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!!

Montées sur une Fender JB US Deluxe 1997
Malgré la mention long scale, la longueur de la partie exposée de l'âme n'est pas suffisante pour reposer sur le pontet - sur certaines cordes et en traversant le corps j'entends. Pas essayées en montage classique.
Côté son, je n'ai pas été emballé non plus puisqu'elles se sont mises à manger des fréquences et du sustain après seulement 1mois d'utilisation. Un bon son de cordes cuites quoi, pas franchement ce que l'on recherche en montant un nouveau jeu...