LTFs the better, after trying them 4 or 5 times they are probably my least favorite flats ever, lacking the real thump and percussiveness of the other LaBellas, a twangy G that doesn't really settle in, and a kind of beige bland tone overall. But many here love them!

 

[MIJ Fender Guy]

It's funny how we all hear/feel things differently.
Out of several Low Tension Flat sets, Deep Talkin' Flat 760FLs & 760FX and 2 sets of Olintos -
I like the DTFs the best, and I find the 760FLs easier to play compared to Olintos.

On the same bass the O's required tightening the truss and felt stiffer overall compared to 760FL. Both my sets of Olintos had noticeably deader B/E strings right out of the pack - I clean new strings with alcohol to get off any finishing gunk, and know how to properly install strings so they don't twist and sound weird. Also the silks on the Olintos have a strange wax that's not present on the other LaBellas.

The less I say about LTFs the better, after trying them 4 or 5 times they are probably my least favorite flats ever, lacking the real thump and percussiveness of the other LaBellas, a twangy G that doesn't really settle in, and a kind of beige bland tone overall. But many here love them!

FLs hurt my fretting hand very quickly. I’ve tried them like 4 times. I just played the Olintos for about 90 minute and they just seem to get more and more supple. Love these strings!!! DTF has a slightly thumpier E, but these are getting more thumpy by the hour.

And yea, LTFs are fun but def not a “forever” string IMO. They are like a diet soda compared to the real DTFs.

 

[Kevin Hailey]

I’ve had a set of Olinto flats on my P bass for 2.5 years now. I like em!

 

[Winton]

I almost feel like since I've been playing bass, I've been in search for the perfect flatwounds. I've tried them all. 5 times over.

Today I installed the Olinto flats on my Precision Bass. WOW.

I would describe them much like 760FL, but much easier to play. Like a mix of LTF, 760FL and the Pino Smoothie flats. They feel and look so good. The finish is slightly different than the DTF series. It's better. They are so thick yet somehow very easy to play. I can able to achieve a ridiculously low action with these strings, making them even easier to play. They must be pretty tense, because compared to LTF I really had to crank my truss rod, but somehow they still feel very flexible. The sound, so far, seems almost identical to DTF. Maybe a tad less thumby with the E. They feel very balanced, and the G feels nice and thick. ZERO G buzz with these strings. I wasn't sure how I would feel about the silks, but they actually look pretty cool. They seem to be a lot more durable than the usually LaBella silk, too. (The white part did fray a bit, but nothing my hand nose trimmers couldnt handle )

Highly recommended strings! These are probably never coming off. They tick every box. If I had my wish, each string would be like 5% thinner, but that's just a nitpick.

BOTTOM LINE:
If you are looking for something in between LTF and 760FL, that feels better than both, this is it. Best flats I ever tried upon initial impression. WIthout a doubt.

View attachment 7425597

How do they compare to Thomastik flats?

 

[MIJ Fender Guy]

How do they compare to Thomastik flats?

Completely different. Nothing in common. Much beefier, much thicker, a lot more tension (but still super comfortable), much richer sound. They are like a thicker LTF, but still about 50% DTF.

It’s a perfect string for those that have realized even though low tension round core strings feel really good, they just don’t have that same sound as a thicker hex core set. These give you more physical substance but yet somehow they’re still pretty flexible to play.

 

[MIJ Fender Guy]

I’ve had a set of Olinto flats on my P bass for 2.5 years now. I like em!

How do they break in? I’ve played mine in about two hours now and I feel like they’re already feeling and sounding a lot better.

 

[Kevin Hailey]

How do they break in? I’ve played mine in about two hours now and I feel like they’re already feeling and sounding a lot better.

They are pretty traditional sounding, especially after two and a half years!
I guess a little more mids than most La Bella’s I’ve used

 

[MIJ Fender Guy]

They are pretty traditional sounding, especially after two and a half years!
I guess a little more mids than most La Bella’s I’ve used

E is nice and thumpy with a lot of attack?

 

[Bass4ThePublic]

Welcome to the dark side, coffee’s in the break room and bathrooms are on the right.

Have had the Olinto’s on my MJT P and my 65 Jazz for roughly a year now. They’re never coming off.

 

[Bass4ThePublic]

Completely different. Nothing in common. Much beefier, much thicker, a lot more tension (but still super comfortable), much richer sound. They are like a thicker LTF, but still about 50% DTF.

It’s a perfect string for those that have realized even though low tension round core strings feel really good, they just don’t have that same sound as a thicker hex core set. These give you more physical substance but yet somehow they’re still pretty flexible to play.

It’s the hex core that makes them so unique

 

[MIJ Fender Guy]

Welcome to the dark side, coffee’s in the break room and bathrooms are on the right.

Have had the Olinto’s on my MJT P and my 65 Jazz for roughly a year now. They’re never coming off.View attachment 7426080View attachment 7426079

Very nice! Can you comment a bit on their lifecycle / break-in charachteristics?

 

[Bass4ThePublic]

Very nice! Can you comment a bit on their lifecycle / break-in charachteristics?

Well, when I installed them I was gigging at least 3 times a week and rehearsing even more, with practice inbetween that. So playing bass basically 40 hours a week in addition to my 40 hour a week job. The strings have this graphite coating that leaves black marks on your fingers if you play for more than an hour. Once that goes away, the strings tend to die which is what I want. I noticed after playing them for about 3-4 months they settle in, but again that’s with my insane playing schedule.

 

[FirewalZ]

My issue with the flats Ive tried is the E strings never matches the rest, it get dull and thuddy and uneven. Is there a set out there this doesn't happen to?

 

[MIJ Fender Guy]

My issue with the flats Ive tried is the E strings never matches the rest, it get dull and thuddy and uneven. Is there a set out there this doesn't happen to?

Cobalt flats, with the 100 E or more

 

[Bass4ThePublic]

My issue with the flats Ive tried is the E strings never matches the rest, it get dull and thuddy and uneven. Is there a set out there this doesn't happen to?

Most flatwounds are VERY uneven out of the box, and I find they really even out around the 6 month to 1 year mark. Nature of the beast.

 

[MIJ Fender Guy]

Most flatwounds are VERY uneven out of the box, and I find they really even out around the 6 month to 1 year mark. Nature of the beast.

Yes, but if lighter gauge they can break in really good as early as 1.5 - 2 months.

 

[Aledal]

I've been using these since before they were officially called the Olinto flats and came with a pack with a Buffalo nickel on it. They've played out really nicely for my taste and the Ps they're on, I think they settled in really quickly (maybe 15-20 hours of playing), and I've played one set for sweaty gigs a lot and they're still sounding great. The slightly brighter mids than the DTF and what I think is a really nice tension for me switching between E standard and Eb tunings, together with the hex core in the larger gauge actually made me pick up some of the High Polish roundwounds from labella that are the same gauge for those purposes...also really like those for that roundishwound sound!!

 

[Kevan Campbell]

Another fan of Olinto flats here, I currently have them on one of my Sadowsky NYC’s and my Lakland 55-02.

I’ve found that they feel great under the fingers, a bit less tension, less slippery and a bit warmer sound than the Curt Mangan flats I had favored until now. I still have some Rotosound flats on my Bluesman Vintage which seems to be a great match, but that’s more to find a set of flatwounds that I can replace at any Guitar Center while on the road (it’s considerably more difficult to find the Olintos in the wild).

I’ve found the Olintos seem to do a good job of taming the high zing vibe inherent to the Lakland 55-02, almost so much that I hate to sell it (still going to though as I don’t get on with the 35” scale).

My Sadowsky wears the Olintos for a tour I was on this past December, playing Christmas songs with a western-swing sound. They retain enough high end that I can go back to my usual gig of 90’s country if I need to, but warm up really well and hold pitch like they’re already broken in.

The best be complaint I have about the Olintos is that I can’t get a different length set. The reverse headstock on my Sadowsky makes it to where the Olinto G just barely fits without turning the string outside of the silk (where the Labella customer service said that it WILL break if that happens). This is definitely a rare conundrum of my own choosing though, not Labella’s fault.