Tension: LaBella Silverbacks Vs. TI Jazz flats

[Tim Skaggs]

The two sets of strings in the title aren’t generally comparable under normal circumstances, but here’s the deal;

Part 1: I have a 23” scale Gold Tone Microbass (Uke bass) on which I play Labella Silverback strings. I like the Silverbacks with some exception; they are round wound and I’d rather have the feel and tone of flats.

Part 2: I have a set of Thomastik-Infeld Jazz flats that are the first set of TIs I bought. They are about six years old and they’ve been moved to a few different basses, living their last couple years on my 34” scale fretless Sigma acoustic bass. I was moving them to a recently acquired Ibanez acoustic bass and the silk end of the G string broke off. Now it’s not long enough to reach the tuning post on any of my 34” scale basses.

I know there are a few flat wound over nylon / perlon core 23-25 inch scale acoustic bass strings available, but what I’ve seen is $50.

There‘s plenty of the TIJFs left to fit on the 23” scale GT microbass, but I’m not sure it will handle the tension. Those who have TIJFs know they are low tension for a 34” scale solid body bass, but I’m not sure they are low enough tension for the little GT bass. I know the wound portion of the strings will end up on the tuner posts, but I’m not able to use them for anything else, so I thought I might try what’s left of them on the Gold Tone IF they won’t pull the top off the GT…

Does anyone have any idea on 23 inches of TIJFs tension as compared to the Silverbacks?

 

[HaphAsSard]

The two sets of strings in the title aren’t generally comparable under normal circumstances, but here’s the deal;

Part 1: I have a 23” scale Gold Tone Microbass (Uke bass) on which I play Labella Silverback strings. I like the Silverbacks with some exception; they are round wound and I’d rather have the feel and tone of flats.

Part 2: I have a set of Thomastik-Infeld Jazz flats that are the first set of TIs I bought. They are about six years old and they’ve been moved to a few different basses, living their last couple years on my 34” scale fretless Sigma acoustic bass. I was moving them to a recently acquired Ibanez acoustic bass and the silk end of the G string broke off. Now it’s not long enough to reach the tuning post on any of my 34” scale basses.

I know there are a few flat wound over nylon / perlon core 23-25 inch scale acoustic bass strings available, but what I’ve seen is $50.

There‘s plenty of the TIJFs left to fit on the 23” scale GT microbass, but I’m not sure it will handle the tension. Those who have TIJFs know they are low tension for a 34” scale solid body bass, but I’m not sure they are low enough tension for the little GT bass. I know the wound portion of the strings will end up on the tuner posts, but I’m not able to use them for anything else, so I thought I might try what’s left of them on the Gold Tone IF they won’t pull the top off the GT…

Does anyone have any idea on 23 inches of TIJFs tension as compared to the Silverbacks?

As for Jazz Flats at 23", that's a simple product of their tension values at 34", times (23/34)^2;
However, I can't compare them because tension of the Siverbacks is not known.

This said, if the other La Bella/Gold Tone set (MBLS) doesn't pull the top off the MicroBass, neither will the T-Is.
Intonation issues, maybe, but I wouldn't be worried about tension per se.

 

[Tim Skaggs]

As for Jazz Flats at 23", that's a simple product of their tension values at 34", times (23/34)^2;
However, I can't compare them because tension of the Siverbacks is not known.

This said, if the other La Bella/Gold Tone set (MBLS) doesn't pull the top off the MicroBass, neither will the T-Is.
Intonation issues, maybe, but I wouldn't be worried about tension per se.

Well, the LaBella Silverbacks have a silver plated metal wire of some kind wound over a nylon core. The TIs “utilizes a highly pliable steel core”.

I’m guessing whichever string is heavier per unit of length will require more tension to be brought up to pitch than the lighter string, but steel core vs. nylon core is not the whole story. The Silverbacks, even with a nylon core, could still be heavier than the same length of TIs if the Silverbacks have heavier winding. I think that’s the question.

 

[HaphAsSard]

Well, the LaBella Silverbacks have a silver plated metal wire of some kind wound over a nylon core. The TIs “utilizes a highly pliable steel core”.

I’m guessing whichever string is heavier per unit of length will require more tension to be brought up to pitch than the lighter string, but steel core vs. nylon core is not the whole story. The Silverbacks, even with a nylon core, could still be heavier than the same length of TIs if the Silverbacks have heavier winding. I think that’s the question.

I'm aware of the different constructions. I'm saying that the company also has a steel-core, steel-flatwound option (with larger gauges than the Thomastiks, to boot) available for the same MB platform. The T-Is are probably in between the two La Bella sets tensionwise, and in so being, well within the safe zone.

[Technically, they don't recommend the MBLS for fretted hollowbody MB. They don't have the same caveat about the fretless acoustic-electrics: this demonstrates the real issue is with intonation, not fragility of the top/bracing.]

 

[Tim Skaggs]

I get your point now. The MBLS strings can be used on the fretless version of my bass (which is likely the same body / bracing as the fretted version) and are likely to have equal or less tension than the TIs.

Sounds like it’s worth a try. In fact, I have installed the TI G string and the intonation is very good.

 

[HaphAsSard]

The MBLS strings can be used on the fretless version of my bass (which is likely the same body / bracing as the fretted version) and are likely to have equal or less more tension than the TIs.

FIFY, if it was a typo. If it wasn't, well, while I can't rule out the La Bella supershortie flats being especially low-mass, my bet is firmly placed on them being heavier than T-Is. So yeah, I do believe it's worth a try.

 

[Tim Skaggs]

FIFY, if it was a typo. If it wasn't, well, while I can't rule out the La Bella supershortie flats being especially low-mass, my bet is firmly placed on them being heavier than T-Is. So yeah, I do believe it's worth a try.

YES, definitely a typo. Intended to say the MBLS strings would likely have MORE tension than the TIs, especially if they have a solid core wire.

 

[Bassamatic]

Strings are wound at their final playing tension. Putting the TIJFs on a 23" bass will have them very floppy. Also - winding so much of the flats body around the tuner will be a real problem, likely to break the string - and you can't cut flats.

GoldTone sells flats as well as the Silverbacks. That would be a better way to go. Or buy a new G string for your TIJF.

 

[Tim Skaggs]

Strings are wound at their final playing tension. Putting the TIJFs on a 23" bass will have them very floppy. Also - winding so much of the flats body around the tuner will be a real problem, likely to break the string - and you can't cut flats.

GoldTone sells flats as well as the Silverbacks. That would be a better way to go. Or buy a new G string for your TIJF.

They are on the bass, definitely less floppy than any string that’s ever been on it (Silverbacks & Aquila Thunderstickies, Pahoehoe blacks), & no problem cutting flats if you don’t go below their factory winding termination, which I was able to do & get all the string on the tuner post without overlapping. The intonation turned out about the same as the Silverbacks or slightly better. It’s not perfect on all strings at the 12th fret, but 2 cents or less on all strings at the 9th fret & below. The tone is way less bright and the feel is 100% smoother than the round wound Silverbacks, which is exactly what I was after. The TIs still had more sustain than I needed, but foam rubber under the strings at the bridge took care of that. The only negative I’ve encountered is tuning a solid core string on a 23” scale with 7/16” shaft tuners is really touchy. It seems to stay in tune well when I get it there, but changing pitch of a string only takes about 1/2° of key rotation to make a significant change.

I use this bass when impractical to transport my upright. It definitely sounds best when I play the rubber strings on it, but I can’t handle the stickiness of the Aquila strings, and the Pahoehoes continue to stretch forever. Gold Tone flats are not recommended for my bass & the Pyramids are $50. It was worth a shot to try the old TIs and has paid off so far.

 

[Oscar Stern]

MBLS Strings can be used

 

[Bodeeni]

Galli Flatwounds come in 23" scale. They are a very good Uke bass string.