BASS STRINGS COMPARISON - LA BELLA VS THOMASTIK - Andy's Vintage Guitars

Today I had the pleasure of compare 2 of the most amazing flat wound strings on the market, made by La Bella and Thomastik.
Great feel from both of em and superb quality and tone.
The bass used for the video is a spectacular 1958 Precision Bass.
Which one is your favourite one?

[@luigi.zanini]

1:00 La Bella 3:34 Thomastik

[@henryeowens]

This was the exact comparison I’ve been looking for. Thanks, man. Really love the TI sound. If I’m going to dish out for flats, I’ll start there.

[@Sibob6]

It's the La Bellas for me, more that classic, broken-in flats sound. The Thomastiks sound cool, but they're more towards the brighter/modern flats sound, similar to Chromes.

[@MikeV.-sy6fl]

TIs and Chromes are much different, but I get your point.

[@jazzbrew68]

LaBella for me. Classic flatwound tone. Great feel. Low tension but not floppy.

[@luigi.zanini]

neither TI are floppy but they sound brighter

[@mikecrixell1277]

The TI strings for the win. Much more articulate across the range. As for being brighter than the La Bellas, TI tone can always be shaped darker. The La Bellas were OK, but overall too fundamental and muted. Thanks for the shootout.

[@joedecker3900]

I agree

[@christosfragias592]

For me, LaBella's for the win. I tried Thomastik's, and the D and G strings were noticeably smoother than the more coarse E and A strings. I also couldn't get used to Thomastik's odd string gauges. But that's just my honest opinion. While the LaBella's were consistently smooth across all strings, and just feel nicer for me.

[@devinmasters7038]

It’s the infelds for me. The high/high mids they have make them more versatile I think.

[@dalehymes6004]

Me too. I've got the TIs on my '62 reissue P and they provide so much range that can almost sound like rounds when you want it. I like to let the bass set the tone, not to be ruled by the strings.

[@uwrossl]

There's nothing like TIs. I think everyone should play them at least once to experience them for themselves. It's unreal how well the sit in a mix both live and recording. As long as you can bond with the low tension they are hands down the best and most versatile flat.

[@eckie4679]

Never tried TIs but they sound great here. Tried Labella Deep Talking flats a while back but they were lifeless imo

[@snstyvr7597]

Such outstanding, creative playing! Great groove too. Beast.

[@andysvintageguitars2335]

Thanks a lot!❤

[@sharnoldpapa7339]

Great playing and tone with both!

[@paulsteezo1772]

Thomastik? FANTASTIC!!

[@Ninja_Revenge]

TI Jazz FLATS are the best bass strings, period

[@edovandaal6017]

Nice review and great playing 😉

[@cosmodrome9478]

Great test! For me, La Bella all my life.

[@Person123-hi]

I’m preferring the sound of the La Bella’s here… but… there’s warnings out there against putting them on string thru basses. So… there’s a set of Thomastik’s on the way to me. We’ll see how we go.

[@andysvintageguitars2335]

Worth a go for sure 🔥

[@Sibob6]

I think generally there's a warning for all flatwounds on through body stringing, it's to do with the flat winding over the break angle of the bridge, if it gets damaged, it can unravel and break the string. La Bella actually do versions of many of their flat sets which have a longer silk at the bridge end to cater for through-body.

[@reggaebass1857]

Hi , I have LTF’s on 7 basses and I find them just right for me and I’ve got 2 strung through body, also it does say on labella’site that, Only our Low Tension Flats and "Through Body" Deep Talkin' Bass flat wound bass strings (e.g. 760FS-TB) can string through the body without breaking.

[@pbasswil]

Thomastiks had more midrange cut; but whether that's a plus or not depends entirely on what you like. Would all the '60s & '70s classic bass tracks played on Labella's (or Fenders) have been _better_ with more mid-range articulation?? You call it. Certainly, when funk and punk came along in the 70s, more and more players opted to go with the new round wounds. But if you're choosing flats in 2023, what tone are you aiming at?

[@DeeshBassChannel]

I have the LTF Labellas on my GL JB2, they feel fantastic and have a great tubby “old school “ sound. I want to try flatwounds on my Rickenbacker Cheyenne, but I still want it to ring, so I think the TI’s are just the ticket!

[@DeeshBassChannel]

Thanks so much for this post-it was exactly what I needed to hear. Fantastic playing, too!

[@Crushin123]

Dammit - I was hoping to like the Low Tension LaBellas - but I think the TI's ruled it - how is the tension re: comparison? Great playing as well - that bass is sexy af too.

[@todbowers1549]

Is it just me, or would the fret-wrap thingie that he has the nut on during the La Bella section of the comparison make a pretty big difference in tone? Those dampen the strings right?? Doesn't seem like a fair way to compare these strings. I've never used a fret-wrap, so I guess I can't speak first hand, but I assume that's the purpose - to mute or dampen high-end/overtones?

[@andysvintageguitars2335]

It’s loose and above the nut so doesn’t affect the tone :)

[@RootsBassCanada]

Thomastik for me.

[@fredparker3384]

Did you have to tweak the truss Rod with Low Tension flats??

[@charlesjaphe]

Yes

[@starmanovich]

Was tone all the way up and were there any preamp settings?

[@josepheaton8137]

I employ Thomastic infield jazz flats on my Epiphone Jack Casady bass

[@goforthpatrick]

I just picked up an Epiphone Embassy Pro. Did you try other flats on the Jack C? If so, how did they compare to the TI's? I'm wanting to improve clarity and articulation.

[@mannishboy1]

I just went thru 5 operations in 7 days and 21 days in rehab for a streptococcus infection. Two on my left foot, two on my left shoulder, and one on my right wrist. Now my hands have some nerve damage, especially affecting my ring and pinky fingers. I decided to give the La Bella Low Tension Flatwounds a try. I had a few sets of TI flats in the past and I never really fell in love with them. Now, I haven't tried the La Bellas yet, but according to their tension chart they're actually less tension than the TIs! All the reviews I've seen say the La Bellas are less "floppy". That's exactly what I need... And they're about half the price of the TIs! God Bless, America (as in "Made in the good ol' US of A!")

[@mertcolak952]

Hello andy, I recently bought labella 760fs, it sounded better than I want but it feels like high tention to me. First frets are hard to play. I want to try more playable strings after labella. How about thomastik?

[@andysvintageguitars2335]

I enjoy TI for the light tension , but don’t forget the low tension labella, they are amazing too and with a lot of thump❤️

[@LozarOfficial]

💥

[@lorpal1]

TI for me - way more character.

[@Guzzo1881]

Are the TIs newer?

[@thitiwatroongruangmanirat8608]

What color is the silk on the La Bella’s?

[@Mat_Gomez23]

A maroonish kind of color I believe

[@thitiwatroongruangmanirat8608]

@@Mat_Gomez23thank you 😁

[@vodekz1534]

TI, warmer, organic i use them on my 68 Jazz Bass

[@oldasrocks9121]

How about Thomastiks VS Ernie Ball's newish Cobalt flats? See who's greasier...

[@meremortal5789]

Have Cobalts on my Jazz 24 now, really like them.

[@oldasrocks9121]

@@meremortal5789Me too, I have them on my Partscaster Jazz, they're great. TIs on my Squier P with a 63 pickup, so fun but the Ernies are good for my finger muscles ha!

[@bassistdc]

La Bella.

[@TheBassfresh]

I prefer TI JF344

[@alsmithsr4296]

LaBellas sound better.