Black flatwounds?

[Larry V]

Does anyone make a set of black flatwounds. If so, have you used them and how did they sound and feel and are they durable?

I want to try some flatwounds on my TBird but I don't want to loose the look of my bass, currently strung up with a set of DR Black Beauties med.

 

[Duckwater]

You mean nylon tapewound strings? They have a warm and thumpy sound but they are pretty much all roundwounds under the nylon wrap.

D'addario, Labella, and Rotosound make great ones

 

[Phalex]

Nylon tape wound is as close as I'm aware of.

 

[Larry V]

I can only assume that the coating that's on the Black Beauties won't last on flatwounds then. But it doesn't make sense why no one is doing tape wound on flatwounds?

I just started using Fender SS flat wounds on another bass and I really like the feel. I want to hear them on my TBird and might swap them just for the experience. Is there a black tape wound out there that'll feel as smooth as the Fenders flatwounds I've got?

 

[Brio]

I really liked d'addario's tape wounds when I had them on my hofner icon (maybe a year ago). They both sound and feel a bit duller, in a good way, than any flat wound I've played. They were very mellow with not a lot of sustain if I recall.

And there's no harm in trying them out. If you don't like them someone will take them in the classifieds.

 

[Carl_D]

Very different animals..... Coated rounds Vs Nylon tapes. Opposite ends of the tonal spectrum. Do a bit more research before you sink your $$$ into a set of Nylon tapes. Just make sure it's the sound you're after.

 

[MightyMiloQuinn]

To be clear, nylon tapewounds are flats, even if wound over rounds. So they are sometimes even smoother than flat wound metal strings.

 

[Larry V]

To be clear, nylon tapewounds are flats, even if wound over rounds. So they are sometimes even smoother than flat wound metal strings.

Thanks for the clarification. Much appreciated!

 

[Jon Moody]

I can only assume that the coating that's on the Black Beauties won't last on flatwounds then. But it doesn't make sense why no one is doing tape wound on flatwounds?

GHS Tapewounds are groundwound under the nylon tape (with the exception of the G string), which is the closest thing to having flats under there that is available.

To be clear, nylon tapewounds are flats, even if wound over rounds. So they are sometimes even smoother than flat wound metal strings.

And usually have a mellower sound than just regular flatwound strings, since the nylon has a greater tonal effect than just the roundwound underneath.

 

[Larry V]

Thanks! More great info, OBM!