La Bella SS45 Super Steps M

Over the years I have tried many different bass string models and manufacturers. This is a weird one. These strings first sound right after a significant play-in (a la La Bella), and still they have some strange characteristics.

I used them on a good jazz bass, and the upper harmonic content that came out with this taper wound design was shrill, grinding, scraping, grating - dominating... simply terrible. Also the sound was very badly balanced going up the neck. I nearly just cut the strings off and tossed them on day 1. Somehow I didn't, as I was using other basses for my needs that year anyways. I left these strings on the jazz bass and played it unplugged just for silent practice from time to time at home.

1 YEAR later... They sound much better and the volume/tonal balance up the neck is dramatically improved. (Checked against a recording from when they were new) The terrible ear-scraping harmonics are subdued. Now they just sounded bright and responsive. Still the low E performs badly up the neck, especially past fret 12 it sounds absolutely weird. Maybe the trick is to play them in another few years??

So... If you have a bass whose tone is absolute mud, and mounted with a vintage pickup with just about no treble bite, these may be the answer. They might actually work well on a bass with ridiculously creamy sounding active pickups/electronics. Or, if you can wait for a year of play-in, maybe these are ok for other vintage basses? I bet if you put these on a bass with EMGs your ear drums will be scraped clean away. Don't feed them past midnight and NEVER give them distortion!!