TapeWound Club~Anyone?

[mrperkolator]

... nothing got rid of the buzz. To fix it, I taped copper wire to the bridge. The other end, I taped to my belly. By becoming the earth, I stopped the buzz. (Removing the tape afterwards ripped a few belly hairs but was a small price to pay for a fun gig)

this excerpt is probably my favorite thing I've read on TB.

 

[GWGuitar]

The metal ball end of tape wounds touching the bridge should provide an earth contact. If the bridge is not earthed properly, buzzing can occur.
It can also occur where dimmer lights or fluro lights or 3 phase power or electromagnetic interference or a fridge on the same circuit or an electric motor or (insert a miriad of things) happen.
At a gig in Europe, nothing got rid of the buzz. To fix it, I taped copper wire to the bridge. The other end, I taped to my belly. By becoming the earth, I stopped the buzz. (Removing the tape afterwards ripped a few belly hairs but was a small price to pay for a fun gig)
I recently did the same in a friend's studio with a similar problem.
The bass doesn't buzz in my studio or at most gigs.

I had a P-bass that buzzed like crazy in a particular studio. The engineer came in with an unwound guitar string, looped it through the bridge, and taped it to the skin on my side. Problem solved, at least for that session.

 

[SharpCat]

This thread prompted me to toss tapewounds (DAdds) on my Fender PJ. And that made me have to rework the pole piece grounding. <sigh> Do not want to tape wires to myself!

 

[Just Wrong]

What other strings do you guys like? I love the La Bella black nylons on my Precision. My Jazz is wearing white nylons, but I'm looking for something different to differentiate the two. Maybe some rounds?

 

[timmus]

I'll let you know in a couple of weeks if I like them or not. I had to special order a set of black tape wounds, medium scale, for my 5 string Ibanez acoustic bass.

 

[Just Wrong]

Has anyone compared D’Addario tapes, GHS and La Bella 750N (light black tapes)? I love the La Bella, but I’m curious about the D’Addario and GHS. The Pyramids also seem interesting, but I don’t want to fix the nut. Looking for the most double-bass like. I also like loose strings (like the TIs, albeit I know the two can be contrary). Thanks.

 

[GWGuitar]

I have used the D’Addario and the LaBella. I thought I would like the LaBellas more, but I really like the feel and tension of the D’Addarios.

 

[Just Wrong]

I have used the D’Addario and the LaBella. I thought I would like the LaBellas more, but I really like the feel and tension of the D’Addarios.

How would you say they differ in terms of feel and tension? Did you try the light La Bellas (105) or the regular (115)?

Thanks.

 

[ajkula66]

The Pyramids also seem interesting, but I don’t want to fix the nut. Looking for the most double-bass like. I also like loose strings (like the TIs, albeit I know the two can be contrary).

I didn't have to touch the nut for Pyramids, which are as close as one will get to a double bass sound IMO/IME, but are not loose in the least.

La Bella White Nylons in 105 are the loosest feeling tapewounds of all that I've experienced, but are also as bright-sounding as it gets when it comes to tapes.

My $.02 only...

 

[Just Wrong]

I didn't have to touch the nut for Pyramids, which are as close as one will get to a double bass sound IMO/IME, but are not loose in the least.

La Bella White Nylons in 105 are the loosest feeling tapewounds of all that I've experienced, but are also as bright-sounding as it gets when it comes to tapes.

My $.02 only...

How would you describe the feel of the Pyramids? Also, did you have any issues intimating the 115? I remember trying a 110 once and being unable to adjust the saddle accordingly.

 

[ajkula66]

How would you describe the feel of the Pyramids?

Unlike any other string that I've tried over the past 45 years of playing bass. Very strange texture, but not unpleasant to my fingers. YMMV.

Also, did you have any issues intimating the 115? I remember trying a 110 once and being unable to adjust the saddle accordingly.

Well that's going to depend on quite a few things, but once I've gone past 14th or 15th fret on the E it was noticeably sharp. Once again, YMMV.

 

[MrAB4003]

I didn't have to touch the nut for Pyramids, which are as close as one will get to a double bass sound IMO/IME, but are not loose in the least.

La Bella White Nylons in 105 are the loosest feeling tapewounds of all that I've experienced, but are also as bright-sounding as it gets when it comes to tapes.

My $.02 only...

In my experience, the La Bella Gold Whites and Blacks are about the same tension as the regular Whites (all 105 gauge). I have the regular Whites on my main bass and the Gold Whites on my other two basses. I tried the Blacks on my P Bass, but I wasn't getting even volume across the 4 strings (but that's another story).

 

[Just Wrong]

In my experience, the La Bella Gold Whites and Blacks are about the same tension as the regular Whites (all 105 gauge). I have the regular Whites on my main bass and the Gold Whites on my other two basses. I tried the Blacks on my P Bass, but I wasn't getting even volume across the 4 strings (but that's another story).

What's the story about the black nylons?

 

[MrAB4003]

What's the story about the black nylons?

So I replaced a set of La Bella Gold White Nylons that were on my P Bass with the Blacks because I wanted to get a darker tone. But I noticed that the D and G strings were noticeably quieter than the others. I tried playing with the knobs, changing guitar cables, and changing my amp settings and the issue persisted. I figured that it was the strings. So I took them off and put back the set of Gold Whites that I had taken off previously. The volume issue was gone!

 

[Just Wrong]

So I replaced a set of La Bella Gold White Nylons that were on my P Bass with the Blacks because I wanted to get a darker tone. But I noticed that the D and G strings were noticeably quieter than the others. I tried playing with the knobs, changing guitar cables, and changing my amp settings and the issue persisted. I figured that it was the strings. So I took them off and put back the set of Gold Whites that I had taken off previously. The volume issue was gone!

Have you tried pickup heights?

I don't seem to have such issues... maybe different times.

 

[MrAB4003]

Have you tried pickup heights?

I don't seem to have such issues... maybe different times.

Yeah, I adjusted the treble side of the pickup and it didn't do anything. Plus, I've never had any issues with the pickup in that bass.

 

[Just Wrong]

Just wanted to chime in and rave about Pyramid's black nylon tapewounds for a second. I've just installed them yesterday morning and they've probably become my favourite string. They remind me a bit of D'Addario's tapes, but with more going in the highs that I found was lacking with the D'Addarios. They don't feel plasticky like the La Bellas either.

 

[MrAB4003]

Just wanted to chime in and rave about Pyramid's black nylon tapewounds for a second. I've just installed them yesterday morning and they've probably become my favourite string. They remind me a bit of D'Addario's tapes, but with more going in the highs that I found was lacking with the D'Addarios. They don't feel plasticky like the La Bellas either.

Very interesting!

Depends on the La Bellas. The regular Whites and Blacks don't feel or sound plasticky for me. But the Gold Whites do and I'm taking them off one of my basses in favor of Rotosound 55s (pressurewounds / half rounds / semi flats). I've never tried the Copper Whites.

 

[Just Wrong]

Very interesting!

Depends on the La Bellas. The regular Whites and Blacks don't feel or sound plasticky for me. But the Gold Whites do and I'm taking them off one of my basses in favor of Rotosound 55s (pressurewounds / half rounds / semi flats). I've never tried the Copper Whites.

I don't entirely recall La Bella's Whites -- they were off my bass in a matter of days -- but their Blacks (50-105) only felt plasticky to me after I tried the D'Addario.

IMO, the Pyramids sit in between the two.

Tone-wise: Pyramids > La Bella > D'Addario
Feel-wise D'Addario > Pyramids > La Bella

I think I'll enquire about a custom order for 50-105 Pyramids.

I have a set of Copper Whites coming in tomorrow, but I'm not sure I'll bother trying them I'm liking the Pyramids so much. They'll probably go straight to the Classifieds.

 

[mking]

The copper whites sound great on my Rob Allen fretless. The tension on the 35" scale feels just right to me. You might like them, depending of what sound you are looking for.