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Why cant LaBella flats be strung through body?

ModulusQ5-122

ModulusQ5-122

Jan 28, 2011
1,903
120
Lafayette, La
#1
I just pulled this from JustStrings site. I was about to pull the trigger on some labella flats to see what all the fuss was about until I saw this. Anybody know why?

La Bella Deep Talkin' Extra Long Scale
Important note: La Bella flatwound strings are not suitable for use on instruments that require through-body stringing.
 
#2
Stringing through the body requires a much more severe angle than through the bridge or tailpiece, which is more of a straight shot. A roundwound string can take the bend, because the round windings flex more readily. Since a flat winding is wider, it could tend to seperate or slip under tension at such a severe angle.

I like flats, and I'll trade off any advantage I get stringing through the body of my Laklands for the sound and nice smooth feel of flats. I'm sure many others will disagree, and that's fine too.
 
#4
If you can put them through the bridge then do that, but watch out because the ferrules may fall out.

I have to go through the body with my bridge, and I didn't try Labella's because of that very warning. So I went with Chromes instead, but aspired for better so I tried GHS flats and see no reason to try anything else right now, but everyone's taste is different.
 
#5
It is takin a chance, on my 2006 USA P-Bass I broke the G. On my 1999 USA J-Bass I have no problem with using "deep talkin", I think the angle that the strings deal with has become a little sharper than in the earlier set ups. So it can work, yet other have had problems!! Doc.








............on my 2006 P I didn't even realize it had the newer bridge that gives you the option of running the strings traditional. I sucks getting old hahahaha!!!
 
#6
Matthew_84 said:
If you can put them through the bridge then do that, but watch out because the ferrules may fall out.

I have to go through the body with my bridge, and I didn't try Labella's because of that very warning. So I went with Chromes instead, but aspired for better so I tried GHS flats and see no reason to try anything else right now, but everyone's taste is different.
Click to expand...


Do the GHS come in extra long scale? I need them on my Lakland that is 35" scale.
 
#10
tsverrir said:
What would the advantage be of stringing through the body?
Click to expand...

In my experience, none. I used to BELIEVE that STB gave a slightly tighter feel, better sustain, and a more full sound. But I learned that was just my own preconceptions coming into play. I had two US Lakland 4-94s. So I did an experiment. But instead of trying to compare things with a lot of variables, like different basses, different times, etc. I did something that would eliminate almost all variables. I strung one bass with the E and D through the body, and the A and G top-loaded. The other bass was strung the opposite. Now I was able to compare the exact same set of strings on the exact same chunk of wood and metal at the same time. When the strings needed replacement, I reversed the order.

After doing this, I realized that there is simply no impact at all sonically nor physically with strings going through the body versus top-loading them. It was kind of a hard thing to learn because I'd been pretty adamant that I heard a subtle but real difference and thought I might have perceived a difference in feel. It was all in my head.

However, being a musician, I can still totally ignore reality and ascribe whatever I want to the way I attach strings. So, my Laklands all are strung through body. I do this because it's become habit as I'm pulling the old strings off through the body, I just automatically put the new on back on that way. Plus it keeps the ferrules in the back of the body from falling out. If I were to use D'Addario strings however, I wouldn't go to the hassle of getting the extra-long variety and would just put the regular long-scale ones on it top-loaded.

John
 
#12
Hello ModulusQ5-122,

To help clarify the statement made on Juststrings.com. There are in fact some bass models that our extra-long Flats do work with. Some bass manufacturers drill a lesser angle through the bass of the body which puts less stress on any style flat wound string. To combat this issue we developed an E-string with a flexible tail. This flexible tail by the ball end of the string allows the string to make some of those harsh angles successfully with out snapping. I can also suggest our Quarter wound string that has a smoother finish than a round wound. This style of string can pass through any bass. If anyone is curious about how these strings sound, they can refer to any Meshell Ndegeocello album.I hope i have been some help in answering your question. All the best playing,:bassist:
Eric Cocco
Vice President
La Bella Strings
 
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#13
LaBellaStrings said:
Hello ModulusQ5-122,

To help clarify the statement made on Juststrings.com. There are in fact some bass models that our extra-long Flats do work with. Some bass manufacturers drill a lesser angle through the bass of the body which puts less stress on any style flat wound string. To combat this issue we developed an E-string with a flexible tail. This flexible tail by the ball end of the string allows the string to make some of those harsh angles successfully with out snapping. I can also suggest our Quarter wound string that has a smoother finish than a round wound. This style of string can pass through any bass. If anyone is curious about how these strings sound, they can refer to any Meshell Ndegeocello album.I hope i have been some help in answering your question. All the best playing,:bassist:
Eric Cocco
Vice President
La Bella Strings
Click to expand...

Wow thanks alot I really appreciate that. Im gonna have to give the quarters a look. THanks again!
 
#14
LaBellaStrings said:
Hello ModulusQ5-122,

To help clarify the statement made on Juststrings.com. There are in fact some bass models that our extra-long Flats do work with. Some bass manufacturers drill a lesser angle through the bass of the body which puts less stress on any style flat wound string. To combat this issue we developed an E-string with a flexible tail. This flexible tail by the ball end of the string allows the string to make some of those harsh angles successfully with out snapping. I can also suggest our Quarter wound string that has a smoother finish than a round wound. This style of string can pass through any bass. If anyone is curious about how these strings sound, they can refer to any Meshell Ndegeocello album.I hope i have been some help in answering your question. All the best playing,:bassist:
Eric Cocco
Vice President
La Bella Strings
Click to expand...

You've been VERY helpful. As someone who has broken an E-string ignoring your warnings, this is very good news. Not all Fender bridges allow the option of either top-load or STB (look at "turn of the century" Am. Std.). It's good to know LaBella has an app for STB. Now there's no reason I can think of to use any other flatwound product ;)
 
#16
Flexible Tail Pictured:

labelladeeptalkin.jpg
 

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