TI’s vs LaBella

[cultrvultr]

I play with a heavy touch and love the TIs. the flexibility of the strings is addictive. I just went through a little experimentation phase and tried some Pyramids, Olinto and La Bellas. I couldn't wait to get back to the TIs. Maybe just raise the action a little bit?

 

[bigswifty1]

Long time TIJF user here. If the tension of TIJF's is too loose for you (a common complaint with TIJFs) then I think the next closest strings I've tried that are similar sounding but a bit tighter are Daddy Chromes.

 

[BowserGriff]

I play right on the tips of my fingers HARD to get a tight ping like attack. I prefer the la bellas because my technique requires the strings to fight back against my fingers to get that stinging attack sound. TIs are great but for my fingers, they soak up a bit of that attack I like.

 

[bassdude51]

IME........Higher tension strings, lower action. Lower tension strings, higher action.

Have you tried raising your action with the TIs?

For flats, pretty hard to beat the sound of TIs. Some TI users have gotten 8, 10 and even 15 yrs from a set.

(D'Addario's Chrome Flats lightest gauge are pretty nice. IMHO)

 

[Gervais Cote]

760FL almost as lose as Ti flat ???

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

Well………..looks like I will have to give it another try ! I remember it was cutting in the mix like nothing else when I tried it so maybe I should stop listening to me when playing alone and rock it with my band mates.

 

[SteveC]

IME........Higher tension strings, lower action. Lower tension strings, higher action.

Have you tried raising your action with the TIs?

For flats, pretty hard to beat the sound of TIs. Some TI users have gotten 8, 10 and even 15 yrs from a set.

(D'Addario's Chrome Flats lightest gauge are pretty nice. IMHO)

I haven't. But I don't have super low action on it.

 

[cymbop]

TI’s were too floppy for me. Then I found 760FL. Now they’re on nearly all my basses. Perfect tension for my hands.

 

[Gervais Cote]

TI’s were too floppy for me. Then I found 760FL. Now they’re on nearly all my basses. Perfect tension for my hands.

That’s good information, thanks for sharing.

 

[DJ Bebop]

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.

Remember though, Sean said he has a lighter touch. That is why is went with that gage. He didn't have the pull for heavier strings after a long day, or something like that…

 

[OnlyFlats]

Short: Both sets are great, and are different enough to make it worth trying both.

Long: I have both on at least 1 bass at all times.

For digging in with fingers:
TIs seem to not take the force that well and I need to back off. But my playing is cleaner and clearer for doing so.
LB DTFs can handle the force better.

For digging in with pick:
Both work, with adjustment to your striking position.

Tone:
I play both sets into drive pedals for when I need drive when I dig in. 2 pedals set to mild gain each but in series works great for flats.

Ignore the first month of your new LB DTFs.

 

[moreblues]

Having played all three that you mention, I prefer the TI 344 set and they are on most of my basses.
I also have the Labella LTF on 2 basses and the LaBella 760FL set on a FCS 64 P.
I prefer the 760FL 43-104 set over the 760FS 45-105 set.
The 760FL's are stiffer then the TI's and have more tension...pulling power on the neck ...then the T.I.'s
IMHO you will be happy with the tone and feel of the 760FL set.
If not , sell them and buy the 760FS set.

 

[wolffire99]

TI’s were too floppy for me. Then I found 760FL. Now they’re on nearly all my basses. Perfect tension for my hands.

I love 760FL’s. They really bridge the gap between modern and old school flats.

 

[Lo-E]

I love 760FL’s. They really bridge the gap between modern and old school flats.

Another set that I think bridges that gap well, although they don’t seem to have a big following, is the Ernie Ball Group IV flats. Not as floppy or bright as TIJF, not as thuddy or stiff as LaBella or GHS. I find them to be a great middle ground and I use them on several of my basses that wear flats.

 

[Luckydog]

I believe Sean Hurley uses rounds on his 66 P, so theres that. I really like most flats, but being a fickle string chaser, I have rounds on my main P right now, and that P is very versatile, and punches like Muhammad Ali (well…like he used to at least).

 

[LHbassist]

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.

I use the newest edition- yeas there's been a few... Fender 9050 ML set. They ring nicely when first installed, then break in and sound great. In 1973, I bought a brand new P-bass- and it had the teal silk flats on it. Those were a lot different than the current Fender flats. I think I may actually still have that very set in my shop. The Fenders, are wonderful strings.. but so far, my favorites are the Ernie Ball Slinky Flats. The best on the market, in my view. Those are very ringy initially. The quality and overall tension/ feel are excellent. The TI flats, as great as they are, remain, to me, far too light tension.
Rotosound finally made their RS77 flats in 'normal' gauges- and those are also excellent strings worth trying.

 

[roccobass]

I only use TI Jazz Flats and Lebella Lo tensions flats on each of my Jazz fretless basses. I like them both, give the nod to to the TIs for distinction of the note. The Lo-Ts are really thumpy and old school like. I used to like them. I dunno.

Both basses use passive Bartolini pick ups. The Lo tension bass has their B-Axis, while the TI one uses Bart Original PUs. I’m going to switch to
TIs on the B-Axis bass next week and do a followup here.

 

[HaphAsSard]

In 1973, I bought a brand new P-bass- and it had the teal silk flats on it. Those were a lot different than the current Fender flats. I think I may actually still have that very set in my shop.

Either hold on to it for dear life, or get handsomely paid if you part with it!
As @TwototheValley demonstrated with his vintage Fender Mastersound Flatwound No. 850,
https://www.talkbass.com/posts/28703994/ (&ff.)
they were essentially like modern rope-core double-bass strings, and there isn't anything quite like them in the current bass-guitar market (Thomastik-Infeld Jazz Flats have the silk inlay but not the stranded core, Dogal Hellborg flats have the latter but not the former).

 

[Rayjay]

A lot of people have described the TI JF344 set as "flapping in the breeze." I've never gotten that. Having said that, the La Bella Low Tension flats are comparable - I think the main differentiation is that the wraps on the TIs are a little further spaced, making them more flexible. The LTFs (originally called Flexible Flats) are just a smidge less flexible. The 760FL set (43's) are a smidge tighter, and the 760FM (45's) just a smidge above that.

To be honest, the 1954 set ("bridge cables" aka the Jameson set) is heavy, but still doesn't seem to have as much resistance to me as a set of Chromes or Rotosounds. I can tell by how much knuckle pain I have after a set.

I think the main difference between the TI JF344's and the 760FL set is in the tone. The TI's will have more mids, and the La Bella has more low end thump. Both are excellent and I'd have trouble picking a favorite - kinda like a great hot sauce.

 

[zombywoof5050]

A lot of people have described the TI JF344 set as "flapping in the breeze." I've never gotten that. Having said that, the La Bella Low Tension flats are comparable - I think the main differentiation is that the wraps on the TIs are a little further spaced, making them more flexible. The LTFs (originally called Flexible Flats) are just a smidge less flexible. The 760FL set (43's) are a smidge tighter, and the 760FM (45's) just a smidge above that.

To be honest, the 1954 set ("bridge cables" aka the Jameson set) is heavy, but still doesn't seem to have as much resistance to me as a set of Chromes or Rotosounds. I can tell by how much knuckle pain I have after a set.

I think the main difference between the TI JF344's and the 760FL set is in the tone. The TI's will have more mids, and the La Bella has more low end thump. Both are excellent and I'd have trouble picking a favorite - kinda like a great hot sauce.

The 760FM set is 49-109. It's the 760FS set that is 45-105.

 

[andare]

Stop playing with wet noodles and upgrade to the 52-110 Labella bridge cables.

Never let the amp do the work. Do all the work yourself.
Be a man.



Seriously though, the TIs sound like they will disappear in a mix. They only have mids. Labellas are more balanced. Sean Hurley always has fantastic tone, he should know.