TapeWound Club~Anyone?

[FretNoMore]

Another thing I found with the white tapewounds - I have a tendency to pull the G string over the edge of the fretboard when I play up the neck, and since these strings are quite bendy and slippery this amplifies my bad technique. Roundwounds stick just a little more to the frets I think. Another thing to add to my list of things to improve with more practice.

 

[Staccato]

Another anybody try Question.... Any using a FretWrap with their Tapes? Is it TO Much? O.O

I've just ordered FretWraps, and will check them out early next week. I'll repost after practice next week!

Anyone else?

 

[.BumeStik.]

I've just ordered Fretwraps, and will check them out early next week. I'll repost after practice next week!

I did the same thing. Lol

 

[oysteivi]

What is that

Fretwraps? Foam mute placed at the nut to dampen the vibration of open strings.

http://www.gruvgear.com/fretwraps

 

[theduke1]

I did not know that thank you

 

[.BumeStik.]

Fretwraps? Foam mute placed at the nut to dampen the vibration of open strings.

http://www.gruvgear.com/fretwraps

The Gruv Gear Fretwraps are the ones I ordered. They look pretty cool. Looking forward to trying them out on Black and White La Bella Tapes!

 

[vmabus]

I have Labellas, D'Adarrios, and my favorite, GHS on my various instruments. My new bass is waiting in the closet, unplayed, until the strings arrive. Sign me up!

 

[.BumeStik.]

I have Labellas, D'Adarrios, and my favorite, GHS on my various instruments. My new bass is waiting in the closet, unplayed, until the strings arrive. Sign me up!

vmabus is Member #26! Welcome!

 

[.BumeStik.]

Updated Member List: Updated 5/26/14
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Sorry, I have to have lists or I mess things up.

 

[MD]

Except for the DB and the smallish medium scale, all sporting LaBella 760N's.
Bought 3 sets from Carvin several years ago to offset the S&H. Still have 2 unopened sets.

No need for a number.

 

[pnchad]

Invalid Link Removed

yes, the black LBs are round wound underneath so you can get a real range of tones

 

[.BumeStik.]

Got the White La Bellas onto my Saratoga. They feel SO AWESOME. They Sound AMAZING to my ear on the Jazz Bass Platform. Nice and Thumpy, while still maintaining Clarity. Very Nice Sound!

ONLY ONE PROBLEM. Now, if I roll the passive tone knob on at ALL, I get UBER BUZZ. Grounding issue with the Bridge caused by the Tapes. Any Suggestions? I don't want to have to ditch these already!!!

 

[iiipopes]

I had to go to EMG's to kill the electrostatic noise.

 

[bswag]

Assuming your bridge is already grounded (this is still the practice, yes?), I'd try running some bare copper wire through the metal ball-ends, wrap it or whatever so you get good contact, and have that wire attached to the grounded bridge. I don't know if that will work, but that's what I'd try, since (unless I'm fulla beans here) grounding the inner metal string should help?

 

[iiipopes]

The problem is not with the bridge grounding. Quite the contrary. With conventional strings, the metal touching the hands makes the final ground. Think about what happens when you take your hands off the bass and hear all the electrostatic noise. That's what is happening with tapes, because the nylon wrap is a very efficient insulator. So grounding has to done a different way. For example, a person could use a conventional E or B string (depending if the bass is 4-string or 5-string) so the thumb will touch metal, which contacts the bridge, which makes the ground. Or, like a Rickenbacker neck pickup, a chrome pickup cover that the thumb can contact will make the ground if the cover is soldered to a ground wire that makes its way to the common ground of the bass also.

I just got done with the EMG actives installation on my bass, and since EMG's are not grounded to the bridge plate, I have my -100+dB noise floor back -- no hum, no electrostatic noise, and insulated.

 

[jd56hawk]

Here's a post that I made in another thread a few days ago...

Tapewound strings (as compared to flats) will have slightly less wear on your frets and slightly less finger noise on slides and will feel slightly more slippery than what you have today. Depending on which tapes you try your sound will be at least as bright as it is with typical flats and maybe much brighter. There are a lot of different tapes out there but the rundown on the three I've used is a follows:

La Bella Black tapewounds - I like them a lot, relatively low tension, sound a little closer to flats than rounds. Nice deep dark tones, lots of thud and power in the notes (not thin sounding at all), a somewhat woody tone, good sustain, very long lasting (going on year 9 with one set), very balanced tone across all strings. Not sure how they would hold up to picks (other than felt) or slapping. A standard thickness size will most likely require filing your nut and may be too thick for through body stringing on a low B string.

La Bella White tapewounds - I love em, same low tension as the blacks, sound a little closer to rounds than flats, nice deep tones but slightly more mid focused than the blacks, not thin sounding, I assume they will last as long as the blacks, clear wrap over steel strings gives them more of a normal string look vs the blacks. Very well balanced, a little more slippery than blacks. I got a light gauge set and they fit my nut perfectly. If you are a round wound nickel player you have to try these strings they really are the best of both (flat and round) worlds in my opinion. For a great deal get them from Bassstringsonline.

Rotosound Tapes - not my cup of tea, high tension, plastic feeling, very much a dead flat wound sound on my Jazz, less sustain and not very well balanced across all 5 strings. Long lasting (unfortunately), not as smooth or slick as the La Bella tapes.

Hope this helps!

I use a rubber Wedgie pick. Do you have any idea if using them will damage the strings. I'm dying to try out the white ones.

 

[.BumeStik.]

I use a rubber Wedgie pick. Do you have any idea if using them will damage the strings. I'm dying to try out the white ones.

I have used a "Plectrum" a bit on Tapes just to see what would come of it. I am a finger player, but had to try it. I, myself, think it would take a bit of time before it started to damage he Tape, by using a pick. I use THICK picks (2mm Dunlop Jazz) for Guitar playing and they have not even left a mark on any of my Tapes. Hope this Helps!

 

[jd56hawk]

I have used a "Plectrum" a bit on Tapes just to see what would come of it. I am a finger player, but had to try it. I, myself, think it would take a bit of time before it started to damage he Tape, by using a pick. I use THICK picks (2mm Dunlop Jazz) for Guitar playing and they have not even left a mark on any of my Tapes. Hope this Helps!

Thanks, the Wedgie 5mm is as close to a finger as you can get, I believe.

 

[mustBmtd]

From day one of finally owning an MTD, hadn't changed since. Getting the mtd and having the B and E already taper, I was hooked. All across the neck now is Taper. Same for my other basses. Dean Markley SR2000 and LaBella Super Steps

 

[12many]

I was searching for a double bass simulation sound on my Yamaha fretless. I like Rotosound RS 88's. I talked with the manufacturer reps about the E string length. Their response P's and J's have reported too short like my Yama copy. They are now lengthening the E slightly. I've been fond of how long Rotosounds lasted. I find that these tapes do not last as long as flats or round wounds. My 2 cents I'm a tape's fan. I'd be proud to have a # in this discussion. My fingers have been grateful as well.