TapeWound Club~Anyone?

[MrBassman17]

I recently purchased a used Epiphone Zenith bass. The prior owner had replaced the OEM strings, which were D'Addario tape wounds; and, as I usually restring any new used basses I have acquired, with new strings anyway, I replaced the steel rounds with the OEM D'Addario Tapes. As this was my first shot with tape wounds, and on a new (to me) bass, I didn't know quite what to expect, but I have to say that they are great! I'm not going to be replacing the strings on my other basses, but the Zenith plays real nice, has great 'growl' and the tapes feel like flat wounds!
I'm in for this club! Sign me up!

 

[mikeoso]

OK, bridge issue solved...someone had suggested that LaBellas had a smaller silk wrap...and they do. Same gauge string as the Daddarios, but the silk wraps fit through the ho!es in my bridge. Sound is excellent as well. Life is again good.

 

[fermata]

This thread has been an interesting read...interesting enough that I now have La Bella white tapes on my Hofner.

I haven't had very much time with them yet, but so far I'm pleased: they deliver the definition and chewiness I like in roundwounds without the string noise, and with some muting I can get a flatwound-ish thump (although the white tapes are tonally more akin to rounds than flats).

They feel pretty different from anything I've used before (these are my first tapes); I'll have to get used to how light and flexible they are.

 

[BassJuju]

This thread has been an interesting read...interesting enough that I now have La Bella white tapes on my Hofner.

I haven't had very much time with them yet, but so far I'm pleased: they deliver the definition and chewiness I like in roundwounds without the string noise, and with some muting I can get a flatwound-ish thump (although the white tapes are tonally more akin to rounds than flats).

They feel pretty different from anything I've used before (these are my first tapes); I'll have to get used to how light and flexible they are, but since I like to play with a light right hand touch and a relaxed left hand, I'm thinking it'll work out.

Did you get the standard gauge or the lights? I have a set of the gold white tapes and I am considering the regular ones for a Fender. I too like that the tone is round-like and the feel is flat-like.

 

[fermata]

Did you get the standard gauge or the lights? I have a set of the gold white tapes and I am considering the regular ones for a Fender. I too like that the tone is round-like and the feel is flat-like.

I got the Beatle Bass set, which is light gauge (.050 .065 .080 .100).

 

[Sam Dingle]

I can't take reading all the posts so sorry if this has been asked before. I've got an American Standard P bass. I'm thinking Black tape wounds would be nice to put on them. I'm looking for smooth feel and thumpy sound. I'd like to try tape wounds on it (it has rounds now). The closest thing I've tried is flatwounds. I'd like to try the D'Addarios first unless its unadvisable. I read something in an early page about them not fitting in a mexican p bass's tuning peg, will they fit in an american?

 

[rodl2005]

Fender tapes are my fave. Not as smooth feeling as some others but. .. gawjuss tone. They suit my Fenders best imo.

 

[BassJuju]

I can't take reading all the posts so sorry if this has been asked before. I've got an American Standard P bass. I'm thinking Black tape wounds would be nice to put on them. I'm looking for smooth feel and thumpy sound. I'd like to try tape wounds on it (it has rounds now). The closest thing I've tried is flatwounds. I'd like to try the D'Addarios first unless its unadvisable. I read something in an early page about them not fitting in a mexican p bass's tuning peg, will they fit in an american?

I have a set of D'Addarios on a Kiesel B25 and there weren't any issues installing them. In fact, the only issue I've ever had installing strings is that the nut sometimes needs to opened a bit for the bigger gauge strings-- certainly not a big issue. I also have a set of La Bella black tapes on a Gretsch and they are really nice. I am a fan of both for different reasons. The La Bella's are darker and more thumpy than the D'Addarios which seem to be more between a dark flat and a bright round. I have La Bella white tapes on 2 different basses and they are my favorite for multiple styles of music. I can brighten them up for a more rock tone or darken them down to get more blues or country type licks. I was playing Stray Cat Strut with them last night and really got a nice clean thump from them. Don't misunderstand... nothing sounds like an upright, but the La Bella Black tapes are the closest IMO. And, of course, one simply cant go wrong with D'Addario strings.

 

[edencab]

I have a set of D'Addarios on a Kiesel B25 and there weren't any issues installing them. In fact, the only issue I've ever had installing strings is that the nut sometimes needs to opened a bit for the bigger gauge strings-- certainly not a big issue. I also have a set of La Bella black tapes on a Gretsch and they are really nice. I am a fan of both for different reasons. The La Bella's are darker and more thumpy than the D'Addarios which seem to be more between a dark flat and a bright round. I have La Bella white tapes on 2 different basses and they are my favorite for multiple styles of music. I can brighten them up for a more rock tone or darken them down to get more blues or country type licks. I was playing Stray Cat Strut with them last night and really got a nice clean thump from them. Don't misunderstand... nothing sounds like an upright, but the La Bella Black tapes are the closest IMO. And, of course, one simply cant go wrong with D'Addario strings.

I chose D'addario black tapes for my BL's MIJ Pbass....partially because I believe their gauges are closest to "standard" (?) sizes and I figured the less nut slot width adjusting I would have to do the better (plus the rave reviews they get)
..as I recall they fit perfectly.....I/we loved them so much I bought a set and put them on my Sterling SUB4..I think I made a few minimal passes with a file in the nut slot on E&A maybe ......they sound soooo good on both basses

 

[west al]

I use the D'Addario ETB92 Nylon Tapewound strings on a Mustang PJ, USA Geddy Lee Jazz, and a Spl. Edition White Opal Jazz with no issues at all.
On the USA Geddy Lee Jazz.

 

[leegreenman]

Can someone ID these? I think they're D'Addorios, but not sure

 

[Sam Dingle]

those are D'Addarios. The blue winding is key/

 

[leegreenman]

those are D'Addarios. The blue winding is key/

Thanks!

 

[Sam Dingle]

Thanks!

to confirm. can you see the ball ends. If the balls of the strings are colored (i believe the strings are brass, green, red, black) then they are D'Addario

 

[west al]

D'Addario ETB92 Nylon Tapewounds.

 

[HaphAsSard]

I also got a set of EB cobalt flats for my Jazz but didnt like them either. However when I tried them on my acoustic I didnt mind them, and have grown to like them, especially when amped. My music buddies think that the acoustic sound comes through and fits nicely when they play acoustic too. So my La Bella White Tapes are back on the Jazz

Hey LSJ, thanks for reporting back - you announced the imminent experiment here, about a year ago. A couple days earlier I'd asked you about the acoustic volume of the Whites on your ABG:

Did you lose much volume with the swap? (...) sometimes I wonder what to suggest to people who dislike the clank of bronze strings but would like a close second volume-wise. One of the La Bella clear nylon offerings seems promising, but if they don't perform well in that respect I suppose the answer would be (...) the Ernie Ball Slinky (Cobalt) Flatwounds maybe?

Your answer (re acoustic volume of the La Bella clear nylons) was "[f]irst impression was yes, much quieter." What about the EB cobalt flats in this regard? Do they even compare with bronze rounds, or rounds in general, volume-wise?
(To whom it may concern, yes, I mean in the context of the real, limited acoustic volume capabilities of an acoustic bass guitar of normal size.)

 

[mrcircle]

Fender tapes are my fave. Not as smooth feeling as some others but. .. gawjuss tone. They suit my Fenders best imo.

+1

 

[west al]

My Fender Olympic White, Mustang PJ strung with D'Addario ETB92S Nylons.

 

[Flatwoundround]

Does the nylon pick create any unusual wear on the tape?

Does not for the Copper tapes. The black tapes it makes a real bad pick click noise but for some reason it does not on the coppers. I play fingers and pick and both work well on the coppers. The dadario blacks are pretty good too.

 

[Flatwoundround]

This thread has been an interesting read...interesting enough that I now have La Bella white tapes on my Hofner.

I haven't had very much time with them yet, but so far I'm pleased: they deliver the definition and chewiness I like in roundwounds without the string noise, and with some muting I can get a flatwound-ish thump (although the white tapes are tonally more akin to rounds than flats).

They feel pretty different from anything I've used before (these are my first tapes); I'll have to get used to how light and flexible they are.

My experience is I cannot play any other strings now except for Tapewounds. No finger noise, no grippy factor and low tension makes great for slides and stings and they sound much closer to rounds than flats do.