Nylon coated FLAT wound....

[ashtray]

I never knew that most tapes have an underlying roundwound. Another lesson learned.

Ditto. Been playing bass for 35 years, and got my first set of Roto 88’s about 10 years ago. From the feel of the string action (not the feel of the tape), I figured they were flats underneath. That and the sound. Hated them on my jazz bass but absolutely love them on my fretless.

I tried some wrapped string from another company (don’t recall now), and they were closer to nano-coated than tape wounds. Not sure if some companies call a “wrap” different than a tape. I’ve just stuck with 88’s on my fretless and been happy. I also put a set on my fretted P bass and it really changed the tone.

 

[HaphAsSard]

What remains unclear (unless Moody made it clear at the time -- I don't recall) is whether these flats are P-flats. They'd have to be smaller in gauge (at least a little) than any flats they sell under the P-Flat name, but are they built using the same design and construction principles, or are they a distinct flat made specifically for the tapewounds (possibly by someone else)?

As reported by Moody early on, GHS used to be outsourced. Later, after a period in which they were discontinued then brought back, it was disclosed that they had been made overseas by the formerly-British company Innovation Strings (one with ties to the Picato string brand). At that point, GHS had acquired Innovation lock, stock and barrel, and moved production of both their distinctive synthetic-core double-bass strings and the GHS-branded electric bass-guitar tapes to Michigan.

It was then that inner construction of their tapes became stably the one which we have described above.
(By the way: yes, diameters must be peculiar, as opposed to those found in stock Precision flat sets - as for other differences in design, I wouldn't know.)
Earlier destructive analysis by both Jason Mendelson of FretNation
and Moody himself had revealed both (respectively) groundwound

and flatwound innards
https://www.talkbass.com/posts/20726284/
which in my opinion points to production inconsistencies in that past, outsourcing era.

 

[Ric Vice]

I once played LaBella Nylon Tapewound Strings. They are an acquired taste for sure. I think the original reason for their existence was to try and "emulate" the sound
that gut Double Bass strings make on a fretless fingerboard with the same feel under your fingers. If you're looking for that Flat wound Double Bass feeling under your fingers
then ThomasticK Jazz Flats are very close. They are a bit pricey. Just my take of course.

"Nobody knows flatwound bass strings better than Thomastik-Infeld. Spirocore strings by Thomastik-Infeld have been legendary among upright bassists for decades. Now the electric bassist can also experience the Thomastik-Infeld sound. Thomastik-Infeld utilizes a highly pliable steel core which is wrapped with a silk inlay. The outer winding is a true ribbon flatwound constructed of a special nickel alloy. The result is an incredible depth of tone and an enhanced fundamental which is unavailable from any other flatwound."

 

[getBAK]

For the record, D'addario says their tapewounds are flats
Black Nylon Tapewound | Bass Guitar Strings | D'Addario

 

[HaphAsSard]

For the record, D'addario says their tapewounds are flats
Black Nylon Tapewound | Bass Guitar Strings | D'Addario

They do, but that's a tactile description of the outer surface of the complete string. The D'Addario ETB92 were also proven to be roundwounds under the tape:

Black Nylon Tapewounds

 

[Clark W]

According to their website, D'Addario Tapewounds are flat wound. I use them on my Am Performer Precision PJ.

 

[HaphAsSard]

GHS 3060 black nylon tapewounds are the only tapewound string that are a metal flatwound underneath the nylon
(that I or others here know of, at least).

According to their website, D'Addario Tapewounds are flat wound. I use them on my Am Performer Precision PJ.
View attachment 5361388

I've addressed this on the post just above yours.

 

[logdrum]

For the record, D'addario says their tapewounds are flats
Black Nylon Tapewound | Bass Guitar Strings | D'Addario

No - I had one unravel and it was roundwound inside.

 

[Lance Bunyon]

This is like asking what kind of wood the popsicle stick is made out of.

Tone wood.

 

[Tim Skaggs]

Interesting read.

Many years ago, probably over 20, a friend of mine gave me a set of used nylon wound strings that felt like round wounds on the outside. One of them had the winding break and the string was trash. I went by a music store and inquired about nylon wound strings and was handed a set of D’Adderio Nylon filament wound strings, which seemed to be a round nylon “string” (like black monofilament fishing line) winding which was probably over a round wound string.

I played those on an acoustic bass for a few years. I traded for an acoustic bass in fall of ‘22 & thought I’d put some nylon filament wound strings on it, but discovered they are no longer made, at least not by D’Adderio. What I remember about them is that they were somewhat brighter like a regular round wound string, but seemed to last longer, and I liked their “dead” sound better than a dead metal round wound.

I found that Fender makes a nylon filament wound string (7120) I might try.

While searching, I also found Gali makes a nylon filament wound over a nylon core for a uke bass which sounds interesting.

 

[getBAK]

They do, but that's a tactile description of the outer surface of the complete string. The D'Addario ETB92 were also proven to be roundwounds under the tape:
View attachment 5361366 View attachment 5361367 View attachment 5361368
Black Nylon Tapewounds

Ya know - I recall hearing about that somewhere, went this their documentation. Regardless, I have them on 2 basses and adore them. Whatever D'Addario is doing, they should keep doing it

 

[Clark W]

Ya know - I recall hearing about that somewhere, went this their documentation. Regardless, I have them on 2 basses and adore them. Whatever D'Addario is doing, they should keep doing it

No doubt, I'm on my second set of them on my Am Performer PJ since Oct 2022. Those and D'Addario half rounds are my fav strings. I also have their flatwounds and nickel rounds on my basses as well.