New Stainless Roundwound string coming from La Bella

[littlebun]

I just heard today that a new offering may be coming this year from La Bella. I have been a customer of La Bella for decades, and they send me test sets of different projects they are working on -I've been a touring and recording guy for decades. I have played the new upcoming set. It's a steel roundwound with a not-to-easy/not-to-tight tension. The unique tension of this set allows you to pull off fast passages easily, but not so easily that the string doesn't get back quick enough for the next passage-if you know what I mean. It doesn't flop around from too low tension, and it's also not a stiff feeling string at all. It's a 45-65-85-105 gauge set. I have received a few sets and put them on different basses that I have had strung up with Boomers, Rotos, GHS, La Bella Stainless Steel and RX, and Hard Rockin Steel. I find this set is most similar to HRS, but different, with the new set having a better and more consistent feel. To my ears these new strings have a strong low end, and a present, slightly forward midrange -which I really like because I need that in order to present well on stage or in a mix. Has long sustain and a feel that allows for expressive, articulate playing. If I receive any more info on these I will pass it on.

 

[tindrum]

Awesome! Looking forward to trying these.

 

[ChristoMephisto]

Right on, I have the SS on my Bass VI, second set in a decade
Do you know if they'll be coming out with a medium scale set?

 

[littlebun]

Right on, I have the SS on my Bass VI, second set in a decade
Do you know if they'll be coming out with a medium scale set?

I have no idea. Along with installing the long scale testers my Fender and other long scale basses, I also put a tester long scale set on my medium scale Alembic bass and it fit just fine.

 

[littlebun]

I just now picked up and played a bass with these on it, and I can tell you they have a 'chewy" midrange (if that makes sense) that is probably what adds to the articulation these strings display. No one can accuse you of having a wimpy or thin sound with these on your bass.

 

[mrperkolator]

I just now picked up and played a bass with these on it, and I can tell you they have a 'chewy" midrange (if that makes sense) that is probably what adds to the articulation these strings display. No one can accuse you of having a wimpy or thin sound with these on your bass.

How smooth are they? I’m currently loving their super polished…

 

[Iristone]

Sounds great! I think I can be satisfied with La Bella for good. They make the best flatwounds, tapewounds, taperwounds, acoustic guitar strings, classical guitar strings, and pure-nickel electric guitar strings, and I'm glad to see that they're making a better normal roundwound set.

 

[littlebun]

How smooth are they? I’m currently loving their super polished…

Smoother than Rotos. They aren't polished like a flat.

 

[Fuzzbass]

I'll never understand why the Hard Rockin' Steels were discontinued. But sure, I'll give these new ones a try. I assume there will be a five string set.

Thanks for the heads up.

 

[Ggaa]

I just now picked up and played a bass with these on it, and I can tell you they have a 'chewy" midrange (if that makes sense) that is probably what adds to the articulation these strings display. No one can accuse you of having a wimpy or thin sound with these on your bass.

How do they compare in stiffness with Dadd nickel/stainless or Fat Beams?

 

[PeaveyPlayer]

A new round core set?

 

[littlebun]

How do they compare in stiffness with Dadd nickel/stainless or Fat Beams?

No idea about those. Easy tension like described.

 

[littlebun]

A new round core set?

Hex.

 

[littlebun]

I'll never understand why the Hard Rockin' Steels were discontinued. But sure, I'll give these new ones a try. I assume there will be a five string set.

Thanks for the heads up.

The new set is a better string, surprisingly than NOS HRS that I have. It has all the characteristics of steel but somehow has the mid-range you find in nickel, but there's no nickel in the string.

 

[Lo-E]

I always associate LaBella with flats and tend to forget that they make great roundwound strings. I had great luck with Rx rounds a few years back.

Good company, good products.

 

[GTHintz]

What you describe sounds very much like Hard Rocking Steels. If that's the case then I will be a fan. I was fortunate enough to play a set of those and I really loved everything about them. Once these new strings drop I'm trying them! Does anyone know what they're going to name these?

 

[littlebun]

What you describe sounds very much like Hard Rocking Steels. If that's the case then I will be a fan. I was fortunate enough to play a set of those and I really loved everything about them. Once these new strings drop I'm trying them! Does anyone know what they're going to name these?

HRS have always been my favorite string. It will be interesting what the strings will be called.

 

[GTHintz]

HRS have always been my favorite string. It will be interesting what the strings will be called.

I'm going to be looking out for them. Did they give an idea when they will start selling them? I'm excited because as much as I want to like the RX steels they just haven't been consistent enough. I've gotten a couple duds and while they had a similar vibe to hard rocking steel they didn't have the same attitude nor the lovely black Silk ends. I hope these new ones have silk.

 

[littlebun]

I'm going to be looking out for them. Did they give an idea when they will start selling them? I'm excited because as much as I want to like the RX steels they just haven't been consistent enough. I've gotten a couple duds and while they had a similar vibe to hard rocking steel they didn't have the same attitude nor the lovely black Silk ends. I hope these new ones have silk.

No silks on these. Upcoming is all I heard. I would hope by Fall but who knows?

 

[GTHintz]

No silks on these. Upcoming is all I heard. I would hope by Fall but who knows?

Damn. Silk would have been a nice touch and a way to further distinguish them apart from the RX series. Unless the plan is to scrap them if these new ones gain a following.