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TapeWound Club~Anyone?
- Thread starter .BumeStik.
- Start date
Which are brighter, daddario tapes in the gauge they come in, or the lighter 50-105 labella black tape set?
I have found them to be about the same. They are both roundwounds underneath the nylon tape, according to Jason's article in the tech section of bassstringsonline.com
I'll join the club! I've been using Fender 9120 black nylon tapes on my P-bass for about a year, and am currently experimenting with GHS, D'Addario and light gauge La Bella 760T (white) tapes on my G&L L1000. I'm a recent convert to tapewound strings and just love 'em! (Still keepin' TI Jazz Rounds on my J, though.)
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I just got in a 5 string set from Carvin. I was a bit disappointed that the tape on the B doesn't go all the way to the ball end.
While I still think they will work, the B will be like a taper wound. Is this what is normal or do I have a defective B?
Going on a defretted G&L with a newly done black poly coating on the fingerboard.
While I still think they will work, the B will be like a taper wound. Is this what is normal or do I have a defective B?
Going on a defretted G&L with a newly done black poly coating on the fingerboard.
I put a set of La Bella White Nylon Copper tapes on my Carvin 5 string P bass.
Pros: it has a solid, thumpy low end and a singing clear high register, the feel is fabulous (even better than flats in my opinion), and the color is quite striking.
Cons: it sounds strange if I roll up the tone knob or blend in the bridge humbucker on my bass. It's like it wants to give me some treble bite but it can't for whatever reason. I've also noticed that if I pluck too hard I get a clacking sound out of the bass. I've never noticed that with any other string set, even with the action pretty low. Is this a setup thing, or do tapes tend to get clacky if you try to play them too hard?
Pros: it has a solid, thumpy low end and a singing clear high register, the feel is fabulous (even better than flats in my opinion), and the color is quite striking.
Cons: it sounds strange if I roll up the tone knob or blend in the bridge humbucker on my bass. It's like it wants to give me some treble bite but it can't for whatever reason. I've also noticed that if I pluck too hard I get a clacking sound out of the bass. I've never noticed that with any other string set, even with the action pretty low. Is this a setup thing, or do tapes tend to get clacky if you try to play them too hard?
Contact Carvin for a replacement. I think the Carvins are made by La Bella, and my La Bella B string does have the tape all the way to the ball, even though it is tapered.
Re: "I've also noticed that if I pluck too hard I get a clacking sound out of the bass. I've never noticed that with any other string set, even with the action pretty low. Is this a setup thing, or do tapes tend to get clacky if you try to play them too hard?"
La Bella White Nylon Copper tapes are maybe more flexible than what you used before? Probably rattling on the frets- try raising the action just a little.
La Bella White Nylon Copper tapes are maybe more flexible than what you used before? Probably rattling on the frets- try raising the action just a little.
Do you have the regular or the light set? If you have the light set, then even though they have the same diameter as a conventional set of rounds, the nylon tape means there is less metal and they have tension more like a set of lights. You may have to tweak your truss rod to the lighter tension.
I do have the light set. They do feel a little on the loose side but my other bass has TI flats so they felt stiffer than I was used to. Hmm... I like the action how it is and I don't really need to play that hard on this bass because it's my jazz instrument, but I might give loosening the truss a shot.
I'm in...new convert here...
Just put D'addario black nylon tapewounds on my acoustic Ibanez PCBE12MH
I love the tone, the feel and the look of these strings!!!
The only issue I have with them is that now I `need` to change the machine heads from chrome to black to complete the black on mahogany look...
...(wife sighs heavily and rolls her eyes!)...
Just put D'addario black nylon tapewounds on my acoustic Ibanez PCBE12MH
I love the tone, the feel and the look of these strings!!!
The only issue I have with them is that now I `need` to change the machine heads from chrome to black to complete the black on mahogany look...
...(wife sighs heavily and rolls her eyes!)...
If you do change the machine heads, I recommend HipShot UltraLites. They come in a matching "Y" version to match the Ibby stock. I weighed the Ibby stock tuners on my SRA305, and they were 59 grams, compared to 44 grams for the Hipshot. That's like a whole tuner's less weight on a 5-string. It balances much better.
I use La Bella regular tapes on my Ibby SRA305. I have used "balanced" sets for more than twenty years, from when I used to custom-order Progressives in 45-60-80-105. To me, the La Bella regular tapes are almost that balanced; the B string might be a little less tension.
My only issue with the D'Addario nylons is really an issue with my MIM jazz bass. The hole in the tuning post where you put the string end is so small that I had to peel the silk and nylon off that end of the E string, using superglue to keep it from unwrapping further. A bother to do, but once installed, it works just as well.
Just as an experiment, I put black tapewounds on a little Ibanez bass I found at a pawn show for $75.00...Love 'em!
Sign me up.
I haven't worked up the onions to try a set on my Ric. Maybe with a little prodding from my new bros...
Sign me up.
I haven't worked up the onions to try a set on my Ric. Maybe with a little prodding from my new bros...
D'Addario Tapes work great on my 4002 (Yes, that's "2," not "1" or "3.")
