Labella tapewound guitar strings

CC323 · 03-20-2010, 01:53 AM

Has anyone here tried the Labella Black Nylon wound strings? John Pizzarelli uses them, they seem to work for him. I like the .14 gauge E, but I'm curious to know what the wound strings respond like compared to flat nickel's of the same gauge (or compared to anything really). Thanks for your time.

Chris

**82Benedetto** · 03-20-2010, 02:12 AM

Originally Posted by CC323

Has anyone here tried the Labella Black Nylon wound strings? John Pizzarelli uses them, they seem to work for him. I like the .14 gauge E, but I'm curious to know what the wound strings respond like compared to flat nickel's of the same gauge (or compared to anything really). Thanks for your time.

Chris

I've actually been working with them for a little while. I'm not too found of the acoustic tone they give me....amplified okay. They certainly sound much different than any string you've played, but it's up to your ears to determine if you like them. I likely won't be using them any more.

I'm not really sure how to describe the tone. Definitely more mellow than round wounds, but perhaps more dry than flatwounds (if you have an idea of what I mean by "dry.") Stiff, perhaps?

Different, but I think after everything I still love roundwounds...or gypsy jazz strings on occasion.

**SamBooka** · 03-20-2010, 10:02 AM

I tried them. I was surprised how bright they were. Not overly but they werent bad . I prefer TI GB114s but if I HAD to go back I owuldnt complain too much.

CC323 · 03-20-2010, 01:21 PM

Originally Posted by SamBooka

I tried them. I was surprised how bright they were. Not overly but they werent bad . I prefer TI GB114s but if I HAD to go back I owuldnt complain too much.

Hey Sam,

I've actually been using that exact set and the GHS CU-PatMARTINO set with a .52 low e and a .15 high E, and I've found I really don't like the stainless steel brightness. Would you say that the nickel is darker/warmer than the Labellas?

Thanks for your help.

Chris

CC323 · 03-20-2010, 01:22 PM

82Benedetto,

What do you mean by Gypsy Jazz strings? I am completely uneducated with regard to those. Thanks!

Chris

**82Benedetto** · 03-20-2010, 02:28 PM

Originally Posted by CC323

82Benedetto,

What do you mean by Gypsy Jazz strings? I am completely uneducated with regard to those. Thanks!

Chris

Argentine Strings (1 set): 1610MF

Those. I really can't describe the tone, though. I honestly think they sound really good on regular archtops, though they are designed for selmer style guitars.

The best way I can describe the tone is sparkly, percussive, responsive...I really don't know what else to say. I think it's a welcome change, though.

**SamBooka** · 03-20-2010, 02:30 PM

Nickles seem brighter to me. I have tried stainless' before and wasnt impressed. If I have to chose between gauge and material I choose gauge (if they only have 14s in stainless that is what I buy.. but I change them asap lol)

**82Benedetto** · 03-20-2010, 02:32 PM

Originally Posted by SamBooka

Nickles seem brighter to me. I have tried stainless' before and wasnt impressed. If I have to chose between gauge and material I choose gauge (if they only have 14s in stainless that is what I buy.. but I change them asap lol)

You like heavy strings

I'm more of a 12 guy myself.

**BigDaddyLoveHandles** · 03-20-2010, 11:21 PM

I used the Labella black nylon 14's for a long time (I'm taking a break with lighter strings now: D'Addario 13's!). I used them on my L-5 (25 1/2" scale) so the tension was pretty tight -- don't expect to do any big bends!

I really liked the Labellas. I would say they were dark sounding. I liked the enormous size of the bass E string -- 67! It's like playing a 7 string. I liked it for finger-style bass lines. They are expensive, but the wound string last a long time -- I would replace the plain strings once or twice.

I say in the grad scheme of things, strings are cheap. Give them a try -- they're unusual.

CC323 · 03-21-2010, 03:06 AM

I like the sound of the enormous bass and the darkness. Also, I would think that nylon would be easier on fingernails, which will be nice. I'll try them next time I order strings.

Thanks for the info everyone!

**brad4d8** · 03-21-2010, 09:23 AM

I used the 14s for a couple years on my Guild X-170 and liked them, especially for fingerstyle. Not surprisingly, they had more of the feel of acoustic nylon than any other strings. I recently went to a lighter string-12s and round wound, partly because I've been doing fingerstyle stuff on one of my nylon electrics and strait jazz stuff on my Artist Award, and partly because I was thinking about using it for more rockabilly stuff.
I had two problems with the LaBellas. For some reason, the high e and b strings broke before reaching pitch on one set (I replaced them with T-I from a George Benson set). The other is endemic to the Guild style tailpiece, can't speak for other types. The tape windings at the ball end don't fit through the opening in the tailpiece, but do wear down so that after a couple of days they do snug up. I suppose they could be altered before installing, but since it isn't my only guitar it was not a problem for the few days they took to adapt.
Brad

**BigDaddyLoveHandles** · 03-21-2010, 03:48 PM

Come to think of it, I had problems getting the bass E string through the tuner post's hole. It was the silk on the end. I have to wet it and stretch it thinner, then use pliers to pull it through the hole!

... and as far as "squeaking" goes, they were the quieter than any metal flatwound I've used.

**SamBooka** · 03-22-2010, 06:53 AM

We forgot the most important part!!!

Labellas come with a spare E and B string!

(at least I think it was the Labellas).

TommyD · 03-22-2010, 04:56 PM

I have a naive question . . .aside from being a sales gimmick, what's the point? Does anybody seriously think that the degree to which they are "quieter" than D'addario flatwounds actually makes a difference?
Now if it's true that they pack extra strings in each set..... guess it wouldn't help me though. I always break the D string.
Tommy/

**BigDaddyLoveHandles** · 03-22-2010, 05:10 PM

They have their own tone. I don't think John Pizzarelli is playing them because of any sales gimmick.

**SamBooka** · 03-22-2010, 08:12 PM

I dont consider it a sales gimmick (the extra strings maybe.. but read how many people wear out the e/b while the wound strings are still good and you realise it is a GOOD sales gimmick).

Tone wise I dont care if it is nylon or carbon fibre or smurfskin. I prefer the tone over chromes anyday.

**BigDaddyLoveHandles** · 03-22-2010, 09:35 PM

cool ... blue strings!

TommyD · 03-26-2010, 05:39 PM

Well, you convinced me! (didn't take much! :-)

**BigDaddyLoveHandles** · 03-26-2010, 05:41 PM

Don't forget to post your impressions here. I'm thinking of using the 12's on a Tele -- not going for twang!

**brad4d8** · 06-22-2010, 11:20 AM

Originally Posted by TommyD

I have a naive question . . .aside from being a sales gimmick, what's the point? Does anybody seriously think that the degree to which they are "quieter" than D'addario flatwounds actually makes a difference?

As I pointed out in my other post, I like them for fingerstyle as they feel closer to the nylon strings I usually use for playing that way. I never used them much with a pick, so can't say how they compare to other materials.
Brad

**spiral** · 07-03-2010, 07:03 PM

I Found BigDaddy's post via google and PM'd him and then just found this thread. (apologies BDLH! Still curious what your reply is though)

My question is: on an archtop, how are these acoustically? I love D'Addario Chromes on my pressed laminate Harmony archtop (top is very thin sound it sounds really big) but Chromes sound pretty muddy on the carved tops i have tried. So are the Labella nylon tape a little clearer that Chromes but smoother than roundwounds?

Any acoustic sound clips get +5 internetz.

TommyD · 07-04-2010, 11:04 AM

Three weeks ago I dug out a set of D'addario Chromes that I had in my guitar case and re-strung my 165. Then I got thinking about how much I liked the previous TS/Infelds I was playing on, and went online to buy a set of George Bensons. If medium-heavy strings sound good, really heavy strings will sound better, right? Wrong! They were terrible. And terrible to the tune of $28 bucks with shipping!
I dug around again, and found a set of Gibson 12/52 flat wounds - tore off the Benson strings and installed the Gibsons. Eureka! Great sounding strings! They must have been in my guitar case for ten years.
Now I find that I can't buy them anymore. I guess Gibson stopped offering them. Too bad, They're really nice-sounding and easy-playing strings.
tommy/

**brad4d8** · 07-04-2010, 12:17 PM

Originally Posted by TommyD

I dug around again, and found a set of Gibson 12/52 flat wounds - tore off the Benson strings and installed the Gibsons. Eureka! Great sounding strings! They must have been in my guitar case for ten years.
Now I find that I can't buy them anymore. I guess Gibson stopped offering them.

I think this came up on another forum and the consensus was that they were still being made but with a different name. I can't remember what, though.
May be misremembering, as well.
Brad