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Opinions on Fender Flat wound Bass strings

Craig Williams

Craig Williams

Feb 13, 2019
240
164
63
Thailand
#1
Hi all live in Thailand and pretty much the only viable flat wound strings available are La Bella, which are ok but they are very high tension and my 51 P bass is a string through and I believe the La Bellas wont take the 90 degree angle through the body and over the bridge. They do actually make a specialized through body string but they aren't available here.

Firstly has anyone used standard La Bella flat wounds through the body of their P bass successfully? I thought I had read somewhere people did. Only reason I ask is I have some on order, ordered for another bass which I have since sold, so if I can't use the standard La Bella Flats I have on my 51 P Bass through body I am stuck with them.

Other option I have is I have seen some Fender Flat wounds I can order from Japan. Has anyone had any luck with these? Are they as stiff and high tension as the La Bellas?
 
#2
First, not all Labella DTF’s are stiff or high tension. The L’s are very “average” in this regard, and their low tension flats are just that. I find the S gauge and up to be stiffer than some competitors.

I don’t know which set you ordered, but the DTF’s are not recommended for through-body stringing. I too have seen comments here from players who’ve done it successfully, but you’ll also find my comment somewhere here. I tried it once and was NOT successful - snapped an E-string. Live and learn.

I haven’t used Fender flats in a long time, but I don’t think they advise against through-body stringing. I recall them as “average” tension as well, but I’m sure others here have more experience with Fenders “new” flat wounds, which were revised a couple years back.
 
#3
Craig Williams said:
Other option I have is I have seen some Fender Flat wounds I can order from Japan. Has anyone had any luck with these? Are they as stiff and high tension as the La Bellas?
Click to expand...

Fender 9050L (45-60-80-100) are a very good "all-purpose" flatwound. They're not terribly stiff or high tension. In fact, they would feel like a typical set of 45-105 hex-core rounds in terms of stiffness.

They should be fine for thru-body as long as you're careful with the initial installation, especially when setting witness points. Be gentle...
 
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#5
Craig Williams said:
Turns out the Fenders were unavailable and I managed to get some Daddario Chromes at a very good price. They seem to be well regarded. How about stringing these at 90 degrees over the bridge? Any problems?
Click to expand...

The Chromes should be ok for thru-body as long as the saddles sit far enough from the hole to get two 45-degree breaks instead of one 90-degree break with the saddle sitting back too close to the hole.

Another suggestion regarding the Chromes is to wipe them down with an alcohol wipe BEFORE INSTALLATION to get rid of any gunk that's left on them from the factory. Otherwise, they would feel sticky and turn your fingertips black for the first little while.
 
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#8
Craig Williams said:
Hi all live in Thailand and pretty much the only viable flat wound strings available are La Bella, which are ok but they are very high tension and my 51 P bass is a string through and I believe the La Bellas wont take the 90 degree angle through the body and over the bridge. They do actually make a specialized through body string but they aren't available here.

Firstly has anyone used standard La Bella flat wounds through the body of their P bass successfully? I thought I had read somewhere people did. Only reason I ask is I have some on order, ordered for another bass which I have since sold, so if I can't use the standard La Bella Flats I have on my 51 P Bass through body I am stuck with them.

Other option I have is I have seen some Fender Flat wounds I can order from Japan. Has anyone had any luck with these? Are they as stiff and high tension as the La Bellas?
Click to expand...

I have 51p but topload bridge Squier CV50P with Fralin split 51 pup. Sound pretty clank and power tone with EB 2814 flat.

Has no idea if EB 2814 possible use for string through without issue.

Is there a Swee Lee online store in Thailand?
 
#9
I don't know what Swee Lee is (Sweetwater?) but have online sellers in Thailand and most strings available but some Flats brands are over the top pricewise ($100-$200+) Chromes and La Bella seem to be the best value for money at around $45 US.

Anyway, I had a very very low action and putting the Chromes / Flats on seems to have made no difference at all so I am guessing they don't have a lot more tension than the Nickel rounds that were on it. Seem to have gone through the body and over the bridge nicely. The silk is just past the nut on the tuner side, so only metal string on the nut and fretboard, and plenty of length to go a few turns on the tuners. You would nearly think they designed them that way. Feel great....I would say the La Bellas feel a little smoother on the fingers but they are super high tension and never feel good about the extra pull they put on a neck. Nearly always have to adjust truss. These will do nicely :-)
 
#10
Craig Williams said:
I don't know what Swee Lee is (Sweetwater?) but have online sellers in Thailand and most strings available but some Flats brands are over the top pricewise ($100-$200+) Chromes and La Bella seem to be the best value for money at around $45 US.

Anyway, I had a very very low action and putting the Chromes / Flats on seems to have made no difference at all so I am guessing they don't have a lot more tension than the Nickel rounds that were on it. Seem to have gone through the body and over the bridge nicely. The silk is just past the nut on the tuner side, so only metal string on the nut and fretboard, and plenty of length to go a few turns on the tuners. You would nearly think they designed them that way. Feel great....I would say the La Bellas feel a little smoother on the fingers but they are super high tension and never feel good about the extra pull they put on a neck. Nearly always have to adjust truss. These will do nicely :)
Click to expand...
Which Labella set did you try on your bass?
 
#11
Just standard long scale 105's. Have had them on a few guitars now. I know they do a low tension set but only 100s and I've had a set on order for three months, still not here (I'm in Thailand). I think there is a shortage from the factory at the moment actually, not to mention freight issues with Covid. They are also pretty finicky. Any sort of nick to the wrapping and they will unravel and snap. Need to order special ones for string through body. I dunno, I feel there are better choices out there these days. Just put these Chromes on and haven't tested them out yet but just going on the lower tension alone they will do me. I had La Bellas on a Precision plus, and admittedly a very thin neck but I had the truss rod adj maxed and there was still a noticeable bow in the neck and very difficult to set up with the Labellas on. I would estimate at least another 20-50% tension above standard rounds
 
#13
Craig Williams said:
Hi all live in Thailand and pretty much the only viable flat wound strings available are La Bella, which are ok but they are very high tension and my 51 P bass is a string through and I believe the La Bellas wont take the 90 degree angle through the body and over the bridge. They do actually make a specialized through body string but they aren't available here.

Firstly has anyone used standard La Bella flat wounds through the body of their P bass successfully? I thought I had read somewhere people did. Only reason I ask is I have some on order, ordered for another bass which I have since sold, so if I can't use the standard La Bella Flats I have on my 51 P Bass through body I am stuck with them.

Other option I have is I have seen some Fender Flat wounds I can order from Japan. Has anyone had any luck with these? Are they as stiff and high tension as the La Bellas?
Click to expand...
I've used LaBella, GHS [heavy gauge], Pyramid, TI's, & Fender flats on string thru bridges for decades without issue.

To echo @michael_t, the Fender 9050L (45-60-80-100) are a very good flat wound to start with. Although I have TI flats on all my basses, my next choice for playability & tone would be Fender Flats.
 
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#14
Craig Williams said:
Hi all live in Thailand and pretty much the only viable flat wound strings available are La Bella, which are ok but they are very high tension and my 51 P bass is a string through and I believe the La Bellas wont take the 90 degree angle through the body and over the bridge. They do actually make a specialized through body string but they aren't available here.

Firstly has anyone used standard La Bella flat wounds through the body of their P bass successfully? I thought I had read somewhere people did. Only reason I ask is I have some on order, ordered for another bass which I have since sold, so if I can't use the standard La Bella Flats I have on my 51 P Bass through body I am stuck with them.

Other option I have is I have seen some Fender Flat wounds I can order from Japan. Has anyone had any luck with these? Are they as stiff and high tension as the La Bellas?
Click to expand...

OKAY...
Firstly; as others have said; La Bella DTFs aren't good choices for stringing thru, but... some people have gotten away with it. Same people win the lottery, too - maybe you'll be one of them. Kinda depends on the break angles, really...
Next: Fender Flats. I use the 9050L's on a couple of basses - and I like them a lot. Much more of a "modern", midrange-y flat than the La Bellas; a very good, very versatile flat. No, the tension is not as high as equivalent gauge La Bellas; they aren't quite as stiff, either; but, stiff enough to play well with a pick if you choose to do so. Which I do on most of my basses. IMO, the Fenders are more likely to be successful on your bass. I only have one bass with the option to do the string-thru thing. I tried it once - with rounds. I wasn't impressed; that bass wears top loaded NOS Sadowsky Blue Label Flats now. But, I guess you don't have that option, do you...:( Unless you can use the La Bellas to barter for something, I'd say - be very careful, and give them a try. Might work; might not. But, you'll never know if you don't try...:cool:
 
#15
I would add that I have used Chromes on a couple of Precession basses for over a decade. They will get much smoother in a couple of weeks with some use. They’re a bit sticky new out of the package. I find them very similar to the Fender flats you started out searching for. Don’t be afraid to use a pick too, Classic tone.
 
#16
I just bought a Fender jazz bass that came with fender 9050 flats on it. They're pretty medium in tension and are already through-body so they work well for that.

I'm not really liking the flats but in my NBD post i got a lot of feedback from people who do like the strings. They're coming off as soon as I get some replacements. They're yours If you want em, for the cost of shipping.
 
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#17
charlie ford said:
I just bought a Fender jazz bass that came with fender 9050 flats on it. They're pretty medium in tension and are already through-body so they work well for that.

I'm not really liking the flats but in my NBD post i got a lot of feedback from people who do like the strings. They're coming off as soon as I get some replacements. They're yours If you want em, for the cost of shipping.
Click to expand...
I would love them bro but I am in Thailand. Am happy to pay shipping and your expenses up front if you are willing to send them
 
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#18
4-fingers said:
I would add that I have used Chromes on a couple of Precession basses for over a decade. They will get much smoother in a couple of weeks with some use. They’re a bit sticky new out of the package. I find them very similar to the Fender flats you started out searching for. Don’t be afraid to use a pick too, Classic tone.
Click to expand...
They seem pretty good but have heard lots of guys say they have a break in period. If anything a bit clanky and bright but only a fraction more than say the La Bellas. I am happy with them for sure. Funny I got 45-100's (normally play 105's) and had a good play of them yesterday. Completely forgot they were smaller gauge and didn't even notice. Only just thought of it now
 
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