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Mustang, Tapes and Flats

J

Just Wrong

Mar 30, 2023
1,449
2,317
#1
I'm planning on getting a Mustang with a string-through-body bridge and had a few questions about strings.

D'Addario Black Nylon Tape Wounds would be my first choice, but while I love low-tension strings, I'm a bit worried about the nylons' tension on a short-scale bass.

According to TB's Mustang Wiki page, the Mustang takes the medium-scale gauge D'Addario Black Nylon Tape Wounds. If I wanted to get an idea of the tension using D'Addario's tension calculator, would I need to look at the medium- or short-scale set since they're going on a short-scale bass?

Has anyone tried them? How was the tension? Someone in the tapes club said they were fine, similar to TI Jazz Flats, but a YouTuber said he tend to bend sharp.

I was thinking maybe I could try La Bella's, but I did try Pyramid's on a 34-inch scale bass once and found the gauge way too big: 55-75-95-112. The La Bella's are even bigger at 60-70-94-115, but I guess now that I've been playing a six-string bass with D60-A80-E100-B118, I could maybe make it work... But then I would need a new nut if I wanted to go back to regular gauges...

Next question: I've read that tapes with a string-through-body bridge are 100% going to buzz. Is there any veracity to this claim?

Now, if tapes don't work, I was going to go with La Bellas. La Bella has the Mustang Deep Talkin', but, according to TB's Mustang Wiki page, the LTF in medium scale also work. Do people who've tried both have a preference over one or the other? Has anyone who tried the LTF in medium scale find that the G string is overly bright—and stays that way—compared to the rest of the strings, like the long-scale set?

Thanks!
 
#2
Just Wrong said:
According to TB's Mustang Wiki page, the Mustang takes the medium-scale gauge D'Addario Black Nylon Tape Wounds. If I wanted to get an idea of the tension using D'Addario's tension calculator, would I need to look at the medium- or short-scale set since they're going on a short-scale bass?
Click to expand...
The thru-body Mustang requires "medium scale" strings, or winding length between 33" and 35".

Tension calculation, however, should be based on the "scale length", which is 30".
 
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#3
michael_t said:
The thru-body Mustang requires "medium scale" strings, or winding length between 33" and 35".

Tension calculation, however, should be based on the "scale length", which is 30".
Click to expand...
Glad I asked. I thought it was going to be a stupid question, that the answer would be the strings' scale length, not the bass, but it does make sense when you think about it. They're the same gauge as the regular scale, just shorter.
 
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#4
Double check the string length on the string thru.. I have the stock Fender Flats on my JMJ and ordered a set of the LaBella strings as a spare.
IMG_7023.jpeg
 
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#5
Just Wrong said:
I'm planning on getting a Mustang with a string-through-body bridge and had a few questions about strings.

D'Addario Black Nylon Tape Wounds would be my first choice, but while I love low-tension strings, I'm a bit worried about the nylons' tension on a short-scale bass.

According to TB's Mustang Wiki page, the Mustang takes the medium-scale gauge D'Addario Black Nylon Tape Wounds. If I wanted to get an idea of the tension using D'Addario's tension calculator, would I need to look at the medium- or short-scale set since they're going on a short-scale bass?

Has anyone tried them? How was the tension? Someone in the tapes club said they were fine, similar to TI Jazz Flats, but a YouTuber said he tend to bend sharp.

I was thinking maybe I could try La Bella's, but I did try Pyramid's on a 34-inch scale bass once and found the gauge way too big: 55-75-95-112. The La Bella's are even bigger at 60-70-94-115, but I guess now that I've been playing a six-string bass with D60-A80-E100-B118, I could maybe make it work... But then I would need a new nut if I wanted to go back to regular gauges...

Next question: I've read that tapes with a string-through-body bridge are 100% going to buzz. Is there any veracity to this claim?

Now, if tapes don't work, I was going to go with La Bellas. La Bella has the Mustang Deep Talkin', but, according to TB's Mustang Wiki page, the LTF in medium scale also work. Do people who've tried both have a preference over one or the other? Has anyone who tried the LTF in medium scale find that the G string is overly bright—and stays that way—compared to the rest of the strings, like the long-scale set?

Thanks!
Click to expand...
The tension of a set of D'A short scale tapewound strings can be found here: 50-105 Medium, Short Scale, XL Black Nylon Tapewound Bass Guitar Strings | ETB92S | D'Addario As @michael_t posted, you compute the tension at the 30" short scale figure, even though if you are going string-through-body you have to get medium scale strings to fit the bass. Note that the tension is roughly equivalent to a conventional set of rounds of @35-90. The nylon tape adds @ 15 thou to the diameter, but negligible mass, so the tension is analogous. And if you look really carefully and pull down the tension menu on the web page, you will see that the effective tension of the E string is only 15 pounds - ready to fall off the bass it is so floppy.

As above, as @57pbass posted, I would purchase either a set of LaBella 760F-MUS if you want flats or even a set of GHS balanced nickels short scale. They will just barely fit over the nut going string through, but they will barely fit.
 
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#10
midichlorine said:
just be prepared for not having string ground if you go that route...
Click to expand...
HelpImaRock said:
Are there any best practices for reducing hum with tapewound strings?
Click to expand...
The problem with what @Just Wrong is trying to do is it's a thru-body Mustang. Thru-body means the ball ends don't have metal-to-metal contact with the bridge, resulting in grounding issues. Tapewounds should be top-loaded to reduce the hum, which is not an option for the OP.
 
#12
michael_t said:
The problem with what @Just Wrong is trying to do is it's a thru-body Mustang. Thru-body means the ball ends don't have metal-to-metal contact with the bridge, resulting in grounding issues. Tapewounds should be top-loaded to reduce the hum, which is not an option for the OP.
Click to expand...
This is actually one of the questions in the original post, whether there is any veracity to this claim. I've tried tapes on two Fender CS 60s Jazzes and one Fender CS 60s Precision. All had metal-to-metal contact with the top loading bridge and all of them hummed. The only time the tapes didn't hum was on my previous Swan bass with a top loading bridge, soap bar humbuckers and a preamp.
 
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#13
Brandon Shea said:
I'm just here to say that the 760F-MUS strings work beautifully and are the main reason I decided not to sell my Mustang last year. I think they sound great, and more than that, they feel incredible to play. My only regret is not buying these years ago.
Click to expand...
The La Bella 760FL are my go-to flats on a long-scale bass. I know I’ll love the 760F-MUS. It’s my obvious choice if the tapes don’t work.

But I know that if I get them first I won’t be able to resist trying tapes and if I like the tapes then I’ll have wasted money on the La Bellas.
 
#15
Just Wrong said:
I'm planning on getting a Mustang with a string-through-body bridge and had a few questions about strings.

D'Addario Black Nylon Tape Wounds would be my first choice, but while I love low-tension strings, I'm a bit worried about the nylons' tension on a short-scale bass.

According to TB's Mustang Wiki page, the Mustang takes the medium-scale gauge D'Addario Black Nylon Tape Wounds. If I wanted to get an idea of the tension using D'Addario's tension calculator, would I need to look at the medium- or short-scale set since they're going on a short-scale bass?

Has anyone tried them? How was the tension? Someone in the tapes club said they were fine, similar to TI Jazz Flats, but a YouTuber said he tend to bend sharp.

I was thinking maybe I could try La Bella's, but I did try Pyramid's on a 34-inch scale bass once and found the gauge way too big: 55-75-95-112. The La Bella's are even bigger at 60-70-94-115, but I guess now that I've been playing a six-string bass with D60-A80-E100-B118, I could maybe make it work... But then I would need a new nut if I wanted to go back to regular gauges...

Next question: I've read that tapes with a string-through-body bridge are 100% going to buzz. Is there any veracity to this claim?

Now, if tapes don't work, I was going to go with La Bellas. La Bella has the Mustang Deep Talkin', but, according to TB's Mustang Wiki page, the LTF in medium scale also work. Do people who've tried both have a preference over one or the other? Has anyone who tried the LTF in medium scale find that the G string is overly bright—and stays that way—compared to the rest of the strings, like the long-scale set?

Thanks!
Click to expand...
No experience with mustangs other than playing them once or twice.

Labella Deep Talking Bass tapewounds seem fairly high tension on a 34" scale bass, so I would not expect low tension to be an issue.

To answer your other question they are pretty bright. They have a thumpy attack like a flatwound or other tapes but they have an inherent brightness that belies their appearance or most people's expectations.

I'd get them if you want smooth and bright. If that's not what you want I'll look elsewhere.

On my bass, a Rob Allen MB2 (piezo equipped), which is spec'd for these strings I prefer the TI Jazz flats.
To my ear they have less upper end sizzle but more of a harmonic bloom in the upper midrange. Neither string is especially dark or thumpy, but the TIs will get you there quicker with rolling off treble or tone.

I tried a set of Fender tapes (I think that's what they were, but it wasn't my bass) on a passive jazz fretless. And that was a sound and feel I'd love to seek out!
 
#18
Just Wrong said:
I think, as the unofficial TB string expert in residence, you have got to try them. If they didn't hum, I would have them on all of my basses.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the suggestion, but I feel I'm well past the phase of wanting to trying something for the sake of trying it. Besides, there are quite a few others who would qualify as "unofficial TB string expert in residence" who may be more adventurous than I am. ;)
 
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#19
Chris Wilke said:
To answer your other question they are pretty bright. They have a thumpy attack like a flatwound or other tapes but they have an inherent brightness that belies their appearance or most people's expectations.

I'd get them if you want smooth and bright. If that's not what you want I'll look elsewhere.

On my bass, a Rob Allen MB2 (piezo equipped), which is spec'd for these strings I prefer the TI Jazz flats.
To my ear they have less upper end sizzle but more of a harmonic bloom in the upper midrange. Neither string is especially dark or thumpy, but the TIs will get you there quicker with rolling off treble or tone.

I tried a set of Fender tapes (I think that's what they were, but it wasn't my bass) on a passive jazz fretless. And that was a sound and feel I'd love to seek out!
Click to expand...
You’re talking about the La Bella tapes? I’ve tried their light gauges 50-105 and liked them. But they only come in 60-115 for short scale. I’m worried that that’s too large, and I wouldn’t want to alter the nut if I go back to the Mustang flats.

I’ve never tried the Fender flats because of their gauges. How did they compare to the La Bella?
 
#20
iiipopes said:
And if you look really carefully and pull down the tension menu on the web page, you will see that the effective tension of the E string is only 15 pounds - ready to fall off the bass it is so floppy.
Click to expand...
That's a mistake, as are occasionally found on D'Addario product webpages.
For a steel-core low E string, even on a 30" scale instrument, to have 15 pounds of tension, it couldn't be larger than .065" (sans the tape wrap).

A more plausible tension value for the D'Addario ETB92S low E (or for the one in the ETB92M set, when installed on a 30" scale platform) is reported on the back of the package:

1743714438015.webp
www.guitarcenter.com

D'Addario ETB92S Black Nylon Tapewound Short Scale Bass Strings | Guitar Center

Shop for the D'Addario ETB92S Black Nylon Tapewound Short Scale Bass Strings in and receive free shipping and guaranteed lowest price.
www.guitarcenter.com www.guitarcenter.com

and it is 24.84 pounds. Just a smidgen more than the 090 low E in the Rotosound RS66S set.
 
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