An excellent video!! Straight to the point with no talking, side by side comparison using the same lick, quick changes between takes, good sound quality.This is how a comparison should be done! I wish everybody could figure this out.
OMG I only _just_ realised that (for some reason it didn't hit me 'til you said it outloud)!! Wow, that is a huge sacrifice for the sake of his audience! O_O BRAVO
I agree! And your playing was great!! I'm just getting back into bass, I've got 3 of them, and this really helped my decision towards which strings to put on my 1950's Univox.
I use LaBellas, D'Addadios, and Thomastiks. All sound great, depending on what bass I have them on. The Thomastiks didn't work on my P bass, as the tension was too flabby, but worked great on my Tele bass. I've had the same set of LaBellas on my P bass for 15 years (0760M), and I'm never taking them off.
This video is brilliant! Thank you! Playing the same basslines, with just a drum backing track, is the best way to compare bass sounds. I use D'Addario Chromes on one of my Fender Jazz basses. After watching your video I think I might try a set of Rotosound flats. They sound lovely and bright! Thanks again!
Yes, Labella and Thomastik depending on moods. Thomastik slightly richer "in your face" harmonics, Labella so amazingly well balanced. Rotosound have way too low output and grunty mids, but the metallic edge could be interesting in some contexts. Daddario have that brighter sound when brand new and eventually get darker, quite nicely but suffering the comparison against the best ones. Fenders are also brightish yet decent, good for the price. Check out GHS precision flats, they're quite good. Also, Status' flatwounds are sounding surprisingly mellow in a good way. Never tried DRs or EBs, anyone ?
This is the perfect way to compare - great job! I have the Rotosound (both 77 and 88) and I was surprised how similar the D'Addario sound to the Roto 77. I liked the TI a lot and I'll be trying a set soon. It would be nice to hear the DR and GHS flats compared against these. It would also be nice to hear a tapewound comparison between the Roto 88 and Labella and who else makes tapewounds?
great job...I am sure that was a lot of work to do all that string changing. I love and am a regular user of TI's, LaBellas and Roto's. I think those strings sounded the best in your comparison and I loved how the Roto's have that killer 70's funk tone to them. The LaBella's have the warm Motown vibe and the TI's just sound great. To me...the D'Addarios and the Fender both sounded thin and uninspiring. If I am not mistaken...they are both made my D'Addario. Great, great job!
FANTASTIC JOB on your comparison here. Thanks so much for taking the time and spending the $$ to do this. To me, the TI's sounded the "best." Having said that, when I had tried TI Jazz Flats in the past, I hated them. I guess couldn't get past the feel to concentrate on the sound. Their super-low tension REALLY bothered me. I may have to try them again and see if me being a few years older makes me not feel so bad about the way they feel. Maybe now that I have more tension, the lack of tension in that string won't bother as much.
N2F1 Yea the feel makes or breaks it for people. I wish they would fix their A from a .070 to a .076ish. When I record the A string is a little anemic. Raising the pickup helps a hair though.
I'm using the LaBella FS right now and man, those strings are like bridge cables. I have to tune them to D Standard only then it's comfortable to play. It seems like i'd prefer the low tension of the TI's. I also prefer the sound of TI's, but since i read that the LaBellas "feel" better i rather bought them.
THIS IS A VIDEO. i see what i want to see and i can understand the different sounds, without a man that only want to say "see how much i'm good" .. yeah!! :D
Nice demos. The Thomastik definitely sounded the best on fingerstyle. D'Addarios were second place for me. But I liked the D'Addarios better with picking, so for overall versatility I'd choose them.
THANK YOU so much for not yammering on for a million hours before getting to the good stuff, it's so appreciated. I'm wondering if you can comment on the perceived tension between the TI's (which I currently have on my 4 string) and the La Bella "Low Tension Flexible Flats"?
Great Job, Mateusz! It seems to be very hard to change at least four string set! Dziękuję bardzo! I think, THOMASTIK! The most unique & special sound. LaBella is rather good. Ok, I love all the guitars & all strings :), but there are the most suitable for any kind of music, I think. Thomastik set is great for retro sound (why else we want to play flatwound, guys?). Ideal for picking style & great for fingers. Rotosound... Very good, but not so individual as Thomastik. Other strings are very good & I think there isn't any bad set in this review. One of my dream is to buy 2 or 3 different basses (i'm a pianist & guitarist) for different music styles. Now I know exactly what kind of bass & string set I'll buy as a universal instrument for all retro styles. Because If I want more rock I'll buy round wound, that's all :)))
I have been playing guitar since 1975. I have just bought a 1975 P bass. I want flat strings. I eventually decided on 760fs strings. There sure are a lot of options for La bella string choices. Some packages don't label the scale length.
HI Mateusz very good comparison,cheers¡¡...what´the ranking , in your opinion,about this 5 sets in terms of feeling and comfort playing ?...thanks a lot¡¡
Nice job on this comparison. Would've helped if you noted if the strings were new or had a break-in period. IME, there's a fairly big difference in some brands after they 'settle in' after a while. I've become a proponent of TI in the past few years -- both flats and rounds. If you prefer the lower tension, which I do, the positives put them out in front. The consistency across not only the strings, but the notes all over the fretboard are second to none. Some think they're pricey but fail to realize the lifespan makes them a bargain vs. the others in that regard. Thanks for sharing!
Hmm... the Tomastiks seem a bit lifeless compared to the others. I'd be hard pressed to choose between the Roto 77s (I have a set on my violin bass, they are top notch) and the Labellas, especially when you do the mute bass stuff. Mateusz, more importantly, how do each of them feel to you when you play them? I do really like my Rotos. Oh and finally, great funky playing!
Thank you so much for this video. If you're going for the flatwound sound, the D'addario's and Rotosound have a bit too much brightness for me. From what I understand though, ones the D'addarios settle in they are quite nice, but yeah Thomastik and Labella sound great.
Good review. I bought some Roto flats before seeing this review, having previously always used round wounds! I couldn't believe the difference, and have since taken up double bass! But I may have hade to go for the TI's had I known about them. I use Thomastik spiros on my Double bass and dominants on my violins! But I could also be swayed by the la bella's! I'd love to hear a set of TI's on my bass through my old polytone mega brute 111, because my rotosound flats already are close to having that vintage jazz bass sound, and the TI's just seem to have that bit more darkness and fuller fundamental to the sound.
Thanks for the great video. Thomastik are best for me, Labella's also sound great! On the brighter side, I really liked the Rotosound Flats. Are these new strings or are they all broken in?
I’ve played on the LaBella strings and Rotosounds. I have yet to try the Thomastik. Fair warning on the rotosounds, they tend to start to get really rough after not much playing. La Bella 1954s are my favorite though.
Good video! I don't hear so much differences when fingerstyle, tbh. But pickstyle is another thing! I'm gladly impressed by the bright Rotos (almost like coated rounds!), but La Bellas are the most "authentic" old-school sound, imho. Chromes and Fenders sound very well (maybe a bit bright), while Thomastiks are somewhat dark-sounding to my ears.
I got D'addario "Chromes" flatwound 105-50 on all three of my USA Fenders. (two Precisions and a Jazz) All three have been strung with these for several years. Will NEVER change. Just like "Duck" Dunn and James Jamerson I will leave these strings on forever.
The Fenders have a thicker sound than the Chromes or the TI. The Rotosounds are brighter and have a higher tension than the Chromes or Fenders. For rock and roll the Ernie Ball Group 3 flats might work well for you.Good bottom end but a touch of mid-range too. Also the GHS Precision Flats which have a more traditional vintage P bass sound.
To judge the sound of a bass string one has to look in the 80 to 1 Khz area. people get put off by the lack of lows or too many highs and might disregard other factors like tension, sustain, feel, dynamics. You can always take out highs but you can't put them back in. Deep bass can be added or reduced as well. I found it hard to judge the video. Having played Daddario Chromes i find them really good on all fronts but didn't get the vibe off the video. If i would have to make a choice from listening to this video i'd go for LaBella..
Hmmm maybe they needed more time to resettle. I notice sometimes when I take flats off and put them back on, they'll sound new/bright for a bit, then disappear again. Regardless awesome video. Thanks for taking the time to do it bro!
I am a studio player and my choice is TIs which edge out the others based on how pliable their silk core feels. Some argue it is not a flatwound because the E string is not completely smooth. Due to the silk core (like many upright strings) it could be argued as the truest flatwound. If I was going based on sound-only for studio I would probably use LaBella as my all-around flat.
+keith ruddell Do you find the TIs, or any other brand, to be tonally consistent from the E to A and D (G is always different, tinnier, but I don't care)? All brands I've tried, the E is always different than the A and D; I love DRs, but the E is tinnier; same with GHS, but the E is thuddier....is the TI E consistent with the A and D?
+Mad Mux My apologies for being late to this. I would say TIs are closer to uniform than DR and GHS flats. Out of the box the E string is somewhat bright but quickly dulls to a more uniform sound with the other strings. I'm sure this is due to the wrap not being quite as tight on the E vs other strings. On a side note, the Pyramid E sound way different than the rest of the set. Did you end up trying TIs?
Although not in this shootout, I have tried and liked Dunlop flats which are medium to medium dark after break in and the tension about medium low but not floppy--I don’t have to fight to play them.
So I see that there is a lot of discussion on tonal consistency in strings between brands. I am using the Ernie Ball Slinky Flatwound which seem to have aspects of both flatwound and roundwound because of the cobalt ribbon wrap. Kobalt is neat, they are VERY tonally consistent. You folks are going to laugh but I also really like tape wound strings (La Bella 750N Black Nylon Tape Wound Electric) which were not in the comparison but I think have lovely qualities-with styles of music that they are characteristically know for-even on fretted instruments. I also play on La Bella LTF-4 Low Tension Flexible Flats. I am not one to say that one shoe should fit all styles and techniques, I did like D'addario's quite a bit. This prompts me to consider whether having redundant basses with different string setups-optimized for different styles of music would be crazy talk.
hmm? My favs were a tossup between the Rotosound and Labella. I think Labella fingerstyle and Rotosound with pick. They all sound good to me though. Thanks for this!
Excellent video. I'm surprised how different the TIs sound comparatively to the others, which are more or less in the same ballpark. I think I like them the best here. I've tried TIs on my P bass, however, and they were too floppy/low tension for me.
Something important I learned today: I’ve now personally played the Thomastik and the La Bella strings, and although they have a similar sound, the feel is incredibly different. This might not seem important, but the feel affects how the player navigates the instrument, affecting the overall tone and performance! In this case, the Thomastik strings are significantly thinner and more bendable, whereas the La Bella’s are far thicker and stiffer. Personally, I much prefer the feel of the La Bella’s, and they’re much less prone to string rattle.
How do you think the tension of the Labelled would feel on a Rick 4003 bass. The 4003 has a scale of 33.25", so wouldn't this allow a slightly looser tension when tuned to standard EADG? I like the deep thump of those Labelled and they may help compensate the lean sound of the 4003 compared to say a P-Bass.
Thank you for this useful video. I liked that the comparison was made playing a groove, ratear than soloing, this makes it easier to see the point in a real life simulation. Useful and free from narcissism. I think I am looking for a Thomastick sound, but will go through the video some more times before deciding. Faltwounds can stay on for year or two, so it is better to take a good decision.
Wait - "a year or two"? But I've read that they can stay on for waaay longer than that (much longer than roundwounds). I mean, I wouldn't know personally, this is just what I read from people's experiences they told on online bass guitar forums.
Aya Sherlocat 5 years on a Hofner bass before the A string broke. (Hofner flats) I have Labella 45-105 on a Squier "Telecaster" Precision Bass since Summer 2008... And they say it shouldn't be used on string-thru-body instruments... Imagine that.
Great video! I went for La Bella 760FS (45-105) for my P bass (with EMG GZR). I dig the TI tone as well, but I worry about the very low tension and feel I can get a bit more diversity in my tone with La Bellas for my rock band (mostly vintage rock and Led Zeppelin tribute). edit: screw that, I ordered both La Bella and TIs and will see which ones win out on my P! xD Maaan that TI tone... Dayum!
jdjk7 hey man, I ended up leaving La Bellas on my P bass and they're fantastic. I'm definitely keeping flats on for a long time, it's got that classic thump and they only get better with time. TIs were definitely too low tension for me, especially with half a step down tuning that we use live. They did sound great though, slightly more like a well used nickel rounds though when fresh, they had a great mid character, while La Bellas have more of that classic low end thump. TIs are not for me though, and I'm much happier with La Bellas :)
great comparison! I think I have to get Laballa for warmer fat sound and rotosounds for more aggressive tone. btw, are they all in same gauge ? what are they?
Of these string sets, which set would you are more or the most "tonally consistent" from E to A to D string? i.e., can you hear a difference in tone (thumpier, duller, "tinnier") of the E than the ADG? I'm still searching for a truly "tonally consistent" flatwound set, and most I've tried have an E that is noticeably different. Thanks!
Exactly what I was looking for. Thanks. I'm using D'addarios on my p bass - 50 - 105 and I really like them. I've used rotosounds which are nice but still have the roto - SOUND (which is ok for roundwounds but not flats) and plus the rotosounds didn't feel "flat" to me. The D'addarios on the other hand are "flat" and have a nice feel. I'm looking to go with D'addarios in a lighter gauge. the 105 is a touch too thick. I'm not sure whether to go with the 90 or 95 on the E string. I'm leaning towards the 95
rotos sound biggest with the fingers. Fenders sounded like they were made for pick playing. But I liked them all. Now, do another video with every brand of flatwounds available. ...may as well get every round wound while you're at it... There's a bassist who used to hang his strings to dry ....after coating them in butter....or lard. I'd love to hear those in comparison.
I have watched this video a few times..and even thought the few times I tried them I wasn't a fan The Rotosounds with a pick was the stand out tone of the whole video.
Best video on strings on youtube! One question...Is it true, the Rotosounds flats have the highest tension? My band is playing in "E Flat" and I like more stiff strings for rock songs.
Hi, My favorites are the D'Addarios. Are those the Chromes and if so what is the gauge? I also like the Rotosounds, what model and gauge are they? Thank you
Just one question we're all these sets fresh out the box or all worn in ? I know this is an old post but thanks again for uploading you have save a lot of player time and possibly $
Great vid man. Thanx. Labella, OLD Fenders & T.I. are my faves. Then again, OLD Fender Tapes & Labella Tapewounds I like even more. BASS STRINGS ONLINE great place to buy em from.
SOswim1 hm i think LaBella and TI better for Paul. Chromes and Roto for Geddy. I would suggest Roto so you can get the bass to open up enough for Geddy.
An excellent video!! Straight to the point with no talking, side by side comparison using the same lick, quick changes between takes, good sound quality.This is how a comparison should be done! I wish everybody could figure this out.
YES. EXACTLY.
TI fingerstyle 0:02
Rotosound fingerstyle 0:15
Labella fingerstyle 0:30
D'addario fingerstyle 0:48
Fender fingerstyle 1:05
TI pick 1:20
Rotosound pick 1:43
Labella pick 2:03
D'addario pick 2:24
Fender pick 2:46
Nice, thanks for the rundown of the times! ;)
very helpful video. thanks alot man.we all know that changing 5 sets of strings is a huge pain.
highly appreciated!
OMG I only _just_ realised that (for some reason it didn't hit me 'til you said it outloud)!! Wow, that is a huge sacrifice for the sake of his audience! O_O BRAVO
I agree! And your playing was great!! I'm just getting back into bass, I've got 3 of them, and this really helped my decision towards which strings to put on my 1950's Univox.
Expensive too!
Thomastik is closest to my perception of a "flatwound tone".
Rotosound sounded pretty bright.
wow, wasn't expecting such a noticeable difference. thanks.
It's about time. This video is EXACTLY what I've been looking for. Thank you for taking the time to put it together.
Great video. I’m amazed at how similar they all sounded. To me the TI’s are the only ones that stood out with a slightly different sound.
Excellent comparison and great
video!
I personally prefer d'Addario's, because they have a richer mid-tone. love it! :-)
Thomastiks sound the best, followed very closely by the Labellas, then the Rotosounds, Fenders, and D'Addarios in my opinion.
I use LaBellas, D'Addadios, and Thomastiks. All sound great, depending on what bass I have them on. The Thomastiks didn't work on my P bass, as the tension was too flabby, but worked great on my Tele bass. I've had the same set of LaBellas on my P bass for 15 years (0760M), and I'm never taking them off.
The d’addarios have a real nice articulation
Great demo! The differences are easy to hear.Thanks.
This video is brilliant! Thank you!
Playing the same basslines, with just a drum backing track, is the best way to compare bass sounds.
I use D'Addario Chromes on one of my Fender Jazz basses. After watching your video I think I might try a set of Rotosound flats. They sound lovely and bright!
Thanks again!
wow man, this really is a useful video. no bullshit and just everything you need to know about these strings.
thanks man!!
Subbed for the no bs straight to the point content. Excellent comparison.
Yes, Labella and Thomastik depending on moods. Thomastik slightly richer "in your face" harmonics, Labella so amazingly well balanced. Rotosound have way too low output and grunty mids, but the metallic edge could be interesting in some contexts. Daddario have that brighter sound when brand new and eventually get darker, quite nicely but suffering the comparison against the best ones. Fenders are also brightish yet decent, good for the price. Check out GHS precision flats, they're quite good. Also, Status' flatwounds are sounding surprisingly mellow in a good way. Never tried DRs or EBs, anyone ?
This is the perfect way to compare - great job! I have the Rotosound (both 77 and 88) and I was surprised how similar the D'Addario sound to the Roto 77. I liked the TI a lot and I'll be trying a set soon. It would be nice to hear the DR and GHS flats compared against these. It would also be nice to hear a tapewound comparison between the Roto 88 and Labella and who else makes tapewounds?
That bass is just perfect looking man
great job...I am sure that was a lot of work to do all that string changing. I love and am a regular user of TI's, LaBellas and Roto's. I think those strings sounded the best in your comparison and I loved how the Roto's have that killer 70's funk tone to them. The LaBella's have the warm Motown vibe and the TI's just sound great. To me...the D'Addarios and the Fender both sounded thin and uninspiring. If I am not mistaken...they are both made my D'Addario. Great, great job!
Thanks to your video I put my first Thomastik Infeld on my P bass. Couldn't be more happy. Thank you
FANTASTIC JOB on your comparison here. Thanks so much for taking the time and spending the $$ to do this.
To me, the TI's sounded the "best."
Having said that, when I had tried TI Jazz Flats in the past, I hated them. I guess couldn't get past the feel to concentrate on the sound. Their super-low tension REALLY bothered me.
I may have to try them again and see if me being a few years older makes me not feel so bad about the way they feel.
Maybe now that I have more tension, the lack of tension in that string won't bother as much.
N2F1 Yea the feel makes or breaks it for people. I wish they would fix their A from a .070 to a .076ish. When I record the A string is a little anemic. Raising the pickup helps a hair though.
I'm using the LaBella FS right now and man, those strings are like bridge cables. I have to tune them to D Standard only then it's comfortable to play. It seems like i'd prefer the low tension of the TI's. I also prefer the sound of TI's, but since i read that the LaBellas "feel" better i rather bought them.
THIS IS A VIDEO. i see what i want to see and i can understand the different sounds, without a man that only want to say "see how much i'm good" .. yeah!! :D
Nice demos. The Thomastik definitely sounded the best on fingerstyle. D'Addarios were second place for me. But I liked the D'Addarios better with picking, so for overall versatility I'd choose them.
THANK YOU so much for not yammering on for a million hours before getting to the good stuff, it's so appreciated. I'm wondering if you can comment on the perceived tension between the TI's (which I currently have on my 4 string) and the La Bella "Low Tension Flexible Flats"?
have tried GHS flats as well? From the video, I would say La Bella and D addarios sounded nicest to me, I liked punchiness of Rotos as well, tho
Great Job, Mateusz! It seems to be very hard to change at least four string set! Dziękuję bardzo!
I think, THOMASTIK! The most unique & special sound. LaBella is rather good. Ok, I love all the guitars & all strings :), but there are the most suitable for any kind of music, I think. Thomastik set is great for retro sound (why else we want to play flatwound, guys?). Ideal for picking style & great for fingers. Rotosound... Very good, but not so individual as Thomastik. Other strings are very good & I think there isn't any bad set in this review. One of my dream is to buy 2 or 3 different basses (i'm a pianist & guitarist) for different music styles. Now I know exactly what kind of bass & string set I'll buy as a universal instrument for all retro styles. Because If I want more rock I'll buy round wound, that's all :)))
Good one - I bought TI's for my p deluxe and rotos for my warwick streamerlx jazzman. Lovin' it so thanks for doing the video.
Fantastic Pick riff BTW
I have been playing guitar since 1975. I have just bought a 1975 P bass. I want flat strings. I eventually decided on 760fs strings. There sure are a lot of options for La bella string choices. Some packages don't label the scale length.
HI Mateusz very good comparison,cheers¡¡...what´the ranking , in your opinion,about this 5 sets in terms of feeling and comfort playing ?...thanks a lot¡¡
The bass wins
Nice job on this comparison. Would've helped if you noted if the strings were new or had a break-in period. IME, there's a fairly big difference in some brands after they 'settle in' after a while. I've become a proponent of TI in the past few years -- both flats and rounds. If you prefer the lower tension, which I do, the positives put them out in front. The consistency across not only the strings, but the notes all over the fretboard are second to none. Some think they're pricey but fail to realize the lifespan makes them a bargain vs. the others in that regard. Thanks for sharing!
I'd like to know the gauge too, expecially for Labella (TI is just one gauge) thanks, great video!
Thanks for doing this. I agree with someone else who says that they were surprised at the difference between the brands.
Hmm... the Tomastiks seem a bit lifeless compared to the others. I'd be hard pressed to choose between the Roto 77s (I have a set on my violin bass, they are top notch) and the Labellas, especially when you do the mute bass stuff. Mateusz, more importantly, how do each of them feel to you when you play them? I do really like my Rotos.
Oh and finally, great funky playing!
Why the Ernie ball 2816 is not here in the list? Great video. Efficient.............................
Thomastik for the win! Thanks for a simple, effective video.
Thanks for video! Thomastic & La bella sounds best for me! What's your favourite?
Thank you so much for this video. If you're going for the flatwound sound, the D'addario's and Rotosound have a bit too much brightness for me. From what I understand though, ones the D'addarios settle in they are quite nice, but yeah Thomastik and Labella sound great.
What gauges did you use? (mainly wondering about La Bellas)
Good review. I bought some Roto flats before seeing this review, having previously always used round wounds! I couldn't believe the difference, and have since taken up double bass! But I may have hade to go for the TI's had I known about them. I use Thomastik spiros on my Double bass and dominants on my violins! But I could also be swayed by the la bella's! I'd love to hear a set of TI's on my bass through my old polytone mega brute 111, because my rotosound flats already are close to having that vintage jazz bass sound, and the TI's just seem to have that bit more darkness and fuller fundamental to the sound.
I think Rotosounds are be best for rock...the Labellas for R&B...I'm not a fan of Thomastik ,they sound okay but I don't like how floppy they feel .
Thanks for the great video.
Thomastik are best for me, Labella's also sound great! On the brighter side, I really liked the Rotosound Flats.
Are these new strings or are they all broken in?
Wow excellent demo bro , really hard to tell the differences fingerstyle and with a plectrum just slightly less so.
I’ve played on the LaBella strings and Rotosounds. I have yet to try the Thomastik. Fair warning on the rotosounds, they tend to start to get really rough after not much playing. La Bella 1954s are my favorite though.
Good video! I don't hear so much differences when fingerstyle, tbh. But pickstyle is another thing! I'm gladly impressed by the bright Rotos (almost like coated rounds!), but La Bellas are the most "authentic" old-school sound, imho. Chromes and Fenders sound very well (maybe a bit bright), while Thomastiks are somewhat dark-sounding to my ears.
The D'addarios seem like well-balanced strings. The Rotosounds seem too bright, especially with the pick.
Right, Rotos sound almost like roundwounds here.
I got D'addario "Chromes" flatwound 105-50 on all three of my USA Fenders. (two Precisions and a Jazz) All three have been strung with these for several years. Will NEVER change. Just like "Duck" Dunn and James Jamerson I will leave these strings on forever.
I´m a rock n´ roll p bass player, so I guess the deep and bright sound of fenders and rotos will work well for me. Thanks for the great comparison.
The Fenders have a thicker sound than the Chromes or the TI. The Rotosounds are brighter and have a higher tension than the Chromes or Fenders. For rock and roll the Ernie Ball Group 3 flats might work well for you.Good bottom end but a touch of mid-range too. Also the GHS Precision Flats which have a more traditional vintage P bass sound.
To judge the sound of a bass string one has to look in the 80 to 1 Khz area. people get put off by the lack of lows or too many highs and might disregard other factors like tension, sustain, feel, dynamics. You can always take out highs but you can't put them back in. Deep bass can be added or reduced as well.
I found it hard to judge the video. Having played Daddario Chromes i find them really good on all fronts but didn't get the vibe off the video. If i would have to make a choice from listening to this video i'd go for LaBella..
Hmmm maybe they needed more time to resettle. I notice sometimes when I take flats off and put them back on, they'll sound new/bright for a bit, then disappear again.
Regardless awesome video. Thanks for taking the time to do it bro!
I am a studio player and my choice is TIs which edge out the others based on how pliable their silk core feels. Some argue it is not a flatwound because the E string is not completely smooth. Due to the silk core (like many upright strings) it could be argued as the truest flatwound. If I was going based on sound-only for studio I would probably use LaBella as my all-around flat.
+keith ruddell Do you find the TIs, or any other brand, to be tonally consistent from the E to A and D (G is always different, tinnier, but I don't care)? All brands I've tried, the E is always different than the A and D; I love DRs, but the E is tinnier; same with GHS, but the E is thuddier....is the TI E consistent with the A and D?
+Mad Mux My apologies for being late to this. I would say TIs are closer to uniform than DR and GHS flats. Out of the box the E string is somewhat bright but quickly dulls to a more uniform sound with the other strings. I'm sure this is due to the wrap not being quite as tight on the E vs other strings. On a side note, the Pyramid E sound way different than the rest of the set. Did you end up trying TIs?
Although not in this shootout, I have tried and liked Dunlop flats which are medium to medium dark after break in and the tension about medium low but not floppy--I don’t have to fight to play them.
So I see that there is a lot of discussion on tonal consistency in strings between brands. I am using the Ernie Ball Slinky Flatwound which seem to have aspects of both flatwound and roundwound because of the cobalt ribbon wrap. Kobalt is neat, they are VERY tonally consistent. You folks are going to laugh but I also really like tape wound strings (La Bella 750N Black Nylon Tape Wound Electric) which were not in the comparison but I think have lovely qualities-with styles of music that they are characteristically know for-even on fretted instruments. I also play on La Bella LTF-4 Low Tension Flexible Flats. I am not one to say that one shoe should fit all styles and techniques, I did like D'addario's quite a bit. This prompts me to consider whether having redundant basses with different string setups-optimized for different styles of music would be crazy talk.
Great video comparison...Very helpful.....Thanks.
hmm? My favs were a tossup between the Rotosound and Labella. I think Labella fingerstyle and Rotosound with pick. They all sound good to me though. Thanks for this!
Great video! All of the strings sound great on this bass.This goes to show that I need to get a Precision bass.
Excellent video. I'm surprised how different the TIs sound comparatively to the others, which are more or less in the same ballpark. I think I like them the best here. I've tried TIs on my P bass, however, and they were too floppy/low tension for me.
Something important I learned today: I’ve now personally played the Thomastik and the La Bella strings, and although they have a similar sound, the feel is incredibly different. This might not seem important, but the feel affects how the player navigates the instrument, affecting the overall tone and performance! In this case, the Thomastik strings are significantly thinner and more bendable, whereas the La Bella’s are far thicker and stiffer. Personally, I much prefer the feel of the La Bella’s, and they’re much less prone to string rattle.
How do you think the tension of the Labelled would feel on a Rick 4003 bass. The 4003 has a scale of 33.25", so wouldn't this allow a slightly looser tension when tuned to standard EADG? I like the deep thump of those Labelled and they may help compensate the lean sound of the 4003 compared to say a P-Bass.
LaBellas, not "Labelled", damn auto-correct.
Is this a 81 candy apple precision special converted to passive?
idk if my ears are playing tricks on me, but the laBella strings sound like they're a couple decibels quieter than the TI's.
When playing with a pick, the Roto's sounded brighter. Isn't this all dependant on the tone settings on your bass and amp too?
They just bog standard rotos? As they sounded lovely
Thank you for this useful video. I liked that the comparison was made playing a groove, ratear than soloing, this makes it easier to see the point in a real life simulation. Useful and free from narcissism.
I think I am looking for a Thomastick sound, but will go through the video some more times before deciding. Faltwounds can stay on for year or two, so it is better to take a good decision.
Wait - "a year or two"? But I've read that they can stay on for waaay longer than that (much longer than roundwounds). I mean, I wouldn't know personally, this is just what I read from people's experiences they told on online bass guitar forums.
Aya Sherlocat 5 years on a Hofner bass before the A string broke. (Hofner flats)
I have Labella 45-105 on a Squier "Telecaster" Precision Bass since Summer 2008... And they say it shouldn't be used on string-thru-body instruments... Imagine that.
+Michele Costabile I've gone up to 9 years with Thomastik Flats as have others, they are worth the price.
hi, mateus , gostei do seu video qual é o calibre dessas cordas; light,regular ou medium ?
Great video! I went for La Bella 760FS (45-105) for my P bass (with EMG GZR). I dig the TI tone as well, but I worry about the very low tension and feel I can get a bit more diversity in my tone with La Bellas for my rock band (mostly vintage rock and Led Zeppelin tribute).
edit: screw that, I ordered both La Bella and TIs and will see which ones win out on my P! xD Maaan that TI tone... Dayum!
+mouthmw Why the Ernie ball 2816 is not here in the list? Great video. Efficient............................. which one is the best?
+mouthmw I'm interested in a follow up on that...
jdjk7
hey man, I ended up leaving La Bellas on my P bass and they're fantastic. I'm definitely keeping flats on for a long time, it's got that classic thump and they only get better with time. TIs were definitely too low tension for me, especially with half a step down tuning that we use live. They did sound great though, slightly more like a well used nickel rounds though when fresh, they had a great mid character, while La Bellas have more of that classic low end thump. TIs are not for me though, and I'm much happier with La Bellas :)
great comparison! I think I have to get Laballa for warmer fat sound and rotosounds for more aggressive tone. btw, are they all in same gauge ? what are they?
For those that like the thomastiks - id recommend labella low tension flats. Same feel and loose tone but without the slightly plasticy string noise
In my opinion:
^MELLOW
^1- Thomastick
^2- Labella
^3- Fender
^4- Rotosound
^5- Daddario
^BRIGHT
Cristián Alfa I’d say Rotosound at 4
Yes, sir! You are exactly right!
Does anyone know where I can find the backing track for the first half of the demo?
Are these all new strings. If so, can you please do a video of how they all sound after they break in after year? That would be awesome!
The TI's and the Labella's sound the best to my ears! great vid!
yes! that's how you do a comparison video!!! well done mate!
I love my Fender flats.
Agree. Also hey all sound excellent, their difference can probably be narrowed almost completely with EQ.
I like mine too
Of these string sets, which set would you are more or the most "tonally consistent" from E to A to D string? i.e., can you hear a difference in tone (thumpier, duller, "tinnier") of the E than the ADG? I'm still searching for a truly "tonally consistent" flatwound set, and most I've tried have an E that is noticeably different. Thanks!
Awesome demo. Killer bass!
Now do a comparison of DR Legends, La Bella low tension flats, Ernie Ball Colbalt flats, GHS flats and Pyramid flats
Exactly what I was looking for. Thanks. I'm using D'addarios on my p bass - 50 - 105 and I really like them. I've used rotosounds which are nice but still have the roto - SOUND (which is ok for roundwounds but not flats) and plus the rotosounds didn't feel "flat" to me. The D'addarios on the other hand are "flat" and have a nice feel. I'm looking to go with D'addarios in a lighter gauge. the 105 is a touch too thick. I'm not sure whether to go with the 90 or 95 on the E string. I'm leaning towards the 95
Gregg Johnson I think you're giving up too much tone going lower than a .100 but a .095 will be MUCH better than a .090. Hard to even find .090 :)
Any chance you'd do the same with rounds?
The least expensive set wins.
rotos sound biggest with the fingers. Fenders sounded like they were made for pick playing. But I liked them all. Now, do another video with every brand of flatwounds available. ...may as well get every round wound while you're at it... There's a bassist who used to hang his strings to dry ....after coating them in butter....or lard. I'd love to hear those in comparison.
I have watched this video a few times..and even thought the few times I tried them I wasn't a fan The Rotosounds with a pick was the stand out tone of the whole video.
What gauges are the sets?
Super!
Vielen Dank für den Vergleich
The only set I haven't tried in this string-off is the Thomastik. All those I've tried are ok, but in terms of tone and tension, it's LaBella for me.
Best video on strings on youtube! One question...Is it true, the Rotosounds flats have the highest tension? My band is playing in "E Flat"
and I like more stiff strings for rock songs.
Now I need a set of Thomastik. Thanks...
Hi, My favorites are the D'Addarios. Are those the Chromes and if so what is the gauge?
I also like the Rotosounds, what model and gauge are they?
Thank you
They all sound good in some ways, but I think I preferred the Tomastiks in this case. I love how punchy they are.
Thomastik or Rotos based on this vid.
Just one question we're all these sets fresh out the box or all worn in ?
I know this is an old post but thanks again for uploading you have save a lot of player time and possibly $
I love the Thomastik! wich model are them?
(sorry for bad english)
and which pick ups are on?
I really liked the Thomastik infeld strings!! Was it the JF324 set?
+Johan Pienaar dont remember
probably same ones i use JF344
Doug Morton - cheers!
Pirámide gold craizy?
Labellas !
Might try TI one day, to give my left-hand a break from heavy gauge strings...
Are all of these fresh out of the package?
Great vid man. Thanx. Labella, OLD Fenders & T.I. are my faves. Then again, OLD Fender Tapes & Labella Tapewounds I like even more. BASS STRINGS ONLINE great place to buy em from.
Which would you recommend for a Rickenbacker 4003? I'm looking for a set that allows me to go from Paul McCartney to Geddy Lee in any setting
SOswim1 hm i think LaBella and TI better for Paul. Chromes and Roto for Geddy. I would suggest Roto so you can get the bass to open up enough for Geddy.
Pyramids all the way!!!
I like the Fender!