Which La Bella go with Rickenbacker 4003?

Question for anyone who uses Le Bella on their Rickenbacker bass!!

I've been searching online for the best flatwounds to put on my 4003 Rickenbacker bass, and after reading through several different opinions I really want to try the La Bella Deep Talkin Bass strings.

Problem is -- while I found lots of support for the La Bella flats, nobody ever specifically said what KIND of La Bella strings to get! I typed Deep Talkin Bass into the "Just Strings" site, and I got a page full of different variations. I was overwhelmed .... You see, I'm a complete moron when it comes to specifics, gauges and scale lengths, etc. I admit that!

So my two biggest questions are 1) what gauge and 2) what scale?

After searching through forums again, I found one passing reference to the "760FL Deep Talkin Bass."
I went to the La Bella site, and the gauges are .043, .060, .082, .104

Can anyone confirm that this is THE set for the 4003 Rick bass?
(And will this fit into the nut? I really don't want to get into a situation where I have to get out a file!!)

As for the next question, the La Bella site mentioned that these strings come standard at long scale, 37" from the ball end to the silk. I though that Ric basses were 33-34 inches, is that right? So would I need to get a different scale than the standard?

The La Bella Deep Talkin page at the bottom notes that there are three other variations to the 760FL, a short, medium and extra-long scale. Short is 32" ball to silk, medium is 34" ball to silk, and Extra Long is 38".

So, can anyone with experience tell me if I need to get the medium set (760FL-M) 34" version for the 4003 Rickenbacker bass, or will the regular standard 760FL work?

Sorry to ask so many (probably) stupid questions! I just never was the best at the technical stuff, but I want to learn!

Thank you guys!

 

Hmmm .... in all of my searching you're the first I've run into who suggests Optima. What gauge would you suggest?

 

Thanks for verifying the 760 and the long scale ... it does seem odd that the 37 inch long scale does work on the 33-34 inch scale 4003 neck! I thought for sure I"d need to get the La Bell medium 34" set.

And the other name that kept popping up when I was searching was in deed the TI strings. But I've had so many issues in the past with string rattle that I'm reluctant to go for light tension strings!
thanks!

 

Well ... crap! I really didn't want to file the nut if I could help up. I suppose my fear is that I get thiese strings, file the nut, then realize I don't like the strings after all. Then I"d be stuck with them, or pay somebody to put on a new nut.

 

Thank you -- thank you -- thank you for all the great info! And for the history on Optima ... I'm starting to wonder if I should look into those instead? The idea of filing down the nut is really scaring me!

Even thought the Optimas are new, I wonder if they will improve with age? I really was intrigued by the reports on other forums that the La Bella's tend to sound better and better over time, lasting for years.

And just curious, was your Rick bass a 4001 or a 4003, the one you had Pyramids and TI's on?

 

Now that is interesting ... you used the 760FS, and the only other mention I ever found was the 760FL (with the .043, .060, .082, .104 gauges). I guess the only difference are the string gauges?

So I'm glad you cleared that up ... 760FS ... it's exactly what was I looking for, advice from someone with practical experience on exactly which set to get!! And I'm really relieved to hear you didn't have to file down the nut, and that the long scale fits perfect. Again, I'm surprised the medium scale doesn't fit Rickenbackers better. Did you have them on a 4001, or a 4003? I guess it should make any difference, nut-wise.

So you're playing TI's on your 4001? Do you think the low tension is weird? I read a lot of posts from people complaining that it was like playing rubber bands!

And you're the first guy I've read complaining about the Fenders!

Anyway, THANK YOU for telling me specific gauge numbers and which scale you used!!

 

That's interesting, I used to use GHS bright flats (long scale, light gauge) on an old P-bass ... in pre-internet days they were the only flats I could find from local dealers. I thought they sounded pretty dead, but I liked the feel. I know GHS has a newer line called Precision Flatwound, have you tried those?

Thanks again for all the great advice! Going off of Coolhandjjl's comments I think I know which La Bella set to get, but you have REALLY got me interested in the Optima strings! I like the tie-in to the Maxima strings you mentioned, and the fact they only come in one gauge (no guess work ... if other Ric players have liked them then it's easy to know what to get!)

Actually, at this point, I think I just might order both the La Bella AND the Optima sets and see what they are like on the bass.

thanks!

 

Maybe I disregarded the TI's too quickly? I've always had trouble with string rattle, so I just assumed I'd have similar issues if the TI's were as low tension as everyone tends to report. Hmmm...

thanks again for the advice!

 

Yeah, I think I got tired of almost playing with kid gloves, you know? It's probably my technique (or lack of!), but if I didn't pluck the string just right I'd get rattle like crazy. Drove me nuts. I think that scared me from the TI's more than anything. I wish I knew for sure!