Any info on tapewounds(help)....

mello_bedwetter · #1 12-22-2011, 11:32 PM

I'm trying to get some information on tapewound strings. Right now I use Ernie Ball 2806's....45-100. I'm looking at some tapewound strings by Fender and also D'Addario. The Fender strings are 58-110 medium long scale. The D'Addario's are 50-105 long scale. I like the tension of the EB flats I use so which of the tapewounds would be comparable to the EB's?
Id like to try tapes on a Precision and a Jazz.
Thanks for any help.
Also, I've only looked at GC's website so far...right now the Fenders are the only ones in stock. Do you know any other places that might have tapes? I'm open to other brands also. I would like the strings to be black. My main concern is what gauge I should get if I'm use to the EB's 45-100.
Thanks again.

SLaPiNFuNK · #2 12-23-2011, 06:04 AM

Tapewounds are generally lighter feeling than flats.

Think of them as round wounds with a plastic wrapping around them really... So the flexibility is much different than a standard flatwound string. They feel quite nice to play under your fingers and sound awesome too.

There are many other makers of Tape Wounds but they are all generally larger in gauge (but not necessarily higher in tension). A thicker string does not always mean higher tension especially when we are talking about tapewounds...

mello_bedwetter · #3 12-23-2011, 06:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SLaPiNFuNK

Tapewounds are generally lighter feeling than flats.

Think of them as round wounds with a plastic wrapping around them really... So the flexibility is much different than a standard flatwound string. They feel quite nice to play under your fingers and sound awesome too.

There are many other makers of Tape Wounds but they are all generally larger in gauge (but not necessarily higher in tension). A thicker string does not always mean higher tension especially when we are talking about tapewounds...

Okay...I've read some reviews and some say the tapes feel almost sloppy. Maybe they were comparing them to flats, not sure.
The higher the gauge means the thickness is greater...I guess this may mess up the bass's "set up"? Also my P-bass is a string-thru. Will a larger tapewound go thru-body or would I have to string-thru the bridge? Thanks.

FunkMetalBass · #4 12-23-2011, 08:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mello_bedwetter

Okay...I've read some reviews and some say the tapes feel almost sloppy. Maybe they were comparing them to flats, not sure.
The higher the gauge means the thickness is greater...I guess this may mess up the bass's "set up"? Also my P-bass is a string-thru. Will a larger tapewound go thru-body or would I have to string-thru the bridge? Thanks.

They probably will feel floppy or sloppy or whatever. For D'Addario, the (.105 - .085 - .065 - .050) tapewound set will feel roughly the same as a typical (.095 - .070 - .055 - .040) roundwound set.

You may have to widen your nut slots depending on the gauge you choose.

Every new set of strings will screw with your setup, so it shouldn't come as a surprise that putting your neck unless significantly less tension and using thicker strings will have the same effect.

The largest tapewound string I've ever seen is a .135 B-string, and that usually fits a thru-body bridge setup. I'm not sure how the nylon holds up to such a break angle so you might consider top-loading your strings first.

SLaPiNFuNK · #5 12-23-2011, 12:34 PM

I don't think they fell sloppy... They feel more bouncy than anything... Just like lighter gauge strings...

But just like flats are different from rounds in feel, so are tapes... But that all makes the tone as sweet as it is.

echoSE7EN · #6 12-23-2011, 12:47 PM

I've got the D'Addario Nylon Tapewounds on my G&L 1505 Fretless, and I really dig them. The seem a bit brighter than the standard Chromes I had on before, and the look slick -- black on the black board. Tension wise, they seem to be less tense than the chromes, but not as "loose" as TIs I've used in the past. The only "gripe" I have with these strings is that the "D" string doesn't seem to be as even as the others. This may be this particular string, as this is the first set of these I've ever had. But, to my ears, there is a certain "deadness" when the "D" is open. It just doesn't sing as much.

GM60466 · #7 12-23-2011, 12:56 PM

try GHS and Rotosound, both are very good

theretheyare · #8 12-23-2011, 01:04 PM

I got the Labella ones on my fretless. I dont take them as floppy-while they have an inherent stiffness, they are rather soft to the touch. Bottom line is, they feel different from either regular flatwounds or or roundwounds. I got them because i wanted flats with 1) good lows 2) decent sustain for a flataound.

They are what you are hearing on the soundcloud clip below. I do a strong attack, fingerstyle, on a fretless, recorded with 2 microphones in front of a 1x10 speaker.

fjadams · #9 12-24-2011, 02:48 PM

I can recommend the GHS 3060 Tapes. Lots of lows, but also can have mids and highs depending on the tone and eq settings. Last about forever. Good for people who have sweaty or acidic skin.

Just started using the D'Addario SS Tapes on my shorties since the GHS don't fit all short scales, though they will fit some short and medium scales. They don't feel exactly like the GHS, but the tone is very similar.

jamersonburton · #10 12-24-2011, 03:00 PM

i use daddario tapes on my pbass. sounds nice. takes a while to get used to at first (maybe 2 days max) but i was using rounds (50-105).
Sound very nice though i have yet to use them in a mix.

bassist4dalord · #11 12-25-2011, 09:45 AM

I'm considering a set of these (D'Addario Tapes) for my P..

Here I come, Bass Strings Online!!

bassist4dalord · #12 12-30-2011, 02:19 PM

Just put the set from BassStringsOnline.com on my Squier P. So far, I really like them. Sort of a mellowed-but-not-completely-dead roundwound. They're SUPER smooth (so much so that they take some getting used to, even coming from D'Addario Chromes flatwounds).

I'll be back with a more in-depth review once I've used them with a band and the honeymoon phase has waned. That and when they've broken in (do they really break-in?)