GHS vs. D'addario Tapewound Nylon Strings

markjazzbassist · #1 12-01-2011, 02:24 AM

I've been playing TI jazz flats on my 1969 Fender Jazz Bass for a year now and i dig the low tension and middy character, but i just get way too much low end mud and not enough attack when i record with them. i need more definition and attack and less just bottom end blah.

I had some labella tapes for a minute but the massive sizes were too much for me, i did enjoy the attack and round like hi mids and treble bite though.

i'm wanting to switch to some tapes to get better attack. i'm debating between the GHS and D'addario sets since the tension should be about the same as the TI's and they're not a huge difference in size (.100 E to .105).

What's the difference between these 2 sets (GHS, d'addario) tonally? What's the difference in their sounds? What's the difference in tension between the 2? Any other advice?

Stanley Pugh · #2 12-01-2011, 02:59 AM

Black Nylon Flatwounds GHS Test (on a Jazz Bass) - YouTube

GHS coated round wounds on the video.

I personally use Rotosound flat nylon, they sound like flats.

Hope this helps.

SLaPiNFuNK · #3 12-01-2011, 03:55 AM

D'Addario: .050 .065 .085 .105

GHS: .050 .070 .090 .105

Not very different size wise. Tonally, they are going to be pretty similar. Both are going to sound pretty killer though

Frankjohnson · #4 12-01-2011, 06:34 AM

FENDER 9120s - personal pref - sorry

markjazzbassist · #5 12-02-2011, 01:11 AM

got a set of d'addario's on the way, looking forward to posting here about them, i'm really excited.

queevil · #6 12-03-2011, 07:18 PM

Subscribed. I'd like to know more about them. Thanks for the thread.

markjazzbassist · #7 12-08-2011, 01:25 PM

i got the d'addario tapes last night and strung them up. great low tension (about the same as TI jazz flats) and great tone. night treble bite, they sound a lot like their xl nickels just less zing/treble, i'm looking forward to posting again here in a week or so after i've broken them in.

they sound great so far, i can't wait to record with them.

fjadams · #8 12-08-2011, 04:33 PM

Been a fan of the GHS Tapes since the late 60s.
Since I now have only shorties, except for the Gretsch med scale, I've put D'Addario Tapes on a couple of them. Haven't notice a lot of difference in the sound or playability.
The D'Addario shorts do seem to have a little less tension than the GHS though.

The GHS are: .05, .07, .09, .105.
The D,Addarios shorts are: .050, .065, .085, .105.

Both give me the "All thump, no twang" that I like.

4Mal · #9 12-08-2011, 06:29 PM

I use a mix of LaBellas and D'Addarrios. I was suprised by the tension comment but then on Fenders I run Chromes. I'm just about to add some relief to the neck of my fretless 5 and install a set of TIJFs. Lookin' forward to having them strung up again. I really like the sound of the D'Ad tapes on my Barker. They work nicely with the piezo setup I have on that bass. LaBellas sound very good with the LR Baggs setup on my Godins and with the K&K pire in a Tacoma T'Chief. Really woody.

GM60466 · #10 12-08-2011, 07:15 PM

GHS are my preference

mello_bedwetter · #11 12-09-2011, 05:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stanley Pugh

Black Nylon Flatwounds GHS Test (on a Jazz Bass) - YouTube

GHS coated round wounds on the video.

I personally use Rotosound flat nylon, they sound like flats.

Hope this helps.

The strings in the video are GHS coated rounds? You have anything on Black Nylon Flatwounds by GHS? I haven't found them on GC or Musicians Friend sites unless I'm looking for the wrong thing. I'd like to get some black nylons flats. Thanks.

fjadams · #12 12-09-2011, 11:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mello_bedwetter

The strings in the video are GHS coated rounds? You have anything on Black Nylon Flatwounds by GHS? I haven't found them on GC or Musicians Friend sites unless I'm looking for the wrong thing. I'd like to get some black nylons flats. Thanks.

The GHS are: 4 string, 3060, and 5 string 3060-5.

You can get them at:

Buy GHS Bass Black Nylon Tapewound Electric Bass Strings from Bass Strings Online

GHS Electric Bass 4 String 34" Scale, .050 - .105, Black Nylon Tapewound, 3060

GHS Electric Bass 5 String 34" Scale, .050 - .130, Black Nylon Tapewound, 3060-5

milo · #13 12-10-2011, 02:50 AM

GHS black nylon I have one on Spector rebop are very bright because they are normal roundwound stainless steel string wraped in nylon.
I have them on for about 5 months and they sound the same as new.
I have one problem with them.
I changed graphite nut for Warwick like one screw for each string nut(just a nut 1)and
nylon on D string unwraped itself due to friction.
Now I will go for normal stainless steel flatwound.

CapnSev · #14 12-11-2011, 11:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by markjazzbassist

i got the d'addario tapes last night and strung them up. great low tension (about the same as TI jazz flats) and great tone. night treble bite, they sound a lot like their xl nickels just less zing/treble, i'm looking forward to posting again here in a week or so after i've broken them in.

they sound great so far, i can't wait to record with them.

Do tell. I'm having the same predicament. My TIs are sweet, but I would like a little more attack and bite out of them, and rather than buying a new set of TIs, tapewounds have really caught my eye.

mello_bedwetter · #15 12-12-2011, 12:09 AM

I use Ernie Ball Flats now. Are the nylon coated rounds smooth like flats?

markjazzbassist · #16 12-12-2011, 12:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CapnSev

Do tell. I'm having the same predicament. My TIs are sweet, but I would like a little more attack and bite out of them, and rather than buying a new set of TIs, tapewounds have really caught my eye.

yeah they have more attack and bite, but aren't middy like the TI's it's a total different sound.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mello_bedwetter

I use Ernie Ball Flats now. Are the nylon coated rounds smooth like flats?

you bet, super smooth.

Deaky · #17 12-12-2011, 02:18 PM

Do you need to alter the nut to accommodate the D'Addario strings??

CapnSev · #18 12-12-2011, 03:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by markjazzbassist

yeah they have more attack and bite, but aren't middy like the TI's it's a total different sound.

Cool. I think I'm going to order a set of them for my P5 and see how it goes.

StyleOverShow · #19 12-12-2011, 03:16 PM

Haven't ever tried them...in general I find that if the tension between my primary instruments gets too far apart, then the transitions between instruments takes longer.

With the DR's on my fretted, and La Bella flats on my fretless, the TI's on the db seems rubbery, kinda what I think the nylons would feel like...altho tape wound???