Short scale tapewounds....lighter gauges?

[DavidEdenAria]

I am searching for SS tapewounds and wondering if many have experience with these?

Lighter gauges are what im after...any links or comments are appreciated!

 

[iiipopes]

All tapewounds are, by definition, are light gauge. Having played all of the domestic brands and gauges of tapewounds, the best in my opinion are the La Bella regular gauge 60-115. You will need a new nut cut so they don't bind. They will be really loose. Underneath the tape they are stainless rounds @ 43-100. I have a thread somewhere that I dissected several brands and models and posted the actual string diameters. Nylon tape adds essentially nothing to the tension. The relative tones of the La Bella offerings, comparatively speaking:

Black - darkest tone
Copper - different mid emphasis, good for jazz, fusion, etc.
Gold - like well-seated nickel rounds
White - the brightest tone (again, comparatively speaking)

I don't like the lighter gauges, 50-105 in any brand for short scale, because underneath the @ 14 thou of nylon tape, they are so light as to be unstable, like wearing a 35-90 conventional NPS on a regular scale bass, then tuning a whole step down. They flop.

What I recommend instead for short scale for big, round tone are GHS Balanced Pure Nickels. See my other posts in the short scale threads why I post that they are God's gift to short scale bass players.

 

[DavidEdenAria]

All tapewounds are, by definition, are light gauge. Having played all of the domestic brands and gauges of tapewounds, the best in my opinion are the La Bella regular gauge 60-115. You will need a new nut cut so they don't bind. They will be really loose. Underneath the tape they are stainless rounds @ 43-100. I have a thread somewhere that I dissected several brands and models and posted the actual string diameters. Nylon tape adds essentially nothing to the tension. The relative tones of the La Bella offerings, comparatively speaking:

Black - darkest tone
Copper - different mid emphasis, good for jazz, fusion, etc.
Gold - like well-seated nickel rounds
White - the brightest tone (again, comparatively speaking)

I don't like the lighter gauges, 50-105 in any brand for short scale, because underneath the @ 14 thou of nylon tape, they are so light as to be unstable, like wearing a 35-90 conventional NPS on a regular scale bass, then tuning a whole step down. They flop.

What I recommend instead for short scale for big, round tone are GHS Balanced Pure Nickels. See my other posts in the short scale threads why I post that they are God's gift to short scale bass players.

Very good info! I need minimal finger noise and fret clank....not a fan of many RWs for this reason but i will check out the Balanced Pure Nickels....Nickel allergy may be a concern, not sure.

At the moment i have GHS Pressurewounds which i like btw....thanks!