LaBella set arrived in questionable condition--Return immediately or try them first? (white nylon tapes for Sire U5)

[skeevy]

Hello! TL;DR: Question in title, pics below. What would you do in this situation? I ordered some LaBella White Nylon Tape Wound short scale strings online. After removing from the padded mailer, it appears the strings have been repackaged into a loose plastic bag (first photo), inside of which they were in various states of being uncoiled. If I had to guess, it looks like they fell out of their original packaging and were stuffed in another bag. That said, it's my first time buying these strings and have no reference for what they should arrive looking like, packaging-wise. Outside of that "bag," there are visible kinks near 3 of the ball ends, as well as at least one smaller kink/imperfection and a couple patches where the texture feels different while sliding my finger along the string. There may be more damage/imperfections on the two strings I haven't unwrapped yet. As I'm typing this, I feel like I may already have my answer--This doesn't seem like acceptable condition for a $50 set of strings to me. But hey, I'd still like to hear what you fine folks have to say.

Back in the bag and initiate return immediately? Throw them on the bass and see how they actually feel and sound first? It would be valuable to get a sense of how I like them and if I want to order another set even if I'm returning them (I've never tried any LaBella strings before, nor have I tried tape wounds). As excited as I am to try them out, I'm also wondering if they might give me a hard time about the return if I've "used" them.

(FWIW, the bass in question is a Sire Marcus Miller U5--my first short scale). If you're just dying to talk about the strings you love on your short scale, particularly U5, feel free.

Long story longer: I play a variety of styles from classic rock to metal, some funky stuff and country stuff, a little reggae, some spacey/textural sections, pretty eclectic I suppose. I've primarily used round wounds, but I've tried some flats too and sometimes prefer them for recording. While I do like some bite in a lot of my rock playing, my background is classical cello, and I've realized flatwounds on the U5 (my first short scale bass) gets me fairly close to the size and feel of a cello, which is pretty cool! I didn't have that goal in mind when I bought a short scale or put flats on it, but it dawned on me that I'd inadvertently created a somewhat cello-like setup.

The U5 is currently strung with DR Legends (Stainless Steel .045-.105 Short Scale). Their tension is higher than I'd like, and the E and G strings seem a lot louder relative to A and D (unless that could be user error with my installation/setup? I don't feel like I've had trouble with this in the past, but 80+% of my playing and string changing has been on one bass and this is a different instrument). I read here on TB and elsewhere that the LaBella white nylon tape wounds were lower tension and brighter than typical flats, smooth, etc. and thought they sounded worth trying!

Thanks in advance for weighing in and especially if you read all that!

 

[johnh89]

They look like they have been fitted to an instrument . Return them and purchase from a decent retailer .

 

[bholder]

They look like they have been fitted to an instrument . Return them and purchase from a decent retailer .

Yup. Sold, mounted, used, then returned and re-sold. Return. Or ask for a "used item" discount refund. I'd shoot for 50%, since they do look unworn and usable.

 

[cousinelmer]

The bends at the ball ends are strange because they don't occur where one would expect if they had been mounted. One kind of looks like it was put through a thru-body bridge -- but not put under tension -- but not really since there would be two bends. The bend in the other is so close to the ball end it's hard to imagine how it got that way The tuner ends that we can see have not been mounted. Perhaps someone began to mount them and realized they were the wrong length before proceeding to wind them -- but even that doesn't really explain what we see.

But the packing ain't right ant that would be enough for me to quiz the seller.

 

[JonathanPDX]

Nobody is taking them back after you install them, and whatever issues were present become your problem. Send them back unless you have unlimited funds and can afford to throw $50 in the trash.

 

[ardgedee]

If I had to guess, it looks like they fell out of their original packaging and were stuffed in another bag.

That's not how strings packaging works, the strings can't simply fall out. Somebody took them out and tried them.

They're used product. Return them and buy strings from a reputable seller.

 

[ValleyBass77]

Ditch those strings and order directly from LaBella.

 

[PapaBearBass]

If it was just the packaging that’s one thing, but the fact that they’re bent proves they have been used previously and sold as new. Return those, get a refund, and then buy a new set from a different vendor.

 

[Ggaa]

Take a pic of them, email to the vendor and they should have a replacement set out to you pretty quick. That was my experience last week w/another brand, same wierd kinks.

 

[John K]

looks like they were 'tried' and repackaged, get a refund

 

[KevInDaBassment]

Yeah somebody fed them through the bridge (or body) and saw the string length wasn't correct, then put them back in the package. Hence the string ends are pristine but you see those bends at the ball end. Used set, ask for a refund/exchange.

 

[ahbradot]

LaBella sells their strings directly on Amazon.
I bought new for both basses;
- 2007 Ernie Ball Music Man Sterling HH4
Bass Guitar Strings LABELLA Deep Talkin' 760FL - (43-60-82-104) (installed Dec 2025)
- 2019 MTD Bass KZ4 SA Kingston Z
Bass Guitar Strings LABELLA Deep Talkin' 760FL - 43-60-82-104 (installed Nov 2025)

 

[FullumMusic]

1- Like everyone else said, those strings have been used. That's what the kinks on by the ball ends are. They've been on a bass.

2- Just order direct from La Bella

3-

I read here on TB and elsewhere that the LaBella white nylon tape wounds were lower tension and brighter than typical flats, smooth, etc. and thought they sounded worth trying!

Yes. Tapes are EXTREMELY "low-tension" (aka. not stiff). Like, probably lower tension than any round-wound you've ever played. They'll bend for days too. The Whites are their brightest, snappiest sounding La Bella tapes.

La Bella tapes in order of Darkest to Brightest:
Black --> Copper White --> Gold White --> White

I have a couple basses with the Copper Whites and my fretless has Gold Whites. I love how they feel on all three. Amusingly, i love how "low-tension" the Tapes feel, and i also absolutely love how stiff and high tension my basses with La Bella Flats feel too.

Completely subjective opinion:
I tried the Whites on a couple basses and they were too bright and brittle sounding for my ear, but everyone likes different sounds. I've talked to others who consider the Whites their favorites.

I like dark and the Blacks were still too dark for me.

The Copper Whites and Gold Whites were kinda my goldilocks zone of beefy + clarity without being too bright, for my tastes. But again, this isn't to say you'll like and dislike the same ones as me. Just my own experience mixed with my preferences as a reference.

 

[Gorn]

Yeah somebody fed them through the bridge (or body) and saw the string length wasn't correct, then put them back in the package. Hence the string ends are pristine but you see those bends at the ball end. Used set, ask for a refund/exchange.

This is it. Partially mounted. No one took the time to meticulously straighten out a coiled wire. Definitely return.

 

[Zooberwerx]

Run thru the bridge, kinked at the saddle(s), then discovered to be wrong scale length...or that's the only plausible explanation I can concoct.

Riis

 

[MCS4]

I would probably return them, since tapes are relatively expensive and may be more likely to have issues with the wrap coming apart due to multiple installs compared to something like a set of standard rounds. Odds are it wouldn't be an issue, but no need to take the chance.

 

[bholder]

FWIW, I love the strings - just put a set on my new-to-me Tune TS-365, love the feel and sound. When mounted, they don't look white, as much as slightly coated stainless rounds. Which they sound like - all the brightness, but tamed by the tape covering....

 

[Wannabass]

I got a set of black tapewounds from LaBella and the E string had some missing "tape" exposing the underlayment.
I sent them a picture and even though they said they didn't look too bad they sent me a new string.
Highly recommend the strings and dealing with the company directly although I have purchased their strings at local music shops too.

 

[N4860]

Run thru the bridge, kinked at the saddle(s), then discovered to be wrong scale length...or that's the only plausible explanation I can concoct.

Riis

Agreed. If they were truly entirely strung up on a bass, the non ball end side would be curled up. It would take a lot of work and possibly some magic to straighten out the end that was around the tuners to make them look new like that, no?

 

[CoughSyrup]

LaBella's customer service has always been fantastic in my experience. I would return and buy direct.