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**The LaBella 760FL Deep-Talkin' Flats LOVE Thread**
- Thread starter tallboybass
- Start date
I once did try the 760FL on my J. Not that they sounded bad, but I still think there is something unique about the way the 9050CL matches up with my J. Just my personal preference. Nothing is wrong with a hot fudge sundae, but I personally prefer butterscotch.
I've got the Fender 9050Ls on my J. With the action down low it's got a bit of the Geddy grind, so with a touch of overdrive I can play some Rush all day and all night long!
To me the 760FL are a little too "refined and polished" tonally, whereas the Fender 9050s are "unrefined in a good way" to bring out a bit of that J bass grind.
I once did try the 760FL on my J. Not that they sounded bad, but I still think there is something unique about the way the 9050CL matches up with my J. Just my personal preference. Nothing is wrong with a hot fudge sundae, but I personally prefer butterscotch.
I can totally see how they wouldn't be as great on a J.
My experience with the 9050CL set is quite different from yours. They were kind of a 'flatliner' on my J. Not much character at all. The mids and highs kind of faded into the mix. Made me go back to rounds. Glad they are working for you though!
My J is a 2008 Highway One, which came stock with a Badass II bridge. That could be a contributing factor in how well it matches up with the 9050s.
I ordered a set of FL's...but now I'm second guessing myself regarding tension. Could someone equate the FL tension >>> Chromes or Sadowsky Blue or Black flat comparable gauges, which are the only other flats I've tried... I called LaBella, and they apparently don't disclose tension info...
In terms of "tenson" (ie pulling weight), it's no more than a typical hex-core medium-gauge rounds (45-105). I can switch back and forth between the 760FL and the GHS Pressurewound ML7200 (44-58-80-102) on my P with no more than 1/4 turn of the truss rod.
In terms of "stiffness", less than the Chromes ECB81 (45-65-80-100), especially the G and D, slightly more than the Sadowsky Black Label 40-100 only due to the larger G and E.
Just to expand on this...
The Pressurewound ML7200 set has a total tension of 170 lbs., while the regular hex-core Boomers 45-65-85-105 weigh in at around 185 lbs. I would guess the 760FL would fall somewhere in between.
In comparison, the Chromes ECB81 (45-65-80-100) is almost 200 lbs. in total tension.
Or a decidedly less scientific answer..."I think you'll be pleased, they seem pretty low tension to me."
They are lower tension than the custom balanced 105-80-60-45 Chrome set, imo.
Glad to see all the love for the 760FL set! These are my all-time favorite strings due to their deep sound, smooth feel and comfortable tension. I currently have a set on my '72 P-Bass which has the chrome bridge cover/foam mute installed. This offers a great old-school sound, but left un-muted these strings are really versatile. They sound so nice with a pick that I find myself using one more often. I recently used this bass on a recording session and I received a lot of compliments on the tone.
Here's a recent video of my Steely Dan tribute band. I think the tone of the '72 P-Bass with the 760FL set works very well in this setting:
- Steve
Here's a recent video of my Steely Dan tribute band. I think the tone of the '72 P-Bass with the 760FL set works very well in this setting:
- Steve
Great job on the Dan! Your bass sounds beautiful, really deep, fills out the low end. I know what you mean about the pick, I did some of that tonight and it is a classic sound for sure!
I use a special set of those ultra short scale, 25" made exclusively for Gold Tone Microbass ukes, but I use them on my mini electric bass guitars. Love them.
This sounds great!
And im kicking myselffor not listening to more Steely Dan.. great bass lines!
Do you mean the Silverbacks, I thought they were roundwound. Please hip me, I need different strings for my M-Bass!
Respectively and invertedly, yes those are (nylon-core) rounds, and no he doesn't:
MicroBass LaBella Flat Wound Strings | Gold Tone Folk Instruments
^ These are the flats (they also describe them as "tape wound metal", a somewhat old-fashioned way to refer to the outer metal ribbon winding of ordinary, regular flats, not nylon tapes).
Please note GT discourages you from using them on fretted hollow-body MicroBasses, but states that they're fine on solid-bodies and fretless HBs. I'd call for clarification on that warning.
I suspect it has something to do with the fact that the strings are steel-core, thus way stiffer than polymer strings, and would require some moderately aggressive surgery to the instrument in order to move back the bridge for proper compensation (@kohanmike's instruments wearing these have "electric" bridges with individually adjustable saddles). However, on the fretted solid-body model the bridge is also non-adjustable, so...what gives?
A possible, alternative explanation would point to added tension, which might lead to bridge-lift on acoustic models, but they say fretless hollows are fine, so again I got nothing.
Ok thanks for the clarification. I would love to find some flats that work on my 25" fretted M-Bass but it sounds like these would have intonation problems. That bend at the bridge would be tough too. Any other ideas?
And sorry for derailing my own thread...back to loving 760FLs!!
Looks like I'm in a full-on 'relationship' with these 760FLs! I bought them used here on TB in April and have been playing them continuously since. After a sweaty gig or when they get dull at all, the denatured alcohol comes out. Either a rubdown or a soak brings them back to seemingly brighter than new.
I mainly play them fingerstyle on my P Bass, but also with a pick and even slap for old-school funk.
They have changed my world in the 4 months we've been going steady, I hope they stick around for a long time to come!!
I mainly play them fingerstyle on my P Bass, but also with a pick and even slap for old-school funk.
They have changed my world in the 4 months we've been going steady, I hope they stick around for a long time to come!!
My absolute P bass favorites (45-105), for a half a step down tuning. Perfect feel, tension and tone. Tried some other flats, not even close IMO. I love them for finger style, pick (awesome!) and even some old school slap tone. Perfect for a P!
These have been my P Bass strings for close to 20 years but in the past few years I have found them to be nearing my "perfect" string for most of my playing. I do like them on a Jazz when I used to think Jazz was only for rounds. Now I have gotten to really liking them on my active music man basses too. I currently have them on a Stingray and a classic Sabre. To me they are they are what I am looking for tonally in fingerstyle and old school slap tone. I have other basses strung with rounds but their ranks are decreasing.
