long scale tape wounds on a short scale bass

[Brando_Beast]

I had these strings on a '60's Japanese shortscale bass.

Amazon.com

I loved the tone, but the bridge sliced through the winding and they unraveled. I fixed the bridge, and I want another set of tapewounds.

I got excited and bought these last night

Amazon.com

I wouldn't mind trimming metal strings. But trimming these tapewounds, will the wrapping unravel?

 

[mikeoso]

Yes, it will. Get the right length. They make short scale tapes.

 

[michael_t]

But trimming these tapewounds, will the wrapping unravel?

When it comes to tapewounds, it's the silk at both ends that holds it all together. Cut into the unsilked part, and the outer nylon wrap will come apart.

 

[GIBrat51]

I had these strings on a '60's Japanese shortscale bass.

Amazon.com

I loved the tone, but the bridge sliced through the winding and they unraveled. I fixed the bridge, and I want another set of tapewounds.

I got excited and bought these last night

Amazon.com

I wouldn't mind trimming metal strings. But trimming these tapewounds, will the wrapping unravel?

When it comes to tapewounds, it's the silk at both ends that holds it all together. Cut into the unsilked part, and the outer nylon wrap will come apart.

I'll definitely second this. And, depending on who made them? It can be... exciting... when it does, too... As for buying the wrong strings? It's an easy mistake with the Roto's; the short scale package is the same color as the long scale ones. Don't ask me how I know...

 

[Prodigus Filius]

Take it from a chronic string tinkerer, don't mess with tapewounds. Get them with appropriate winding length for the bass in question

 

[ajkula66]

 

[Brando_Beast]

Hey everyone thanks. I will be returning the long scale set, and I will order the short scale set tonight.

I already kinda knew the answer, but I was stubborn and overly optimistic.

 

[Iristone]

You could try wrapping the "wound" part on the tuning post, but I believe it works best with roundwounds and 1/2" tuners. Some stiff flats and thin-core rounds may break even then.

 

[Brando_Beast]

OK now I am confused. I found this info:

Rotosound Music Strings Bass String Scale Length Guide

• Bass String Scale Length Guide

www.rotosound.com

my ball end anchor to nut length is 28 1/2. My ball end anchor to tuning post length is 30 inches. Am I SOL for getting tapewounds, if my bass is exceptionally small or something? It says if the strings are too long and the actual tapewound section overlapped the tuning post, it would be prone to breakage. By breaking they mean unraveling right?

But then again, I had the D'Addario tapewounds on this bass, and the wrapping around the tuning post never caused any issues.

 

[Brando_Beast]

You could try wrapping the "wound" part on the tuning post, but I believe it works best with roundwounds and 1/2" tuners. Some stiff flats and thin-core rounds may break even then.

Ohhhh this just occurred to me, is the core thinner? I knew it was metal, but nylon is so thin I assumed the core was normal.

I always imagined the nylon outer as more of a texture thing than a structural thing. Are they basically half metal core and half nylon? I don't know... I think I am over analyzing.

 

[Iristone]

Ohhhh this just occurred to me, is the core thinner? I knew it was metal, but nylon is so thin I assumed the core was normal.

Oh, I mean the innermost solid core of the strings. I think nylon tapewounds are light gauge rounds under a nylon cover, but the innermost core shouldn't be very thin. My "thin core" was D'Addario Flex Steels, and they broke at the tuners on my Epiphone Viola.

 

[Iristone]

But then again, I had the D'Addario tapewounds on this bass, and the wrapping around the tuning post never caused any issues.

Then it should be fine. I'd still recommend the short scale ones, as the long scale ones may need too many windings of the wrapped part.

 

[GIBrat51]

Ohhhh this just occurred to me, is the core thinner? I knew it was metal, but nylon is so thin I assumed the core was normal.

I always imagined the nylon outer as more of a texture thing than a structural thing. Are they basically half metal core and half nylon? I don't know... I think I am over analyzing.

It all depends on the brand of the tapewounds. Some have very thin nylon outer wraps; some - like Rotosound - have comparatively thick nylon. Same with the inner core metal strings. Some are very thin; some are almost "normal". Most are all round wounds with a nylon outer wrap, but some (GHS, if I remember correctly) use a flatwound string under the nylon, too. So, there is no "cut and dried" answer. The best thing to do, if you want to use tape wounds? Use the ones that are made to fit your bass - whichever brand you choose. That way, you can just play them - and enjoy them...

 

[HelpImaRock]

Hey everyone thanks. I will be returning the long scale set, and I will order the short scale set tonight.

I already kinda knew the answer, but I was stubborn and overly optimistic.

Doing it wrong. You obviously need a long scale bass to match your long scale tapewound strings.