La Bella has recently made a formally 'limited release' string available in their catalog lineup. It seems like it's nothing new and just another steel ground-wound, but it has the qualities of a flatwound and a roundwound, yet leans a little more towards a flat. The sustain of the fundamental is very long, un-like a flatwound and this makes it a very articulate playing string, with the 'clunk' of a flat at the beginning of the notes that keeps going. When new the Super Polished starts off with a bit of roundwound in the tone, but it soons settles down to a smooth, slightly burnished tone. In comparison I've gotten to play an new old stock original Pyramid flatwound set on my Alembic (Mica asked for and has my Pyramid set for study). Most think that Pyramids are all about the nickel, but the no longer made, early, original version used by Alembic was actually made of chrome steel on steel core, which is much louder and punchier than today's nickel version Pyramids. This Super Polished set approaches the articulation of the original chrome-steel Pyramids, which also had really good sustain. This offering from La Bella isn't a Brite flat, it's different in tone and less stiff than the GHS. The La Bella set requires a wipe down with a soft cloth before installing. I use the 107-47 set which actually plays like a 105-45. They also have a light set 103-45. The strings tension actually loosens a bit after break-in, so expect an easy playing string.
