The battle of the Nylons . . .

EthanTheHeathen · #1 04-08-2007, 11:52 PM

Alright, so who here has experience with multiple types of nylon tapewound strings? I really want to try some out, but I'm not sure which to go for. I know that LaBella, Rotosound, GHS, and Fender make several varieties, and I know that Fender makes both nylon tapewounds and nylon roundwounds. Are there any others out there?

I tried some that I really liked on an old P-bass in a local shop. The strings were all black, including the silk wrap at the ends. Anyone know what brand these could have been?

For those of you who have tried multiple brands/types, which did you like the best? What were the differences in feel, sound, gauge, tension, etc?

folksnake · #2 04-09-2007, 07:08 AM

I'm wondering about this, too. I'm looking to get some nylons, tapewound I guess, and along with the differences in tone, feel etc something that has me wondering is whether they will fit on my bass. It has a StewMac BadA** type bridge, and the holes that the strings go through are only so big.

The nylons tend to be bigger gauges than I'm using currently--do they get even bigger than their rated gauge down where the ball end is attached? Sometimes there is excess wrapping at the end. If they get thicker there, there will be no way to fit them through that hole unless I drill it out (want to avoid that if possible...).

I haven't gotten close enough to a set to actually see whether this is the case--

Philbiker · #3 04-09-2007, 08:54 AM

I've only ever tried the two Fender varieties and the LaBella "Deep Talkin' Bass" nylon tapewounds. I like the Fender nylon tapewound 9120s the best. (as opposed to the the nylon filament 7120s - which are also nice, but not my favorite.) The LaBellas are great, too.

Sammy Camden · #4 04-09-2007, 12:08 PM

I've used Fender nylon tape-wounds and Roto nylon tape-wounds. I far prefer the Roto's. They're smoother and have a lot deeper sound. The Fender's are way to far trebly/clanky for my tastes. The Roto's are deep, clear, and sound like a bass, not a baritone.

I've also used the Fender nylon filament-wound strings. Those are nice, and Fender is the only company that offers them.

EthanTheHeathen · #5 04-09-2007, 01:44 PM

Philbiker - what did you like/not like about those various strings?

Sammy - you didn't find the Fender nylon filament ones to be too bright? From what I've read it sounds like they're supposed to be brighter than regular tapewounds. Also, were the Rotos closer to regular flatwound strings? I'm usually a roundwound guy, but I like the feel of the nylons and I like that they aren't thumpy like flats are.

Sammy Camden · #6 04-10-2007, 06:33 AM

I really didn't find the filaments too bright. I was a little leary of them when I first tried them based on Fender's description. But, no, they had a good feel and a really nice sound. I only used them on a fretless, so I'm not too sure how they would sound on a fretted. The only real drawback I found to them is their size (.070, .080, .090, .100). You have to have the nut re-cut to use them and then it's not quite right for normally guaged sets.

As for the Roto's, I've currently got them on my fretless and I really like them. They have a feel close to flats, but a little different. Very smooth, but the texture is different. Hard to explain. The sound is fabulous, deep and clear. As I stated, they are light years ahead of Fender's tapewounds.

DavidMP · #7 04-10-2007, 12:56 PM

I've tried the LaBellas and Rotosounds. While the Labellas were not bad at all, I found the tension very uneven and the B very floppy. The rotosounds sound really nice and deep and had a better B with more uniform tension within the set.

JeffTheBig · #8 04-10-2007, 01:21 PM

i have never used nylon type string. does it really change your tone of is it just easyer on toy fingers??

teleken · #9 04-10-2007, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JeffTheBig

i have never used nylon type string. does it really change your tone of is it just easyer on toy fingers??

They sound mellower, and of course, no string squeak. I have a set of LaBellas on my Jazz Bass and love them - tempted to put a set on my Warwick Thumb now.

JeffTheBig · #10 04-10-2007, 01:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by teleken

They sound mellower, and of course, no string squeak. I have a set of LaBellas on my Jazz Bass and love them - tempted to put a set on my Warwick Thumb now.

mello eh?

i might get a set just to try out. i am kinda looking for a "softer" tuch for my 6er

The BurgerMeister · #11 05-22-2007, 11:10 PM

bump... anyone else have opinions on this? i'm considering the Rotos right now.

Jo6Pak · #12 05-23-2007, 07:26 AM

I just installed a set of GHS 3060 (50-105) on my fretless Carvin BK4 and am very pleased with them.

The BurgerMeister · #13 05-23-2007, 05:54 PM

a question for those using the Rotosounds or Fenders: did you have to alter your bass's nut in order to accommodate the thicker gauges of these strings? the Fender 9120s go 58-110, and the Rotos go 65-115(!). will the grooves in the nut of, say, a standard Fender Jazz fretless need to be enlarged?

brisonic · #14 06-03-2007, 11:22 PM

So the nylon strings work on electric basses? Lack of metal isn't a problem? I wanna put something better on my Warwick Corvette fretless.

The BurgerMeister · #15 06-03-2007, 11:26 PM

the black nylon tape is applied to a roundwound or flatwound string, so the core of the string is, in fact, metal.

Rayzorx · #16 06-04-2007, 04:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jetpackbassist

a question for those using the Rotosounds or Fenders: did you have to alter your bass's nut in order to accommodate the thicker gauges of these strings? the Fender 9120s go 58-110, and the Rotos go 65-115(!). will the grooves in the nut of, say, a standard Fender Jazz fretless need to be enlarged?

I have a set of the RotoSound black wraps on my Godin A5. I'm not sure what the Godin came with but the gauges were pretty close. I think the B is a 130.

vgbob · #17 06-07-2007, 05:20 PM

I just put a set of 9120's on a fretless Jazz and had the
same impression as an above post about the B being a
bit floppy. Had to raise the bridge to keep it from buzzing.
It was a tight fit in a Badass II bridge, but you can do it.
I did file the nut a bit, but you could squeeze them in if
you don't want to open the nut up. I'll probably always
keep nylon wounds on the bass so it wasn't an issue.
I think I'd try Rotosounds when I replace them.

PilbaraBass · #18 06-07-2007, 05:56 PM

I've only ever used the LaBella's...have them on my Carvin AC40, and my wishbass...

They really fit the Carvin, as you get a more "authentic" acoustic tone from the instrument this way...the way the strings sound against the frets can be a little unpleasant depending on the tone control of the piezo pickup...but once that's dialed in, you get a nice, expressive acoustic percussive thing happening...with care, quiet noiseless passages are also achievable...

On the wishbass fretless (with a Kent Armstrong soap), these things make the bass sing so pretty...when I took off the DR Black Beauties that it came with and put on the old LaBellas (a set I had in the draw....8 years old)....the bass just sounds FANTASTIC...How do I describe it? Even...nice blossom....expressive...and quiet...

The feel takes a little getting used to...I used to play only my Carvin, and then I switched to a bass with nickels, and it felt very "strange"...but since my touch has really lightened up over the years, I can switch between the two types of strings without much issue at all.

nounours · #19 06-19-2007, 10:49 AM

I played both Rotos and Fenders Nylon Flatwounds.

The tension on the Rotos is higher, and they have more an uprighty kind of vibe than the Fenders (think punchy mids).

I find the Fenders warmer, with less punch, more deep bass and smoother highs.

It may be due to the difference in playing style though, I had to lighten my touch quite a bit on the Fenders.

I like the Fenders best for my present use, but YMMV.

Vincent.

louieeadg · #20 06-19-2007, 11:23 AM

Yeah, I use the LaBella's on my '75 Rick Fretless, they're very kind to the neck and the sound......whoa.
I've used the Roto's, the tension was a lot tighter tho, but the sound was a deep, thumpy, upright sound which i love...
The fenders...ugh, not a fan.
Just can't wait for DR to start making a nylon tapewound :-)