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New Tapes/Flats
- Thread starter jonners98
- Start date
Chromes are bout $35-40 USD here, so Pyramids seem like a pretty good deal to e!
Labella 760N nylon tapewounds.
I've used 760Ns on several of my fretless basses, and they always delivered solid, clear low end, and a nice articulate high end that's not too bright but has just the right amount of "zing!" ...which might be the "bite" that you're looking for.
Long string life? The set of 760Ns that's currently on my Rob Allen is the original set that came on that bass when I got it...14 years ago!
I am the original owner of a 1969 Fender Precision bass, which I converted to fretless in the early 70s. Needless to say, I've had lots of different strings on it over the years. Most of the time it has had flatwounds on it, although I often felt it was a bit too dull in the mix. But whenever I put round wounds on it, I simply stop playing the bass. For quite a few years now I've been using the Labella nylon strings on this bass, which I feel is the best of both worlds for this instrument. They are not crazy dull like most flatwounds, but definitely a far cry from rounds. They make them in two different tensions. The lighter tension is ridiculously light, my guess is that you won't like those. They make several different versions, but they are much more similar than different. And even if they may seem expensive, that won't matter as they last forever. Even more so than flat wound strings. So my advice is try those.
That's funny because three of the strings currently on my bass are from that set.Actually six... You forgot the 760FX (extra light, 39-96).
If you like the general sound of Chromes but want more clarity on the E string you might like either Dunlops or Ernie Ball Group flats.
They're never fighting my intended articulations or intentions; they sustain as long as I need them to. Definitely not a short thumpy decay like some flatwounds.
Youll REALLY hate the White Nylon tapes then. Boiled spaghetti noodles. I mean, nearly the flexibility the G string on a nylon string guitar. I could not play them. At all.
I quite enjoy Chromes and find a higher tensioned feel more appealing myself. I do have a set of TI Jazz flats on one of my basses and they're incredible. I don't find them to be annoyingly loosey goosey. Although if you tend to pluck close to the neck I could see them being too flexible for some people.
Tried them on another bass of mine and it was no way Jose within a day lol. Different basses react differently to different strings, as my credit card statement can attest to for the last 3 years. I would say they're worth a try. The La Bella White nylons? Don't waste your money. You'll hate them instantly.
Were the nylons you tried 50s or 60s? La Bella makes all their sets in both
I am a big Chromes fan and have them on several basses. However, I will say the I am really enjoying Labella Black Tapes on my #1 P bass this week and will probably take that bass to my little busking gig today. I use TIs on my fretless and acoustic basses and have also used the White tapes, which I liked, but are more of a round sound and don't last as long for me.
Side note, I do eventually change my Chromes when they loose definition, can be a few years on a set before this happens, for me, depending on how much the bass is getting played.
Side note, I do eventually change my Chromes when they loose definition, can be a few years on a set before this happens, for me, depending on how much the bass is getting played.
Ooh forgot they made a heavier set too. I tried the 50s. The B is the same .135 and was unplayable for me. If I had gone the way of the 60 set I would've had to file my brass nut larger and there's no way I was gonna do that lol. I doubt the increase in size of the rest of the strings would've made much difference, but I very well could be wrong.
I'll reiterate. I did not find TI Jazz Flats to be even remotely as floppy as Talk Bass would've had me believe.
I kind of wrote off the black tapes as a one-trick pony, no sustain and a boomy upright sound, but that may be my knowledge of the Rotosound 88s getting in the way.
TIs do seem to be very popular.
When I used them on my fretted, I changed my chromes after 2 years. On my fretless, I've only had them 10 months and they still have a lot of bite, they've just never delivered the desired definition on the E string.
Fair enough. It's nice to know that TIs aren't like spaghetti, as they seem to be the consensus for the best flats around, it's just difficult to know what the tension will be like comparable to my 45 chromes.
It's not just tension there's feel.
Been on building sites close to 40 year, hand strength is not an issue. TI Jazz flats feel like bass strings, Chromes feel like fence wire
EBMM Cobalts are a heavier gauge fence wire 
My favourite tapes were Status Hot Wires. They were made in a lighter gauge by Picato, no longer with us
My only current experience with the black tapes are labella and they have a fairly bright sound, but even, a bit like broken in rounds. The TI work great for some of my basses and not so great on others. Both are expensive to just try out. I also do not have an issue with my Chrome E strings, but all of this is super subjective.
Interesting comment on the flats for an acoustic. I have a Fender Kingman that I love except for the fact that the roundwounds (Fender 8020 Phosphor Bronze) are so incredibly "scratchy" when changing hand positions. Flats would pretty much cure this, I'd think. I use flats on a P but for some reason have had an unconscious assumption that the acoustic HAD to have rounds, until now.
Question: do you sacrifice volume?
Also, the LB flats you use, are these the "Deep Talking Bass" strings?
