Taking the plunge: white gold tapes

[Marial]

I ordered a set of the LaBella white gold tapes from BSO. I've been hankering to try tapes for a long time and the description of them as muted rounds sounds perfect for my fretted Jazz.

Anyone else have experience with them?

 

[T_Bone_TL]

LaBella white gold tapes - No, have not tried those. Tapes - yes, my strings have been tapes since I verified operation and paid the guy I bought the bass from (playing the roundwounds that came on it) and proceeded to strip them, clean it, and put on tapes. I think everyone should try them. I like the way they sound. But I'm an even huger fan of the way they feel and play. Post back when you get them on, and again when you've played them a while.

 

[Mktrat]

@Marial I'm in your same situation.

Except that mine just showed up yesterday! From BSO of course.

I'll check back soon.

 

[beate_r]

Mine arrived today. After months of waiting. And one week after i had put fresh strings on the target bass. Mhmm. But anyway, here they are (from BSO shipping to Germany - previously a German dealer could not deliver within 9 months, and it took about 5 month for BSO to deliver):

LaBella Gold White Nylon, Shortscale

Of course i couldn't resist to put them on my RD bass, although the GHS pressurewounds were just one one week old and sounded great on that bass. But the Gold Tapes look better. First impression on the sound: the lowest fundamentals less pronounced than with the pressurewounds, harmonics (flageolets) a bit damped, but not much. A warm, well balanced tone, good attack, normal sustain, good response to flageolet playing (for tapewounds: extraordinarily good). All harsh metallic overtones of roundwounds, even the pressure wounds is missing - which means that players who prefer an aggressive sound and slappers will not be happy.

 

[40Hz]

I use their copper white nylons. They're one of my current favorite strings. And I didn't like tapewounds at all until I found those. The golds are brighter. I'm sure you'll be happy with them. Very unique feel and sound.

 

[Titania]

I have a set of the Special Edition Labella White Gold Tapes. I have them on my Spector fretless, and I absolutely love them. They're bright, sustainy, no finger noise, no stickyness and just sound and feel fantastic to play. These days, I pretty much have Labella Tapes or Rotos on my basses.

 

[Johntheson]

I've been a flatwound player since I switched from 6 string to bass after 49 years of 6 string playing. I've been playing bass for 5 years now. I ordered a set of the white tapes for my backup P bass because I wanted a roundwound sound without the rough feel that roundwounds feel like to me. The tapes are not nearly as smooth as I thought they would be. They actually only feel about 25% smoother than Fender stock strings to me. I am extremely disappointed. Just guessing here, but it would take me weeks to get used to these strings. Now...I love the sound of them. The sound is just what I was looking for. I guess I was just looking for more than they can offer and still retain the RW sound. This is not a cut against the strings themselves; just my inability to adjust to them as quick as I had hoped.
John Sr.

 

[47VevetS]

Mine arrived today. After months of waiting. And one week after i had put fresh strings on the target bass. Mhmm. But anyway, here they are (from BSO shipping to Germany - previously a German dealer could not deliver within 9 months, and it took about 5 month for BSO to deliver):

LaBella Gold White Nylon, Shortscale

Of course i couldn't resist to put them on my RD bass, although the GHS pressurewounds were just one one week old and sounded great on that bass. But the Gold Tapes look better. First impression on the sound: the lowest fundamentals less pronounced than with the pressurewounds, harmonics (flageolets) a bit damped, but not much. A warm, well balanced tone, good attack, normal sustain, good response to flageolet playing (for tapewounds: extraordinarily good). All harsh metallic overtones of roundwounds, even the pressure wounds is missing - which means that players who prefer an aggressive sound and slappers will not be happy.

Do all Labella strings have those plastic square white number dice on them? They're kinda cool.

 

[47VevetS]

 

[AndreasR]

They're my main string. While it's not the sound of fresh rounds they still slap fine too in my opinion. Plus fingers, pick, tapping, they do it all. They're just super versatile.

 

[Bassworship1]

@AndreasR

What type of bass do you have them on?

 

[Mktrat]

I have had my white gold tapes for about 8 months now and I have concluded they are the perfect string on my FNA jazzman fiver.

 

[AndreasR]

I use their copper white nylons. They're one of my current favorite strings. And I didn't like tapewounds at all until I found those. The golds are brighter. I'm sure you'll be happy with them. Very unique feel and sound.

@AndreasR

What type of bass do you have them on?

I've used them on a SUB 5, TRBX504 and G&L JB-2.

 

[Gorn]

My problem with these is the same problem I have with flats. I love the tone but hate the feel. And these are worse cuz they're just sooo smooth. That's why I love TI jazz rounds. Just rough enough for me to feel like I'm connecting with the bass but warm and not zingy. What Labella has done with the whole concept of tapewounds is really something.

 

[bearfoot]

California to Germany is no short haul, some things even the internet (fortunately) cannot surmount.

 

[Bassheart365]

I have a set on order for my "medium scale" Dingwall (35" B string). I love my La Bella Deep Talkin' flats and black tapewound strings and can't wait to try these. If they are brighter than the black tapewounds, I think I will really like them.

 

[RodRy]

Mine arrived today. After months of waiting. And one week after i had put fresh strings on the target bass. Mhmm. But anyway, here they are (from BSO shipping to Germany - previously a German dealer could not deliver within 9 months, and it took about 5 month for BSO to deliver):

LaBella Gold White Nylon, Shortscale

View attachment 2497645


Of course i couldn't resist to put them on my RD bass, although the GHS pressurewounds were just one one week old and sounded great on that bass. But the Gold Tapes look better. First impression on the sound: the lowest fundamentals less pronounced than with the pressurewounds, harmonics (flageolets) a bit damped, but not much. A warm, well balanced tone, good attack, normal sustain, good response to flageolet playing (for tapewounds: extraordinarily good). All harsh metallic overtones of roundwounds, even the pressure wounds is missing - which means that players who prefer an aggressive sound and slappers will not be happy.

View attachment 2497646

I know this is an old thread, but would you mind posting a photo of that RD bass? What can be seen in the photo above is tantalizing!

And how are you feeling about those strings now? Still like them? Have you replaced the first set yet?

 

[beate_r]

I know this is an old thread, but would you mind posting a photo of that RD bass? What can be seen in the photo above is tantalizing!

And how are you feeling about those strings now? Still like them? Have you replaced the first set yet?

I had to replace them; over the years they started to become a bit dull. Still no problem in a band context, but i am using this bass mainly as a solo instrument.
Undfortunately, they are not made as shortscales any more (that's a 30" instrument). So i had to use the normal white tapes. Which sound less interesting - they lack that "warmth" in tone. Well, steel under nylon instead of brass...

 

[RodRy]

View attachment 3696465



I had to replace them; over the years they started to become a bit dull. Still no problem in a band context, but i am using this bass mainly as a solo instrument.
Undfortunately, they are not made as shortscales any more (that's a 30" instrument). So i had to use the normal white tapes. Which sound less interesting - they lack that "warmth" in tone. Well, steel under nylon instead of brass...

Thanks for the picture, that is a beautiful instrument! I'm a bit miffed that La Bella seems to be not making as many different scale lengths these days. I'm sure there's a business reason for them, but I don't have to like it.

Trying to get them to make some white gold tapewounds in medium scale. Are you interested?

 

[beate_r]

Thanks for the picture, that is a beautiful instrument! I'm a bit miffed that La Bella seems to be not making as many different scale lengths these days. I'm sure there's a business reason for them, but I don't have to like it.

Trying to get them to make some white gold tapewounds in medium scale. Are you interested?

I would need them in short scale, at least for that bass (but a set of medium scale tapes for another one - that one, my Sharkfin, whichneeds medium scale strings - would be fine.

Nevertheless i doubt that You'll be successful. I aked too, and the people friom LaBella simply refused to make a shortscale set again and referred me to the normal white tapes which "sounded nearly identical" (but it is actually that subtle difference in tone that makes a big difference to me).