La Bella Nylon Tapewound - White Tapes edition

[Whaleform]

Hey friends,

So I'm a very big fan of the La Bella Black nylon tapes which I've used on my hybrid 8 string guitar/bass (charlie hunter style). It gives an excellent dark mids tone that is perfect for that instrument.

I've recently considered trying rounds on that instrument but losing the smooth feel and mids tone would ruin it for me, yet a touch of brightness would be welcome.

I've in the past while heard of the White Nylon tapes that offer more brightness but would still keep the overall feel of the black nylons i enjoy very much...

I recently picked up a pack to try when I restring in the next while but im curious to hear anyone's take on the difference between black and white nylon taped strings. Did you find it was brighter or any notable difference?

thank you kindly for your valued input !

 

[michael_t]

https://www.talkbass.com/threads/tapewound-club-anyone.1073984/

 

[Whaleform]

thanks. sorry for the useless thread. feel free to delete admins

 

[iiipopes]

It's not useless. I gigged a set of white tape, regular gauge 60-115 for a couple of years. They are the brightest of La Bella's tapewound options. If you don't need the extreme top end of stainless rounds, they are good, round tone, good feel strings. My set lasted two years until the frets finally wore divots into the nylon windings and had to be changed.

 

[Whaleform]

It's not useless. I gigged a set of white tape, regular gauge 60-115 for a couple of years. They are the brightest of La Bella's tapewound options. If you don't need the extreme top end of stainless rounds, they are good, round tone, good feel strings. My set lasted two years until the frets finally wore divots into the nylon windings and had to be changed.

yea i think im gonna switch up the blacks on that particular instrument..

i wonder the difference in material is on this "tape"

 

[iiipopes]

yea i think im gonna switch up the blacks on that particular instrument..

i wonder the difference in material is on this "tape"

No. It is the windings. I have played all four La Bella tape offerings. As posted in the tapewound thread, my observations are:
black: darkest
white: brightest
gold: more like well-seated NPS
copper: different mid emphasis, good for jazz & fusion.

 

[Whaleform]

Oh didnt realize there were 2 more!

 

[Whaleform]

What is NPS?

 

[iiipopes]

What is NPS?

Nickel Plated Steel, like D'A EL, EB Slinky, or GHS Boomers.

 

[Whaleform]

Nickel Plated Steel, like D'A EL, EB Slinky, or GHS Boomers.

very very cool.. i may have to check those out.. sounds like that would be a good mid point

 

[michael_t]

very very cool.. i may have to check those out.. sounds like that would be a good mid point

If you're looking for a roundwound tone with a smoother feel, check out the GHS Pressurewound. They're what's called "rollerwound", where the outer round wire is slightly flattened into an oval shape, resulting in a smoother texture with reduced finger noise.

Products - PRESSUREWOUND™ - GHS Strings

 

[Whaleform]

If you're looking for a roundwound tone with a smoother feel, check out the GHS Pressurewound. They're what's called "rollerwound", where the outer round wire is slightly flattened into an oval shape, resulting in a smoother texture with reduced finger noise.

Products - PRESSUREWOUND™ - GHS Strings

how would you compare them to the elixir nanowebs?

 

[michael_t]

how would you compare them to the elixir nanowebs?

I'm not a fan of coated strings. What I like about the Pressurewound is the mid-forward character of Alloy 52 (nickel-iron) used for the outer wrap.

 

[jdaunt]

I've used both the Pressurewounds and the Labella Whites (and Blacks as well). Currently have the whites on my EBMM Stingray 4HH, but would also be happy if the PWs were on there. Pretty similar in tone with the above mentioned mid bump, the tapes give a little more thud and definitely feel different.

 

[MrAB4003]

I tried both the white tapes and the black tapes on my different basses in 2023. I liked the white tapes much better! They're much brighter than the black tapes and they even feel smoother to the touch than the black tapes.

I decided to keep the whites on my main bass. You can hear the tapes in action on several tracks from my latest album. As for the black tapes... they're up for sale (see link in my signature).

 

[Jack Butler]

thanks. sorry for the useless thread. feel free to delete admins

Not useless at all. That’s what this site is for. You had a very specific legit question and an 80 page 10 year old thread is not a reason for you not to post.
The white tapes are great for what you’re looking for in my experience.