The Comprehensive List of Black Nylon Tapewound Strings!!!

[BklynBassman]

Originally Posted by Root 5

I just put a set of D'Addario nylon tapewounds on my Fender Mustang and they're really nice strings!

That's exactly the set I had at the top of my list so far thanks

[bassist4dalord]

Originally Posted by BklynBassman

Without taking into consideration tone, can anyone tell me what company makes the overall lightest gauge nylon bass strings for 4 string set? Thanks

Gauge is a little different for tapes; essentially, they're all light-gauge roundwounds underneath, so they're going to feel like light-gauge roundwounds in terms of tension, regardless of how much nylon is on the string. Give the D'Addarios a try and tell us how you feel

FWIW, I believe GHS and D'Addario are the "lightest". Here's the gauges of GHS and D'Addario. I really don't think it gets much lighter than these:

GHS are 50-70-90-115

D'Addario are 50-65-85-105

[bassist4dalord]

I just found out that D'Addario has put the lbs./tension of their Tapewounds up on their website; not in the tension chart, but on the product page. In case you were wondering!

http://www.daddario.com/DADProductFa...68&familyid=20

[BklynBassman]

Originally Posted by bassist4dalord

I just found out that D'Addario has put the lbs./tension of their Tapewounds up on their website; not in the tension chart, but on the product page. In case you were wondering!

http://www.daddario.com/DADProductFa...68&familyid=20

Thanks so much bassist4dalord, this is a great help, I am definitely going to give the Daddario's a shot and let everyone know. In general I always loved the sound Paul McCarthy got on Abbey Road and I have been told this is the way to go to reproduce that. I also have carpal tunnel syndrome and the nylons are a lot easier on the hands.

[bassist4dalord]

I just put my D'Addario Tapes on my Squier Standard Precision V! They look and feel awesome, and they're super loud unplugged (nice for around the apartment!) Time to keep on playing!

[BklynBassman]

Well I've been using the D'Addario's on my Geddy Lee Jazz Bass for a few weeks now and they are just great and I still can get a nice range of tone and they are so easy on the hands. The only thing you should be careful of is the strings are a bit shorter than other brands so I recommend not cutting them when stringing your bass or you could wind up with not enough wind (no pun). I don't think I will be using any other strings from now on.

[WannaBeatle]

ok, I just ordered a set of Pyramids a few days ago for my prototype Hofner 500/1 CT. I put 'em on today. So far, the gauges aren't too bad..just a hair bigger than the slots on the nut..but, still doable.

I've played a small handful of basses that were strung with Roto's, so, I had a basic understanding of what they are. But, what I don't like about the Roto's and LaBella's are the gauge is waaaaaaaaaay too big for any of my Hofners..or any other bass made for a carbon based life form. So, I chose the Pyramids mostly because I knew the gauges would be Hofner friendly.

I've only had them on for maybe 30 mins or so, but, tonally they sound pretty good. For some reason the A string was a bit sharp, intonation wise, so, I Mickey Mouse'd the saddle a bit. It's not perfect, but workable now. I'm kinda anxious to gig and/or rehearse with it now...I've been using my Hofner Icon bass lately - broke a string on my German Hof - so, that's the reason for me buying strings right now.

I'll report back once I start using these a bit more...with Pyramids, they usually require a bit of time for them to be broken in.

[SPYD3R #9]

i got the D'addario black nylon tapewound 5str set for a week now, and the sound of my fretless is officially AWESOME!!

[BklynBassman]

I am also now a officially D'addario nylon tapewound user. I can't see ever switching now

[WannaBeatle]

ok, I just got the chance to use the Hofner with the Pyramid tape wounds tonight during rehearsal. I really like 'em a lot. They're beginning to stretch out a bit and the truss rod adjustment I made did the trick. The feel is a little bit different than the usual flats that I usually play with.

I'm not sure, but, I THINK that the tape wounds might have a higher output, too. It seemed to sound louder than usual. Have any of you thought the these strings sound louder, too???

[basscraiger]

Count me in as an admirer of the DA's. I recently put a set on my '94 SB-2 to replace really old Fender flats and wow, love the DA's tone and feel. The black looks terrific with the hardware and p/g mods I did too.

[WannaBeatle]

I was curious about the D'Addario's myself. Once I found out that they were making sets like that, I was wanting to get one. But, I wasn't too sure if the short scale would fit a Hof or not and they don't (at least currently) make a medium scale.

but, at least their gauge is a bit more on the normal side. having an E that's a 1000000000000000004 gauge might be a tad too big for a small Hofner...or any other bass made on the third planet from the sun.

[SLaPiNFuNK]

Originally Posted by WannaBeatle

I was curious about the D'Addario's myself. Once I found out that they were making sets like that, I was wanting to get one. But, I wasn't too sure if the short scale would fit a Hof or not and they don't (at least currently) make a medium scale.

but, at least their gauge is a bit more on the normal side. having an E that's a 1000000000000000004 gauge might be a tad too big for a small Hofner...or any other bass made on the third planet from the sun.

D'Addario DOES most certainly make a Medium Scale Black Nylon Tapewound set (34" winding from Ball to Silk).

They make Short (32") / Medium (34") and Long Scale (36.25") winding length sets in tapes.


Since this is a general Black Nylon Tapewound thread I should mention that La Bella is now making the Beatle Bass Black Nylon Tapewounds in gauges .050 .065 .080 .100 with the smaller diameter tuning post sections for the Hofners.

[WannaBeatle]

Originally Posted by SLaPiNFuNK

D'Addario DOES most certainly make a Medium Scale Black Nylon Tapewound set (34" winding from Ball to Silk).

They make Short (32") / Medium (34") and Long Scale (36.25") winding length sets in tapes.


Since this is a general Black Nylon Tapewound thread I should mention that La Bella is now making the Beatle Bass Black Nylon Tapewounds in gauges .050 .065 .080 .100 with the smaller diameter tuning post sections for the Hofners.

heh, ya learn something new everyday.

I had heard the LaBella made a Hofner set of the nylons, but I guess, I read wrong that they were the typical huuuuuge gauge, but just short scale.

I'll stick with the Pyramid set for a while, I'm happy with 'em. but, since I know now, that their gauge pretty much matches the Pyramids, I can easily replace 'em with LaBella's if need be

[SLaPiNFuNK]

The new smaller La Bella gauges are literally brand new. Just started hitting the streets a week ago...

[WannaBeatle]

oh wow...that's cool!!!

I think I've always complained to Roto, saying how Hofner unfriendly they are. they sound cool, but, I was never too keen on using them for that reason

[Bilby]

D'addario makes tapewounds too really good to in my opinion

[drews.anderson]

Using LaBella's for ages, tested D'Addario's on the orange Streamer. Making it short, already ordered D'Addario's for the other basses... really impressive sound/feel.

[BklynBassman]

The D'Addario's are so smooth so sliding up and down strings is great!

[Matthew_84]

Does anyone know which tapes are the brightest?

I've tried GHS tapewounds, but they were a bit darker than D'addario Chromes, and I was hoping for something a bit brighter.