is there any reason not to use taperwound strings?

[southshoreconor]

at least just the E string?

i made a trip up to guitar center yesterday just to buy strings but i couldnt help wandering over to the bass section and play some basses i'm in no position to buy. i grabbed a new p bass of the wall and played around with it. it sounded great, but i noticed it was strung with a tapered E string. i loved how it felt and didnt notice any major difference in tone from the other 3 strings. im sure there are subtle differences, but the feel (and longevity?), to me, would easily make up for that.

are there any cons? are they more prone to breaking? i play with a pick, between the pickup and bridge, but i havent broken a string in probably 9 years and i change my strings regularly when i'm on tour. if there's no major reason not to use these, i may be converted. now its just a matter of finding a good brand that makes stainless tapers.

[dmusic148]

The strings you played were Fender 8250s. The E is a .110", so I think they taper it to allow through-body stringing without stress to the core wire. The tapered part is long enough that when strung through-body, just a little taper remains at the saddle. If you string these through-bridge, they are a problem. The long tapered part that results causes all sorts of weird, out of tune overtones.

I've used these strings for two years on my P without issues.

[southshoreconor]

my two main basses are an 06 jazz (strung through) and a 78 P (top loaded). im pretty sure my next big move will be a new P with a strung through body, but until then are there any manufacturers with a shorter tapered end? specifically stainless steel.

[Mr.Phil]

You can use a small metal tube as a spacer on the outside of the top loading bridge. That should allow it to sit better.

[bassist4dalord]

Is your bass string-through body? Pretty much the only reason (IMO) you would ever NEED a tapered set is if you are stringing through the body. If you're not, then there will be no added benefit to tapered strings.

[southshoreconor]

Originally Posted by bassist4dalord

Is your bass string-through body? Pretty much the only reason (IMO) you would ever NEED a tapered set is if you are stringing through the body. If you're not, then there will be no added benefit to tapered strings.

my jazz is, my P isnt. i liked how it felt on the bass i played in the store. isn't good feel a benefit?

i really just want to know if there are any negative aspects of it. are they more prone to breaking? is there a major difference in sound from the other 3 strings (i didn't notice a difference in the store)

[EthanTheHeathen]

I had one of those Fender tapered strings break pretty quickly, probably because they taper down to a single wire. Ken Smith makes tapered strings that have a smaller diameter at the end, but not so small that they'll break easily. I think they're also available in stainless steel. Just check juststrings.com

[mmbongo]

Hee hee I remember when tapered strings were all the rage back in the 90's...now hardly anybody makes them anymore

[grue]

I tried them a while back. The only time I have ever broken bass strings. I can probably get by without a G, but when my E strings keep snapping I'm in trouble.

[Chasarms]

If you are stringing through the body, the best tapercore strings, IMO, are definitely the DR long Necks. The taper is too long to use it otherwise. They tend to "warble" if used on a conventional bridge as the exposed core extends into the magnetic field of the bridge PU on a lot of basses. The Lakland strings are the same.

If you are interested in tapercore and can not string through body, I would recommend the Dean Markley SR2000. They have shorter exposed core.

I have been using these kinds of strings for ten years, almost exclusively the SR2000s. I have switched over the Long Necks lately because I'm down to two Fenders that are through body. Both the DR and the SR2000 are stainless.

I just think they work better. It is easier for me to get a good set up, they intonate better and they just seem to offer a clearer, more ringing tone.

The SR2000s last forever. I don't have as much experience with the DRs, but I expect them to last well also.

I personally don't see how they would be more likely to break. I haven't seen that as the case. The core of the string is the same whether it is a taper or not. Typically, the core breaks and the outer windings unwind. I would think it would behave pretty much the same either way.

Lastly, I have tried the Ken Smiths more than once. I prefer the feel and tone of either of the above mentioned over them.