Wow! Labella Deep Talkin' Flats on my 4001.

[bigbajo60]

Excellent soundclip demo, that. Nice one.

Thanks! Appreciate the kind words!

[ch willie]

Great vid! Your Ric sounds incredible. I'm waiting to find one of those--Macca freak that I am. (maybe the v63?).

I was impressed with the growl you got even with flats, sounds full too.

[teeder]

I liked the TIs a lot but they just a tiny bit too floppy for my liking.

That's what I thought the first time I tried TI's, but now I love them. IMO, they made me play better with my right hand. Now I'm so used to them, I played my '69 out a few weeks ago, tuned down 1/2 step and some songs with drop-D and never had a problem.

[lumgimfong]

I tried LaBella Deep Talkin, Roto 40-100 SM77 flats, and Chromes ECB80 40-95 on my 4003 and like the Chromes best so far. Smoothest feel and best sound so far. Tension on the Chromes is in the 160lbs range so easy on the fingers and the neck.

One thing I don't like about LaBellas is that sometimes when I use headphones a wierd pheonomenon occurs that doesn't happen with the SM77 as much, and almost never on the Chromes:
I go to play a given note and some undiscernable note comes out. I think it is a headphone phenomenon that occurs across different phones I have used.
Happens less with SM77.
Doesn't really happen at all with Chromes.

I want to try the Ernie Ball Cobalt Flats next.

[rickenbrother]

I tried Chromes ECB80 40-95 on my 4003 and like the Chromes best so far. Smoothest feel and best sound so far. Tension on the Chromes is in the 160lbs range so easy on the fingers and the neck.

I prefer the EBC84 set, as it's much better for balanced string to string tension. There's only slightly more tension on the E and A strings The D string of ECB80 seems like it came from a different set.
The La Bella Low Tension Flats set is also excellent,, especially if you want old school classic rock and R&B thump right out if the package. They have less tension than most flatwound sets, but not as low as the TI JF344 set, which has too little tension for me.

[lumgimfong]

To me the ECB80 strings all have same tone across all strings and frets and the tension feels uniform to me.
I guess it is a subjective thing. Or maybe differing technique styles make the strings react differently.
I like the 160lb range for stinr gtension these days.
For years I used the heaviest tensions but then my hand decided it didn't like it anymore.

[jps]

I always replaced the D string on the ECB80 sets I used with a .055. To me, that provided a nice balance between the strings.

[rickenbrother]

I always replaced the D string on the ECB80 sets I used with a .055. To me, that provided a nice balance between the strings.

...but it costs less to buy a string set that already has balanced tension, without making a string go lonely and homeless...

[jps]

I always replaced the D string on the ECB80 sets I used with a .055. To me, that provided a nice balance between the strings.

...but it costs less to buy a string set that already has balanced tension, without making a string go lonely and homeless...

Yeah, but it was long before they started doing that. Once they found out what I was doing, they got on the ball.

[ram]

You learned 'en Jeff!!!! Way to go!!! ;^)

I just ordered some Labellas for a Hofner Contemporary I just received. Its been decades since i used the last so am awaiting them with great anticipation. They were really nice as I recall. Mostly I'm in the DAdderio camp and have been using the ECB81's as I really like the .045 G string. The ECB84s were just a bit lacking with the .040 G. Is this a great country or what?, we can ***** about .005 of an inch and there are options out there to address them!!

[lumgimfong]

I once selected from Chromes singles, IIRC, 35-55-75-95 set on my Starfire bass and it was great, but they strings died quickly.
But I like the ECB80 best for the Ric for flats so far.

It is interesting that people think bigger means beefier tone, and then you find out some of the pros with the hugest tone used skinny strings, at least for guitar anyway. Not sure about bass.

[ram]

The tone is for sure an issue with my 8string. I use EXL220s for the fundamentals and then individual string at approx 1/2 the fundamental diameter. For the G string that means a .020 string available as a solid string. This was waaaaay too twangy for my taste. went to a little fatter round wound and all was better (this may have been the difference between solid vs. roundwound). On my five string I use the EXL220s there as I really wanted a .125 B string. Thought it sounded better and played better - again to my taste. The 040 vs 045 with the flats is more of a playability than tone but I notice a little more 'fullness' with the slightly heavier string. Would an audience notice? I doubt it... but I think a player might notice if comparing. Regardless it's the way I roll.

[jps]

Y'all seen this before, but for the noobs, these are the 40-55-75-95 Chromes, already about eight years old at the time. Recorded through a VT Bass>Markbass Minimark>EV RE20> console.




https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jTO2fw5Q1oQ

[ram]

Yeah always have liked that one... really like your all's drummer! The old strings sound perfectly aged!

[mgauction]

I am always suspicious of the E string as so many sets have a dud. How do the Labellas hold up?