Help please! black, glossy strings on a new ABG

[djaxup]

So they had an Ibanez Acoustic Bass guitar in a store that had black coated/nylon(?) strings that were slippery to the touch and looked glossy, gloss and deep black. They sounded phenomenal on that bass, and I thought I can just string those to my cheapo ABG and be done with it.

So I looked up that specific bass (Ibanez AVCB9CE, according to the guy at the store. But somehow I am not entirely convinced this is true) and it comes with black strings indeed. So I ordered black nylon Ibanez strings but those are coarse feeling, are not slippery at all, are more like a very dark gray and they sound very different. They sound more like gut strings sound like, so yeah pretty awesome actually. But still.. I really want those glossy, slippery strings. I really anyone can help me with those.

Thanks for reading.

 

[bholder]

Tapes?

 

[michael_t]

D'Addario Black Nylon Tapewounds (50-105) are a good place to start.

Keep in mind not all "black strings" are the same... Tapewounds have nylon outer cover, which is very smooth, while coated strings, such as DR Black Beauties, are roundwound with coated outer wire.

 

[djaxup]

thanks for the replies so far. I sadly have no idea about any other trait, like winding color or material used.

I don't care much about the looks, but they felt and sounded great. Very uprigth-ish tone.

 

[michael_t]

So they had an Ibanez Acoustic Bass guitar in a store that had black coated/nylon(?) strings that were slippery to the touch and looked glossy, gloss and deep black.

Did you happen to notice the color of the silk wrapping around the tuner posts? If it was dark blue, they could possibly have been the D'A Black Nylons.

 

[Jon Moody]

If they’re the stock strings on the bass, they’re some sort of coated string. I have an Ibanez 32” scale acoustic bass that came with black coated strings that match your description.

 

[GretschWretch]

If they are slippery shiny and have red threads at the ends, they may be La Bellas like the ones you used to able to buy from Carvin. Mwah for days.

The newer La Bella tapes don't have red threads or the mwah and IMO are lesser strings.

Not sure how La Bella tapes would find their way to Germany, though.

 

[Flamingo21]

My Ibanez 4 string 32" acoustic is named PCBE12MH-OPN. The last three letters refer to the finish.

The strings are carbon coated. They may be the ones you described, and they're named IABS4XC32.

 

[Wesley R]

I love tapes

 

[djaxup]

My Ibanez 4 string 32" acoustic is named PCBE12MH-OPN. The last three letters refer to the finish.

The strings are carbon coated. They may be the ones you described, and they're named IABS4XC32.

Hello dear neighbour
Can you take a picture of the strings please? That would be a huge help, particularly the E string. I have a quite clear picture in my mind of how those strings looked on that bass.

Thanks everyone for your suggestions

 

[Flamingo21]

Hello dear neighbour

Hadn't looked at your location at all! I'm in the urban south of the province of Gelderland so we are indeed close.

Here's the photo, hope this helps.

 

[Samatza]

They look like they have been spray painted. Most coated strings, at least in my experience are coated all the way to the end.

Tapewounds look like this...

and usually have the silk wrap on both ends to ensure the nylon wrap doesn't unravel.

 

[djaxup]

@Flamingo21 those look like the ones I ordered - they play and feel a lot like Elixiers, a bit more dulled down maybe.
@Samatza that looks spot on, I recall them being a bit more shiny though. I can't remember if there was any wrap, sorry.

 

[Samatza]

@Flamingo21 those look like the ones I ordered - they play and feel a lot like Elixiers, a bit more dulled down maybe.
@Samatza that looks spot on, I recall them being a bit more shiny though. I can't remember if there was any wrap, sorry.

Just for reference the blue wrap is Daddario and the red is Galli.

 

[DCCat]

@Flamingo21 those look like the ones I ordered - they play and feel a lot like Elixiers, a bit more dulled down maybe.
@Samatza that looks spot on, I recall them being a bit more shiny though. I can't remember if there was any wrap, sorry.

In my experience, the glossiest tapewounds are the Fender and LaBella black sets. The others I've tried, including D'Addario, Pyramid, and GHS, have more textured wraps that have a more matte appearance, or are transparent like the LaBella whites.

 

[djaxup]

thanks for you help, I will try the Fender and LaBella sets then