Tapered Strings, What to expect?

[iplaymetal]

My 5string Warwick Corvette std needs a string change, and I don't really want to file the bridge at all, so tapered or piano strings is what I need. I have hit a wall , because I don't know anything about these types of strings. Thus I am not sure what to expect or what strings are going to be good, or bad.


What kind of sound am I to expect out of tapered strings in general? I like a sound rich with mids. I heard tapered strings can be quite scooped.


I also need a tight B, as I have my bass tuned to a A standard, the unknown strings I have on it currently are not that great, (they were better) and the B(now an A) is all growl and no note.


I usually prefer nickel strings, but I will give anything a try, just a nice clean and bright sound, my Warwick will give it the growl i need.


What would you suggest? Tonal characteristics of those strings?


Also, how are Ken Smith strings? I have seen them a lot, as well as La Bella?


Thanks! Sorry for asking so much, but I know the members here are a great source of knowledge!

[One Bad Monkey]

I used Ken Smith Burners for a while on my Corvette, and they were okay. Nothing I particularly remember about them.

If you can be patient, Circle K strings are a pretty solid choice that will fit the WW bridge easily. You can also bump your gauges up to allow to retain the tension that you want with your tuning.

I'm currently using GHS Super Steel Contact Cores, and I like them alot. It takes more time setting the strings up the first time due to the exposed cores on the bottom four strings, but it's not that hard. They are not as bright and clean sounding as the Ks, a little more mellow (I had a pianist compare my Streamer with CKs then the GHS as playing a Yamaha piano and then switching to a Steinway). What you seem to lose in clarity from the CKs you make up in that low end fundamental.

B strings on both are top notch, no issues whatsoever, allowing almost the full fretboard to play on it.

[iplaymetal]

Hm, are the Circle Ks clean and bright or are they not very clear but have a good low end?

"They are not as bright and clean sounding as the Ks," . . . "What you seem to lose in clarity from the CKs you make up in that low end fundamental."

[One Bad Monkey]

The Circle Ks are VERY clean and bright. What I've found is as they die, they tend to tonally get "brittle."

The GHS Contact Cores are not as clear as the CKs, but they have more of a mellow, low end fundamental.

[KsPiNeSh]

I used DR Lo Riders on my Corvette with great results. Greg at Rocket Music hooked me up with custom tapered sets, but before that I'd just squish the ends with pliers or a hammer until they fit... never had any trouble

[ixlramp]

I recommend at least a .145, preferably a .150 for the low A. Sounds big but actually will have an ultra-light tension, just enough for good tone. A Circle K balanced .150 set is perfect for A standard (they're closed for a couple of weeks though). It seems that other 'detuning' sets usually don't go beyond a .135 on the bottom, which is not enough for A.

[iplaymetal]

A .150!!!!! lol that is heavy duty.

[lowendfriend]

Usually just the B or sometimes the E are tapered.

A brand I can recommend form use on my $$ 5-er is the Sadowsky black label flats. THey also have a Blue label roundwound series, but I've no interest there.

Sadowskys only taper the B.

[FunkMetalBass]

Originally Posted by iplaymetal

A .150!!!!! lol that is heavy duty.

I use a .150 for my B-string on my 35" scale basses. One I keep permanently tuned ADADGC, so I use a .166 for my low A. It makes a difference and feels great.

[Chasarms]

Originally Posted by lowendfriend

Usually just the B or sometimes the E are tapered.

A brand I can recommend form use on my $$ 5-er is the Sadowsky black label flats. THey also have a Blue label roundwound series, but I've no interest there.

Sadowskys only taper the B.

I've tried Sadowsky Blue SS rounds and well as the Black SS rounds and the black nickel rounds. All are excellent strings. The blacks are a little clearer sounding, like a hi-beam. The blues are more like a lo-rider.

I will say that they tend to feel a bit stiff - even the 40s. If you want a good tapered string that is more subtle, I would recommend the DM SR2000.

[jsbarber]

I have used these on my Fodera with good success:

http://fodera.com/Shop/ProductDetails.aspx?ItemID=205

Not sure if they would work for your purposes, but they are built to Anthony Jackson's satisfaction so you know they are a well designed string.

Jim

[ixlramp]

Originally Posted by ixlramp

A Circle K balanced .150 set is perfect for A standard

I forgot to mention, their current strings have a short tapered section of length 1.625" from the edge of the ball. Probably not enough for a Warwick bridge. However Circle K are planning to offer the option of a longer taper in future.

Ken Smith sell .145 singles.

[Metal Mitch]

Originally Posted by iplaymetal

What kind of sound am I to expect out of tapered strings in general?

In general? Expect excessive wolf tones and an unusable product. Unless you have a really long tailpiece or go string thru body to get the fat part of the string onto the saddle where it belongs.

[FunkMetalBass]

Originally Posted by Metal Mitch

In general? Expect excessive wolf tones and an unusable product. Unless you have a really long tailpiece or go string thru body to get the fat part of the string onto the saddle where it belongs.

Right, and that's precisely why nearly 50% of all low B-strings are tapered.

[One Bad Monkey]

Originally Posted by ixlramp

I forgot to mention, their current strings have a short tapered section of length 1.625" from the edge of the ball. Probably not enough for a Warwick bridge. However Circle K are planning to offer the option of a longer taper in future.

If anything, I found the B string from the Circle K to be hard to intonate, because that taper starts right around the bridge saddle. It still had a lot of punch, clarity and usability though.

With the GHS one I don't have that intonation problem.

[Metal Mitch]

Originally Posted by FunkMetalBass

Right, and that's precisely why nearly 50% of all low B-strings are tapered.

Show me how many of those 50% are properly fitted to the bass after installation, without inharmonics or intonation problems. I'll bet you a beer it's a very small number, down around 1% to 3%.

[ixlramp]

Originally Posted by Metal Mitch

In general? Expect excessive wolf tones and an unusable product. Unless you have a really long tailpiece or go string thru body to get the fat part of the string onto the saddle where it belongs.

The trick is to get the full gauge of the string as close to the saddle as possible, and use a string with a fairly fat tapered section, well over half full gauge. The strange tone will be minimised. I stay away from contact-core now.

However yes, it took me 10 years to find a taperwound I liked the sound of (D'Addario ProSteels .145). Manufacturers usually make the tapered section too long to maximise the number of compatible bridges, so with a standard top-load bridge too much of the vibrating string length is tapered. Ideally bridges should have an adjustable ball-end anchor point to bring the full gauge really close to the saddle.

Warwick Black Label single .145s are available. Do Warwick strings taper close to the saddle?

This is the closest I've seen ...

[ixlramp]

Originally Posted by iplaymetal

A .150!!!!! lol that is heavy duty.

.150 A is equivalent to .100 E, similar tension.

[Metal Mitch]

Originally Posted by ixlramp

This is the closest I've seen ...

That looks good... but (you knew that was coming) won't the intonation be off with the 2nd wrap resting on the saddle? IME it's gotta be on the 1st wrap or at the very end of the 3rd wrap. It probably depends on your tuning.

[Chasarms]

Originally Posted by Metal Mitch

In general? Expect excessive wolf tones and an unusable product. Unless you have a really long tailpiece or go string thru body to get the fat part of the string onto the saddle where it belongs.

My experiences are contrary to this. I have always had much more difficulty with pitch instability and poor intonation when using a non-tapered B string.

I use Sadowsky strings, with a tapered B, as well as SR2000s, a completely tapered set, and the intonation and pitch stability on both of my basses is excellent. I used DR Long Necks on my Lakland bass with equal success.