La Bella Stings

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La Bella Stings

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dformell

Posts: 126
Joined: Nov. 7 2010

La Bella Stings

Hello Everybody,

For those of you that have had bad experiences with La Bella strings, To get immediate satisfaction contact Lorenza Cocco at: lorenza.cocco@labella.com

She's the new "sheriff" at La Bella strings and she means business! Heres a copy of the email she sent me:

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hi Dan,

Thank you very much for getting back to us. We're happy to hear you like the improved trebles! Thank you for your patience with this process.

We also appreciate you writing the positive comments on the forum.

Please help us get the word out about the new trebles and replacements we're offering if you happen to hear of any unhappy customers.

Thanks again and please let us know if you have any issues/comments/questions in the future!

Best,
Lorenza

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She sent me two sets of strings a.s.a.p. and free of charge.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date May 7 2012 17:14:14

mezzo

Posts: 1409
Joined: Feb. 18 2010
From: .fr

RE: La Bella Stings (in reply to dformell)

Do you think i could ask her to send me a set to try it out?

_____________________________

"The most important part of Flamenco is not in knowing how to interpret it. The higher art is in knowing how to listen." (Luis Agujetas)

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date May 7 2012 19:38:05

gounaro

Posts: 875
Joined: Sep. 28 2008
From: Athens, Hellas

RE: La Bella Stings (in reply to mezzo)

She wont send you.

I did it before and she told me that Strings by Mail has these improved treble set and if you're not satisfied she can send you a replacement.

_____________________________

Spyros

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date May 7 2012 22:30:49

Sr. Martins

Posts: 3079
Joined: Apr. 4 2011

RE: La Bella Stings (in reply to dformell)

I still have my six pack to try. They sent me a set with those new trebles and a separate high E and I had only sent an email asking if they could tell me when LOTS would have only new sets in store. The set I bought had a terrible high E string.

They have good CRM, thats for sure.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date May 7 2012 22:50:31

Sean

Posts: 672
Joined: Jan. 20 2011
From: Canada

RE: La Bella Stings (in reply to dformell)

I think they're the only string manufacturer that sells a string with "Flamenco" on the package that actually sounds the part. 820's red or black

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date May 8 2012 5:28:58

mezzo

Posts: 1409
Joined: Feb. 18 2010
From: .fr

RE: La Bella Stings (in reply to gounaro)

quote:

I did it before and she told me that Strings by Mail has these improved treble set and if you're not satisfied she can send you a replacement.

hey gouna as a strings activist, I'll bet you had tried it

So I must order from SbM, then complain to her to get my gift

Well last time I ordered from SbM they send me a defective set of Hannabach, so i suppose i could get another source of dissatisfaction. Maybe i should contact directly the sherrif and try to explain her about my badluck with SbM orders' ...

_____________________________

"The most important part of Flamenco is not in knowing how to interpret it. The higher art is in knowing how to listen." (Luis Agujetas)

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date May 8 2012 11:23:10

LaBellaMusicStrings

Posts: 2
Joined: May 7 2012

RE: La Bella Stings (in reply to dformell)

Hi Members,

This is Lorenza from La Bella again. I would be more than happy to send samples to those who would like to try the trebles out for themselves.

Spyros - you asked me for details about a particular retailer. If you would like to try some samples, please email me at Lorenza.Cocco@LaBella.com and provide me your address and I would be more than happy to send them.

Once again, we're committed to 100% customer satisfaction so if you have any issues with any of our sets, please email us at info@labella.com.

Best,

Lorenza
Lorenza.Cocco@LaBella.com

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date May 8 2012 13:34:01

Manitas de Lata

Posts: 646
Joined: Oct. 9 2018

RE: La Bella Stings (in reply to dformell)

La Bella 820 Flamenco medium tension red nylon

is there any other option (same brand or other) that have the same tension ( this medium) and string thickniness of these la labella?

i want more "colour" on the 1/2/3 strings , the red nylon is more neutral/dull , but i really enjoyed the tension and thickeness , great for the rasgeos and arpegios.
thanks

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 20 2024 12:12:31

12850bd

Posts: 148
Joined: Nov. 9 2006
From: australia

RE: La Bella Stings (in reply to Manitas de Lata)

Its not that simple and to me it doesnt make much sense.

If you compare Labella 820b and labella 2001 medium flamenco. Plastic is plastic from the same source and the manufacturer is the same....and yet..

2001 string 1 diam 0.711 tension 14.3 / string 3 diam 1.016 tension 11.44

820b string 1 diam 0.711 tension 15.4 / string 3 diam 1,016 tension 12.32

added to this the sound is very different

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 21 2024 0:17:26

kitarist

Posts: 1715
Joined: Dec. 4 2012

RE: La Bella Stings (in reply to 12850bd)

quote:

ORIGINAL: 12850bd

Interesting explanation but there are some things I cant get my head around. If you compare Labella 820b and labella 2001 medium flamenco. Plastic is plastic from the same source and the manufacturer is the same....and yet..

2001 string 1 diam 0.711 tension 14.3 / string 3 diam 1.016 tension 11.44

820b string 1 diam 0.711 tension 15.4 / string 3 diam 1,016 tension 12.32

added to this the sound is very different

[Déjà vu]

They make mistakes in posting numbers (for diameters; for tensions..)

2001M flamenco trebles are the same material as 2001M classical trebles, something La Bela calls "nylon 2002". For 2001M classical trebles they post the same exact higher tension you see posted for the 820B black flamenco medium trebles, as you can see on the string by mail website here(*):
https://www.stringsbymail.com/la-bella-2001-classical-mt-classical-guitar-strings-full-set-3654.html

The 2001M flamenco trebles are just a bit thinner, thus lower tension.

The diameters in mm that look to you the same as for the 2001FM are listed incorrect for the 820b, though the diameters in inches are correctly listed as slightly larger, same as for the 2001M classical. So for 820B they listed the wrong thinner diameters in mm (but correct in inches(**)), and listed the correct tensions corresponding to the diameter values in inches.

Bottom line, 2001FM are supposed to be slightly thinner trebles than 820B; this means the 820B trebles have slightly greater tension at the same pitches. You perceive this as the 820Bs having different sound (they are likely a bit louder).

(*) strings by mail just passes along the la bella numbers, so I am quoting them for convenience.

(**) https://www.stringsbymail.com/la-bella-820b-elite-flamenco-with-black-trebles-med-tension-full-set-758.html

_____________________________

Konstantin

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 21 2024 1:24:35

Manitas de Lata

Posts: 646
Joined: Oct. 9 2018

RE: La Bella Strings (in reply to kitarist)

what trebbles do you recommend for that thickness and more "colour", rather than the red or black nylon?
can be la bella or other.. the tension i will search for medium

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 21 2024 9:41:06

kitarist

Posts: 1715
Joined: Dec. 4 2012

RE: La Bella Strings (in reply to Manitas de Lata)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Manitas de Lata

what trebles do you recommend for that thickness and more "colour", rather than the red or black nylon?
can be la bella or other.. the tension i will search for medium

I haven't used nylon trebles in a while, as at some point I switched to Savarez carbon trebles (Alliance). But when I was trying various nylon strings, I did like the La Bella 820 trebles on my guitar. I am not sure what that means objectively about the strings, though. But D'Addario seemed duller on my guitar, for example.

_____________________________

Konstantin

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 21 2024 17:19:02

Manitas de Lata

Posts: 646
Joined: Oct. 9 2018

RE: La Bella Strings (in reply to kitarist)

thanks anyway , will continue my research for nylon thinner tre.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 21 2024 21:23:26

kitarist

Posts: 1715
Joined: Dec. 4 2012

RE: La Bella Strings (in reply to Manitas de Lata)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Manitas de Lata

thanks anyway , will continue my research for nylon thinner tre.

You can't have at thinner nylon treble with same tension; thinner treble = lower tension.

Also about the other response - who knows what they are talking about with old vs. new nylon - probably in reality it was about switching manufacturers or switching from less quality assured process to more modernized (if the same manufacturer modernized their extruders).

Notice how La Bella says on their strings sets "Made in the USA with American Wire". Why do you think only *wire* is mentioned and not also nylon? Because it is really only referring to them making their bass strings - and the trebles are apparently made outside USA even, at one of the big international plastics manufacturer, as previously discussed.

EDIT: Found what La Bella's "nylon 202" is referring to - it is PA6. Made in Italy by Aerre Gomma.

http://www.aerregomma.it/index.php/nylon-202-pa-6/

And technical sheet (Word file): http://www.aerregomma.it/wp-content/uploads/SCHEDA-TECNICA-NYLON-6-NAT.doc

The thing with PA6 is that it absorbs water like crazy and this reduces its tensile strength significantly (and is bad for musical quality too). Much more than PA6-12 or PA12 (or even PA6-6). So yes, it turns out they use straight up PA6 for trebles. I guess Mimmo was incorrect that nowadays the only nylon for musical strings used is either PA6-12 or PA12. La Bella apparently also still uses PA6.

_____________________________

Konstantin

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 21 2024 22:33:09

AndresK

Posts: 309
Joined: Jan. 4 2019
From: Patras, Greece

RE: La Bella Stings (in reply to dformell)

Very interesting. Thank you for looking into this. Some people were starting to feel crazy imagining differences. Yes, the many supposedly different nylons from the major string manufacturers are very similar most of the time but that slight difference is there.

The RC sonata trebles are the clear type of nylon BUT they are not so soft as Savarez new crystal and not so sweet as the la Bella 202.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 22 2024 5:09:10

Manitas de Lata

Posts: 646
Joined: Oct. 9 2018

RE: La Bella Strings (in reply to kitarist)

yes but my La Bella medium trebles dont have the same thickness than my Cantiga Premium medium , and i enjoy more the thickness of la bella , but prefer the Cantiga tone.

Maybe will check knobloch again , many options, thickness/tensions

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 22 2024 9:49:00

Ricardo

Posts: 14806
Joined: Dec. 14 2004
From: Washington DC

RE: La Bella Strings (in reply to Manitas de Lata)

Haven’t used them in years, but the clear 427 Labella pace setters were clear equivalents to the colored 820’s. I liked them as much as Luthier 20, which is the only clear nylon I used anymore. So if you like Labella 820 but don’t like the color (why not?????), then go with the 427. They are always very cheap which is good. I gravitated to the red 820’s over the years, not sure why, but I started out liking the blacks.

_____________________________

CD's and transcriptions available here:
www.ricardomarlow.com

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 22 2024 13:51:46

kitarist

Posts: 1715
Joined: Dec. 4 2012

[Deleted]

Post has been moved to the Recycle Bin at Feb. 22 2024 17:32:22

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 22 2024 17:29:05

AndresK

Posts: 309
Joined: Jan. 4 2019
From: Patras, Greece

RE: La Bella Strings (in reply to Ricardo)

The 820b are the thickest from these three, 427 820 820b.
The 427 to me feels the easiest but with the less powerful 3rd string too.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 22 2024 20:51:29

Manitas de Lata

Posts: 646
Joined: Oct. 9 2018

RE: La Bella Stings (in reply to dformell)

sorry guys , i forgot to mention that i was talkin about 820 not 820B

love the thickness and their medium tension , but the material of the red nylon is harder pull some legatos , as the sound is more dull and less sustain (on my guitar) , not exagerated but if theres more options... with more alive and sustain trebles but with same thickness (of the red) i will go for them

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 22 2024 23:17:15

AndresK

Posts: 309
Joined: Jan. 4 2019
From: Patras, Greece

RE: La Bella Stings (in reply to Manitas de Lata)

If you want the same diameter but less stiff material that is easier for legatos, la bella has the 2001 light tension, NOT the flamenco black version. From RC strings there is the sonata light, which is a bit stiffer than the 2001 but not as stiff as the 820. To some guitars the 820 sound a bit thin to others just perfect.

If you want brighter trebles, but easy to play and legato try the Alma Vicente amigo solera flamenca set, but the basses turn bad in a week. Have you tried fluorocarbon? Much brighter and easier for pull offs, thinner diameter than nylon. I personally never play fluorocarbon but for many people, for their playing and guitars are just perfect. Fluorocarbon are the alliance trebles of Savarez, the FF sets from daddario, the Vivace from la Bella, the CX from Knobloch(that people say they are warmer too).

The easiest legato I have ever experienced was with Aquila
ambra 2000 light tension trebles that are quite thin but not brittle as the fluorocarbon. Their basses are not quite suitable for flamenco, so if you want to try them find only the trebles.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 23 2024 9:19:23