Tape wound strings for Ibanez TMB 30

[DumbDrummer]

I've got an Ibanez TMB 0 (30" scale) that I'm thinking of trying tape wound strings on. I believe I've got my choices narrowed down to either D'addario or Rotosound Tru Bass 88 tape wounds based on clips I've heard. The bass has GHS Precision Flats on it now, which I do like, although the light gauge feels...odd. Just wanting to try something different and I'm curious about the tapes. The stock pickups are a little bright to my ears and I tend to favor a deeper/darker sound. Anyway, I'd kind of like to try the Rotosounds but have some concerns. The nut will need widening most likely, but that's not a huge deal since I'm planning to have a luthier do some other work anyway. The bigger concern is that I've read (it's on the Internet, it must be true ) where some people have had trouble getting the thicker strings to intonate on short scales and end up running out of room on the saddle adjustment. D'addario sounds like a safer bet in that regard. From clips I've heard, I think the Rotosounds have more of the sound I think I'd like on the higher pitched strings. Any thoughts? Is it "risky" to try and get Rotosounds to work on this bass?

 

[HaphAsSard]

The bigger concern is that I've read (it's on the Internet, it must be true ) where some people have had trouble getting the thicker strings to intonate on short scales and end up running out of room on the saddle adjustment.

If you can, go back to those comments and see to what basses they apply. Some bass bridges have little saddle adjustment to begin with: your Talman doesn't seem to (and removing the spring would give you some extra).
The Rotosound Tru Bass 88 low E (which I've never tried) is apparently taped in black nylon very tightly and is therefore pretty stiff for a tapes (alternatively, or more probably in addition to the above, it might have an unusually thick core). I may be wrong but I wouldn't expect this stiffness to be an order of magnitude higher than, say, that of a GHS Brite Flat .108 short-scale low E, let alone a La Bella Deep Talkin' Bass Flat 109 or 110.
The Roto tapewound G is, in turn, very high-tension in the proper sense (pull on neck) of the word, but it likely won't be a problem in short-scale.

 

[iiipopes]

On a short scale, nylon tapewound strings will flop. Take off the @15 thou of tape, and the D'A strings underneath the tape are about the same as a 35-90 set, which on a regular scale bass are nice and light, but will flop and lose integrity of intonation on a short scale.

If you must, go with the Rotosound and re-cut your nut, because the 65-115 is about like a 50-100 regular round wound set when you take the nylon tape off.

Better yet: GHS Pure Balanced Nickels. They were designed for short scale basses. They have a big, round sound. They don't flop, twang, or go thud. They are consistent up and down the neck and string-to-string for tone. They have great longetivity and are reasonable in price. And you don't have to worry about the saddles or having your luthier cut a new nut. I put a set on last August on my 30" scale travel bass for my band's annual gig to Mexico last February. Through fall rehearsals and the gigs, I never had to change strings, and the tone was well received.

In the late '70's, I had a short scale P-copy that had Fender nylon sleeve strings on it. From then until now, my friends who play short scale have tried just about every short scale string out there. Except for the La Bella 44-104 set, the GHS BPNs are God's gift to short scale bass players. I recommend instead of getting flustered with nylon tape strings that you get a set of BPN's instead, or if you can find them, a set of the La Bella 44-104 flats which will give you the tone you are after, at the expense the E string will go thud.

 

[Jaycat]

I had La Bella tapes on my TMB30 (before I sold it) and didn't have any problem. My playing might have been a flop, but not the strings.

 

[DumbDrummer]

On a short scale, nylon tapewound strings will flop. Take off the @15 thou of tape, and the D'A strings underneath the tape are about the same as a 35-90 set, which on a regular scale bass are nice and light, but will flop and lose integrity of intonation on a short scale.

Thanks, that's the type of feedback I'm looking for here. Sounds like Rotosounds would be the one to try of the two. A short scale bass definitely doesn't need more flop.

I strongly prefer flat wound strings and wouldn't want to go back to round wound. Yeah, I know there are way more options in rounds that would be better for short scale in terms of balance and tension. I just dig the sound and feel of flats and thought I'd try tapes to see if I like them even better.

 

[DumbDrummer]

I had La Bella tapes on my TMB30 (before I sold it) and didn't have any problem. My playing might have been a flop, but not the strings.

Hmm, I didn't think about La Bella. Do you remember which ones you had? I'm definitely a floppy player! Slowly learning to play by working through a Beatles score book as I find bits of free time in my demanding work schedule.

 

[iiipopes]

Hmm, I didn't think about La Bella. Do you remember which ones you had? I'm definitely a floppy player! Slowly learning to play by working through a Beatles score book as I find bits of free time in my demanding work schedule.

La Bella makes a "regular" gauge that is similar to the Roto and heavier than the D'A, 60-115, in both black (darker tone) and white (a shade brighter tone, as nylon wrap goes) for short scale. I have gigged all these strings. The La Bella regular gauge, albeit for me it was on a regular long scale bass, had really good definition, consistency of feel, tone, and balance, and I gigged my set heavily for two years until the frets finally wore divots through the nylon and the repertoire of the band changed.

 

[Jaycat]

Hmm, I didn't think about La Bella. Do you remember which ones you had?

I'm really not sure, it's been a couple of years now. Perhaps 60-115s.

 

[RocknRay]

Late to the game here, but the D’Addario tapes worked fine on my Mustang PJ

 

[DumbDrummer]

Late to the game here, but the D’Addario tapes worked fine on my Mustang PJ

I've been distracted by other things going on and haven't bought any tapes yet. I was leaning toward Labella black tapes based on iiipopes' feedback, with the understanding I'll have to get a new nut cut (probably not a bad thing since the factory one is kind of crappy looking.) The D'Addarios are a bit less expensive though and would work without needing to modify anything else. How's the tension on your Mustang? I'm concerned about them being too floppy at the thinner gauge. Maybe the tape coating makes them feel stiffer than Labellas at the same gauge?

 

[RocknRay]

Haven’t tried any other tapes besides D’Ads. I don’t find them floppy at all, just nicely flexible. They sound great & are fun to play! They made them at those gauges on purpose to avoid the need for a new nut or widening the slots on the stock nut. To me, changing the nut would be a hassle; what if you don’t like tapes anyway and now you have this nut with wide slots that don’t fit other strings?

 

[GIBrat51]

The only short scale bass I've ever put tape wounds on is my MIK Rogue VB-100 violin bass - and they're Roto Bass 88s. Other than having to open up 2 nut slots a little, they've given me no trouble whatsoever. The Rogue loves these strings. Tuned up and intonated with no adjustments whatsoever. Never had a grounding problem with them, either. I'm not sure I can speak to the short scale "floppy" problem, though. Mine certainly aren't, but they aren't short scale strings, either. They're medium scale strings on a short scale bass. The little extra length probably has some effect on their stiffness, vs. that of the short scale version, but how much difference? No idea... I have used La Bella Black Tapes, but they were the heavy strings from a 5 string set, on a 34" scale bass strung BEAD. They worked OK; intonated fine; but, the B string was a little too limp, compared to the other 3. So, they came off, and that bass wears flats now - tuned EADG...
Anyway... by all means, try some tapes. You'll never know if they'll work for you, otherwise. The Roto's work very well on my Rogue, and give me just the tone I want from it. But, it's a One Trick Pony tone, on a pretty One Trick Pony bass. And, I got lucky with them, tuning-wise. It took me a few tries to find strings that would do that. And, tuning trumps tone; if other strings had worked, it would be wearing those - if they were flats. And, to be perfectly honest? I don't think I'd use Tapes on any of my 22 other basses. Flat wounds, for me, work much better...

 

[DumbDrummer]

I finally got some D'addario tapes on the TMB30. They aren't quite what I expected! The sound is surprisingly bright and lively. I've got two other basses, both Jazz, one with DR Legend flats and the other with EB Cobalt flats. The tapes are in between these two in sound, closer to the Cobalts. They have good attack and a warmish sound without sacrificing brightness. Kind of like taking the metallic zing out of round wounds.

The texture is interesting. Feels kind of like rough paper to me and there is a slight scratchy sound on slides. The tape seems a bit inconsistent, with the the D string being visibly slightly different than the others. I don't think this affects the sound, at least not that I can perceive. The silk length isn't consistent either and this also is just an aesthetic issue.

Tension is light while not being too floppy. I actually like it since my hands have some issues. My guitar guy got a pretty low action and there isn't any fret buzz. Fretting notes is definitely easier than with the flats previously on this bass.

The only thing that has bugged me a bit is that there is a buzz if I happen to touch the pickup poles while playing. There is no buzz if I touch the bridge simultaneously. It's something I never encountered when playing with metal strings of course. Maybe more of an issue with sloppy technique and the strings are calling it out?

Overall, I like the sound but it will take time to get used to the very different feel. I'm not completely sold on them yet. I'll keep playing around with them for a few months at least. I did keep the GHS Precision Flats I had on there in case I decide to go back.

 

[johnh89]

Late to the party as usual . Had roto 88s on an epiphone viola . Medium scale because of the tailpiece but 30 in scale . Tension fine , bit of work on the nut with a file and a sound to die for .