New La Bella Flat wound low E unraveled and snapped?

[Craig Williams]

Just putting some new strings on my Jazz Bass tonight. Only got to the low E and the string started to unravel and snapped? With very little tension too, wasn't anywhere near tuning tension. They are extra long scale 105s and should be right for my bass.

One thing I did do and maybe wasn't right was cut about 4" of the thin bound leader off at string was way to long. But that still left me with about 3" of the thin bound leader of the string to get the first few turns on the post before the proper flat wound part of the string started wrapping around.

Did I do the wrong thing or is it a faulty string?

 

[FunkHead]

Purely a guess but I think it's because the String was binding in the nut. I say that based on where it broke.

 

[Craig Williams]

Purely a guess but I think it's because the String was binding in the nut. I say that based on where it broke.

I don't know about binding but you can see from the break it would have been pretty close to where the string started going on the post. Even so it shouldn't break like that right? Fender US machines and they are fairly sharp in the slot where the string sits down but the string should be built to withstand that I would have thought. I thought me cutting the ends off may have caused it but apparently ok

 

[michael_t]

One thing I did do and maybe wasn't right was cut about 4" of the thin bound leader off at string was way to long. But that still left me with about 3" of the thin bound leader of the string to get the first few turns on the post before the proper flat wound part of the string started wrapping around.

La Bella explicitly warns against having any of the unsilked part wrap around the post. Sounds like the E string is too long for your bass.

What's the actual measurement on the bass from where the ball end is seated to where the E string just clears the nut? If it's less than 36.75", you should be using the standard "long scale".

 

[Craig Williams]

It would be a tad less than that, maybe 36.3". I did ask the shop what was recommended for a Fender Jazz bass

 

[michael_t]

It would be a tad less than that, maybe 36.3". I did ask the shop what was recommended for a Fender Jazz bass

The shop told you wrong, unfortunagely... A Fender Jazz would need the "long scale" for La Bella Flats.

 

[Craig Williams]

God damn it, not my day. Just before this happened today received a brand new Ampeg combo, which appears to be faulty out of the box

 

[Craig Williams]

The shop told you wrong, unfortunagely... A Fender Jazz would need the "long scale" for La Bella Flats.

You are 100% right, just read all the info. I live in Thailand and they are expensive here too. $100 down the drain

 

[michael_t]

You are 100% right, just read all the info. I live in Thailand and they are expensive here too. $100 down the drain

The shop should replace the broken string with a new one with the proper length for free to make up for their own ignorance!

 

[Craig Williams]

They could replace the one broken string with another one if they had them, but the other 3 strings (I haven't put them on yet) will be wrong too and probably break. I just went over my messages to them and I actually asked for long scale, they even confirmed long scale. But they have sent extra long scale so they can foxtrot oscar lol

 

[michael_t]

They could replace the one broken string with another one if they had them, but the other 3 strings (I haven't put them on yet) will be wrong too and probably break.

The length of A-D-G are the same between the "long scale" set and the "extra long set" at 38" from ball end to silk; the only difference is the E string, 36.75" vs. 38".

It's not as much of an issue with A-D-G as the E because the tuner posts for those three are farther up the headstock away from the nut on a typical Fender bass.

 

[N4860]

They could replace the one broken string with another one if they had them, but the other 3 strings (I haven't put them on yet) will be wrong too and probably break. I just went over my messages to them and I actually asked for long scale, they even confirmed long scale. But they have sent extra long scale so they can foxtrot oscar lol

They sent you the wrong product, they should replace the whole set with the proper long scale strings.

 

[Craig Williams]

The length of A-D-G are the same between the "long scale" set and the "extra long set" at 38" from ball end to silk; the only difference is the E string, 36.75" vs. 38".

I sure hope thats right. Id be happy with a new E string if they have one. I dont really understand how the other strings can be the same size short or long scale? Not that I doubt you. With the smaller strings can you wind the flat wound part onto the post?

Its ok to cut a bit of the thin leader off right?

It's not as much of an issue with A-D-G as the E because the tuner posts for those three are farther up the headstock away from the nut on a typical Fender bass.

 

[Craig Williams]

Oh so the 4 strings are all the same length? Of course. Appreciate your help so much. If u wouldnt have replied I probably woulnt have checked and wrote them off to stupidity

 

[michael_t]

Its ok to cut a bit of the thin leader off right?

Yes, as long as you leave them long enough for at least 3 wraps (maybe 4 for D and G) around the post. The only important thing is only the silked part on the E string wraps on the post.

Oh so the 4 strings are all the same length?

As mentioned earlier, the only difference between the La Bella "long scale" 4-string set and the "extra long scale" 4-string set is the winding length of the E string, 36.75" vs. 38". The other three (A-D-G) are always the same at 38".

Here's the reference guide to La Bella bass string winding lengths:

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

 

[aprod]

Did you bend the string to a 45 degree angle before you cut it?

 

[AboutSweetSue]

I really wanted to try La Bella's Gold Flats on my Gibson SG. I've wrapped plenty of other flats around the tuning posts on this bass that had been busted down from a long scale. La Bella simply will not allow itself to bend around that post without snapping and unraveling. It's one of the few that I can't get to work.

 

[iiipopes]

God damn it, not my day. Just before this happened today received a brand new Ampeg combo, which appears to be faulty out of the box

Yeah, sucks. I offer a virtual beverage in consolation, as I have been there too.

 

[Deleted member 165050]

God damn it, not my day. Just before this happened today received a brand new Ampeg combo, which appears to be faulty out of the box

Don't open anything else today.

Oh and like others have said extra long is definitely wrong for a J bass so the shop should replace the set...

 

[SoulReflection]

Oh so the 4 strings are all the same length? Of course. Appreciate your help so much. If u wouldnt have replied I probably woulnt have checked and wrote them off to stupidity

I don't know what your location is but, I found a problem with a string on a set I ordered for one of my basses. If you email LaBella, you could probably order an E string at the correct length. In my case, it was an A string on a Mustang PJ. It cost me $4.95 and $4.95 shipping and it arrive in 3-4 days. Of course, I am in the US so YMMV. Hope this helps.

Oh, and I would check to ensure there a no sharp edges on the tuner or nut and follow the correct procedure to install and set the witness point... just to be safe.