Most Balanced Tension Black Nylon Tapes

[HaphAsSard]

You are indeed correct, Michael. I purchased mine sometime around 1999ish and they are 58-110.

I had bought some around 1997 (add subsequently sold the bass they were on!). My understanding is that at some point between 1997 and now, Fender changed their design for the tapewound strings, and what they sell today is no longer the same. If yours are from 1999, you might have the older design! But they still might be 58-110, I don't know that they changed the sizes also.

I do recall hearing they changed them at some point. I still have the package they came in and it says they are 58-110. But I like thinking the E is a .112 for some reason.

The revamping and outsourcing of the Fender string line occurred in autumn 2010 IIRC. Before that, they made two black nylon sets, the "Nylon Filament" (basically a nylon groundwound - as in: a metal roundwound starting point, as is almost always the case, then wrapped in a black nylon *thread* instead of tape, and finally ground flat; or so I thing I've gathered - never tried them, personally) and the regular tapewounds. Yup, same gauges as now. Pyramid tapes do have a .112" low E.

 

[Bushmaster]

the "Nylon Filament" (basically a nylon groundwound - as in: a metal roundwound starting point, as is almost always the case, then wrapped in a black nylon *thread* instead of tape, and finally ground flat; or so I thing I've gathered - never tried them, personally)

Obviously i'm suffering from String Testing Personality Disorder (STPD)

To my great surprise I found it sounded like a roundwound, dry with great definition, lean bass, clear mids with a nice growl, and a bright top. It worked with a variety of techniques: pizz, slap, touchstyle, and with a pick.

The nylon half-segment did not exercise much of a dampening effect. However, it did display some nylon-typical "rolling", and probably it shared some responsibility for the sustain being not too great.

 

[HaphAsSard]

Obviously i'm suffering from String Testing Personality Disorder (STPD)

To my great surprise I found it sounded like a roundwound, dry with great definition, lean bass, clear mids with a nice growl, and a bright top. It worked with a variety of techniques: pizz, slap, touchstyle, and with a pick.

The nylon half-segment did not exercise much of a dampening effect. However, it did display some nylon-typical "rolling", and probably it shared some responsibility for the sustain being not too great.

That makes two of us... I swear to Zeus, your post made me go straight to a (local) classified ad for a NOS Fender 7120L set I'd bookmarked... Luckily it's gone now! Phew...

 

[2F/2F]

If that's the direction you go, I'd be interested to hear what you think, firstly with regard to your balanced tension requirement, since that E might turn out to be pretty floppy for you relative to the other strings. But overall, considering their light gauge (50-105 means the underlying metal is pretty light), their tension/stiffness is pretty high for tapes. That's probably partly because they're unique in using flatwounds underneath (except for the G string). When I was trying a bunch of tapewounds, I noticed the extra stiffness.



My recollection is that the tone was good, and surprisingly bright considering they're mostly flatwounds. It's odd that on the GHS brightness chart, they're brighter than the P-flats and even the Brite Flats. I was thinking the flats underneath would be P-flats, but that chart suggests otherwise. I would have seriously considered them for my fretless except that they literally didn't work. I.e., they mercilessly revealed some not-quite-flat spots on my fingerboard that most other strings tolerated just fine.

[ I am only leaning that way because the overall tension of the D'Addarios seems like it might be very low. I don't want high tension, but I also don't want them to feels like light gauge rounds.

 

[DCCat]

Pyramid tapes do have a .112" low E.

Very interesting strings. But not particularly balanced tension (30.8/48.4/38.5/39.6, if the source I've seen is to be trusted) and relatively low tension overall. Great tone with lots of low end, though, and sumptuous feel.

 

[HaphAsSard]

Very interesting strings. But not particularly balanced tension (30.8/48.4/38.5/39.6, if the source I've seen is to be trusted) and relatively low tension overall. Great tone with lots of low end, though, and sumptuous feel.

Hey, I'd never noticed Invalid Link Removed! Thanks, good to know.

 

[Root 5]

[ I am only leaning that way because the overall tension of the D'Addarios seems like it might be very low. I don't want high tension, but I also don't want them to feels like light gauge rounds.

All tapes feel like light gauge strings.

 

[beate_r]

the Gold ones would likely do the trick.

The copper ones are the least bright. The gold ones are (to me) as bright as the white ones, but with a more "warm" sound.

As of Balance: i find the Pyramids very well balanced, tonally as well as mechanically. At least in shortscale. And the tonal balance will even improve over the years when the winding has worn out a bit. Yes, they last even longer than other tapes because there is not enough space between the windings to let dirt accumulate.

 

[2F/2F]

All tapes feel like light gauge strings.

My normal strings are La Bella DTB 110s. These are fairly stiff. I have used regular La Bella black tapes and Rotosound black tapes. Also La Bella Beatle Bass black tapes on a Mustang Bass. I found neither of these to feel like light gauge rounds. I dislike the rubbery feel of light rounds. I thought the black tapes I used didn't feel very rubbery. They felt like sets of moderate or light tension flats to me.

 

[RocknRay]

I like the D'Addarios and I bet you will too! FWIW they also come in short scale & medium (I think). They are on my Mustang now. Many compliments from players and listeners. Fun to play & versatile.

 

[shoulderpet]

All tapes feel like light gauge strings.

Rotos don't and the tension info(just under 180ibs tension) shows why

 

[Buck Dutt]

I have experience with 3 different black tapes: D'addario, Fender, and Galli

Fender 9120: I really wanted to like these strings, but they just have the most uninteresting tone of any string I've ever tried, kind of hollow/lacking body or fundamental. Also the feel extremely plastic and rough. They do have a metallic pop to them I guess, but the "kind of roundwound" tone I've heard others mention I didn't get at all.

Galli: lightest tension of the three, don't feel plasticy but still a bit rough in that there seems to be very small gaps between the windings. These might soung good on the right bass, and are qaulity made strings, but the tension was just too low for me. Kind of a pleseant/neutral tone to them.

D'addario: I love these strings. The texture is great, it doesn't feel plastic or artificial at all, almost as if they are coated in paper or a thin sillk, they feel "organic". They have more tension than the Gallis (but still are light as most tapes are) but have this great kind of wooden thwack tone mixed with a flatwound thump. And the D and G you can use for popping as they still have a metallic snap to them if you dig in a bit. Great strings!

 

[Root 5]

Rotos don't and the tension info(just under 180ibs tension) shows why

This illustrates why recommending strings is perilous. To my hands, all tapes feel like light gauge rounds. I have Rotos too. Feel & tension do not necessarily correlate.