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Different colored tape wound strings

honeydorick

honeydorick

DITTO:WHAT WOULD JAMERSON DO
Supporting Member
Nov 1, 2017
371
596
73
Sonora Calif. USA
#1
My question is why cant string companies come out with different colored tape wound bass strings?I know La Bella has black or white tapes available,why not multiple colors of nylon tapes.If they can do black nylon ,Why cant they do yellow nylon.Is it that much harder to make them another color?.Im hoping in the future,someone will make yellow short scale flatts for my Mini P,or Bronco bass.I dont like the DRs cause even though they are coated neon yellow they are still clanky sounding round wounds.Anyone out there know of a smaller company that will make some for me?I modified my basses to have red bodies,with black hardware & no pick guard. With a dark fretboard & red & Black on my Mini P, I think It would look awsome with yellow tape wounds.I have black tapes on my Bronco to compliment the maple frett board.I dont slap & pop. I want the stand up bass sound so round wounds are not for me.Any new thoughts out there in TB Land?Im a Jamerson type player.
 
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#3
Part of the joy of performing for me is dressing up and letting go on stage. I don't go as far in the Americana trio as in the original rock trio but it's still time to look good and move and have fun.

For me, color tapewounds on my fretless basses would be awesome to coordinate with what I'm wearing. I haven't tried the DR coated because ... you know, I don't know why. You've given me an idea. Damn, my guitar players are gonna freak out
 
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#9
jd56hawk said:
I was referring to Red Devils, but aren't they all essentially the same strings?
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I thought they would be as well, but apparently not. Same gauges and all, but a noticeable difference in tone and brightness. Maybe I had a bunk set of reds? I’ve had several sets of black now, and they all sound good to me. Good enough that I have 2 more sets being delivered (hopefully) today or tomorrow.
 
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#10
AncientNoob said:
I thought they would be as well, but apparently not. Same gauges and all, but a noticeable difference in tone and brightness. Maybe I had a bunk set of reds? I’ve had several sets of black now, and they all sound good to me. Good enough that I have 2 more sets being delivered (hopefully) today or tomorrow.
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I went a little crazy with black tapewounds, myself, GHS on five basses, D'Addario on three.
 
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#14
AncientNoob said:
I thought they would be as well, but apparently not. Same gauges and all, but a noticeable difference in tone and brightness. Maybe I had a bunk set of reds? I’ve had several sets of black now, and they all sound good to me. Good enough that I have 2 more sets being delivered (hopefully) today or tomorrow.
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IIRC, evidence suggests that DR Neons are coated Sunbeams and DR Black Beauties are coated Hi Beams.
 
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#15
There's a couple reasons I can think of, off the bat.

The obvious is that to offer multiple colors of tapewound strings requires a lot of material to keep onhand for something that may or may not sell through. That's a lot of money sitting on a shelf because someone thought a "light green tapewound" set might be as strong a seller as black or clear.

Second is that even if they DID offer you multiple colors, would they be the ones you want? Especially red, probably one of the hardest colors to recreate (talk to an offset printer; he'll confirm). Case in point: we offer a set of Innovation Rockabilly Red strings for double bass. The red nylon that we get is probably closer to a red-orange, especially after you sand it smooth.

It still looks great, but it did NOT match the red of the finish on my Baby Bass. let's face it; appearances matter.

On the Dealer end, they have the same concern with inventory. They can't carry the full line of colors of tapewounds, without a significant amount of capital being tied up. So they'll buy what they know the customers ask for, and what they can sell.
 
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#16
why cant DR coat flat wound chromes as well as round wound neons or black beauties?They already have the technology in the factory.I tried Black beauties once.They were were good, except for the clankyness due to being round wound strings coating or no coating.
 
#17
honeydorick said:
why cant DR coat flat wound chromes as well as round wound neons or black beauties?They already have the technology in the factory.I tried Black beauties once.They were were good, except for the clankyness due to being round wound strings coating or no coating.
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They could, but why? What would be the benefit of putting a coating on a dark-sounding flatwound string, aside from making it sound even darker? Flats already last a very long time, so any extra longevity from the coating would be worthless.
 

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