Who prefers a tapered B string and who doesn't?

madbassplaya · #1 06-10-2011, 10:04 AM

Post your thoughts here!

JTE · #2 06-10-2011, 10:13 AM

Hate 'em, absolutely despise them. They make the B sound like it's from another instrument, not the same bass.

John

madbassplaya · #3 06-10-2011, 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JTE

Hate 'em, absolutely despise them. They make the B sound like it's from another instrument, not the same bass.

John

Really?! I was thinking it would give an even sounding B string.

JTE · #4 06-10-2011, 10:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by madbassplaya

Really?! I was thinking it would give an even sounding B string.

Not in my experience. I initially thought that too. But when I tried a set of DR Hi-Beams with an untapered B (0.130), I found it was much more balanced and less twangy. Also, when Bass Player Magazine did a comprehensive string comparison several (or many by now, I've forgotten) years ago, they found they had the same prejudice for tapered strings broken by their more objective study.

John

madbassplaya · #5 06-10-2011, 11:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JTE

Not in my experience. I initially thought that too. But when I tried a set of DR Hi-Beams with an untapered B (0.130), I found it was much more balanced and less twangy. Also, when Bass Player Magazine did a comprehensive string comparison several (or many by now, I've forgotten) years ago, they found they had the same prejudice for tapered strings broken by their more objective study.

John

So the B string is more balanced but because of that it sounds different than the others?

JTE · #6 06-10-2011, 11:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by madbassplaya

So the B string is more balanced but because of that it sounds different than the others?

The sound of the untapered string was more balanced with the sound of the other strings. The tapered ones always sound more twangy and from a different instrument one. Of course, if ALL the strings are tapered or exposed cores, it probably would sound OK to me ('though the only exposed core strings I've ever used was one set of Rotosound Piano Core strings back in the '80s. Only kept 'em on the StingRay for about three weeks before I went back to my D'Addarios).

John

tylerwylie · #7 06-10-2011, 11:45 AM

I usually don't like tapered, but the Circle K taper really helps in my opinion. That said, I also dig DR's untapereds.

FunkMetalBass · #8 06-10-2011, 11:49 AM

I used to be in that same frame of mind, but after trying Circle K's strings, I've come to like the tapered strings. I suspect the uneven tone was a combination of the taper and the unbalanced set. Or maybe just a string not made with even tonality in mind.

However, I voted 'carrots' because I don't care as long as the strings sound as I like them to sound.

carlos840 · #9 06-10-2011, 01:06 PM

Dont play 5 or 6 anymore but when i did i never liked tapered strings!
I think they sound wrong and look wrong!

floatingaxe · #10 06-10-2011, 01:15 PM

I went from Chromes (untapered B) to Sadowsky stainless flats (tapered B) and prefer the feel and sound of the tapered B. Sounds less like a metal bar and more like a thick string. IMO.

One Bad Monkey · #11 06-10-2011, 03:32 PM

GHS Super Steel Contact Cores are all tapered (except for the G and C, for obvious reasons) and sound even across the board, along with the B string. Their Progressives have an exposed E and B and I didn't notice any tonal difference between the exposed and regular ones. The Circle K ones also had no issue with the B string sounding different.

I've actually rarely had any luck with untapered B strings. I've found them tubby and undefined, sounding nothing like the other strings.

madbassplaya · #12 06-10-2011, 05:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by One Bad Monkey

GHS Super Steel Contact Cores are all tapered (except for the G and C, for obvious reasons) and sound even across the board, along with the B string. Their Progressives have an exposed E and B and I didn't notice any tonal difference between the exposed and regular ones. The Circle K ones also had no issue with the B string sounding different.

I've actually rarely had any luck with untapered B strings. I've found them tubby and undefined, sounding nothing like the other strings.

I have used taperwounds in the past. It was 05 and the Fender I had had to have tapered B & E strings. I really don't remember anything about them though. I honestly feel like having a tapered B string would clear up any "undefined" nature of a nontapered string.

I have tried Sadowsky strings. A friend of mine uses them and the B did sound really good with those strings.

My local shop had one set of SIT Taperwounds in and cut me a great deal!

Joe Smithberger · #13 06-11-2011, 05:44 AM

Usually the problem with DR's (and many others) IMO is that the tapered B string still isn't fat enough. I love Circle K's tapers.

However the DR DDT's have a great untapered B string.

fretlessguy · #14 06-11-2011, 06:27 AM

I've used both, and as a general rule it does not make much difference. I do like using tapereds in body thru bridges and untapered in bridge strung basses.

madbassplaya · #15 06-11-2011, 03:20 PM

Ok, so I changed out the nontapered strings for tapered strings and I really like the sound of the tapered B. It sounds much more clear and defined and sounds even with the rest of the strings.

J-O · #16 06-11-2011, 06:27 PM

Tapered B all the way. The best B string I have ever put on my RB5 is Labella's tapered .128

SLaPiNFuNK · #17 06-11-2011, 07:17 PM

My 6 strings I have always used custom balanced taper core strings... Taper core A, E, and B string. I have tried non-taper sets on the same bass, but they just were not the same.

On my 5 string, I go back and forth between a taper B and non-taper B. but they are usually different string brands. I haven't compared a same brand same gauge taper b / non-taper b. Maybe I should do that...

PluckyThump · #18 06-11-2011, 07:25 PM

I've hated every tapered B I've tried so far. They all gave me strange overtones, even after raising the bridge saddle to compensate. I won't buy a set that has one.

Caca de Kick · #19 06-11-2011, 07:33 PM

Hated them, they just felt unbalanced to the mass of the rest of the strings in the way they vibrated. But back in the day (I'm talking late 80's/early 90's when I started playing 5's), it seemed tapered was the only way B strings spoke well at all. But by the mid-late 90's, to me, the string companies figured out out to prefect and make killer B's that were full wound.

madbassplaya · #20 06-11-2011, 10:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SLaPiNFuNK

My 6 strings I have always used custom balanced taper core strings... Taper core A, E, and B string. I have tried non-taper sets on the same bass, but they just were not the same.

On my 5 string, I go back and forth between a taper B and non-taper B. but they are usually different string brands. I haven't compared a same brand same gauge taper b / non-taper b. Maybe I should do that...

That's a great idea!

Quote:

Originally Posted by PluckyThump

I've hated every tapered B I've tried so far. They all gave me strange overtones, even after raising the bridge saddle to compensate. I won't buy a set that has one.

I always hear this complaint, but I haven't experienced it so far.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Caca de Kick

Hated them, they just felt unbalanced to the mass of the rest of the strings in the way they vibrated. But back in the day (I'm talking late 80's/early 90's when I started playing 5's), it seemed tapered was the only way B strings spoke well at all. But by the mid-late 90's, to me, the string companies figured out out to prefect and make killer B's that were full wound.

So far the tapered B string sounds so much more even and clear compared to the nontapered set that was on my bass.

I really like them right now!