D'Addario black nylon tapewounds

[Root 5]

Does anyone know with certainty whether these strings are flatwound or roundwound strings wrapped in tape?

The D'Addario website has no information. I am amazed because the type of string(round or flat) has a significant role in the tone you can expect from them.

I just discovered these today and want to learn more about them. From what I can gather, D'Addario released these in December 2010.

Thanks for input!

[2400]

They're light gauge roundwounds, if I heard correctly. They're also tension-balanced. That's something I see D'Addario do more these days (they've also got tension balanced guitar strings now). Possibly they'll release a tension-balanced roundwound set soon, I'd sure buy it.

I'd buy these, too, but I'm waiting until I can slip them in with a bigger music order.

[Root 5]

I'm hoping they're flatwounds. To me, the point of buying tapes is that you want a warmer and mellower sound. You'll get that much better with flats wrapped in tape. If you want a brighter tone then use half-rounds or flats or roundwounds.

[jallenbass]

AFAIK, all tapewounds are round underneath.

[FretlessMainly]

+1 ^.

Although it's hard to believe that the Roto Trubass88s are round underneath - or maybe the wrap is just heavier and much more smooth. But comparing the Trubass88s to Fender 9120s is like night and day.

[davidsmashdrums]

aren't flatwounds chromes flat steel ribbon on top of a lighter gauge roundwound string I remember a chromes fraying one time and it sure looked like a small roundwound string under the ribbon steel

[MarkusBass]

Originally Posted by davidsmashdrums

aren't flatwounds chromes flat steel ribbon on top of a lighter gauge roundwound string I remember a chromes fraying one time and it sure looked like a small roundwound string under the ribbon steel

Yes they are.

[Roadkill]

Originally Posted by FretlessMainly

Although it's hard to believe that the Roto Trubass88s are round underneath - or maybe the wrap is just heavier and much more smooth.

Someone here autopsied a set of RS88S and they were roundwound 44-96 .

[davidsmashdrums]

Thought so hex & round core makes a difference too

Originally Posted by MarkusBass

Yes they are.

[skruch]

Be careful of tapewounds. If you play with your fingers and nick the windings with your fingernails they can give you a bunch of small and annoying cuts on your fingertips.

[davidsmashdrums]

Originally Posted by skruch

Be careful of tapewounds. If you play with your fingers and nick the windings with your fingernails they can give you a bunch of small and annoying cuts on your fingertips.

Or as my 4.8 year old son would say,"you'll get blood" LOL

[Roadkill]

Originally Posted by skruch

Be careful of tapewounds. If you play with your fingers and nick the windings with your fingernails they can give you a bunch of small and annoying cuts on your fingertips.

Haven't seen that with either Fender 9120's or Rotosound RS88's - and I actually play with my nails .

[Rezdog]

Greetings from the North,

Hmmm.... I've been using Fender, Roto and LaBella Tapewounds since the 70's and I've never had any cuts or bloodletting on my fingers due to the strings.

Rezdog

[BryanM]

I've been playing either Fender 9120s or GHS nylon tapewounds for the past 5 or 6 years without a single cut or blood. For the record both of those are round underneath, though very different sounds.

[FretlessMainly]

The 9120s almost qualify as rounds in my book. They've got some real snap to them. I've got them on both a CIJ Jazz FL and a fretted Jag.

[lunarpollen]

I think a nylon tapewound shootout is in order... I'd be very curious to see a thread dedicated to honest comparisons of all the various brands. Has anyone done one before? I've only ever used the LaBellas (and loved them) but hearing about how different the brands are from one another makes me intrigued!

[queevil]

Originally Posted by FretlessMainly

The 9120s almost qualify as rounds in my book. They've got some real snap to them. I've got them on both a CIJ Jazz FL and a fretted Jag.

+1 Not super bright but pretty bright to my ears considering the type of string they are. I love them. Super light tension as well.

[FretlessMainly]

And they feel more like rounds than flats, but without the string noise. I just wish that they would be part of the ground. I made my Jag quiet as a mouse with copper tape all inside the cavities and back of the pickguard, but my jazz could use some as well it would seem.

BTW, I bought a '76 FL P-bass about a year ago and it came with what turned out to be Fender 9120s. The seller told me that they had been on the bass when he bought it back in '97 or so. The P-bass needed something with a bit more tension, so I took the 9120s off and they ended up on my CIJ Jazz. They still sound great.

[JimmyM]

Originally Posted by Root 5

I'm hoping they're flatwounds. To me, the point of buying tapes is that you want a warmer and mellower sound. You'll get that much better with flats wrapped in tape. If you want a brighter tone then use half-rounds or flats or roundwounds.

doesnt work that way. i have a set of fender tapewounds that i took off almost immediately because i initially thought they would be warmer and thumpier than flats, but really, they sound like rounds wrapped in plastic. very disappointed in them.

[mongo2]

Originally Posted by skruch

Be careful of tapewounds. If you play with your fingers and nick the windings with your fingernails they can give you a bunch of small and annoying cuts on your fingertips.

I've used tapewounds for years and often use quite a bit of nail and that's never happened.