Returning to Flatwounds (Need help with La bella options)

[MTN.bass72]

Hey all,

Im finally returning to flatwounds after a long hiatus. Im looking to put a set of la bella flatwounds on my lakland skyline joe osborn bass (34" scale length). The specific sets that i am looking at are the 0760M, 760FM, and the 760FS. I have a few questions for those of you who have experience with them:

1) I usually go the string-thru-body route. Has any one had trouble doing that with these sets?

2) Is there a noticeable tension difference between them?

Not on your list, but I absolutely love my 760fl's that are on my Skyline Duck Dunn..

They're strung through the body. I wouldn't have done that, but the tech I dropped it to did, because my previous strings were strong through...

That said, regardless of folks saying it wouldn't work due to stress on the strings at the bridge, I've been playing them this way for over two years and they just keep sounding better and better.

 

[bherman]

I would add as a long-time flats user that I tried chromes 2 or 3 times and found them to be way stiffer than I liked. On my P bass I use Pyramids and I use La Bella 760 FS on my short scale Gretsch.

 

[slagheap]

I had the 760TB set on my 2012 AmerStd P. Classic P bass sound.
Watch out for the Jamerson set, though, unless you know what you're getting into. When I was a brand newbie I put those on my J bass because in an interview in Guitar magazine Glenn Cornick said that's what he used. Didn't hurt the bass, but my hands...

 

[denton57]

Long time flat user..Did not like Chromes at all. Used FS for several years until I took a chance on Pyramids. Been using them for the past 4 years or so. They are like a mix of LaBella and TI’s IMO. That feel and midrange tone of the TI that I love, but not as floppy and come in 105 gauge. I don’t ever think about changing strings.

 

[bherman]

Long time flat user..Did not like Chromes at all. Used FS for several years until I took a chance on Pyramids. Been using them for the past 4 years or so. They are like a mix of LaBella and TI’s IMO. That feel and midrange tone of the TI that I love, but not as floppy and come in 105 gauge. I don’t ever think about changing strings.

I love these too, they last a really long time and feel great. More expensive than La Bellas but they are (imo) the king of flatwounds.

 

[wncBass]

These are really nice on the fingers and sound great.

 

[HelpImaRock]

These are really nice on the fingers and sound great.

View attachment 4598623

I have these on a string-thru Mustang and they've been fine in the few weeks since I strung it up. Only time will tell if they stand the test of time.

 

[michael_t]

These are really nice on the fingers and sound great.

View attachment 4598623

I have these on a string-thru Mustang and they've been fine in the few weeks since I strung it up. Only time will tell if they stand the test of time.

La Bella LTFs are different from the DTF lineup in two ways; 1) Round core vs. hex core, and 2) the flat ribbon wire used for LTF is narrower than the one used for DTF. As a result, the LTFs are pliable enough to handle the sharp break angles created by the thru-body method. That's why the LTFs don't come with the same warning against thru-body as the DTFs.