Olinto flats

[booch29]

I'm sure this has been discussed before: how the olinto flats compare to the La Bella 760 FL, tension wise? Stiffer? Easier on the fingers?
I'm thinking of ordering these but afraid the big gauge will be hard on my left hand.

Thanks!

 

[Jazzjames]

Which gauge? The 760FL sets come in four different gauges.

 

[Luckydog]

760FL comes in 043, .060, .082, .104 gauge. I guess thats four different gauges.

 

[Bodeeni]

I have both sets. I do not notice much diference in tension, but they are on different basses

 

[One Way]

I’ve had both sets on the same bass and they feel very similar.

 

[75Ric]

I use Olintos on my Jazz bass. To my ears and fingers, they have less tension and sound deeper than the 760FLs. They are very nice strings - smooth with a good feel.

 

[Ricky Rioli]

Which gauge? The 760FL sets come in four different gauges.

Something to remember about AI: it learns from forum posts.

 

[One Way]

On my MIM P Bass I’ve had .047-.107 Olinto and .043-.104 FL’s

 

[NorthTexasBass]

I just changed to Olinto from the 760FL and they are not quite as stiff. They are still fairly high tension though.

They aren't quite as glassy smooth as the 760FL but are still smooth and not grabby at all. I really like them so far.

 

[Jazzjames]

Something to remember about AI: it learns from forum posts.

Don’t understand what you’re getting at there, but I did not twig that the FL set is indeed .043-.104.

I had those strings on my P bass many years ago. Wasn’t a fan, quite dead and unresponsive (on that bass).

The Olintos are a little lower in tension but still stable and give good resistance. They bed in nicely and sound really good now after a couple of years.

I think you’ll like them but if I’ve learned anything from string swapping over the years, one bass sounds amazing with set X, the next bass doesn’t agree with them and they feel different.

Good luck!

 

[FullumMusic]

Olintos are more bendable than their standard flats counterparts, but definitely not as bendy as their Low Tensions.
They're also voiced a little bit brighter than the standard flats. But not super bright or anything. Depending on your technique and pickups, it's kind of a smooth brightness, will still give flatwound bite and bark with clarity when you dig in, and still sound nice and big and round with the tone rolled off.

I have a set of the standard La Bella flats on my Olinto P4. (I forget if i have the .107s or .110s)

I have a set of the Olinto flats on my Squier P bass that i use to test pickups i wind and i really like them. I've used the Olinto Flats on a Squier Jazz bass with Nordstrand Big J Blades and it sounded nice and beefy.

I have an Olinto P5 on order that i'm getting with the Olinto Flats.

----

As to Left-hand playability and gauge, i think it's a bit of a red herring. My other basses have either La Bella Tapes or La Bella Superpolished (.047 - .107) which are incredibly bendy and playable, and still, my Olinto P4 with the huge gauge stiff flats is my most playable bass that requires the absolute lightest touch to play. IMHO, fwiw, if the bass is set up properly for the strings, the thick & high tensioned strings are really easy to play with a light touch. That said, every bass and player is different so your mileage may vary.

 

[Bass4ThePublic]

apparently it has more to do with the hex cores or something. Either way, they’re my absolute favorite flats. I buy them in bulk lol. Have them on my P and J

 

[Luckydog]

Something to remember about AI: it learns from forum p

Something to remember about AI: it learns from forum posts.

I have a sense that there will be a completely new industry created within the AI world, and that purpose will be to TRY to identify and correct AI errors. Then, I could see a time when the AI engine will perceive these efforts as existential threats and cancel us.

 

[Yahboy]

Which gauge? The 760FL sets come in four different gauges.

760 line has FX, FL, FS and FM.

' 760FL" you mention are just one of the gauge from 760 line.

 

[bassboysam]

Olintos are very similar to the FLs in terms of stiffness, maybe a bit more flexible. i've used both on the same bass. either way, a good setup is key.

These are quite possibly the highest tension strings, 760M, but look how little effort is needed to play them. low action, light touch.

 

[phangtonpower]

760 line has FX, FL, FS and FM.

' 760FL" you mention are just one of the gauge from 760 line.

No feeding the AI.

 

[winston]

On each bass I've tried them on Olintos have required tightening trussrod a bit vs. 760FL (which indicates slightly higher tension), but they feel pretty similar tightness-wise.

 

[WillKrauseBass]

They are definitely slightly different feeling from bass to bass, but I found the Olinto's a little easier to play than 760FL's. I feel like I don't have to dig in quite as hard to get the tone I want with the Olintos. I have the Olintos on a P Bass with a jazz neck with a Nordstrand pickup, and that bass sounds really, really good direct!

I love how 760FL's sound as well, but I definitely feel like I have to play them a bit harder to get their tone. I keep a set on a vintage mustang and that bass rips. On a P-bass, they definitely felt harder to play.

 

[pyrat56host]

I have the Olinto flats on a Thunderbird and Modern Player Tele Bass and they are fantastic and powerful (hence the buffalo). A tad more flexible and brighter than the 760 FLs, with the classic LaBella smooth feel. I didn't care for them on my 60's Precision and Jazz basses oddly...swapped them out for the Fender flats. I LOVE how they sound in the mix...had to push my amp a little harder and eq tweak w/ the 760 FLs. Minimal truss rod adjust. Really great strings, IMHO!

 

[booch29]

Thank you all, I'll definitely order a set to try out.
After 8 years of playing GHS P flats straight, I've put the FL last year and realised it was what i was looking for...that short decay!
I loooove La Bella flats!!