New LaBella Flatwound Strings

[Amandalyn]

Read about the New LaBella Flatwound Strings here on the Cafe in the "news" section:
http://www.mandolincafe.com/news/pub...ns_00148.shtml

[glauber]

I saw that. I wonder how they compare with the custom Labella sets by mandohack (also available through Cafe classifieds). It looks like he created a hybrid between the MF-10 and MF-20 sets.

[mandopaul]

Would these be the same as the Flattops that D'Addiario makes? or are Flatwounds not Flattops?

[glauber]

AFAIK (i don't remember where i read this), "flat tops" are first wound the normal way (round) and then filed. "Flat wounds" are wound in some magical way or with some magical kind of wire that gives them a square section.

[mandroid]

Ribbon in wire like guages.

[Tim Saxton]

Where can I buy a set of these strings?

[glauber]

Go to Cafe Classifieds (link above) and search for LaBella. Both types will show up.

g

[glauber]

Here (click) are some pictures of round, flat and ground wound.

g

[Amandalyn]

I'm not sure how the MF10 & 20's compare to the Jazz Set that Ted E. created. I do know the MF20's have a wound 'A' string which I like. The guages are different, the MF20's are like a M/H to me. The wound 'A' is guaged at .020, it feels meaty but not too heavy. I would compare the MF20's to the Thomastik-InFeld flatwounds, with a slightly brighter tone. The LaBellas are Chromesteel, where the D'Addario FT I think are Ph/Bz- totally differnt feel and tone. The FT's were flat sounding to me.
There should be some more reports coming in -as I've shipped out quite a few recently & had to re-order- so let us know.
Teri /The Music Tree
info@musicgrowshere.com

[Amandalyn]

Here's #an interesting comment #on the LaBella strings forwarded from Ken Wise (the developer of the MF series):

"I fumbled around and got the new strings (strangs) on my mandolin. #For many years it has had John Pierce strings. #After putting these strings on I am going to work with it , because they are great. #The old thing has a tone I never heard. #I particularly like the low strings. #These strings are all you said they were. #

These strings make even me sound good.

We have three more mandolins that eventually we will string, after I get my crops in, ya know." #

See you later
olde john
J. C. Burton. Jr." # #

[Ted Eschliman]

Here's the scoop on MF-10 vs JM-11…

MF-10: .011 plain .015 plain .024 wound .031 wound
JM-11: .011 plain .015 plain .024 wound .033 wound

Very close, but in working with Labella on coming up with the best voice and albeit, personal playing preference, I needed a little more heft on the G string than the MF-10 could provide. The MF-20 are heavy to me (VERY heavy). That wound A (.020) about killed me, and the D (.026) much the same. (Wound also adds to the cost.)

Strings are a very personal thing. Trial and error, experimentation, sometimes you just have to try it yourself because everyone's hands and playing styles are different. I've had the special privilege of designing a string for the mass market that fits me. Individual results for you might vary.

Excuse the pitch, but at half the price of the Tis, they might be worth a try.

[PhilGE]

Hey Teri, if you're promoting product, could you identify yourself as a retailer in your signature? That kind of gets rid of any question of who's posting what for what purposes.

Best,
-Phil