TapeWound Club~Anyone?

[Just Wrong]

I agree they're flabby - and I like them that way. Have you tried the regular gauge? 60-115? Maybe they're stiffer?

 

[mrperkolator]

I buy the bigger gauge and it feels like rounds and aren't too floppy. I put a set of lighter gauge labella's on a friends P since I wasn't sure if the commitment was there. Those are floppy. Labella's bigger gauge and having the nut widened is worth it imho

 

[trseal]

What sort (and size) of tape are you playing?
I've played La Bella 760N and 750G (and 760-FL) and they feel quite different.
I wouldn't describe the 760N as floppy (or flabby) but I can understand that as a description of the 750G.
That said, I didn't need to change the saddle height when I put the golds on. They just 'clank' a little more when I get aggressive.

I agree they're flabby - and I like them that way. Have you tried the regular gauge? 60-115? Maybe they're stiffer?

These are the 760Ns, 50-105's. I have not tried the larger gauge, if for no other reason than not wanting to get the nut cut--especially if I didn't know if I want to stay with this string. I'll give them a shot for awhile and see how they shake out. I don't mind the very low tension but I don't care too much for the requirement for such a high action to accommodate that looseness. They do sound good and they play really fast so I'm going to give them a go for awhile and see how they shake out. They are nice strings.

Tim

 

[MrAB4003]

I don't want to dis LaBella strings--I was warned here about their tape-wounds. But just so everybody had one more view, I'll give you my take on their tape wounds.

I had read that their tapes were brighter than typical tapes and I was looking for a warm tone with a touch of zing for my custom Jazz w/PV'74's. It was also reported that the LaBellas were pretty low tension. So I tho't I'd give 'em a go.

It has been a bit of an experience. They actually have the sound I think I was looking for. But man, are they FLABBY. They are so floppy I had to make pretty significant changes to the action height and relief. I started at my preferred settings which are incrementally lower than factory specs (that work well with my usual strings of choice) and relief set at factory spec min.

The E and A buzzed all up and down the neck. Not TOO bad on the D and G. I'll admit I can get pretty aggressive sometimes tho'.

After a few trial and error attempts (and a serious conversation with these strings that this was their last chance...) I ended up with action at 7/64 on the E and A and 6/64 on the D and G at the 17th and relief at .014.
All these are higher than I like and I'm settling for just some occasional buzz on the E. But they do sound good. So I'm giving them a whirl for awhile and see how they work out. I guess to some extent, the low tension compensates for the higher action.

Oh. And they are VERY slippery.

Tim

This is why I changed them out to pressurewounds on 2 of my 3 (non-piccolo) basses. I'm considering switching them out on my other bass too.

 

[HaphAsSard]

These are the 760Ns, 50-105's. I have not tried the larger gauge, if for no other reason than not wanting to get the nut cut--especially if I didn't know if I want to stay with this string. I'll give them a shot for awhile and see how they shake out. I don't mind the very low tension but I don't care too much for the requirement for such a high action to accommodate that looseness.

So they are the 750N, not the 760.
And yes, no two ways about it: they are very thin metal roundwounds under the black nylon tape and have very little tension; so, in order for them not to smack against the frets, you can only lighten your touch or raise the action. [EDIT: ...so there are two ways about it, after all.]

If you want tapes, more tension and normal gauges, the only option* is GHS tapes (which are flatwounds under the tape, and a little more massive).


* [Well, the only one for standard scale and tuning: technically, you could instead get a super-long scale bass (and a thin-gauged tapewound set that is suitably SL - i.e. either the La Bella 750N-XL or the D'Addario ETB92SL); or uptune the bass one or two half-steps.]

 

[MrAB4003]

This is why I changed them out to pressurewounds on 2 of my 3 (non-piccolo) basses. I'm considering switching them out on my other bass too.

Update: I have decided to switch them out. Therefore, I am out of the club.

 

[GIBrat51]

View attachment 414299 Here's mine; Rogue VB-100 with Rotosound 88m's on it (65-115). Probably a little heavy, but the sound is awesome. May I have a number please?

Still have this bass, and it still has Roto TruBass 88's on it. And, yes it still sounds awesome. Last week, I put a set of these things on a new-to-me '93, medium scale Fury Anthem fretless bass. Are they awesome? Yes; yes they are...
I recently commissioned a short scale Birdsong fretless Fusion Bass. It will be shipped with La Bella 750N tapes on it, and I'm eagerly waiting to see how those tapes sound...

 

[iiipopes]

Update: I have decided to switch them out. Therefore, I am out of the club.

You will be back. You have been assimilated. Resistance is futile.

 

[Just Wrong]

Anybody using tapes with a fretted Stingray? How do they sound? Do you prefer white or black tapes? @Morrighan?

 

[GwenOnBass]

Anybody using tapes with a fretted Stingray? How do they sound? Do you prefer white or black tapes? @Morrighan?

Playing EB Group IV flats on my '79 Ray now. Only the extra long black tapes will fit because it's a through-body bass, so cannot comment on the white or copper tapes. The tapes worked fine, but won't take the EB Group IV flats off to try again.

 

[Just Wrong]

As @iiipopes says, you'll be back

 

[el jeffe bass]

I put a set of Roto 88's on my Carvin J style. I think that I like them much better on this bass than any other string that I've tried, various rounds and flats. I might have actually found the right string for this bass.

 

[MrAB4003]

Update: I have decided to switch them out. Therefore, I am out of the club.

You will be back. You have been assimilated. Resistance is futile.

I stand corrected! I just restrung my Ric 4003 with my La Bella White Tapes. I missed the tone (especially with distortion) and the feel of my tapes. Therefore, I've decided to return to the club.

 

[KLINCOLNS]

You will be back. You have been assimilated. Resistance is futile.

 

[ajkula66]

My '69 EB-3 got a set of D'Addario nylons yesterday. Quite pleased so far. Very different sound/feel from Pyramids and La Bella White Nylons that I have on my LP Basses.

To be continued...

 

[Tom Tater]

I have LaBella 750N tapes on my '22 American Pro II (on right) and I love them, aside from the loose tension. Going to take the plunge and try 760N and have the nut slots widened, which seems like a commitment. Now that I've tried TapeWounds I'm addicted, I have a few P-basses and I'm experimenting with strings.

The new Squier Sonic on the left has factory round wounds and seems perfect as is.

 

[Whaleform]

Hi!! I'd love to join the Tapewound club!!!


So I'm a very big fan of the La Bella Black nylon tapes which I've used on my hybrid 8 string guitar/bass (charlie hunter style). It gives an excellent dark mids tone that is perfect for that instrument.

I've recently considered trying rounds on that instrument but losing the smooth feel and mids tone would ruin it for me, yet a touch of brightness would be welcome.

I've in the past while heard of the White Nylon tapes that offer more brightness but would still keep the overall feel of the black nylons i enjoy very much...

I recently picked up a pack to try when I restring in the next while but im curious to hear anyone's take on the difference between black and white nylon taped strings. Did you find it was brighter or any notable difference?

thank you kindly for your valued input !

 

[mrperkolator]

I've in the past while heard of the White Nylon tapes that offer more brightness but would still keep the overall feel of the black nylons i enjoy very much...

I recently picked up a pack to try when I restring in the next while but im curious to hear anyone's take on the difference between black and white nylon taped strings. Did you find it was brighter or any notable difference?

thank you kindly for your valued input !

I have labella white tapes on a friend's p bass and it is exactly as you are hoping. Sounds like smooth rounds.

I will say that for those who don't like floppy, getting the larger gauge is worth it. The lights I have are a bit floppy. Nuts are easy enough to replace and definitely worth getting them filed out for the bigger gauge if you want more stiffnesses. I've got the larger black tapes on my Sire V3 and they're wonderful.

fwiw, I think light gauge tapes are perfect for younger learners, or for those who do not have hand strength built up. Young learners will benefit from being forced to play with light touch as well

 

[MrAB4003]

I have labella white tapes on a friend's p bass and it is exactly as you are hoping. Sounds like smooth rounds.

I will say that for those who don't like floppy, getting the larger gauge is worth it. The lights I have are a bit floppy. Nuts are easy enough to replace and definitely worth getting them filed out for the bigger gauge if you want more stiffnesses. I've got the larger black tapes on my Sire V3 and they're wonderful.

fwiw, I think light gauge tapes are perfect for younger learners, or for those who do not have hand strength built up. Young learners will benefit from being forced to play with light touch as well

Be aware that the heavier gauge requires you to widen your nut slots. I had a set of the heavier gauge Gold Whites and I traded them for a lighter gauge set of tapes because I didn't want to cut the nut slots on my nice basses.

 

[mrperkolator]

Be aware that the heavier gauge requires you to widen your nut slots. I had a set of the heavier gauge Gold Whites and I traded them for a lighter gauge set of tapes because I didn't want to cut the nut slots on my nice basses.

yeah I mentioned that, but it's worth it for me. Nuts should be easy to replace