Reccomend a Tapewound Brand/Gauge

[Machiavelli]

I don't really know what I want, but I would like to try tapewounds on my jazz bass. I currently use 45-100 medium light Nickel Wound D'Addario strings on it. I know the gauges on tapewounds are significantly larger for the same effect. If possible, I'd like to avoid having to worry about the hole on the bridge or enlarging the nut to accommodate tape wounds.

I'm fine using a lighter gauge to keep things similar, but I don't want something that's just oddly different.

Any recommendations?

 

[michael_t]

I currently use 45-100 medium light Nickel Wound D'Addario strings on it. I know the gauges on tapewounds are significantly larger for the same effect. If possible, I'd like to avoid having to worry about the hole on the bridge or enlarging the nut to accommodate tape wounds.

I'm fine using a lighter gauge to keep things similar, but I don't want something that's just oddly different.

Any recommendations?

Since you're already using D'Addario XL Nickels, the D'A Black Nylon Tapewound 50-65-85-105 would be a good place to start.

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[HaphAsSard]

I don't really know what I want, but I would like to try tapewounds on my jazz bass. I currently use 45-100 medium light Nickel Wound D'Addario strings on it. I know the gauges on tapewounds are significantly larger for the same effect. If possible, I'd like to avoid having to worry about the hole on the bridge or enlarging the nut to accommodate tape wounds.

I'm fine using a lighter gauge to keep things similar, but I don't want something that's just oddly different.

Any recommendations?

Apart from a Beatlebass-specific 50-100 set, the La Bella 760NHBB, the only tapes than come with a 100 low E (40-100, but they also do [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]) are the Warwick Tapewound Bronze.*
* [Only the outermost metal layer under the nylon is bronze: core is steel and intermediate wraps probably are as well, so these can work on electric basses.]

The above being said: nut slots on your bass, as is, can in every likelihood accommodate 50-105 sets (D'Addario ETB92 as said above; La Bella 750 in four available flavours, namely Black, White, Copper White, Gold White; Invalid Link Removed; La Bella 760NHBB).

As you suspect, it is a case of either/or:
- if a similar tension to non-nylon strings is desired, you're gonna want to yield to standard tapewound gauges (G string varying from 55 to 65, E string between 110 and 115);
- if gauges are unchanged, tension and feel will be on the slack side. (I guess GHS tapes are normalish in tension, what with their unique flatwound-under-tape construction.)

 

[ImTheOnlyOne]

GHS 3060. Best finger feel of the tapes I tried. Great on fretless.
Roto 88s required filing the nut, but sounded interesting.
Tried the D'Ads and always ended up removing them, but they serve a purpose.

 

[iiipopes]

Remember:

1) All "standard" gauge nylon tape strings will need the nut filed to prevent the slots from pinching the wrap causing stability, tuning, and intonation issues.
2) The nylon tape adds @ 15 thou to the overall diameter of the string, but does not increase tension since the mass of the nylon tape is negligible. For example, the standard La Bella 60-115 has underneath the tape a roundwound set of @ 45-100 and tension accordingly. By contrast, the D'Addario 50-105 has underneath the tape a set of @ 35-90 roundwounds, and they flop badly. I know this from experience from having dissected sets. Please search the other threads on tapewound strings and you will see my posts about having played about every domestic set of tapes and Rotos, and my measurements of what is under the tapes after I dissected several sets.
3) I prefer La Bella White Tapes 60-115. They are essentially a clear wrap set of stainless rounds, and have great round tone, tempered by the nylon wrap, but last forever. I gigged a set constantly for two years before fret divots finally deteriorated the nylon wrap and the strings became unstable. Here are my actual micrometer measurements:
La Bella White Tapes C G D A E B
Nominal (Package) 43 60 70 94 115 135
Actual measurements 43 62 74 95 115 135
String core without nylon 26 43 56 74 95 118
4) Rotosound tapes are designed for double bass emulation. They thump. Worse, the 65 G string is so tight I can't stand it. When I tried a set, I had to replace the G string with a La Bella black tape 60 to ease my fingers.

 

[Smooth_bass88]

I’m actually quite happy with the set of Fender tapes on my 62 P bass reissue

 

[iiipopes]

I’m actually quite happy with the set of Fender tapes on my 62 P bass reissue

They are the lightest gauge I know of under the tapes. I had to measure them twice to make sure I wasn't reading my micrometer wrong. Under the tapes, they go from 38 on the G string to 88 on the E string. But yes, I also played them for awhile on one of my basses and because of the ultra light gauge, they did feel great.

 

[Killing Floor]

+ for the LaBella White.

 

[conttador]

If you’re looking for a bright tone - LaBella White

If you’re looking for a darker tone - LaBella Black

I use these on my Fretless basses.

 

[iiipopes]

If you’re looking for a bright tone - LaBella White

If you’re looking for a darker tone - LaBella Black

I use these on my Fretless basses.

And in the middle between these two:
La Bella Gold - like well-seated NPS;
La Bella Copper - a different mid character, IMO good for jazz and some other styles.

 

[Alan Ace Cooper]

I have the D’Addario Black Nylon Tapewounds on 2 basses. A Devon Jazz 5 and my Ovation 5 String Acoustic. I am debating on putting a set on my P Bass. I’ve tried the Fender and RotoSound versions, but they felt too stiff and too much like plastic. I tried the LaBella White Gold tapes, but they felt too flimsy…. Like they took out the “guitar” feel. With the D’Addario’s, I can still utilize all of my playing styles, fingers, pick, slap and not have to concentrate on feel. They perform and record equally well.

 

[Vodyanoi]

I use LaBella 750N on one of my fretless basses. It took me a while to get used to the lighter tension, but now I love how effortless it is playing the bass with them. I couldn't suit myself playing metal with them, but then again I have my other fretless with flatwounds around for that. Also, in my case I didn't need to file the nut.

 

[Mike Marshall]

I don't really know what I want, but I would like to try tapewounds on my jazz bass. I currently use 45-100 medium light Nickel Wound D'Addario strings on it. I know the gauges on tapewounds are significantly larger for the same effect. If possible, I'd like to avoid having to worry about the hole on the bridge or enlarging the nut to accommodate tape wounds.

I'm fine using a lighter gauge to keep things similar, but I don't want something that's just oddly different.

Any recommendations?

I tried GHS some years back I didnt need to alter anything on my P bass, the tension was loose compared to the Fender Flats I had on it. Im not sure if they make the same strings today.I know they had been discontinued at one point. I may have the strings cut for a Precision, If I do I could send them to you to try

 

[michael_t]

I tried GHS some years back I didnt need to alter anything on my P bass, the tension was loose compared to the Fender Flats I had on it. Im not sure if they make the same strings today...

Yes, GHS Tapewounds are back. And based on what I've read, they're still the same formula as the old ones that were discontinued before.

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What's unique about them is they're actually flatwound under the nylon cover, while most other tapewounds are roundwound under the cover.

 

[michael_t]

Speaking of GHS Tapewounds, here's a comparison in tension numbers...

D'Addario EXL170 Nickel Rounds, 45-65-80-100 = 165.64 lbs. in total tension.

D'Addario ETB92 Tapewounds, 50-65-85-105 = 146.16 lbs. in total tension.

GHS 3060 Tapewounds, 50-70-90-105 = 167.8 lbs. in total tension.

 

[CM63]

I use LaBella 750N on one of my fretless basses. It took me a while to get used to the lighter tension, but now I love how effortless it is playing the bass with them. I couldn't suit myself playing metal with them, but then again I have my other fretless with flatwounds around for that. Also, in my case I didn't need to file the nut.

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I just ordered a set of D'Addario tapes. I worry about having to cut the nut slots. Do you happen to know the gauge of the strings that your nut originally came with?
Thanks!

 

[michael_t]

I just ordered a set of D'Addario tapes. I worry about having to cut the nut slots...

D'Addario Tapes = 50-65-85-105 = should fit most standard nut slots without modification. They're just about the smallest of all gauges for tapewounds.

 

[Deleted member 271037]

I will strongly recommend getting the nut filed for tapewounds with a heavier gauge than you're currently using for roundwounds unless you are comfortable with VERY low tension, floppy strings. The actual string inside the nylon covering will be a lot lighter than similar gauge roundwounds. Tapewounds with a simular gauge to what you're currently using will have a tension comparable to 40-95 with regular roundwounds.

 

[michael_t]

I don't really know what I want, but I would like to try tapewounds on my jazz bass. I currently use 45-100 medium light Nickel Wound D'Addario strings on it. I know the gauges on tapewounds are significantly larger for the same effect. If possible, I'd like to avoid having to worry about the hole on the bridge or enlarging the nut to accommodate tape wounds.

I recommended the D'Addario Black Nylons earlier for two reasons; 1) they come in standard gauges 50-65-85-105, which should fit standard nut slots, and 2) they are not the most flexible and the floppiest of all tapewounds.

Here's a suggestion for you for some experimenting...

Tune down the XL Nickel 45-100 you have on that bass half a step (Eb-Ab-Db-Gb) and see how they feel under your fingers in terms of overall stiffness/flexibility. That would be fairly close to how the Black Nylon 50-105 would feel.

 

[BassFalcon]

I just ordered a set of D'Addario tapes. I worry about having to cut the nut slots. Do you happen to know the gauge of the strings that your nut originally came with?
Thanks!

I switched all my basses over to LaBella white copper nylon tapes about 3 years ago and have never cut the nut slots bigger. None of my 3 basses experienced any pinching or unraveling or any negative effects as a result. Also, one of my basses had the old style all-thread saddles, I was concerned about it cutting the tape. A year in, and it hasn’t. It’s nothing to be concerned about. If you notice tuning instability or visual evidence of binding, then file the nut. If not, don’t worry about it.