O My - Suggestions? - LaBella Tape B String Sounds Like Trash

[CoffeeLove]

OK, wanted some "black" strings so gave the $50 LaBella Deep Talkin Tapes a try and the B string is absolutely terrible, super muddy and floppy, unusable. Anyone have suggestions on "black" strings for a 5'er? I know the DR Black Beauties are an option but some say they are really low tension.

Not a fan of "rough/course" strings so have been using GHS Pressurwounds which are amazing, but would like to find a decent black string for one of my basses that has all black hardware.

Thanks

 

[FretlessOwl]

I fell in love with Black Beauties on my fretless 4, so I tried them on my fretted 6 and I'm hooked. The B still sounds fine to me and they're several months old. Don't know if that low tension is a deal breaker, though.
They feel to me like they're somewhere between nickel and steel texture-wise, maybe because of the coating. I hate steel strings and I adjusted well to BB's.

 

[CoffeeLove]

I fell in love with Black Beauties on my fretless 4, so I tried them on my fretted 6 and I'm hooked. The B still sounds fine to me and they're several months old. Don't know if that low tension is a deal breaker, though.
They feel to me like they're somewhere between nickel and steel texture-wise, maybe because of the coating. I hate steel strings and I adjusted well to BB's.

The price is right on the Dr's so will give them a try, and don't think there is anything else out there in black, but let me know if I am wrong. Thanks

 

[Aidil]

OK, wanted some "black" strings so gave the $50 LaBella Deep Talkin Tapes a try and the B string is absolutely terrible, super muddy and floppy, unusable. Anyone have suggestions on "black" strings for a 5'er? I know the DR Black Beauties are an option but some say they are really low tension.

Not a fan of "rough/course" strings so have been using GHS Pressurwounds which are amazing, but would like to find a decent black string for one of my basses that has all black hardware.

Thanks

The low-B was tapered at the ball end side, right?

I've yet to use LaBella Black Nylon Tapewound, but I used its Copper White Nylon Tapewound 50-65-85-105-135, though only lasted for a few months. I tried liking them but eventually took them off also mainly because of the low-B. Seemed the taper at the ball end side made the string that was already flexible even floppier.

In comparison, I have D'Addario Nylon Tapewound with the same gauge (50-65-85-105-135) which I really like. They are also flexible, but in a good way. For sure the low-B isn't tapered, so seems it's what makes it manageable. They've been on my Ibanez Portamento 5er for 5 years and I don't have any intention to take them off.

So, I suggest you to try D'Addario Nylon Tapewound (which happens come in black).

 

[CoffeeLove]

The low-B was tapered at the ball end side, right?

I've yet to use LaBella Black Nylon Tapewound, but I used its Copper White Nylon Tapewound 50-65-85-105-135, though only lasted for a few months. I tried liking them but eventually took them off also mainly because of the low-B. Seemed the taper at the ball end side made the string that was already flexible even floppier.

In comparison, I have D'Addario Nylon Tapewound with the same gauge (50-65-85-105-135) which I really like. They are also flexible, but in a good way. For sure the low-B isn't tapered, so seems it's what makes it manageable. They've been on my Ibanez Portamento 5er for 5 years and I don't have any intention to take them off.

So, I suggest you to try D'Addario Nylon Tapewound (which happens come in black).

Hey, thanks. I ended up getting some Dr Black Beauties and absolutely love them. Perfect tension and fairly smooth due to the coating, a fantastic round-sounding B string, not muddy at all. Guess I am just not a "tape string" guy.