Tapered B strings are the best!!

[MultiScaleMale]

I have a question regarding the tapered B-string...

If the tapered portion is not long enough to go over the saddle and you end up with the main body of the string on the saddle with all of the tapered part BEHIND the saddle, would it work the same way as having a non-tapered string?

Yes.

 

[Staccato]

Where do you buy them online, or do you have a local source for tapered B?

 

[MultiScaleMale]

Where do you buy them online, or do you have a local source for tapered B?

Invalid Link Removed

 

[CapnSev]

Huh. I haven’t had a 5 for a while, but I recall the tapered B being much easier to intonate and set up. As for sounding better; I think that’s all over the map with different string brands and types.

 

[Solarmist]

I first tried tapered (not exposed core) strings on my PRS Grainger 5 string. It's stock set of strings, [This invalid link has been removed], helped make it one of the best playing 5 strings I've touched. After that, I purchased a Valenti 5 string and it came with a tapered B string. Not sure the secret source of Valenti strings, but they're pretty damn good. Obviously, he's not winding them in house, so there is a supplier, but whatever the source, the recipe is great. Anyways, the B string on that bass is also incredible. My Alien Audio needed a change of strings and instead of the usual XL Nickels, I thought I'd try a set of Valenti strings. Wow! I liked the Alien before, but the tapered B string really brought it to life. A lot more sustain and punch on the B string.

In conclusion, try a set of strings with a tapered B and maybe even a tapered E. In my experience, the difference is so great that I don't even know why non-tapered B strings exist.

I feel the same way, and use the D'Add EPS300 or EPS300-5 set exclusively anymore. It comes with 43, 63, 85T, 107T, and a 127T with the 5 string set. I really like having a tapered B, E , A, and I think the B may have a bit more sustain than a standard B. Another reason I just love this set is it's a balanced tension set, and I wanted a set with a slightly thinner D/G and a slightly beefier E than a standard 45105 set. The 5 string set is only $20 at BSO, and fantastic sounding strings they are.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

I feel the same way, and use the D'Add EPS300 or EPS300-5 set exclusively anymore. It comes with 43, 63, 85T, 107T, and a 127T with the 5 string set. I really like having a tapered B, E , A, and I think the B may have a bit more sustain than a standard B. Another reason I just love this set is it's a balanced tension set, and I wanted a set with a slightly thinner D/G and a slightly beefier E than a standard 45105 set. The 5 string set is only $20 at BSO, and fantastic sounding strings they are.

Crap. That’s the set I use on my Grainger. I copied the wrong link. Great strings!

 

[ixlramp]

staccatogrowl said:
> Roscoe's advice is for Roscoe's 35-inch scale basses. It is not a general advisory for any other bass.

Roscoe basses use standard bridges and have standard construction, there's nothing about them that makes them unsuitable for tapered strings. I think the advice is based on personal taste and probably bad experience with stings with an overly-long tapered section.

Bummer too because Kalium makes some terrific sets, but it's always out to me.

Actually Kalium is well aware of the long tapered section issue and uses an unusually short length (shortest of any string brand i think) to help with that. Not saying you will like them though.

I think all my 5-string basses currently sport non-tapered or exposed core strings and I do not seem to have any problems with them.

If I seem to recall correctly, the big Bass Player String Shootout many years ago, the final consensus was that non-tapered or exposed core B-strings were preferred.

? Non-tapered and exposed core are the extreme opposites, exposed core is the most extreme taper possible.

Those who have had a bad experience should keep in mind it may partly or completely have been caused by a too-long tapered section, which is unfortunately very common as string brands feel a commercial pressure to fit as many bridge types as possible.

 

[Smallmouth_Bass]

staccatogrowl said:
> Roscoe's advice is for Roscoe's 35-inch scale basses. It is not a general advisory for any other bass.

Roscoe basses use standard bridges and have standard construction, there's nothing about them that makes them unsuitable for tapered strings. I think the advice is based on personal taste and probably bad experience with stings with an overly-long tapered section.

Actually Kalium is well aware of the long tapered section issue and uses an unusually short length (shortest of any string brand i think) to help with that. Not saying you will like them though.


? Non-tapered and exposed core are the extreme opposites, exposed core is the most extreme taper possible.

Those who have had a bad experience should keep in mind it may partly or completely have been caused by a too-long tapered section, which is unfortunately very common as string brands feel a commercial pressure to fit as many bridge types as possible.

Whoops! I meant non-tapered verses exposed/taper core.

 

[michael_t]

As a relatively new 5-string player, I'm still not convinced about the advantage of a tapered B over a non-tapered B.

I made this post a little over a year ago when I had owned my Yamaha TRBX505 for only a couple of months.

I wanted to revisit this thread now that I finally have a chance to try a set of strings with exposed-core B and E. As of this morning, my one and only 5-string bass is dressed with GHS Progressives (Alloy 52 roundwound), 40-60-80-100-130.

​

Although I've only been able to casually noodle around on my bass since this morning, I can already hear the difference in how the low B responds with better definition and punch as it rings out more openly and sustains with clarity compared to all the non-tapered low B's I've tried in the last year (126/128/130), which all tended to sound "warbly" or even "muffled".

I was initially a little concerned with the way the exposed part extends beyond the saddle by about half an inch, but no issue whatsoever with intonation, etc. Needless to say, I'm quite pleased with the way this experiment is turning out already.

 

[onda'bass]

I only use taper B strings. They sound better, intonate better. As always ymmv

 

[micguy]

The theory (Acoustical Physics is what I studies in college) would indicate that tapered strings (by removing the mass on part of the string) will indeed have overtones that are not perfectly harmonic, which is a little different than "intonation being off", but closely related. That being said, with the tapered strings I've tried, and the tuners that I have, I haven't seen (or heard) a practical issue. Maybe if I bought a more precise tuner, I'd see the issue, but for now I'm going with happy, practical, and cheap ignorance as a strategy.

 

[G On Bass]

I can take tapered B's in roundwounds, especially Kalium (Circle K ) strings. But every tapered B in every set and every brand of flats I've played is totally off tonally vs. the rest of the set. Not sure why that is. It's not the bass.

 

[klokker]

I have an L-2500 where the tapered B really sounds much better with both flats and rounds. I have an M-2500 where it doesn't make any difference at all.

But my experience with tapered B strings is positive. I've only used Sadowsky tapered B's.

 

[10xClean]

I use Ken Smith Burners Tapercore Nickel round wounds for six string. The B, E and A are tapered. I purchase directly from Ken Smith. GHS makes them. I buy 4 string sets and individual high C and low B. Nice price break if you get a years worth. IMO the intonation is better with tapercore, chords are more uniform throughout the range. My preference would be stainless but with nickel frets and the frequency at which I play, I would be redressing and replacing frets more than I care to.

 

[fretlessguy]

Back in the late 90s Bass Player Magazine did a test of over three hundred sets of strings including ones with both tapered, exposed core and standard B strings. Their own conclusions were that that while there were differences between them, none were really that big of a difference. As bassists we hear differences, but to the average person it still is just a bass.

 

[michael_t]

while there were differences between them, none were really that big of a difference. As bassists we hear differences, but to the average person it still is just a bass.

While it may be true that 99.9% of the people who hear me play couldn't care less about what strings I use on my bass, the difference is significant enough to have made a positive difference in the way I feel about my playing based on how my bass sounds to me and how my band members (and even the audio techs) in turn respond to what I do.

After all, isn't that the point of all these discussions about strings - we do it more for ourselves as bassists than for them who hear us play?

 

[fretlessguy]

While it may be true that 99.9% of the people who hear me play couldn't care less about what strings I use on my bass, the difference is significant enough to have made a positive difference in the way I feel about my playing based on how my bass sounds to me and how my band members (and even the audio techs) in turn respond to what I do.

After all, isn't that the point of all these discussions about strings - we do it more for ourselves as bassists than for them who hear us play?

True dat.

 

[ixlramp]

Their own conclusions were that that while there were differences between them, none were really that big of a difference.

Heh, that sounds like a fairly stupid conclusion by the magazine =)

 

[tb-player]

I use Ken Smith Burners Tapercore Nickel round wounds for six string. The B, E and A are tapered. I purchase directly from Ken Smith.

Are these the strings with the orange silk wrap at the top and the blue wrap at the ball? I recently bought a bass that came with these strings and I really like them. I’ve been trying to figure out what these great strings are and my TB research seems to point to Ken Smith Burners.