Just to circle back on this one, I ended up getting a set of LaBella DTF set 760FS-M for the bass. Much happier with the string-to-string balance in terms of feel and volume. They're still new enough that they still need a while to really settle in, but so far I'm enjoying them a lot and am having a hard time putting the SG down.
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Short scale flats similar to GHS Precision Flats but with a stiffer E string?
- Thread starter TDR1138
- Start date
Epilogue to this…
I started this thread because my Gibson SG Bass with P Flats seemed to have a big volume drop on the E string, and the string felt floppy and undefined. So I ended up getting some LaBella DTFs for it.
The DTFs on the SG are just what I was looking for. I had a chance to play over the weekend at a church where I'll sit in occasionally, and the SG sounded massive through the house. The other musicians complimented how good it sounded. The feel and tension of the strings are great, so much fun to play. I feel like the strings gave the bass new life.
As for the P Flats, they got second chance at life, too. I ended up picking up a Gibson Les Paul Jr DC bass in February. Since I had the P Flats sitting in the parts bin, I stuck them on the LP just to help decide if I wanted to invest in some LaBella flats for it. Wow! The P Flats don't suffer from any of the weak and undefined E issues that I felt they had on the SG. The E seems really balanced in both tone and volume. Maybe just a little light in terms of tension, but they really do sound good.
It just reinforces the idea that there's really a dynamic between how a string and a bass respond and react to each other. And my Gibsons are happy now.
I started this thread because my Gibson SG Bass with P Flats seemed to have a big volume drop on the E string, and the string felt floppy and undefined. So I ended up getting some LaBella DTFs for it.
The DTFs on the SG are just what I was looking for. I had a chance to play over the weekend at a church where I'll sit in occasionally, and the SG sounded massive through the house. The other musicians complimented how good it sounded. The feel and tension of the strings are great, so much fun to play. I feel like the strings gave the bass new life.
As for the P Flats, they got second chance at life, too. I ended up picking up a Gibson Les Paul Jr DC bass in February. Since I had the P Flats sitting in the parts bin, I stuck them on the LP just to help decide if I wanted to invest in some LaBella flats for it. Wow! The P Flats don't suffer from any of the weak and undefined E issues that I felt they had on the SG. The E seems really balanced in both tone and volume. Maybe just a little light in terms of tension, but they really do sound good.
It just reinforces the idea that there's really a dynamic between how a string and a bass respond and react to each other. And my Gibsons are happy now.
I've heard people complaining about Dunlops, but I really liked them on my Mustang. They were slightly less mid-focused than GHS, but the .100 E-string stayed put better. They don't have the metallic zing of Chromes, but they have more high end than Precision Flats.
On my everyday bass, they only lasted about 6 months, though.
Mustang-configured DTFs seemed pretty boomy on the E-string, but otherwise nice. I'm wonder whether an SG bass wouldn't prefer Dunlops, or even a hybrid string like Brite Flats or D'Addario half rounds. I always thought that the ideal string for an SG bass would likely be old or dead rounds.
[EDIT ANNND you beat me to it with your epilogue]
On my everyday bass, they only lasted about 6 months, though.
Mustang-configured DTFs seemed pretty boomy on the E-string, but otherwise nice. I'm wonder whether an SG bass wouldn't prefer Dunlops, or even a hybrid string like Brite Flats or D'Addario half rounds. I always thought that the ideal string for an SG bass would likely be old or dead rounds.
[EDIT ANNND you beat me to it with your epilogue]
I have LaBellas on my Gibson (SG and LP tribute DC)/Epiphone (Newport/2022) basses minus one of my Epiphones (EB-0h!) which has Gibson flats (actually, pretty darn good!). After they are well broken in, I cannot fathom a better sounding string for the majority of what I do (heavy-psych, garage and funk) although I do entertain some tapes at some point. I wish you well on your string journey~Epilogue to this…
I started this thread because my Gibson SG Bass with P Flats seemed to have a big volume drop on the E string, and the string felt floppy and undefined. So I ended up getting some LaBella DTFs for it.
The DTFs on the SG are just what I was looking for. I had a chance to play over the weekend at a church where I'll sit in occasionally, and the SG sounded massive through the house. The other musicians complimented how good it sounded. The feel and tension of the strings are great, so much fun to play. I feel like the strings gave the bass new life.
As for the P Flats, they got second chance at life, too. I ended up picking up a Gibson Les Paul Jr DC bass in February. Since I had the P Flats sitting in the parts bin, I stuck them on the LP just to help decide if I wanted to invest in some LaBella flats for it. Wow! The P Flats don't suffer from any of the weak and undefined E issues that I felt they had on the SG. The E seems really balanced in both tone and volume. Maybe just a little light in terms of tension, but they really do sound good.
It just reinforces the idea that there's really a dynamic between how a string and a bass respond and react to each other. And my Gibsons are happy now.
