Double Bass new LaBella 980 gut set

[Jeff Kissell]

Has anyone tried and/or is using this set?
How do they compare to Gamut, Chorda, etc?

I’m contemplating returning to a full gut set and these look like a different design intention and aesthetic.

 

[Francois Blais]

Subscribed

 

[AGCurry]

these look like a different design intention and aesthetic.

How so? I've not seen a picture of the strings, but LaBella's description of them makes them sound like throwbacks to the 1950s.

 

[Jeff Kissell]

I guess because they’re so highly polished, similar to Dlugolecki’s plain gut but maybe even more so? I’ve not seen or played them so I don’t know.

Having played Dlugolecki, Gamut and Chorda, I’m curious how they relate.

I would add the Gamut Lyon G and Pistoy D are probably my benchmark at this point.

 

[AGCurry]

The impression I got from reading LaBella's description is that the plain strings are very smooth. That's how I think of the "vintage" strings I've had, while high-dollar contemporary guts have a rougher texture, which helps playing arco. Come to think of it, the one Dlugolecki string I had had a pretty rough surface.

 

[Jeff Kissell]

The Dlugolecki D and G strings I’ve had were very smooth and glassy. The plain A was too. After a few years they scuffed a bit but were always way smoother that the Gamut strings I’ve had, especially Pistoy. The Chorda I’ve played were in kinda in the middle, leaning towards the Gamut but it was someone else’s bass and my memory isn’t clear.
I’ve read all the available info on the 980 set but was hoping there were more real world impressions in addition to little bun’s review. My guess is the users so far just aren’t on Talkbass…

 

[garrett2]

The Dlugolecki D and G strings I’ve had were very smooth and glassy.

I agree. I have @AGCurry's Dlugolecki and I don't find it as rough as my Gamut.

 

[Jeff Kissell]

Okay, I was able to find a slightly used set here in the TB classifieds. I have them on and a trip to the luthier scheduled for tomorrow to fine tune the set up. I haven't had a full set of gut strings on this bass for a few years. Impressions to follow in the next few day and weeks.

 

[Jeff Kissell]

The strings are very nice but I didn't really vibe with them the way I was hoping. It's been a few years since I've had a full set of gut strings on this bass and enough things have changed with my playing that it wasn't as I remembered. I found I missed the tuning stability of the Perpetual E & A more than I thought I would and since I was putting those back on I decided to just roll with the Gamut D & G I already had and sell the La Bellas as a set. They are well made, balanced and work great together. The E & A are powerful and the D & G are polished smooth and speak clearly. The G more than the D (but that is pretty typical for plain gut.) I imagine if I would have kept them on, a sound post adjustment would definitely help.