• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

TapeWound Club~Anyone?

#1,081
Fat Freddy said:
So, a new to me Dub King turned up here today.....

Luckily my Chief Inspector Of EVERYTHING was on hand to check it out...


View attachment 3502307

Luckily, it seems to have passed muster except for the strings.....

Got some Black Beauties on the way....:thumbsup:

Apologies to those of you who see this in various other threads....
Click to expand...

Wait, what? That NBD Dub King is a short scale .... Black Beauties? Say whut? (from one who really likes Black Beauties)
 
  • Like
Reactions: Fat Freddy
#1,083
Not that it really matters, but I've officially gone back to the original TB user name of, MrNylon.
xp7vcGx.gif
 
  • Like
Reactions: PWRL, Loring, JPDsma and 1 other person
#1,084
I’ve had D’Addario Tapes on the following basses:

Squier Affinity P-Bass
Squier Standard P 5-string (Jazz pickups)
Ibanez AEB5E acoustic (been on for six years and counting)
Fender BG-31 acoustic
Schecter Raiden Special-4

I really love these strings. I’m very tempted to yank the TIJFs off of my VM Fretless Jazz and replace them with D’Addario Tapes. They just do so many things so well!
 
  • Like
Reactions: GwenOnBass, Fat Freddy and Loring
#1,085
I'm finally getting back my tapes-loaded P bass. It's been in storage since I moved, and I just got to fire it back up the other day. I keep D'Addario tapes on it, which I love for the low tension and that snappy thump.

The thing is that it has an SPB3 Quarter Pounder pickup in it, which is probably not what most people think of as the ideal pickup for the tapewound sound. I first bought it as a rock bass, and only put tapes on it out of curiosity a few years ago. Oddly enough, the sound works really well, somehow. I missed it.
 
  • Like
Reactions: JPDsma and GwenOnBass
#1,086
I put GHS Tapewounds 50-105 on my Ibanez RB 820 the other day. I'm not sure what they're for but I like them so far. First impression. Super smooth feel and a ton of bass. Second impression, ton of bass and super smooth feel. If I'm using a compressor, I need to lower the threshold, even from a Mustang with flats (and the pickup on the RB is a biggo humbucker), but they don't sound quiet at all.

Uses I've identified so far: 1) Reggae. 2) Pick with mute for rock.
 
  • Like
Reactions: e-flat, GwenOnBass and Fat Freddy
#1,087
I love my Chromes, but black tapes are second - anywhere I need some of the growl of rounds but want to keep the smooth feel. Heh, guy I sold my Thunderbird to, made a friendly "dig" about it in his positive feedback on the sale (on reverb) but I thought they were perfect, especially on a black tbird.
 
#1,088
This is may be just my imagination, but I currently find the LaBella white nylon tapes to be smooth, supple and comfortable (great for sliding against a fretless), whereas when I used their black tapes (granted, many years ago) I remember them as being somewhat thick and stiff, -not as comfortable for me to use as the metal flats... Perhaps it's mainly the difference in the time frame tho? I tried the black tapes back in the late nineties, so maybe LaBella is making all their tape wounds much better now?
Greywoulf
 
  • Like
Reactions: J-Mags and GwenOnBass
#1,090
Greywoulf said:
This is may be just my imagination, but I currently find the LaBella white nylon tapes to be smooth, supple and comfortable (great for sliding against a fretless), whereas when I used their black tapes (granted, many years ago) I remember them as being somewhat thick and stiff, -not as comfortable for me to use as the metal flats... Perhaps it's mainly the difference in the time frame tho? I tried the black tapes back in the late nineties, so maybe LaBella is making all their tape wounds much better now?
Greywoulf
Click to expand...

The white nylon are 50-105, and the black nylon were 60-115 (although La Bella now makes Black 50-105 as well), right?
 
#1,092
J-Mags said:
The white nylon are 50-105, and the black nylon were 60-115 (although La Bella now makes Black 50-105 as well), right?
Click to expand...
west al said:
Yes, now they do make 50-105 Black La Bella Nylons.
Click to expand...
And vice versa; all four types - black (N), white (T), copper white (C), gold white (G) - come in "light" (750) i.e. .050/.065/.085/.105 and "standard" (760) gauge i.e. .060/.070/.094/.115.
E.g.: the standard copper whites' codename is 760C.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Loring
#1,093
I just picked up a set of D'addarios on a whim today and I'm blown away.:woot: I tried all kind of flats in the past and pretty much gave up on finding something that works for me. Everything has been too stiff, too sticky, too fat, too slinky etc. These Tapes however (my first set ever) are a different animal. I'm getting the same feel and stiffness as my DR rounds, with a nice midrange bite, subdued highs... now I can finally turn my tone control up without killing my mids.. and the highs are still in there when you dig in. Plenty of booty, a little bit of extra thump and nice gritty growl... all without any unwanted string noise. glorious! I feel like a dummy for not trying tapes years ago... Why did I not try these earlier!?!:banghead:

Can anyone comment wether or not these are ok to run string-through? I read some posts about LaBellas sorta being a no-go or were at least not recommended for string-through. My bass just resonates better with the strings through the body! Thoughts on this are much appreciated.
 
  • Like
Reactions: e-flat, Nebula24 and GwenOnBass
#1,096
JPDsma said:
Can’t see why it would be a problem unless it was a length issue. Long reach from the saddle to back of a thick body and or Long distance from nut to tuners?
Click to expand...

Ya no problem there... stringing through only uses about 1/2” or so more string length. The silks a currently about 1.5” above the nut.

As long as no one here has experienced string breakage as a result of stringing through the body I suspect it’s all good!
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: GwenOnBass
#1,098
I would like to join de club! Last february I bought my first tape set, Magma, made in Argentina. I can't compare it with others brands, but it's what i was looking for, it can be thumpy (kinda like a flat, but with his own spin) and if crank the tone it sounds bright, but not overly bright.
IMG_20190921_105147845.jpg
IMG_20190921_105157537.jpg
there isn't a big market for tapes or flatwounds in my country, so when any of my friends travels to the states I ask them for strings that i can't get in here... My Last adquisitions are These 2 beautiful sets, can't wait yo try them...
IMG_20190921_105239431.jpg
 
  • Like
Reactions: bassist4dalord, HaphAsSard, e-flat and 3 others

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back