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D'addario vs Fender tapewounds?

C

chilliwilli

Aug 17, 2005
922
303
#1
Thinking of giving tapes a try again maybe.

I have a p bass now, so it could be a good match. I've never used either one of these brands, but they both are cheap and get rave reviews.

I've heard Fender's are rougher feeling (does this still hold true for newer versions made by D'addario?) and I assume the higher guage means more tension and that it has a 105-45 set or similar under the tape.

I'd need the strings to be able to keep up with two guitars live in the mix in a rock band or similar setting, while also being able to nail those vintage early neo soul bass tones of the late 90s/early 2000s. I use old Rotosound jazz flats to accomplish this now and was wondering if it would be possible with either of these strings.

Hoping you guys can compare and contrast both brands.
 
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#2
The D'Addarios are closer to regular gauged strings and will likely fit and play very well on you bass. Fenders are rougher in texture, but very playable. The Fender set is thicker gauged and my or may not require you to file the spaces on the nut to make them fit. I like the sound of both, with the Fender's being brighter in sound than the D's are. I think you would be happy with either set. Price wise they are not that much different ( At least the last time I checked).
The Fenders are tension wise less than the D'Addarios, but not much more.
 
#3
fretlessguy said:
The D'Addarios are closer to regular gauged strings and will likely fit and play very well on you bass. Fenders are rougher in texture, but very playable. The Fender set is thicker gauged and my or may not require you to file the spaces on the nut to make them fit. I like the sound of both, with the Fender's being brighter in sound than the D's are. I think you would be happy with either set. Price wise they are not that much different ( At least the last time I checked).
The Fenders are tension wise less than the D'Addarios, but not much more.
Click to expand...

I'm not concerned about the higher gauges and setup, so pretend like that doesn't matter.

I'm surprised the Fenders are both brighter and less tense. They must just wrap the strings in tons of tape. You think both would be able to cut through well though?
 
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#4
Fender: rougher texture - as if they only put one layer of black tape over the roundwound string; you can still see/feel the windings underneath.
- black silks
-58 - 112 gauge
- Maybe slightly brighter tone. I haven't compared side-by-side.

D'Addario: Much smoother texture; feel glassy smooth. You won't feel or see the windings as with Fender.
- Blue silk on both ends.
- 50-105 gauge. Fits standard size nuts.
 
#5
Root 5 said:
Fender: rougher texture - as if they only put one layer of black tape over the roundwound string; you can still see/feel the windings underneath.
- black silks
-58 - 112 gauge
- Maybe slightly brighter tone. I haven't compared side-by-side.

D'Addario: Much smoother texture; feel glassy smooth. You won't feel or see the windings as with Fender.
- Blue silk on both ends.
- 50-105 gauge. Fits standard size nuts.
Click to expand...

I was under the impression all Fender-branded strings were made by D'Addario these days. Looking at these descriptions, however, it doesn't sound like that's the case with these tapewounds, perhaps...?
 
#6
Fender tapes are crunchy, you can feel its roundwound string because of thin layer of nylon tape. Also, Dáddario makes Fender strings nowadays, but to Fender specs. So they are not the same strings, whether its stainless or tapewound strings.
 
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#7
michael_t said:
I was under the impression all Fender-branded strings were made by D'Addario these days. Looking at these descriptions, however, it doesn't sound like that's the case with these tapewounds, perhaps...?
Click to expand...

If D'Addario does manufacture the Fender brand, then Fender strings are not just rebranded strings. There are differences between them in feel, sound, and tone for the most part. Besides the tapes, you can tell differences between the Fender flats and Chromes as well. Seems D'Addario makes the Fenders to their own specs and formulas.
 
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#8
fretlessguy said:
If D'Addario does manufacture the Fender brand, then Fender strings are not just rebranded strings. There are differences between them in feel, sound, and tone for the most part. Besides the tapes, you can tell differences between the Fender flats and Chromes as well. Seems D'Addario makes the Fenders to their own specs and formulas.
Click to expand...

I do understand the idea that Fender-branded strings are made to Fender specs. And you're right about the Chromes and the Fender 9050 flats being different. However, there is definitely some "family resemblance" between the two, including the colored ball ends and silk at both ends.

Looking at the descriptions of the tapewounds, they almost sound like they come from two different "families". Do the Fender tapes have colored ball ends, too?

I was curious about it after reading in another thread that now-discontinued GHS Tapewounds were actually outsourced to another manufacturer.
 
#10
The D'addario ETB92 Nylons strung on a USA Geddy Lee Jazz. .50, .65, .85, .105. They fit in most standard size nuts, and usually require no re-setups. The D'Addario ETB92's are able to be strung on basses using string through the body with no problem also.
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#15
I have a bass with each. D'Addarios are wrapped and ground down to the appropriate gauge, giving them their ultra smooth feel. Mine are 4 years old and very thumpy. Tone pot does virtually nothing.
One of my Fenders started to unwind. They seem more like a round wrapped in something like 8-track or maybe even video tape. Those are at least 6 years old and still have some snap.
I'm partial to the D'Addarios.
 
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#17
fretlessguy said:
Yes, the Fender tapes have colored ballend strings as well. GHS' string guy, who posts here often said they were outsourced. He didn't say from where (have heard from Europe) but I have no idea.
Click to expand...
I was the string buyer for a retail music store back in the '90s. I was putting a GHS order together on the phone and needed to hit a $ mark to get max discount, so I added a set of their tapewounds. The woman taking the order said, "we're out of those, we're waiting on a shipment from D'Addario". She explained that they didn't have enough demand for tapewounds to make them themselves.
 
#18
I've used Fender Tapewounds on a Highway 1 P Bass as my main instrument for several years.
I work primarily in an Oldies ( Early Beatles, Motown etc) Trio & they cover everything I throw at them.
Highly recommended!
 
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