Flats on a fretted Jazz bass.

[Bagman]

13 hours ago, Agent 00Soul said:

 

The Black Label flats were my favourite.  Our rehearsal space in Brooklyn was down the street from the old Sadowsky factory so I just used to walk over and buy them direct.  The current Blue Label flats that replaced them sound quite similar, but a bit more modern and hi-fi I've found.  I still love them.

I've got my last set of Black Sadowsky 5's on my MTD 

great strings 

they were made by LaBella for Sadowsky

 

i don't know who makes the new Blues 

[Deaklet]

I have LaBella DTB flat strings on a J bass and I could not be happier with my setup. The sound is pure vintage and the strings have been a huge help to my hands. No more blistering, no more pain, smooth fingering and no more strangling the board. I also use foam near the bridge. I don't miss round strings one bit and I will never go back.

[-asdfgh2-]

On 27/08/2025 at 20:39, Papabull said:

Is this taboo. Asking for friend. Be as opinionated as you want and tell it as you see (hear) it.

Why would it be taboo?

[jonno1981]

TI flats live on my jazz and BB. They must be at least 5, maybe 10 years old now.
One thing that makes a colossal difference to tone is keeping them clean, way more than any round wounds I’ve used in the past. A couple of wipe downs with fast fret with the cloth supplied and they zing back into life and feel much better. There might be a superior product to use but it works for me. 

[Stub Mandrel]

6 hours ago, Deaklet said:

The sound is pure vintage and the strings have been a huge help to my hands. No more blistering, no more pain, smooth fingering and no more strangling the board.

 

This shows how much personal experience is a factor. I find flats play havoc with my fingertips.

[Bagman]

4 hours ago, -asdfgh2- said:

Why would it be taboo?

Kay Parker

[Agent 00Soul]

On 03/09/2025 at 00:36, Bagman said:

I've got my last set of Black Sadowsky 5's on my MTD 

great strings 

they were made by LaBella for Sadowsky

 

i don't know who makes the new Blues 

 

I remember them telling me that they were made by LaBella.  Lots of the companies like Sadowsky that make strings "on the side" job out their own spec designs to only a few string companies as they are the only ones tooled up to make them en masse.  They certainly don't sound or behave like regular LaBellas.  Unless I am suffering from the placebo effect.