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LaBella Black Tapes on Tacoma Thunderchief?

rudy4444

rudy4444

Mar 13, 2012
1,794
3,671
Central Illinois
web.archive.org
#1
I have a Thunderchief in the shop with a request for Tape wound strings.

I've used LaBella Black tapes on my short scale basses and love them, but the standard LaBella black tapes end up with the G string having the wraps ending up over the string post. The normal method of stringing would normally advise that only the silk portion be around the string post.

The other strings are fine, but I wonder if string breakage is a big problem if I use the regular set, which will have the string wraps around the tuner post by almost a full rap.

Anybody string their Tacoma Thunderchief with LaBella Tapes?
 
#2
rudy4444 said:
I've used LaBella Black tapes on my short scale basses and love them, but the standard LaBella black tapes end up with the G string having the wraps ending up over the string post. The normal method of stringing would normally advise that only the silk portion be around the string post.
Click to expand...

La Bella tapewounds are roundwound under the tape. And it's the thinnest string that's in question here. I don't see why it's going to be a problem even if some of the main body of the string ends up wrapping around the post. It's usually the two thickest strings (E & B) that we need to be careful with.
 
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#3
michael_t said:
La Bella tapewounds are roundwound under the tape. And it's the thinnest string that's in question here. I don't see why it's going to be a problem even if some of the main body of the string ends up wrapping around the post. It's usually the two thickest strings (E & B) that we need to be careful with.
Click to expand...
Thank you, Michael.
That's also my thought, but I haven't run up against that particular scenario before.
This relates to a four string bass.
 
#4
FWIW, LaBella taped were on a Thunderchief I bought used. Not saying it’s the cause but there was/is a slight break at the back of the headstock.

My luthier suggested lighter tension strings and to keep an eye on it.

To fix it, he said would require a full break, accidental or on purpose.

Of course, the seller didn’t disclose that or the two breaks on the top which my guy was able to glue.
 
#5
rudy4444 said:
Thank you, Michael.
That's also my thought, but I haven't run up against that particular scenario before.
This relates to a four string bass.
Click to expand...

Which set of gauges are you using? 60-115 or 50-105?

The thing is La Bella's "long scale" means A, D and G are 38" in winding length (ball end to taper/silk). If the G causes an issue because it's too long, you can always substitute a single D'Addario Black Nylon G, provided you're using the 50-105 set. D'A "long scale" G is 1" shorter than the La Bella at 37".
 
#6
michael_t said:
Which set of gauges are you using? 60-115 or 50-105?

The thing is La Bella's "long scale" means A, D and G are 38" in winding length (ball end to taper/silk). If the G causes an issue because it's too long, you can always substitute a single D'Addario Black Nylon G, provided you're using the 50-105 set. D'A "long scale" G is 1" shorter than the La Bella at 37".
Click to expand...

I would be using the 50-105 lights.

Good to know the D'Addarios are 37", that might be what I need, although I really love the feel of LaBella Black Tapes.

I'm kind of torn about using the LaBellas and having the wraps go up around the G string post.
 
#7
rudy4444 said:
I would be using the 50-105 lights.

Good to know the D'Addarios are 37", that might be what I need, although I really love the feel of LaBella Black Tapes.

I'm kind of torn about using the LaBellas and having the wraps go up around the G string post.
Click to expand...

if you know the length, you might get away with a medium scale g string from labella.


Fwiw, I don’t think you’re anywhere near the first to put black tapes on a acoustic. We don’t know when that crack developed on davelowell2’s acoustic. It’s possible the black tapes were on it as a fix, because the previous owners tried labella 54 flats on it (or some other high tension string). After seeing a crack, they may have put tapes on it to hide crack, then sold it.


But that’s just one possibility. Unless we know more, or have data from others with same instrument, it would be hard to say for certain it was those strings. Have you checked with the ABG club here?
 
#10
rudy4444 said:
I would be using the 50-105 lights.

Good to know the D'Addarios are 37", that might be what I need, although I really love the feel of LaBella Black Tapes.

I'm kind of torn about using the LaBellas and having the wraps go up around the G string post.
Click to expand...

Go ahead and install the La Bella 50-105 and see how that goes. And have a single D'A 50G just as a backup in case the La Bella 50G gives you problems.

mrperkolator said:
if you know the length, you might get away with a medium scale g string from labella.
Click to expand...

La Bella "medium scale" = 34.25" from ball end to silk on all four. Would that be long enough?
 
#11
michael_t said:
Go ahead and install the La Bella 50-105 and see how that goes. And have a single D'A 50G just as a backup in case the La Bella 50G gives you problems.



La Bella "medium scale" = 34.25" from ball end to silk on all four. Would that be long enough?
Click to expand...
I measure 35-1/4" from ball end to back of the nut. The 34-1/4" medium scale G would end up with the silk half way between the nut and the first fret, so no on that.

I think the long scale set sounds like my best option considering that others have used them on a Thunderchief successfully. It's good to know that the single D'Addario 50G is always a solution if the LaBella doesn't work out.

Thanks again for your help!
 
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#14
mrperkolator said:
if you know the length, you might get away with a medium scale g string from labella.


Fwiw, I don’t think you’re anywhere near the first to put black tapes on a acoustic. We don’t know when that crack developed on davelowell2’s acoustic. It’s possible the black tapes were on it as a fix, because the previous owners tried labella 54 flats on it (or some other high tension string). After seeing a crack, they may have put tapes on it to hide crack, then sold it.


But that’s just one possibility. Unless we know more, or have data from others with same instrument, it would be hard to say for certain it was those strings. Have you checked with the ABG club here?
Click to expand...

I haven't, but that's a good idea.

I've been building instruments for years, so I'm positive that string choice didn't have anything to do with davelowell2's bass damage.

I know many use black tapes on ABGs and that's why I posted here. I'm getting great input, and even from Thunderchief owners. LaBella even states on their website that their black tapes work well for ABG.
 
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#15
rudy4444 said:
I have a Thunderchief in the shop with a request for Tape wound strings.

I've used LaBella Black tapes on my short scale basses and love them, but the standard LaBella black tapes end up with the G string having the wraps ending up over the string post. The normal method of stringing would normally advise that only the silk portion be around the string post.

The other strings are fine, but I wonder if string breakage is a big problem if I use the regular set, which will have the string wraps around the tuner post by almost a full rap.

Anybody string their Tacoma Thunderchief with LaBella Tapes?
Click to expand...
Very low output strings. Good for acoustic low volume music. That’s about it it.
 
#16
i have a brunswick a.b.g., 34" scale. it has an old set of labella black nylons on it. they're so old, i can't remember what gauges or scale length they are. i tune d g c f as the top is bending slightly due to the string tension.

it has a 2+2 headstock. the 'e' and 'g' strings both have 1 or 2 nylon wraps around the string post. no issues with breakage whatsoever in the 10+ years i've had the bass ~
 
#18
You'll be absolutely fine. I just put Labella white tapes 60-115 on my 1970 Guild M85 bass. Both the E and G went around the post - worth noting the 1970 basses have thin posts, unlike the reissues, so the radius of the wrap is just as tight as it would be on the Thunder chief. As others have pointed out, the key factor here is that the string underneath is actually a roundwound on the Labellas.
If you were going with their flats though or Rotosound tapes, you would absolutely only want the silk around the peg. I've learned that the hard way with both types
 
#19
Thanks all for all the great responses!

This bass will be used for very low volume playing with a couple of other acoustic instruments, and any slightly louder needs will be accommodated by running the built in active pickup to a Fender Rumble 100.

My fears of the string breaking have been greatly reduced, and michael_t has provided a great solution if there are any problems down the road.

I ordered the LaBella 750N set, so it looks like we're moving in a forward direction.

All the different sets make the choice a bit confusing, but LaBella does make it fairly clear that the wtap problem only relates to flat wounds, which the black tapes technically are not.
 
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