I'm hoping La Bella isn't slow on delivering 760NHBB Black Nylons, I ordered for a Hofner.
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TapeWound Club~Anyone?
- Thread starter .BumeStik.
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I'm hoping La Bella isn't slow on delivering 760NHBB Black Nylons, I ordered for a Hofner.
That's indeed a really very nice bass tone. But to my ears it is far from DB although it will fit in nicely everywhere where a DB also fits. Again, the Pyramids have less sustain and a different sound. They are therefore a tad closer to the double bass. It is a matter of taste and to some degree the instrument which of the two will fit better.
I'm thinking of replacing my GHS Pressurewounds on one of my basses.....what are the differences between the GHS and the Labella White Tapes?
I just put Fender tape wounds on my fretless P-bass. Seems to have a nice range of sounds depending on right hand position. Looking forward to seeing how they sound after broken in.
Mhmm, hard to describe. Well, i just checked my two basses with Pressurewounds, one with Brite Flats and the Instrument with the Gold White Tapes. All on pickups close to the MM position, and relatively similar in construction (but still different).
The Pressurewounds seem more bassy, and the Gold Tapes have more pronounced mids. The biggest difference is the high edge: the frequency range where fret buzz and fingering noise occurs is damped quite strong. Maybe strong enough that it might become difficult to play the highest flageolet tones which occur in, say, Birdland. But despite the highest registers flageolet come out very nicely. The strings are "there", where they need to be. So they appear indeed a bit duller than the pressurewounds, but mostly due to the absence of fingering noise.
I would expect significant differences in the bass/mid response of the three types of the white tapes, especially between the white ones (steel below the tape) and the gold/copper ones where bronce or brass seems to be used except of the core.
I think the wraps (outer anyway) are brass or copper- plated steel instead of bare steel or nickel- plated steel. Not much mat'l there in the plating. I have the Copper Whites and like the slight rolled off highs, clear mids, and still plenty bass. Haven't tried the Golds or original Whites.
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I just strung my Hofner with the La Bella 760NHBB Nylons. I didn't get a chance today to play the bass with the La Bellas on, but from what I heard from them while tuning, the sounded very good.
I was able to play the Hofner today for a bit over an hour, with the La Bella 760NHBB Nylon strings. (.50, .65, .80, .100) They sound Great. A good rich, full, clear sound. I'm very satisfied with these La Bella 760NHBB Nylon strings.
Well, I finally tried the Labella Black Nylons, on a Takamine TB10. I got them instead of the Pyramids because Pyramid doesn't make the super long scale I need for the Takamine. Even so, I think on that instrument, for me, the Labella black nylons might be the best strings. I still think Pyramid black nylons get a woodier, more 'organic' tone, and feel better, but I like the Labellas on the Takamine for more of a modern upright flatwound sound without the metalic fingering clack of a nickel or steel flatwound, which the piezo pickups pick up so well. I first tried Labella vintage flatwounds but they didn't sound good to me on the lower notes. So yeah, I agree, tapewound choice depends on the instrument as well as taste. I still have the Pyramids on three basses, but for non-Pyramid black nylon tapewounds, I think the Labellas sound superior to the D'Addario, GHS, and Rotosound black nylon tapewounds I've tried, and feel less plastic-y.
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That's also my impression from playing a bass equipped with LaBella Tapes - but that was just for a few minutes. And the owner told me the same .
BTW: Pyramid also make custom strings. And they deliver them fast. They indeed do
provide super long scale strings on demand. (I am currently ordering a thinner B string for the black tapes on my 5 string)
Wow, thanks. I think I'm learning to call people up more, not take things at face value so much. We're living in an era when customer is king.
I have recently tried the Labella Copper White Tapes on 2 of my basses and the tone is unbelievable. I get a smooth, clear, and warm tone all i one with these on both basses. They look so good with Gold hardware basses. I've had alot of compliments on my tone since switching. I would highly recommend to anyone looking for a good warm bass string.
Could you tell me a few things about the Black Nylons on the Takamine TB10?
I just got a Takamine TB10 and was wondering is the Labella Black Nylon on yours light or standard? Why did you chose the one you chose?
Does the TB10 fit the 37 inch long scale winding or 38 inch extra long scale winding. (I figure there is no way it's going to be medium or short).
Thanks for any information in advance.
I got this set:
LB_760N-XL La Bella Black Nylon Tape Wound Bass Strings - 4 String Set
Type: Standard: .060, .070, .094, .115
Scale Length: Extra Long Scale - 38" Winding
I think standard works better on that bass. I haven't tried light, but I did try a set of Thomastik flatwounds on it,
TI_JF364 Thomastik-Infeld T-I JAZZ Flatwound Bass Strings - 4 String Set
Scale Length:: 35-36 Super Long: .044 .057 .072 .096
and they felt too thin, even though that's my preferred flatwound on my other non-tapewound fretless basses. Just too much uncontrollable mwah on the TB10. That bass gets a great tone and sustain!
You'll need the extra-long scale. Even at 38" winding, there's less than an inch of tape above the nut on both the E and A strings.
I also tried
LB_0760M-XL La Bella "Original 1954" Fender Style Flat Wound Bass Strings - 4 String Set
Type: Medium: .052 .073 .095 .110
Scale Length: Extra Long Scale - 38" Winding
Construction : Standard
They felt OK, maybe a little stiff, but I didn't like the metallic sound of those on the TB10. Tapewounds seem to suit it better. Now that I know that Pyramid can make custom extra-long strings I might want to experiment with that, although the Labella set sounds pretty good. I'm also considering selling the TB10. It's a great bass, and probably the closest a 34" acoustic bass guitar is going to sound to an upright, but I'm becoming more of a six-string player these days, and am thinking about having a six-string semi-hollowbody custom built for me, or else getting the Warwick Alien 6. So I'd need to sell the TB10 to help finance that. If you don't mind, PM me with the price you paid for yours, it would help me gauge market value. Thanks.
I've been running LaBella 760N's on my B10 for years. Long scale, no issues with length. Standard 60-115.
Thank you for all the information. PM sent. Don't be bashful, please let me know if you need to know anything else.
Well I've been enjoying my La Bella Copper White light gauge tapes on my Schecter since August. I've played in church a handful of times and I love the tone and feel.
I've decided to go all tape! I ordered a set of La Bella White Nylon tapes for my Squier Standard Precision V 5-string (the one with two Jazz pickups). The bass hasn't been played much because I've fallen for my Schecter. I figured I'll put a set of tapes on it and see what I think! For the sake of variety, I decided to order the Standard gauge instead of the Lights. 60-70-94-115-135.
I'm pretty excited!
I've decided to go all tape! I ordered a set of La Bella White Nylon tapes for my Squier Standard Precision V 5-string (the one with two Jazz pickups). The bass hasn't been played much because I've fallen for my Schecter. I figured I'll put a set of tapes on it and see what I think! For the sake of variety, I decided to order the Standard gauge instead of the Lights. 60-70-94-115-135.
I'm pretty excited!
@bassist4dalord
I've been using the Labella Copper White tapes on both of my basses and love them so far. I get the best tone I've ever had and just love the feel and looks. It does seem as though the output of the strings is a little less than what I get out of normal strings but that doesn't bother me. I think they sound as good as any round or flat I've tried. I always thought that tapes was for the Upright bass tone but they are very similar to rounds to me.
I've been using the Labella Copper White tapes on both of my basses and love them so far. I get the best tone I've ever had and just love the feel and looks. It does seem as though the output of the strings is a little less than what I get out of normal strings but that doesn't bother me. I think they sound as good as any round or flat I've tried. I always thought that tapes was for the Upright bass tone but they are very similar to rounds to me.
Check Jason's tech article about tapewounds at bassstringsonline.com . Most tapewounds are some form of roundwounds, and most of those are stainless roundwounds with the nylon tape cover.
To compare the tones: La Bella white tapes are the brightest, black tapes are the darkest, gold is like well settled nickel plated rounds, and as you have observed, the coppers have a different midrange characteristic.
In January this year I played a mates bass with Status graphite black nylon tapes on it and fell in love with the feel and sound so I tried ordering a set . Unfortunately I got a reply two days later to tell me that he had none left and the manufacturer that made them for him no longer do them but he had hoped that he would get a new supplier soon (I still dont think he has) , anyhow I ordered a set of the D'Addario tapes and I love them ! I get a nice warm sound and they feel so comfortable under the fingers .
