TI’s vs LaBella

[SteveC]

So I’ve had TI’s in my P for a while. I love the sound and feel but try as I might, I am not a light touch guy, and the TI’s tension seems a little light. Thinking I might try the LaBellas that Sean Hurley uses. An odd gauge like 43-104 or something. Or do I go 45-105 like my roundwounds are on my other basses?

Thoughts? I’d like to “rock out” my P a little more than I do. Right now it’s for like acoustic sets.

 

[Moving Pictures]

Having used both I found you can really dig into the LaBellas. Even more so with a pick. I have a reasonably light touch and can work with either brand but to my ears LaBellas work very well in a rock context.

 

[Moving Pictures]

Oh, that gauge is the 760FL set.

 

[Killing Floor]

I'm a big ole TIJF fan and that's what is on most of my basses. But I use LaBella DTF on my fretlesses because of what you describe, I want a little more fight there. I think they both sound how I like. There is a definite difference in feel.

There's no best and it's totally worth experimenting with strings IMO.

 

[michael_t]

An odd gauge like 43-104 or something. Or do I go 45-105 like my roundwounds are on my other basses?

The 760FL (43-104) is better balanced across all four strings than the 760FS (45-105) in terms of overall feel.

 

[2saddleslab]

Used both brands and have remained w/ the TI flats for over a decade. LeBella flats are very nice and perfect for certain basses. TI's just seem to bring the best out of any bass, IMHO. The comfortable tension is an extra bonus.

 

[/\/\3phist0]

At the gauges you refer to?
Having played TI and Labella LTF, surprised at how much I like EB group 3 flats.
Gauges .045, .065, .080, .100

 

[Gervais Cote]

The 760FL (43-104) is better balanced across all four strings than the 760FS (45-105) in terms of overall feel.

Agree 100% with what you say but for someone that plays hard (like me !) the 760FS is a better choice IMO.

I have the TI flats on a bass for smooth jazz and I felt the 760FL were almost as lose as the TI.

But you know, I play Rock the Casbah as a regular warm up so it’s worth what it’s worth.

 

[michael_t]

Agree 100% with what you say but for someone that plays hard (like me !) the 760FS is a better choice IMO.

But you're not the OP, who finds the TIJF only "a little light".

 

[Yahboy]

So I’ve had TI’s in my P for a while. I love the sound and feel but try as I might, I am not a light touch guy, and the TI’s tension seems a little light. Thinking I might try the LaBellas that Sean Hurley uses. An odd gauge like 43-104 or something. Or do I go 45-105 like my roundwounds are on my other basses?

Thoughts? I’d like to “rock out” my P a little more than I do. Right now it’s for like acoustic sets.

760FL suit for you. Once she well settled in, she becomes stiffer than first day you play it.

With pick playing, 760FL sure can dig your P in and Rock the P vibe out !!!

 

[Yahboy]

Agree 100% with what you say but for someone that plays hard (like me !) the 760FS is a better choice IMO.

I have the TI flats on a bass for smooth jazz and I felt the 760FL were almost as lose as the TI.

But you know, I play Rock the Casbah as a regular warm up so it’s worth what it’s worth.

760FL almost as lose as Ti flat ???

I can agree if finger pluck the 760FL above fretboard and Ti nearby bridge saddle......

 

[thebassgrognard]

I have Labella DTF on a couple of basses and like them a lot, but they do feel like cables to me. It's been many years since I had some TI's, and considering stringing up a bass with them to see if I like the tension better.

 

[LowendG]

760FS (45-105) for me. Any basses I own that don't wear those sport 45-105 DR Nickel Lo-Riders. I like a nice, firm feel that I can thump fingerstyle and also clank away with a pick for rock, but no fret buzz. Medium-high action, studio ready.

 

[Paul New]

I like both TI’s and LaBella DTFs, but if you want to rock out why don’t you try the Fender 9050s? They used to ship with the P basses with mediumish gauges, the 45-100. I have only tried the 50-105 and those are pretty nice but very stiff. Not very expensive either.

 

[Yahboy]

I like both TI’s and LaBella DTFs, but if you want to rock out why don’t you try the Fender 9050s? They used to ship with the P basses with mediumish gauges, the 45-100. I have only tried the 50-105 and those are pretty nice but very stiff. Not very expensive either.

or, EB Cobalt flat .

 

[SharpCat]

I find I have a hard time disliking any of the top flat strings. 760FS on my "Junior Funk Machine" Jamerson tribute. TIJF on my all-purpose PJ. Group 3 on a Jazz, and 9050L on another. Love them all.

 

[Winton]

I’d like to “rock out” my P a little more than I do.

PHRASING!

 

[Iristone]

I recommend the 43-104 set, as it should be more balanced than the 45-105 set. It should be comparable tension-wise with your Thomastik, but feel a bit stiffer due to construction.
I've compared the 39-96 and 50-100 Beatle set on my EB-3 with the Thomastik 43-100 set and Rotosound 77 45-105 set. The 39-96 is the most balanced, and sounds great with finger or pick, along the whole picking length. The Thomastik is a bit higher tension, sounds thin with a pick, and honky when played close to the bridge. The Rotosound is very low output (the EB-3 isn't the monster hot EB-0, mind you) and slightly inharmonic. Neither holds a candle to the La Bella on that particular bass.

 

[darwin-bass]

TI Jazz Flats? Play closer to the bridge.

I have them on my two 32” scale basses and they are even floppier. I pluck pretty hard and have zero issues with them being too loose. Shift right to make ‘em tight.

 

[GIBrat51]

So I’ve had TI’s in my P for a while. I love the sound and feel but try as I might, I am not a light touch guy, and the TI’s tension seems a little light. Thinking I might try the LaBellas that Sean Hurley uses. An odd gauge like 43-104 or something. Or do I go 45-105 like my roundwounds are on my other basses?

Thoughts? I’d like to “rock out” my P a little more than I do. Right now it’s for like acoustic sets.

While I do like the TIJF's an awful lot - I have them on my '95 Alembic Epic - which I use for Jazz, and is the only bass in my Herd that I finger pick all the time? They're about the last flats I'd ever put on a P-Bass, for reasons you're finding out. Since I bought my '78 P-Bass in 1988, it's worn; Roto RS77LD Monel Flats; La Bella 760FS DTF's; and Fender 9050L Flats. I decided, a few years ago, that I wanted it to sound like it did when it was new; with Fender's Squier Flats under the bridge cover, with the foam mute in it. GHS's #3025 Precision Flats are near clones of those strings; so, that's what my P-Bass wears now... Unless you're playing music that needs the harmonic overtones that TIJS's are famous for? IMO, you're wasting your money. If you like their fundamental tone? You can get that with a set of Fender 9050L's. And the Fenders aren't nearly as... flexible..., either. I like them a lot, too. They're currently on 2 of my basses...

Oh, that gauge is the 760FL set.

Exactly so. And, yes, I have them on yet another one of my basses. Plenty of the low end thump that La Bella DTF's are famous for, but with a little more sonic range than the heavier gauge ones have. Not quite so stiff, either. Yeah, they'd work well on your P-Bass... Actually; every flat I ever had on mine, did too. I went to the GHS Precision Flats because I wanted a very specific tone; although, they do sound awfully good - even without the bridge mute. But, if it wasn't for that specific tone? TBH, I'd probably still have the Roto RS77LD's on the thing...