dlloyd Posted September 19, 2011 Share Posted September 19, 2011 I want to string my jazz bass with flats. I had Labella deep talkin flats on my Stingray a good few years ago and really liked them... Stringbusters don't have the standard length in stock, but they have extra long scale... would it be okay to fit these to a Fender Jazz? I just cut them to length, right? I'm not missing anything here? (I don't remember them being taperwound or anything.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bass Doc Posted September 19, 2011 Share Posted September 19, 2011 I personally wouldn't fit extra-long - just wait till you can get the correct scale length. You could try D'Addario Chromes 45-100 as an alternative. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dlloyd Posted September 19, 2011 Author Share Posted September 19, 2011 So there is a difference other than the length? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dlloyd Posted September 19, 2011 Author Share Posted September 19, 2011 Never mind... I went for the medium gauge instead of standard gauge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mazdah Posted September 19, 2011 Share Posted September 19, 2011 And you did right! LaBellas are pure greatness! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham56 Posted September 19, 2011 Share Posted September 19, 2011 I love LaBella flats. I get them from the Bass gallery - they usually haved a good selection in stock. I haven't had the courage to put the heavy gauge Jamerson set on though... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssentialTension Posted September 19, 2011 Share Posted September 19, 2011 [quote name='dlloyd' timestamp='1316435861' post='1377930'] So there is a difference other than the length? [/quote] With the extra longs you might find the silk runs out before the string is finished winding on the tuner. Not usually good with flats. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Green Alsatian Posted September 19, 2011 Share Posted September 19, 2011 I'd wait for the proper scale length - you'll be turning actual string around the tuners, which isn't good. As they're often out of stock, I buy mine from this fellow on eBay - he's in the US, but has always shipped 'em quickly. Here's a set of regular guage from said seller (I'm not the seller!) [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BELLA-DEEP-TALKIN-FLATWOUND-BASS-STRINGS-760FL-/120720674889?pt=Guitar_Accessories&hash=item1c1b835049#ht_1000wt_952"]http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BELLA-DEEP-TALKIN-FLATWOUND-BASS-STRINGS-760FL-/120720674889?pt=Guitar_Accessories&hash=item1c1b835049#ht_1000wt_952[/url] I've got a set of 'Original 1954s' on a cheap CMI P-bass and they are excellent strings - feel and sound great. Even though they are a heavy guage (52-110), they are comfortable to play. I had their Hofner set on my Ignition and they were excellent! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigd1 Posted September 19, 2011 Share Posted September 19, 2011 I use the heavy gauge Labella flats on all my Basses, love em never use anything else. Nice big wide, fat sound that I really like. Strings like everything are a personal choice thing. I would say just "suck um and see" the only way you will find if you like anything that affects any aspect of your sound, and also in this case feel of the instrument. Ta very glad BIGd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owen Posted September 19, 2011 Share Posted September 19, 2011 OK, there seems to be a set of flats lovers here. I have two basses with flats on them (TI and some second hand ones with blue silks on them). The thud totally does it for me for when it is the right time, but there is something about the upper mids that really gets under my skin. I can wind that off with the tone control but even though that makes things warm and creamy by the speaker the sound can get a bit boomy or dark in the audience. Is there a flat that does not have that kind of grating top end or am I just being too fussy? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dlloyd Posted September 20, 2011 Author Share Posted September 20, 2011 [quote name='dlloyd' timestamp='1316437477' post='1377950'] Never mind... I went for the medium gauge instead of standard gauge. [/quote] Ordered 2 o'clock yesterday... they're already on my bass. How's that for service? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dlloyd Posted September 21, 2011 Author Share Posted September 21, 2011 Bass needs a setup, strings need to settle in, but yep... that's what I'm talking about. I've been playing more with a pick lately... Fender jazz, flats, pick... instant West coast 60s sound. Nice... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barnettiuk Posted October 25, 2011 Share Posted October 25, 2011 ..............for anyone worried about putting the heavy gauge '54 LaBella Deep Talkin' set on their bass, I put a set on a Vintage V4 P-bass copy about eighteen months ago, obviously had to tweak the truss rod at the time, but the neck hasn't moved a millimetre and no sign of any strain on anything........and the bass sounds smokin'!! cheers Ian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssentialTension Posted October 25, 2011 Share Posted October 25, 2011 [quote name='dlloyd' timestamp='1316596333' post='1380030'] I've been playing more with a pick lately... Fender jazz, flats, pick... instant West coast 60s sound. Nice... [/quote] I do like that sound too, Joe Osborn in LA or John Paul Jones and others in the UK. It works with a P bass too but then it's Carol Kaye. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted October 25, 2011 Share Posted October 25, 2011 Just done a bit of reading on these, and the gauge is great 52, 73, 95, 110. Sorely tempted to get a set for my "at home bass". Been using Roto Rounds for years, and really want to like flats, but with so many about, difficult to make a choice. I did try Roto Flats, but couldn`t get on with them. As yet, not tried flats in a band context, which I suppose is the main thing, as I`ve found over the years that if I dislike a bass sound on it`s own, I tend to really like it in the mix, and that`s what counts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eddiehoffmann Posted October 26, 2011 Share Posted October 26, 2011 [quote]Been using Roto Rounds for years, and really want to like flats, but with so many about, difficult to make a choice. I did try Roto Flats, but couldn`t get on with them. As yet, not tried flats in a band context, which I suppose is the main thing, as I`ve found over the years that if I dislike a bass sound on it`s own, I tend to really like it in the mix, and that`s what counts. [/quote] Hey Lozz. After many years playing only with rounds (Rotosounds and LaBellas) my greatest discovery in recent years were the Status Half-Wound strings. I've been using them on P-Basses for a while now. They feel just like flats at the tip of your fingers and, sonically, somewhere in the middle, between rounds and flats. But it's a nice in the middle, not some over the fence, half baked in the middle, if you know what I mean. With the tone control slightly attenuated and playing a bit closer to the neck you can make them sound just like flats. I cut a little piece of acoustic foam so it fits perfectly under the strings, close to the bridge, and now that elusive Jamerson sound is right there. At the same time, with the tone control full on and with a plectrum, you still get that lovely P-Bass bite, but (in my opinion) in a much nicer way. You don't loose definition and attack, you just loose harshness. I highly recommend for you guys to give them a try. You can buy them directly from Status, they're no expensive and they always deliver mine the next day. They only make them in more regular gauges though (40-100 and 45-105). Still worth a try. They do feel stiffer than rounds, so maybe with heavier gauges it would be a bit too much for most? Ah... And I feel it's way easier to play with them than with rounds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted October 26, 2011 Share Posted October 26, 2011 Cheers for the tip, Eddie, I`ll have to check these out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Jack Posted October 26, 2011 Share Posted October 26, 2011 Those Status half-rounds were on the Wal fretless I had from Clarky recently. They feel and sound very nice, and I have no desire to change them. I have LaBella FLs on my '66 Precision (which are basically a perfect match for that bass) and the Status half-rounds aren't a million miles away in feel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foal30 Posted October 26, 2011 Share Posted October 26, 2011 Hi MrLloyd, Sadowsky flats are La'Bellas if they are easier to source. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssentialTension Posted October 26, 2011 Share Posted October 26, 2011 [quote name='foal30' timestamp='1319616166' post='1416314'] Hi MrLloyd, Sadowsky flats are La'Bellas if they are easier to source. [/quote] Do you mean that Sadowsky flats simply are repackaged La Bellas or are they different but La Bella make them for Sadowsky. Do they have the same coloured silks? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AntLockyer Posted October 26, 2011 Share Posted October 26, 2011 I put Labellas on my P bass in December and it was a revelation, that bass will always have flats from now on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foal30 Posted October 27, 2011 Share Posted October 27, 2011 they are just re-packaged, I don't know what type of Flats they are. Because I am told La'Bella make more than one type. We have not had LaBella strings in NZ for many years. I got the Sadowsky sets from Australia after some research into string manufacturing. they sound good. I use the set with a 105E string LaBella also make a headless flat set which I'm seriously considering on my Steinberger Ernie Ball flats are D'Ad Chromes, just in a different bag. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssentialTension Posted October 27, 2011 Share Posted October 27, 2011 [quote name='foal30' timestamp='1319687961' post='1417251'] they are just re-packaged, I don't know what type of Flats they are. Because I am told La'Bella make more than one type. We have not had LaBella strings in NZ for many years. I got the Sadowsky sets from Australia after some research into string manufacturing. they sound good. I use the set with a 105E string LaBella also make a headless flat set which I'm seriously considering on my Steinberger Ernie Ball flats are D'Ad Chromes, just in a different bag. [/quote] Thanks for that. Fender strings are now made by D'Addario too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted October 27, 2011 Share Posted October 27, 2011 Just ordered a set of La Bella medium gauge Deep talkin`flats. I sooooo want to be a flats-player, as though I`ve used Rotos for years, and certainly can`t find any rounds to better them, there`s still something missing. I think it`s that rounds twang, and to get a thump from them, you have to wait til they`ve died. Keep your fingers crossed for me, fellow Basschatters. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Highfox Posted October 27, 2011 Share Posted October 27, 2011 (edited) [quote name='Lozz196' timestamp='1319706156' post='1417383'] Just ordered a set of La Bella medium gauge Deep talkin`flats. I sooooo want to be a flats-player, as though I`ve used Rotos for years, and certainly can`t find any rounds to better them, there`s still something missing. I think it`s that rounds twang, and to get a thump from them, you have to wait til they`ve died. Keep your fingers crossed for me, fellow Basschatters. [/quote] Good choice Lozz, I have all my bass's strung with the FL's. They take a week or 2 to break in and then start to keep on sounding better imo. I even prefer the slap sound I get out of them to rounds.. (I don't slap much, but for the odd bit of a song)! Edited October 27, 2011 by Highfox Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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