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TapeWound Club~Anyone?

#642
Whippet said:
Any reason why you havent put them on your Js? In regards to Js, Ps, Hums, PJ, etc. Is there any pickup configuration that works best?

From what you wrote, tapes on a fretted work better on a NON Hi Fi modern bass? So it would sound better on a meat and potato bass like a Fender, Alleva, as opposed to MTD which would be rather contradicting the nature of the equipment itself, unless toning down the hi fi sound is what I am looking for?
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The only reason I've not put them on my J is just to have a bit of variety, but I think they will sound great on a jazz. How much difference it makes to your tone depends more on your playing style than anything else. If you have a very light touch and play in a loud rock band where you have to poke through 2 electric guitars to be heard, they might not be that beneficial to you, but in jazz / funk / r&b etc context they will work perfectly well on any bass. I think they would work fine on an MTD. This video shows really well how they sound on a Jazz, no high end sizzle but still a very punchy jazz tone:

 
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#643
project_c said:
The only reason I've not put them on my J is just to have a bit of variety, but I think they will sound great on a jazz. How much difference it makes to your tone depends more on your playing style than anything else. If you have a very light touch and play in a loud rock band where you have to poke through 2 electric guitars to be heard, they might not be that beneficial to you, but in jazz / funk / r&b etc context they will work perfectly well on any bass. I think they would work fine on an MTD. This video shows really well how they sound on a Jazz, no high end sizzle but still a very punchy jazz tone:

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Thanks for the video. This is really interesting. I see what you mean about digging into the strings. I am so used to the fretless smooth tone, I have never thought about nylon tapes being used for aggressive attacks and dynamics.

I am going to have to try this out on a variety of basses to really understand the potential of the bass and the strings. I will also have to try to get a lot more aggressive on the fretless itself. I think I've been missing out on something here....

Once again thanks for the video link and explanation.
 
#645
Whippet said:
Thanks for the video. This is really interesting. I see what you mean about digging into the strings. I am so used to the fretless smooth tone, I have never thought about nylon tapes being used for aggressive attacks and dynamics.

I am going to have to try this out on a variety of basses to really understand the potential of the bass and the strings. I will also have to try to get a lot more aggressive on the fretless itself. I think I've been missing out on something here....

Once again thanks for the video link and explanation.
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No problem. You'll find that the XL tapes will give you a slightly lower action which helps with this kind of playing anyway, but if you're finding that you're having to play too hard, just lower your string height a bit (and make sure your neck is fairly straight). That guy is not digging in especially hard on that jazz bass, but he is playing closer to the neck pickup where the strings are more bouncy, which allows for that kind of dynamic range. (Also the bass he's playing is set up really well).
 
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#646
project_c said:
No problem. You'll find that the XL tapes will give you a slightly lower action which helps with this kind of playing anyway, but if you're finding that you're having to play too hard, just lower your string height a bit (and make sure your neck is fairly straight). That guy is not digging in especially hard on that jazz bass, but he is playing closer to the neck pickup where the strings are more bouncy, which allows for that kind of dynamic range. (Also the bass he's playing is set up really well).
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Thanks for the setup recommendation. I'll keep what you wrote in mind. My necks all have a fairly low action with only a slight curve so your rec should not be too hard to attain.
 
#649
edencab said:
I put D'addario Tapewounds on my friends MIJ Pbass.....we both loved it (I had it this way for most of the summer as we swapped his P for my J.)
..I went out an bought a set for myself...put them on my Sterling SUB4 ...killer....they feel so comfortable and sound so good
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Way to go on the D'Addario Nylons.
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#652
I have a set of D'addario tapes on my new Fretless Kiesel and they have amazing tone with the ebony fretboard. I also have a set of La Bella black tapes on a Gretsch, a set of La Bella Green Hornets on a Fender P/J, and a set of La Bella Gold White tapes on a Kiesel J bass, all of these are fretted instruments. I really like the tone and feel of these strings. The black tapes are more like a traditional upright thump tone on the Gretsch and the white nylons give a nice bright round wound tone with the feel of flats or tapes. There are string architecture reasons behind this that have been discussed many times, so I wont labor the point. I will say that while I still have rounds on a few basses, only the Ric and the T-Bird are likely to keep them after my recent experiences.
 
#655
BassJuju said:
I have a set of D'addario tapes on my new Fretless Kiesel and they have amazing tone with the ebony fretboard. I also have a set of La Bella black tapes on a Gretsch, a set of La Bella Green Hornets on a Fender P/J, and a set of La Bella Gold White tapes on a Kiesel J bass, all of these are fretted instruments. I really like the tone and feel of these strings. The black tapes are more like a traditional upright thump tone on the Gretsch and the white nylons give a nice bright round wound tone with the feel of flats or tapes. There are string architecture reasons behind this that have been discussed many times, so I wont labor the point. I will say that while I still have rounds on a few basses, only the Ric and the T-Bird are likely to keep them after my recent experiences.
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That's not a headless Kiesel, is it? I have the 5-string Vader, and have been having a nightmare of a time putting tapewounds (LaBellas, in my case) on it. I so much wish the headpiece could accept double-ball strings.
 
#657
pkstone said:
That's not a headless Kiesel, is it? I have the 5-string Vader, and have been having a nightmare of a time putting tapewounds (LaBellas, in my case) on it. I so much wish the headpiece could accept double-ball strings.
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No, it's a B25. Although I am bringing to GAS for that new Amos Williams Vader. Probably wait awhile though, I've got more than I can currently play. :) I know, no one else here has that issue. :)
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#658
Hey question for my fellow tapewound enthusiasts. I'm considering getting a fretless Moses Carbon Graphite neck with Cocobolo inlays. The graphite portion of the fingerboard will not, of course, wear, even with roundwounds. I'll be using Pyramid Black Nylon Tapewounds. Do you think there would be significant wear on the inlay portion? Uneven wear would be a real deal-breaker for the inlays, but I've read Cocobolo is nearly as hard as Ebony, so would a nice velvety tapewound like the Pyramids really put any wear on them? My local luthier has suggested that the minute there is any kind of wear, it would be time to put a polyurethane finish on the entire fingerboard, which would alter the sound. Any thoughts would be appreciated.
 
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