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Help, I'm scared! Are these strings too big?

ashtray

ashtray

Feb 25, 2008
4,044
3,781
Ventura County, CA
#1
I've been wanting to try nylon tape wound strings - I presume these are similar to the black "plastic" strings from the 70's? My friend gave me a set of RotoSound TruBass88's - but they're 65-115 gauge! Most of my basses are either 40-100 or 45-105 if I want a heavier string. 65-115 just sounds brutal - not sure I will like them.

I'd hate to put them on a bass and then have to take them back off. What should I expect from these strings?

Also, are the Black Beauty strings similar to the RotoSound Nylons? The Black Beauty strings claim super thin coating. I'm actually looking more for a thick coating.

Thanks!!
 
#2
The tapewounds will have relatively high tension. They may or may not fit the nut and you'll likely require a truss rod tweak.

Tapewounds are roundwound strings wrapped in a black nylon ribbon.

Black beauties are coated, black colored DR sunbeams. They're chemically coated rounds. Tapewounds are physically wrapped in nylon tape. Two completely different kinds of strings that are both black in color.

The tapewounds are smooth to the touch like flats. The black beauties feel basically like regular roundwound strings.
 
#3
the Black Beauties are NOT nylon tape strings. they only have a coloured coating.

the Rotosound Nylon are not "that" big. the fact is that under the nylon tape there's a normal set of roundwounds, in a smaller gauge (Rotosound uses a 40-95 set), and the overall diameter reaches the 65-115 gauge, but the "core" of the string is NOT that big.

they are exactly the opposite of high tension strings, they are loose and low tension, very flexible. they are lighter than an average 45-105 set.
 
#5
ashtray said:
Oh - very good to know - thank you!! Now its just a matter of if I want to file out my nut for larger strings or not.
Click to expand...
Loosen your E string enough to lift it out of the nut slot (you don't have to take it off the tuner) Now place that big fat .115 E in the nut slot and see if it will fit without any downward pressure. Don't force it.

I'd also be concerned about that .065 G too! I'd be surprized if you didn't need your nut completely re-slotted. Then in order to go back to more normal gauges you would have to instal and custom slot a new nut.
 
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#6
Linnin said:
Loosen your E string enough to lift it out of the nut slot (you don't have to take it off the tuner) Now place that big fat .115 E in the nut slot and see if it will fit without any downward pressure. Don't force it.

I'd also be concerned about that .065 G too! I'd be surprized if you didn't need your nut completely re-slotted. Then in order to go back to more normal gauges you would have to instal and custom slot a new nut.
Click to expand...

Wonder if I should just buy, slot and install a new nut for the new gauge strings so I could switch back and forth. Hmm.

Also I'm having trouble deciding which bass gets the nylons. It was going to be my Am Dlx Jazz - but I like that bright. Might go with the MIJ Jaguar instead. Should be a good fit sonically.
 
#7
Re- nylon tapes:
Good idea, having a nut made for them (once you decide where you want them), so it's an easy swap back if you choose.
I think you may have more problem getting the G side to fit than the E side using the existing nuts.
The ones I've tried are more flexible due to the lower tension that the smaller diameter strings under the nylon wrap are made from.
 
#9
The nylon tape wrap does not contribute anything significant to the overall mass of the string like a metal winding does, so a 60 or 65 nylon tapewound G string will only have about the same tension of a conventional round wound 45. Same with the rest of the strings. I play La Bella regular gauge tapewounds on my gig bass, and they don't feel like they have any more tension than a conventional set of 45 rounds. But with the "regular" gauge nylon strings, which for La Bella are 60-70-94-115-135T, you do need to adjust the nut slots so the strings do not pinch and bind the nylon wrap. The D'Addario black tapes on my Rick, which are 50-65-85-105, do not need nut slot adjustments.

Get a new nut cut for the bass, mount them, do a set up, and enjoy them!
 
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#10
Just my .02 but I'd pass on the black beauties. When I had them I never got too excited about the tone and the feel was surprisingly rough for coated strings. Elixirs were much nicer (albeit a tad floppy for my tastes). But those are both very different from nylon tape wound strings.
 
#11
I went to a massive set of Steve Harris flatwounds once, that have 115 gauge e and huge tension, and actually found I really liked it. I found it allowed for really dynamic playing, because you can play light and fast, but also hammer in with no annoying clack and sloppiness. You might find you like it.
 
#12
Bassic Playing said:
I went to a massive set of Steve Harris flatwounds once, that have 115 gauge e and huge tension, and actually found I really liked it. I found it allowed for really dynamic playing, because you can play light and fast, but also hammer in with no annoying clack and sloppiness. You might find you like it.
Click to expand...

the Steve Harris are 110, not 115.

however, here we are talking about tapewounds, and in the specific case of the Rotosound 88, the actual set is a 40-95, and that's how you "feel" it under your fingers and in terms of neck relief/tension.

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PS: I agree with the dynamic range improvement using strings with high tension, but it depends even on habits of the player. I still prefer the low tension strings, that improved my plucking hand technique. softer touch and better use of dynamics.
 
#14
UPDATE:

So I put the Roto88 Nylon Wrap strings on. The nut actually had space somehow, so no issues there. I put the strings on my Am Dlx Jazz - very interesting.

The strings feel great to my fingers - super smooth. Still has string tension but much easier on my fingertips. If I were playing 4hr long bar gigs, I'd want these strings.

The strings make an odd sound on the neck but that doesn't come through the amp. The sound out of the amp is very balanced and super mellow. Kinda like dead strings, but even more dead than the dead ones I took off. No pop or slapping.

Not sure what I think of them. I could see them on a fretless, or a thumpin' P-bass. My active Jazz is a weird match up. I'll have to record a clip and listen more critically.
 
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#15
ashtray said:
Wonder if I should just buy, slot and install a new nut for the new gauge strings so I could switch back and forth. Hmm.

Also I'm having trouble deciding which bass gets the nylons. It was going to be my Am Dlx Jazz - but I like that bright. Might go with the MIJ Jaguar instead. Should be a good fit sonically.
Click to expand...

that's what I'm going to do with my acoustic bass. I am waiting for a opportunity to meet with my luthier friend who is going to cut a new nut for it. If I decide to get to different strings, I want to be able to put the original nut back in.
 

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