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New LaBella flatwound strings
- Thread starter Phaidrus
- Start date
Fella is on a left-hand muting trip. He's *very* good at it, but it doesn't make for an especially comprehensive demo video. This one, also by him, covers a little more ground (if only for the fact he plays a 5-string jazz on it):
Imagine the E and G from the 760FS and the A and D from the 760FL.
I just put a set on my M Basses P Bass. I really like them. Over the years, I've tried all sorts of flats. Before the internet, I used whatever the store had in stock-- which was maybe one set -- if I was lucky. So, I can't really list all the brands I've used. I can't really compare them all either, since it was over a long period of time and they were on different basses. But, I can say that I really like the Olintos. Nice tension, nice tonal spectrum, they sound and feel like flats should.
From what I remember, the TI Jazz flats didn't do it for me. I had them on a few basses over the years and I didn't like the tension, which I think affected the tone as well.
I like the Pyramids. I had them on a Hofner, so that's apples/oranges. But I liked the feel of them.
The Chromes were usually more readily available so I used those in the past. I like the smoothness of the Olintos though.
Those are the only ones that stick out in my memory.
One thing with the Olintos. The exposed string rubs against the tuner a little bit on the E string. The silk is not long enough. Did anyone run into this? I'm not sure if that will affect the longevity.
From what I remember, the TI Jazz flats didn't do it for me. I had them on a few basses over the years and I didn't like the tension, which I think affected the tone as well.
I like the Pyramids. I had them on a Hofner, so that's apples/oranges. But I liked the feel of them.
The Chromes were usually more readily available so I used those in the past. I like the smoothness of the Olintos though.
Those are the only ones that stick out in my memory.
One thing with the Olintos. The exposed string rubs against the tuner a little bit on the E string. The silk is not long enough. Did anyone run into this? I'm not sure if that will affect the longevity.
I just ordered a set.
They'll either go on my Harley Benton Jazz which has D'addario nickles or my SBMM Ray which has La Bella's super polished steels that were a limited release from the Roadie Club a few months back. Those are basically groundwounds but the best surface feel I've experienced since they're essentially flat. The tension is a bit unbalanced, and the E is super thumpy, the A is a little brighter, and the D and G are much brighter. Kind of cool, kind of not.
I'm curious how balanced the Olinto's will feel.
I tried a set of Low Tension Flexible Flats on my Dingwall Super P5 a few years ago and liked everything about them except the woefully tiny B string. But I never tried them on a mono-scale bass, so I dunno how balanced they'd feel on a regular 34" scale. The Super P now has Elixirs on it.
I don't have flats on anything but my Bronco (Chromes and I hate them) and my Squier Mini P (La Bella and they're awesome), none of my 34" basses. Time to try it out again.
They'll either go on my Harley Benton Jazz which has D'addario nickles or my SBMM Ray which has La Bella's super polished steels that were a limited release from the Roadie Club a few months back. Those are basically groundwounds but the best surface feel I've experienced since they're essentially flat. The tension is a bit unbalanced, and the E is super thumpy, the A is a little brighter, and the D and G are much brighter. Kind of cool, kind of not.
I'm curious how balanced the Olinto's will feel.
I tried a set of Low Tension Flexible Flats on my Dingwall Super P5 a few years ago and liked everything about them except the woefully tiny B string. But I never tried them on a mono-scale bass, so I dunno how balanced they'd feel on a regular 34" scale. The Super P now has Elixirs on it.
I don't have flats on anything but my Bronco (Chromes and I hate them) and my Squier Mini P (La Bella and they're awesome), none of my 34" basses. Time to try it out again.
Just ordered a 6 string set to try out. Anyone have experience with either D'addario Chromes or Dogal Jaco strings that could give a comparison, both tone and tension-wise?
Currently using the Dogals and the B string feels a bit floppy for my taste (I downtune to ADGCFBb). Always liked the Chromes but the high C needs to be purchased separately as they don't offer prepacked 6 string sets.
I tend to prefer bright flats FWIW.
Currently using the Dogals and the B string feels a bit floppy for my taste (I downtune to ADGCFBb). Always liked the Chromes but the high C needs to be purchased separately as they don't offer prepacked 6 string sets.
I tend to prefer bright flats FWIW.
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I just got these installed and I’m pretty underwhelmed. I thought brighter sound flats would be a great tone on my J bass but they’re just not quite nailing the thump of flats or the top end of rounds. They’re in a weird middle ground. The A is also less lively sounding/a little dead compared to the other three.
My hope is that wearing these in a bit will improve the sound.
My hope is that wearing these in a bit will improve the sound.
The closest I’ve gotten to what you describe (by far) is with the EB Cobalt flats, though they don’t nail either they are IME about the best alternative!
I put a set of Cobalt flats on my new Squier Rascal and they are what I thought La Bella was pitching the Olinto flats as. Brighter, but can still thump. Since I got the Rascal last week, I haven't even wanted to play my Jazz because of the flats. I'd rather have either traditional sounding flats or bright sounding flats and the Olinto set occupies a weird middle ground that doesn't fit into either category in a way that makes them disappointing to my ears. Even if I hadn't tried the Cobalt flats on another bass, I'd be swapping out the Olinto set when I have time soon. Just not for me.
The Olintos, sound the best live in a mix at volume that I have experienced.
Lots of power and definition, really cut through.
I have decided they will stay in my P Bass because of this.
However, I am not a massive fan of them at low volumes when practicing or noodling around. Just seem a little bland to my ear, once I play along with a track they should really good again.
I guess it not that uncommon of what sounds good in a mix may not sound so good at low volume and vice versa…
nice tension on the strings, a little more than Dunlops, TI and LTF flats.
Lots of power and definition, really cut through.
I have decided they will stay in my P Bass because of this.
However, I am not a massive fan of them at low volumes when practicing or noodling around. Just seem a little bland to my ear, once I play along with a track they should really good again.
I guess it not that uncommon of what sounds good in a mix may not sound so good at low volume and vice versa…
nice tension on the strings, a little more than Dunlops, TI and LTF flats.
I installed the Olinto’s in early September, replacing an older set of LTF. I’ve played about a dozen rehearsals and 4 gigs. They were a little bright at first but they’ve really settled in. I’ve received several compliments from band members and from people in the audience. I love the heavy E string, it’s something I missed with the LTF. They’re just as dynamic and articulate as La Bella said they would be. Under the fingers, it feels like the 1st, 2nd, and 4th string from a 760FS set and the 3rd string from a 760FL.
I recently put a set of the Olintos on one of my Ps.
Sound is very similar to Dunlop flats with a touch more bottom.
Tension wise, higher tension/ less flex.
Very glassy feeling. So far so good.
About to play my first gig on them.
Sound is very similar to Dunlop flats with a touch more bottom.
Tension wise, higher tension/ less flex.
Very glassy feeling. So far so good.
About to play my first gig on them.
Based on that description I'd like to try those. A bit more modern-sounding version of DTB?
So I played them on the gig tonight, pit gig for musical theater, and they sounded great but the added tension is going to take some effort and time.
Compared to what, specifically? Did they replace the 40-100 Dunlop flatwound set, by any chance? or something else?
My experience is different...
Replacing a set of Dunlop 40-100 flats on my Momose ash/rosewood '70s J-bass -
Olintos are noticeably thuddier than the Dunlops, they definitely still sound like LaBellas while the Dunlops sound like a modern flat - slappable with a bright top and even string to string.
4 month old well-played Dunlops are brighter than the Olintos fresh out of the package, with better string-to-string balance and consistent tone.
Olinto E is quite a bit deader than the other 3 strings, which has been the case with both the 760FLs I've tried, as well as the Low Tension Flats (to a lesser degree).
LaBella flats have a "thing" - percussive punch with lots of bottom and bright top, scooped in the middle, and the Olintos fit into that profile.
I don’t find LaBella flats very versatile in terms of dialing in a bunch of different tones BUT the LaBella tone works in a lot of situations and usually puts a smile on my face.
Already switched them over to my G&L SB-1. I’ve had the 760FLs on both basses and the Olintos sound closer to those than to the Dunlops.
Also the Olinto silks - while probably the most beautiful I’ve seen - have a weird waxy coating on them that took 2 or 3 handwashings to get off.
Not really convinced by these, but will give them a few more days.
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Yes, they replaced a set of Dunlop 40-100.
I first put these new La Bellas on my '66 P bass and they sounded good.
But I recently moved that same set over to a jazz bass (a 90s Fernandes w/ Alleva-Coppolo pickups) and for all those folks who (like me) just loved the old Sadowsky black label flats, I gotta say that overall, these new La Bellas come the closest to the old Sadowskys. That's what I used on this Fernandes bass for many years, so I think I have a good basis for comparison.
It's almost as if La Bella got wind of the fact that many flats players loved those discontinued Sadowskys (that they made for Sadowsky at the time!) and designed their own version of them...
But I recently moved that same set over to a jazz bass (a 90s Fernandes w/ Alleva-Coppolo pickups) and for all those folks who (like me) just loved the old Sadowsky black label flats, I gotta say that overall, these new La Bellas come the closest to the old Sadowskys. That's what I used on this Fernandes bass for many years, so I think I have a good basis for comparison.
It's almost as if La Bella got wind of the fact that many flats players loved those discontinued Sadowskys (that they made for Sadowsky at the time!) and designed their own version of them...
Cool to hear- I recently reinstalled an old set of my Black Labels onto my main P bass again and not sure why I ever took em off (had put a set of Fender flats on there for a few years- sound great in the mids but lack the same deep punch and thump of the Sadowskys in the long run)! Looooove those strings, even after several years of playing and having been moved between a few basses then sitting uninstalled in storage for a few years they still sound and intonate perfect to my taste. I think they just need to stay put this time before I break one. I realized though that I have like 5 sets of these in storage that I accumulated via the TB classifieds over the years haha (including one unopened set that I bought new from the TB store after they were discontinued)!
