Flatwound Problem?

[RASHOSS]

Hello All,

Bass has relatively new Flatwound strings (30 hours or so of play time). I noticed the outter wrap on the B string appears to be missing, or pulled away, at the bridge, compared to the other strings. Is this a potential problem as relates to string longevity, or only cosmetic?

Thank you,

Hossinn

 

[MrAB4003]

It looks to be cosmetic, but I could be wrong. I don't think it would affect the string's longevity.

 

[HaphAsSard]

Hello All,

Bass has relatively new Flatwound strings (30 hours or so of play time). I noticed the outter wrap on the B string appears to be missing, or pulled away, at the bridge, compared to the other strings. Is this a potential problem as relates to string longevity, or only cosmetic?

Thank you,

Hossinn
View attachment 5260289View attachment 5260288

The La Bella Deep Talkin' Bass flatwound low B is a ".128T", where the letter stands for "tapered" (aka "taperwound" - not to be confused, but it often inevitably is, with "tapewound").
In other words, the string is thinner than full gauge, around the saddle area.
[If you look closer, the outer wrap is still there: it's the inner wraps, between the flat ribbon and the core, that stop there - one, then two then three - so that the ribbon is eventually wound directly around the core.]

The taper is supposed to have a number of benefits (look up "taperwound" in this subforum).
Ideally, the transition point should be as close to the saddle as possible. If the string has weird overtones, and you've verified the string is not twisted (to do so, detune it until the ball end is free to spin, then retune it), you may consider adding spacers of some kind between ball-end and bridge, so that the thinner section in front of the saddle is shorter.

 

[Stan_da_man]

The B string is tapered. Nothing to worry about.

 

[michael_t]

Ideally, the transition point should be as close to the saddle as possible...

^^This.

My two 5-string Yamahas both wear taperwound/exposed-core low B's.

 

[Zooberwerx]

Hello All,

Bass has relatively new Flatwound strings (30 hours or so of play time). I noticed the outter wrap on the B string appears to be missing, or pulled away, at the bridge, compared to the other strings. Is this a potential problem as relates to string longevity, or only cosmetic?

Thank you,

Hossinn
View attachment 5260289View attachment 5260288

Good catch and a normal design variation as others have indicated. Some addt'l considerations: (1) tapered or exposed core strings tend to intonate well-ahead of their full wrap counterparts (2) the stair-step will require raising the saddle a bit for buzz-free performance.

Riis

 

[coy garcia]

No problem...should allow the B to sound clearer in theory.

 

[micguy]

This is normal behavior for string instruments with long, fat strings. Pianos have been doing this on their strings for centuries.

 

[pineweasel]

Superwound bass strings employed this construction for all strings, quite popular in the UK back in the 80s

 

[HaphAsSard]

Superwound bass strings employed this construction for all strings, quite popular in the UK back in the 80s
View attachment 5260717

Superwound was a James How &co. brand, and the main marque of the company, Rotosound, offered the same length-adjustable tapered/contact-core section system, under their their 99 PSD Bass ("Piano String Design") product line, until recently - a discontinuation, by the way, which I've just found out about.
Also by the way, and also unbeknownst to me until 5 minutes ago, said system survives in their Super Bronze acoustic guitar line.

 

[G On Bass]

As others have said: It's tapered B. As a 5 string guys who always has flats on at least one bass, I have never had success with a tapered B for flats, especially with LaBellas as they always sounded 'dead' or at least sounded very different from the rest of the set. YMMV.

 

[2F/2F]

It’s a tapered B string, which starts tapering right after the wrap ends.

 

[Killing Floor]

Answered as above.
You may need to check the saddle height and intonation when you make a switch like that. Enjoy.

 

[Thegreatzambini]

You didn’t notice that taper when you initially put the strings on, or even during the 30 hours that you played them?

 

[RASHOSS]

This is normal behavior for string instruments with long, fat strings. Pianos have been doing this on their strings for centuries.

View attachment 5260707

Interesting, thanks!

 

[RASHOSS]

As others have said: It's tapered B. As a 5 string guys who always has flats on at least one bass, I have never had success with a tapered B for flats, especially with LaBellas as they always sounded 'dead' or at least sounded very different from the rest of the set. YMMV.

Interesting, so do you buy a single B from a different make/model?

 

[RASHOSS]

You didn’t notice that taper when you initially put the strings on, or even during the 30 hours that you played them?

Yo, smarty pants, no, I didn't. I had the seller of the bass install them for me, and I didn't notice the taper when I was playing the axe.

 

[G On Bass]

Interesting, so do you buy a single B from a different make/model?

I only buy whole sets, but don't buy any sets that have a tapered B.