How to tell when black nylon tapewounds should be replaced?

**Ukiah Bass** · #1 02-24-2011, 07:37 AM

Title says it all. I use Status black nylon tapewounds on a Tacoma Thunderchief fretless ABG. I play this bass every day, gig fairly regularly, and after a year they still seem to feel and play liike new. Recently the bass was detuning more quickly than usual so I thought the strings had stretched, but discovered the screws at the ends of tuning pegs needed tightening and that fixed that.

So do these strings ever wear out, and if so, how can you tell? I play with a very light touch, always amplified. Thanks for input.

chris lykins · #2 02-24-2011, 07:40 AM

Subscribed. I love mine but the d and g strings seem quiter than the rest now. But on my roscoe fretless, that A and E are probably my favorite bass sound!

Justin Tuskey · #3 02-24-2011, 07:42 AM

I have a set of these that Ive had for 3 years and put them on and off basses. theyve never changed. I would say never, unless you hear a significant difference in the tone. they are just roundwound strings that are protected with the nylon coating so they shouldnt change.

Ric5 · #4 02-24-2011, 07:50 AM

I bought my first Rickenbacker in 1973. It was a 1968 4001 that had tapewound flats on it. The strings were old. I replaced them with round wound strings. The old strings were round wounds with a tape coating.

When I removed the tape the rounds underneath were rusty.

So I would say they won't last forever.

**Ukiah Bass** · #5 03-14-2011, 07:51 AM

So I am waiting with baited breath to learn when I should replace these strings. Any voices of experience on the tapewounds?

Philbiker · #6 03-14-2011, 09:31 AM

As with any strings, I don't change them till they won't stay in tune any more.

MNAirHead · #7 03-14-2011, 09:38 AM

I run them on my passive 4s in BEAD

I've only seen a need to replace when the tape starts wearing out.

MNAirHead · #8 03-14-2011, 09:38 AM

I've played 5 year old tapes in a studio .. picky producer.. he had zero issues with old tapes.

Will Kelly · #9 03-14-2011, 01:48 PM

My dad had the same set of LaBella Tapes on his 1960 P-bass from about 1975 till I took them of around 2002.

He made a very credible attempt to kill me when he found out. They still sounded good.

**Ukiah Bass** · #10 03-14-2011, 03:28 PM

Sounds like ancient tapewounds are as common as pre-CBS Fenders with the original flats. Except tapewounds are too slippery to hold mojo.

Root 5 · #11 03-14-2011, 05:17 PM

In my opinion, you should never change a set of nylon tapes. They sound better the longer you play them and they last forever. I'd be changing one only if I broke one!

Root 5 · #12 03-14-2011, 05:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ric5

When I removed the tape the rounds underneath were rusty.

Rust is where the tone is!

frankie5string · #13 03-16-2011, 10:06 AM

I have Trubass88s on a Fender Jazz... I know one other guy who does the same and he told me the only way to know for sure when they need to be changed is when they begin to "slip". If you can't keep them tuned to pitch it's time to swap them out for new ones.

Rezdog · #14 03-16-2011, 10:24 AM

Greetings from the North,

As long as they're staying in tune and not fraying (if you're drilling them with a pick) there's no need to change them. The only other exception is if you like the way new ones sound before they settle in...... sometimes I do lol.

Rezdog

**Ukiah Bass** · #15 03-16-2011, 11:18 AM

Interesting consensus. What a far cry from the roundwounders who change strings the way most people change underwear.

BigOldHarry · #16 03-16-2011, 11:19 AM

When they break.

I used these for a while many, many years ago. They never lost any of their original "Tone" (such as it was). It was just when I got tired of them. I don't think these things wear out, period.

frankie5string · #17 03-16-2011, 11:22 AM

Oh they do... or at least the Rotos do... When the Rotos go, they fail to keep their pitch while oscillating after being plucked. You may pluck a G, but you'll get something that sustains flat/sharp.. It's kinda weird...

Philbiker · #18 03-16-2011, 01:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ukiah Bass

Interesting consensus. What a far cry from the roundwounders who change strings the way most people change underwear.

I keep rounds virtually forever also.

BigOldHarry · #19 03-16-2011, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frankie5string

Oh they do... or at least the Rotos do... When the Rotos go, they fail to keep their pitch while oscillating after being plucked. You may pluck a G, but you'll get something that sustains flat/sharp.. It's kinda weird...

eeeew. Yuck.

Philbiker · #20 03-16-2011, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frankie5string

Oh they do... or at least the Rotos do... When the Rotos go, they fail to keep their pitch while oscillating after being plucked. You may pluck a G, but you'll get something that sustains flat/sharp.. It's kinda weird...

I think that eventually happens to most strings. That's my signal that I need new strings.