Black Coated Flatwounds

GoryGummyBear · #1 01-11-2007, 05:45 PM

Howdy. I'd like to know if there are any black coated flatwound strings for a 5er, as Black Diamond and DR don't have them. Thank you.

Brass Nut · #2 01-12-2007, 01:30 AM

Just recieved my set of Roto Sounds yesterday.
Got them from Musician's Friend
RS 885LD Long scale in what they call a "standard guage", 65 - 75 - 100 - 115 - 135.
Don't ask what I think of them though as the verdict is really out on them. Only a day or 2 can't say much.
I can say they definately feel different (my first go with black strings)
Brass Nut

tim1002 · #3 01-14-2007, 05:39 AM

i believe those rotosounds are tape wounds not flat wounds.

i saw a jazz bass with black flats a while ago but the store owner was pretty much an ass when i asked him what strings it was. so i'm searching for those black flat wounds too. there was orange cloth at the tip of the bass strings that i saw.

The Craw · #4 01-14-2007, 11:58 AM

I'm not aware of any coated flats. The black Rotosounds and LaBellas are tapewounds. They are light gauge rounds wrapped in nylon tape.

GoryGummyBear · #5 01-14-2007, 01:00 PM

But what's the difference between the flatwounds' and the tapewounds' sound? And the tapewounds don't do damage to the fretboard, do they?

seanm · #6 01-14-2007, 01:12 PM

The tapewounds are warmer and more upright sounding than the flatwounds. They also have less sustain than flats, which adds to the uprightish effect.

They tend to be larger so they are high tension. However, I find they feel softer than an equivalent flatwound. I have the Rotosound 88LD which is 65 to 115. I find them easier to pluck than say a Chromes 50-105.

I love the sound but don't really gig with them since they are a bit of a one trick pony and don't work well if you need any range. Especially the loss of sustain is a problem.

You also lose the ability to touch the strings to kill noise since the strings are no longer grounded to the bridge. They tape is non-conductive.

I would think they would be easier on fretboard than flats since it is a tape rather than hard metal.

Rockin John · #7 01-14-2007, 03:49 PM

Here's my USA DLX Fender Jazz 5 strung with Rotosound 88s.

They are nice strings to play: I quite like the somewhat slippery feel. I also think the bass looks nice with black strings.

Sound-wise I'm not so sure. They have a definite click to them as they hit the frets as the notes are fingered. The tone seems somewhat vague and very difficult to define properly. To be honest I'm not that impressed. Having said that I do have amp issues atm so I might be wise to drop into my dealer for a bit of a bash on a decent set up.

If I had a few quid I'd instantly try my beloved TI Jazz flats on the bass.

If you try the Rotos be aware that the B wont go through the thro-body hole on the Jazz so it has to be strung at the bridge ... so, of course, they all do.

That's about it, really!!

John

AmazingGracePlayer · #8 01-14-2007, 04:24 PM

just take your strings off of your bass, dip them in black dye, wait for it to dry, and put them back on.

seanm · #9 01-14-2007, 04:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rockin John

Sound-wise I'm not so sure. They have a definite click to them as they hit the frets as the notes are fingered. The tone seems somewhat vague and very difficult to define properly. To be honest I'm not that impressed. Having said that I do have amp issues atm so I might be wise to drop into my dealer for a bit of a bash on a decent set up.

The click when the string hits the frets is noticeable to me while playing, but I do not hear it through the amp. Do you hear it through the amp?

I also was not really impressed when I first used them. I put them on, took them off, then put them on again. However. I am thinking of switching back to the LaBellas.

Rockin John · #10 01-15-2007, 01:31 AM

Yes I do hear the click amplified. I'm not that impressed with these strings overall and, as I said, will remove them when the opportunity arises.

As a side issue, I'd be interestd to hear them on a fretless!

John

Brass Nut · #11 01-15-2007, 04:23 AM

So I tried them for a few days.
I've TI's going on now.
For me, sustain was about as any flat. Did Not like the feel at all, They're slippery, and uncomfortably so for lots of heavy fast bends, and the sound was missing something that I can't put my finger on. But they're commin off.
And yes, there is definately an annoying click too.
Definately not the same as Black Beauties.

Jason Hollar · #12 01-15-2007, 04:48 AM

A student of mine had a fretless Carvin acoustic/electric bass (5 string) with their black tape wounds. Man, did those things sound killer and so much fun to play. Keep in mind the pickup was a piezo system.

Not sure how those strings would hold up on an electric bass.

For now, I'm still in love with my Rotosound flats (77's) for both my 4 & 5 string basses. Been using them for sveral years now. Excellent string. Not black though...

mlbarlow · #13 01-15-2007, 05:42 AM

I've used (and use) the aforementioned strings that were on the Carvin ... Labella Deep Talkin' Nylon Coated. They were awesome on the acoustic fretless, which I've sold since, and are awesome on my Bunny Brunel 5 fretless. They are as versatile as you want them to be. Heck, on my last gig with my funk/jazz/fusion group I put on the overdrive and rocked out on power chords on that setup.

mlbarlow · #14 01-15-2007, 05:43 AM

BTW ... the cheapest place to purchase them is on the Carvin website. They nail you with shipping, but so it goes.

Bassman62 · #15 01-15-2007, 05:53 AM

Black Nylon covered Rotosound strings have been around for years; I used them way back in the 70s for a while.

GoryGummyBear · #16 01-20-2007, 08:16 AM

Thank for your answers. I'm having trouble with the flatwounds of my custom fretless (got it yesterday, btw). The D and G strings sound good but the other 3 strings have a dull and unclear sound - they don't make the fretless sound like a fretless, if you know what I mean. Do the Rotosound tapewounds are going to add brightness to the sound or make it worse?

chunkstyle · #17 01-20-2007, 10:24 AM

tapewound labellas are the coolest sounding strings in my opinion. they are grunty rubbery sounding. i had them on a fretless precision and a g&l 1500. the real surprise was the g&l. it actually had a crunchy chunky slap sound. whuump!

one thing to note about the labellas... their thickness is due to the nylon, not actual metal string. so in this case, higher guage does not mean higher tension.