Converting tapewounds to roundwounds?

[GretschWretch]

Aside from razoring along the entire string and then pulling loose or unraveling the nylon tape, is there away to get the tape off the string? The tape on the A string on one of my basses has begun slipping, which makes the string useless, but underneath is a very nice roundwound. I have another bass that would be a perfect destination for those strings, as roundwounds, but how to change them from tapes to rounds without going through an ordeal?

 

[Killing Floor]

That seems like a lot of work and that tape serves a similar tonal purpose as the winding. Might be an interesting experiment though.

 

[MrAB4003]

Aside from razoring along the entire string and then pulling loose or unraveling the nylon tape, is there away to get the tape off the string? The tape on the A string on one of my basses has begun slipping, which makes the string useless, but underneath is a very nice roundwound. I have another bass that would be a perfect destination for those strings, as roundwounds, but how to change them from tapes to rounds without going through an ordeal?

You're better off just buying a new set of rounds. Don't waste your time trying to unravel the tape.

 

[HaphAsSard]

Aside from razoring along the entire string and then pulling loose or unraveling the nylon tape, is there away to get the tape off the string? The tape on the A string on one of my basses has begun slipping, which makes the string useless, but underneath is a very nice roundwound. I have another bass that would be a perfect destination for those strings, as roundwounds, but how to change them from tapes to rounds without going through an ordeal?

In my experience, it takes very little for the tape to unwind, separating from the metal roundwound underneath. A turn of razor just above the silk at both ends will probably do it (you can then remove the now non-functional silk, and rest of the tape, or even do it later without haste).

 

[GretschWretch]

You're better off just buying a new set of rounds. Don't waste your time trying to unravel the tape.

Except that the rounds beneath feel very promising, and I'm curious. I haven't encountered that particular texture on any other set of strings.

 

[smogg]

Set a few hours aside, grab a razor and be prepared for hand cramps. Be careful and go slowly so you don't cut yourself.

 

[soulstew]

Try it and report back--sub'd!

 

[Phaidrus]

Given the gazillion types of rounds on offer, why?

 

[H K]

Given the gazillion types of rounds on offer, why?

For SCIENCE!

 

[GTHintz]

Aside from razoring along the entire string and then pulling loose or unraveling the nylon tape, is there away to get the tape off the string? The tape on the A string on one of my basses has begun slipping, which makes the string useless, but underneath is a very nice roundwound. I have another bass that would be a perfect destination for those strings, as roundwounds, but how to change them from tapes to rounds without going through an ordeal?

You could try boiling them first and see how loose it gets but using a blade is probably the easiest.

 

[Phaidrus]

For SCIENCE!

I‘m all for it!

 

[GretschWretch]

You could try boiling them first and see how loose it gets but using a blade is probably the easiest.

Thanks. What this is all about is that I have this really old vintage bass I am trying to restore to spec and, while I have no idea what the original strings would have been, if they were rounds they quite likely would have been Black Diamond rounds. No way of getting those today. The rounds of these strings strongly suggest what I remember from the Diamonds.

 

[JRA]

Except that the rounds beneath feel very promising, and I'm curious. I haven't encountered that particular texture on any other set of strings.

do it --- find out what's underneath it all!

 

[GretschWretch]

You could try boiling them first and see how loose it gets but using a blade is probably the easiest.

Reluctant as I am to do so, I think I will have to go with the razor blade. In times past I would boil strings to "rejuvenate" them, but I have seen so many posts on TB that suggest that boiling risks having the windings loosen from the core that I abandoned the practice.

 

[abarson]

Consider that removing the tape changes the gauge of the string as well. This might cause you to replace or alter the nut to accommodate the smaller gauge string.

 

[Manticore]

I'm wondering what it would be like having enough time on my hands to consider unwinding bass strings...

 

[sikamikanico]

Might work for piccolo tuning?

Do a pilot run and just unwind the A string that’s already slipping. See how it works, and use the other strings for comparison.

If you like the results, try unwrap the other ones.

but a question: are you gonna do the same for every string change?

 

[logdrum]

Aside from razoring along the entire string and then pulling loose or unraveling the nylon tape, is there away to get the tape off the string? The tape on the A string on one of my basses has begun slipping, which makes the string useless, but underneath is a very nice roundwound. I have another bass that would be a perfect destination for those strings, as roundwounds, but how to change them from tapes to rounds without going through an ordeal?

Since the D'Addario black tapes A string I did unravel, -- I replicated it in on the E string by just cutting lengthwise with a razor blade near the ball end. The trick is to keep the string under tension (higher than E) and you will hasten the unraveling. It will jus t do it by itself almost. BUt I am not sure if the batch I have is bad to begin with, since the A unraveled without warning

 

[Stewie]

Do it! Report back to us too. Pictures too, so we know you did
I

 

[GTHintz]

Reluctant as I am to do so, I think I will have to go with the razor blade. In times past I would boil strings to "rejuvenate" them, but I have seen so many posts on TB that suggest that boiling risks having the windings loosen from the core that I abandoned the practice.

Makes sense. Ive never had that happen but one thing that does happen too is it will loosen up silk and make it come off easier. It might even work with just room temperature water.