Could be just branding yeah. I mean this is Fender we are talking about, they don’t make a huge variety of different things in cases like this 
@Al1885 might know
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I own all 3 the CS ‘62 and both PV ‘62 and ‘63
I’m the nutshell the Custom Shop are a bit more modern tone with more present mid Joe Dart and Pino(Trio project) comes to mind. I couldn’t tell the difference between the ‘62 and ‘63 but they are more classic P with pleasing Highs and lows tone. All have Alnico 5 magnets.
Personally I like a harder to drive Custom shop as it feels like it has wider usable tone than the hotter PV pickups. I doubt that I could tell the difference without playing it. It’s impossible to tell the difference in a song for sure. If you know what you are playing, you’d tend to play in the style that favor the strong traits of the pickups.
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So Labella DTF or LT, or TI Jazz.
I remember when bass was simple
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I’m thinking Aguilar AG 4P-60 for pups and LaBella DTFs for strings and just lean into the 60s. Thoughts?
Are you sure the stock pickups are bad? Cheap doesn’t mean bad.
No, i’m not. But I like to plan mitigation, a reason I am a good project manager. I have not ordered anything, just doing research. I was waiting to play and see how it sounds. I think the D’Addario chrome flats may be too modern, but we’ll see.
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I should say I have bought a strap and a gig bag. That’s the extent of my purchases for this bass, as I doubt at 41" the bass would fit in a normal guitar case and is way too short for a bass case
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Cool vid on heavy vs. light:
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So, another super subjective question.
I love the LaBella DTB (standard tension) voice, but I can’t play long with such stiff strings, especially now that I don’t get to practice regularly.
Hence, I would swap them for LaBella Low Tension or TI Jazz flat, they seem the two most sensible options, close in tone but easier to play. I don’t mind the price too much, but I would like to buy only one of the two 
I’ve read good things about both, so… let me know what’s the forum collective opinion 
“Best” replacement for LaBella DTB
- TI jazz flat
- LaBella low tension
0
voters
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They are apples and oranges. And I don’t think either will solve your issue.
Hm, I don’t think any online review or recommendation from others can provide you with a reliable guidance to what works for you, or will work for you.
Sure, other people’s knowhow and experience can make you aware of other (popular or exotic) options, but, in the end, you need to find out by yourself. At least, that is my own experience. It’s a potentially expensive learning experience 
(PS: if money is not the main concern, you might want to research Dogal Jonas Hellborg strings; they come in both roundwounds and flats, and are supposedly very low tension).
Sure, but there is a few around here who have tried DTB, TI, and possibly the low-tension version.
I know it’s subjective.
And instrument ergonomics matters too, but last week I took twice the TRBX with roundwounds to rehearsals because I didn’t trust I could play the Aria with flats for one and a half/two hours… and even if the replacement doesn’t sound exactly like the DTB, it would for sure be better than an active bass with rounds
It could just be rephrased: which set would you try first…
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Very little is better than an active bass with rounds 
Anyhoo, I am not quite sure how “time played” and “string type” go together (might have missed something earlier in this thread!?!), but for me, haptics is the most important thing with strings and here I prefer rounds with lighter gauges and lower tensions. So, sorry, not much help from me with flats…
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I’ve never heard or seen where lower tension means longer playtime. Neck issues, tone desires or personal preference sure, but again, I don’t think low tension strings will allow you to play longer.
But, if that’s your goal and you’re going to see for yourself, then TI is the way, you don’t get any lower tension. That said, like @joergkutter said, the feel of these is night and day and you may hate them. The feel is way more at play here.
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The more common LaBella strings are hex core, which are inherently more stiff than round core.
LaBella Low Tension and TIs are both round core, and have less tension. The TI are the most flexible strings I have used, and are my favorite flats.
Round core or hex core has no relation to being round or flat.
The round core flats I have used also have more mid presence, whether there is a relationship between round core and mids I haven’t a clue.
Both are very good. Which are the best for you only you can say.
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Maybe I’m missing/overestimating something.
Let’s just say I prefer the TRBX feeling, by far. But I also like to have a second bass, much simpler (I lost too much time toying with eq), with a completely different tone.
If I don’t play it at all, because after 15/20 minutes (which is the usual length of my practice session nowadays) I feel fretting hand/finger fatigue, what’s the point? I could as well sell it (for what it’s worth…), which I’m considering, but would like to try one last attempt to “save” it.
I already checked and adjusted the action, which of course matters more, and any lower causes frett buzz. Sub-par fretwork, neck issues, else? Maybe, but it’s a cheap second-hand bass, it will remain as it is. Maybe more flexible strings would make the not-super-low action less annoying (if the tiredness is in my head only) to deal with. And can be used on other basses in the future, so it’s not (totally) wasted money…
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If you try another bass, you might want to try a short scale. The strings have less tension and are easier to fret. Try one at a store if you have a chance. Short scales still have big tone
Yup, a short scale is on the list. At least trying one or two models… But I’m not really in a hurry to buy a new bass, the TRBX works great for me most of the time.
For my upcoming birthday, I ordered myself a pair of Dogal Jonas Hellborg (the roundwound variant); they are supposed to be even more flexible/low tension because they are neither hex nor round core, but spun from smaller gauge wires (and then surrounded by the outer wire as “usual”). This review is pretty much “raving” about them:
Review: Dogal Hellborg Signature Strings - Bass Magazine.
I will report back in a few days when I have received and installed them.
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