In my experience LaBellas are the best. I've tried Fender & Rotos and almost every other brand over the years and always go back to LaBellas
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TapeWound Club~Anyone?
- Thread starter .BumeStik.
- Start date
I'd second this.
I found the Roto tapes to feel stiff and sound less warm with less definition in the note, overly boomy and more mid focused compared to the La Bella black tapes. Not a well balanced string IMHO.
What kind of string life are you getting with your tapes?
I'm going on two years on two basses that get occassional use - a PJ and an AEB
(LaBella Black Tapes)
I'm going on two years on two basses that get occassional use - a PJ and an AEB
(LaBella Black Tapes)
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I think I'm on year 12 with my La Bella blacks. Still going strong, no signs of age or change in tone.
LaBella 760N's on main player for ~7-8 years. The two sets before these were handed down to 2 other basses, both still fine.
Thanks for the replies. Ill definitely try the Labellas if I ever need/decide to change my strings. But about the Rotos, I like some tension so they dont feel stiff to me. The bass I have them on is very bright (a bit too much IMO; also no tone knob 
) so they also dont sound boomy.
) so they also dont sound boomy.
If You are interested in "hair and wood" You should seriously consider the Pyramids. The LaBellas are truly great (and the gold white tapes are really cool), but to me not really "woody".
Actually yeah. Just got some mixed down on soundcloud - let me figure it out
That is one sweet bass tone. Is there anything more to it than just the strings? (EQ, tone knob, etc?)
Edit: Great playing too!
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I'm totally in love with the copper white tapes from LaBella. Took some time to get for my 6 string, but absolutely worth the wait.
I need to put some fresh strings on my Gibson SG bass. IIRC its about a 30" scale.
Any ideas if the they make a set of the copper whites for that scale and any thoughts on how it would sound vs the round nickel chromes that are on it now?
I got my Tom Clement 3"-thick, chambered 'Anne' bass on Wednesday, with a Hipshot piezo bridge. Slapped a set of six-string Pyramid Black Nylons on it immediately. Man that's a great combination. Exactly the sound I was hoping for in my custom build. So that's three basses now that have the Pyramid Black Nylons: my Clement, my Tacoma Thunderchief, and my Wishbass JB (also with piezo bridge).
Contact bass strings online. They can get what you want. Prepare to wait a while. LaBella makes everything to order. Again, well worth the wait. The copper whites are warm, round and a little tubby (tape wound sound), but they retain more clarity than the black nylon strings. I'm so super crazy about how thick and beautiful these strings sound in the higher register!!
Bassline Worp 5 - hollow sound chamber, spruce top, piezo + mag pups, fretless, black LaBellas (at least 8 yrs old) Glock preamp straight to the board
I double on DB but don't have the chops right now. But, this is a pretty good substitution.
agree whole heartedly - www.bassstringsonline.com
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I really like their Worp design. Bassline/bassparts is also a great place to get German electronics for cheaper than on Best Bass Gear, and Martina is great to work with: Invalid Link Removed
I don't know about their other offerings but this things plays and sounds great. I have lots of choices but this is my favorite.
I ordered my white tapes from there. Gold white tapes for 30". I do not play them on my EB-11 but on my DIY RD bass with Thunderbuckers. Also 30", also Gibson bridge (well actually a Supertone).
In comparison to nickel rounds they are more mellow, also in comparison to GHS pressure wounds. But they are still bright enough to support extensive playing of flageolets.
Be prepared for a long waiting time. LaBella seems ultra slow in delivering shortscale white tapes. So i would suggest to order two sets: the white tapes and a set of GHS pressure wounds to bridge the waiting time for the tapes.
