TapeWound Club~Anyone?

[trseal]

Having just received a couple of short-scale White Nylon sets, I'm dangerously close to moving into "all tapewound" phase on my four-stringers, although I'll likely leave the Guild JS-2 strung with rounds since the frets are in great shape and I also like the way it sounds "as is".

To be continued...

Without even trying, I ended up with tapes on 4 of my 9 basses. They're all different because I was going for different tone from each of my basses. But I do love those tape wounds! Roto 88's on a Vox Teardrop (need I say more...?), LaBella Copper Whites on a Fender Aerodyne P, D'Ad's on a Mod Shop custom Jazz and Fender on a fretless Jazz. Each one does its own job remarkably.

Tim

 

[ADHD librarian]

Without even trying, I ended up with tapes on 4 of my 9 basses. They're all different because I was going for different tone from each of my basses. But I do love those tape wounds! Roto 88's on a Vox Teardrop (need I say more...?), LaBella Copper Whites on a Fender Aerodyne P, D'Ad's on a Mod Shop custom Jazz and Fender on a fretless Jazz. Each one does its own job remarkably.

Tim

I’m moving the same way, black tapes on 2, white gold on 1, 1 with pressurewounds, one currently unstrung; it will get one of the sets of flats I’ve got laying around (because i don’t want to spend money on a bass I don’t often play at the moment) One out on loan - can’t recall what I had on that. And one which currently has the fretboard off & truss rod out (so, may never need strings again).

 

[thisheregiraffe]

Anybody catch the limited edition release of these Bubby Lewis Kobura tapes from La Bella today?

They describe them as “limited edition white nylon tape wounds”. Do they sound any much different from the standard white tapes? I dunno! I doubt it. But they look pretty darn cool IMO. I’m not buying them at that price plus shipping to Canada… Too much $$$ for me. But they look nifty anyhow.

 

[Lance Bunyon]

Four of my basses sport tapes. Don't really have the budget right now for more tapes sets. Maybe I should sell feet pics?

 

[jimmydean]

If I buy a fretless this weekend , I will string it with tapewounds ........trust me .

 

[Mister_GothFrak]

I'll take a number!

 

[thisheregiraffe]

It’s new string day for me. I’m stoked to put them on my fretless J bass tonight!

 

[thisheregiraffe]

The white nylon tapes have been installed! They sound and feel fantastic. I’ve had 750N, 750T, and 750C sets on other basses before, so I basically knew what to expect, but they have surpassed my expectations. I think this bass has reached its final form!

The red silks and colour-coded ball ends look sharp.

The Babicz Z-series bridge is also a very recent addition. Used to have a regular old bent plate bridge, which wasn’t bad necessarily, but I much prefer the Babicz saddle design.

 

[trseal]

It’s new string day for me. I’m stoked to put them on my fretless J bass tonight!

View attachment 6993523

The white nylon tapes have been installed! They sound and feel fantastic. I’ve had 750N, 750T, and 750C sets on other basses before, so I basically knew what to expect, but they have surpassed my expectations. I think this bass has reached its final form!

View attachment 6993632
View attachment 6993634View attachment 6993633

The red silks and colour-coded ball ends look sharp.

The Babicz Z-series bridge is also a very recent addition. Used to have a regular old bent plate bridge, which wasn’t bad necessarily, but I much prefer the Babicz saddle design.

I'd be very interested in a comprehensive review on those. I like tapes and have various models on a few of my basses. I've tried the 750N and have mixed opinion on them and the 750C which I like a lot. Those currently reside on an Aerodyne P.

Tim

 

[thisheregiraffe]

I'd be very interested in a comprehensive review on those. I like tapes and have various models on a few of my basses. I've tried the 750N and have mixed opinion on them and the 750C which I like a lot. Those currently reside on an Aerodyne P.

Tim

Hi Tim,

I don't know how comprehensive of a review I can give you. I'm not super great at describing these things. For whatever it's worth, I think La Bella's own production description is rather accurate. This is copied from the La Bella 750T product page:

La Bella White Nylon Tape Wound bass strings have an incredibly smooth outer wrap of clear nylon to create a warm and deep low end.

Compared to our classic Black Nylon Tape Wound bass strings, the White Nylon Tapes are even smoother to the touch and slightly brighter in tone, making them ideal for all genres of music on all types of basses.

The white nylon tapes are very smooth. I love the feel and texture. These strings are slick and play fast. The feel is not vastly different from the 750N black tapes, but I do find the white tapes to be a bit smoother than the black tapes.

"Warm and deep low end" is a good descriptor IMHO. I've had all kinds of strings on this bass, and some sets can make it sound a bit thin. That is not the case with the white tapes. There is a very pleasant, deep quality and clarity to their sound. And it's not without some brightness too. La Bella describes them as "slightly brighter in tone" than the black tapes; however, I feel like the difference is a bit more than "slight" based on my experience with 750N black tapes on other basses. The white tapes sound to me quite a bit like roundwound strings, like a broken-in, retaining just enough zing, set of rounds. Not extremely zingy, fresh-out-of-the-pack rounds. And with perhaps a more focused tone that you might expect from your average rounds; deeper, and maybe less overtones?

Your mileage may vary and all that. I really really like these strings on this bass.

 

[Steve Cullen]

LaBella blacks's are my personal fave and I've tried lots of different string makers sets including Rotosound tapes which are cheaper here. I have them on two Ibanez SR 5 strings but the price in the UK is crazy. Nearly £100 a set!! It's a good job that they last longer.

 

[trseal]

Hi Tim,

I don't know how comprehensive of a review I can give you. I'm not super great at describing these things. For whatever it's worth, I think La Bella's own production description is rather accurate. This is copied from the La Bella 750T product page:



The white nylon tapes are very smooth. I love the feel and texture. These strings are slick and play fast. The feel is not vastly different from the 750N black tapes, but I do find the white tapes to be a bit smoother than the black tapes.

"Warm and deep low end" is a good descriptor IMHO. I've had all kinds of strings on this bass, and some sets can make it sound a bit thin. That is not the case with the white tapes. There is a very pleasant, deep quality and clarity to their sound. And it's not without some brightness too. La Bella describes them as "slightly brighter in tone" than the black tapes; however, I feel like the difference is a bit more than "slight" based on my experience with 750N black tapes on other basses. The white tapes sound to me quite a bit like roundwound strings, like a broken-in, retaining just enough zing, set of rounds. Not extremely zingy, fresh-out-of-the-pack rounds. And with perhaps a more focused tone that you might expect from your average rounds; deeper, and maybe less overtones?

Your mileage may vary and all that. I really really like these strings on this bass.

IDK, that is pretty comprehensive! I appreciate that. The copper whites have some tonal flexibility also. If I play them "normally" (?) they are really warm and, idk, "flatty." But dig in and they have quite a snap to them. So with some technique you can get vintage and a bit more modern tone from them. Thanks.

Tim

 

[thisheregiraffe]

IDK, that is pretty comprehensive! I appreciate that. The copper whites have some tonal flexibility also. If I play them "normally" (?) they are really warm and, idk, "flatty." But dig in and they have quite a snap to them. So with some technique you can get vintage and a bit more modern tone from them. Thanks.

Tim

Yes, I think the white tapes are similarly flexible in that way. I love to play along with Rush tunes, and when I really dig in these strings can get really snappy. Obviously I’m never going to get a fretless bass with tapes to sound just like a fretted bass with Rotos, but with the right technique (plucking super hard like Geddy does) and some overdrive from my SansAmp pedal, it gets me in the ballpark — and sounds pretty darn cool IMHO

 

[FeltTipPen]

I have LaBella Black Nylon Tapewounds 60-135 on a fretless 5 string with Bartolini Original soapbars. I've been loving the smooth, fast feel and tone for the most part, except the low B on occasion. I'm not great at descriptors but there's too much of a difference when I go to the B string, it's more overwhelming/too big sounding and sounds a little tubby. Wondering if it's the combination of the sonic characteristics of the Black Tapes and Barts Original.

I have a set of White Gold Nylons that may work better for me. Anyone using them on a 5 string? How's the B string?

 

[Steve Cullen]

I have LaBella Black Nylon Tapewounds 60-135 on a fretless 5 string with Bartolini Original soapbars. I've been loving the smooth, fast feel and tone for the most part, except the low B on occasion. I'm not great at descriptors but there's too much of a difference when I go to the B string, it's more overwhelming/too big sounding and sounds a little tubby. Wondering if it's the combination of the sonic characteristics of the Black Tapes and Barts Original.

I have a set of White Gold Nylons that may work better for me. Anyone using them on a 5 string? How's the B string?

I tried the whites on a five string and had the opposite experience! The G was way too trebly, the LaBella blacks are my favourite strings hands down.

 

[FeltTipPen]

I tried the whites on a five string and had the opposite experience! The G was way too trebly, the LaBella blacks are my favourite strings hands down.

Hmm...I really like the G string on the black tapes so I may not swap for the white gold. What did you think of the B on the whites?

 

[Steve Cullen]

Hmm...I really like the G string on the black tapes so I may not swap for the white gold. What did you think of the B on the whites?

On the whole, and this is just my opinion not hard fact, the whites have a brighter overall tone than the blacks. When I had the whites fitted to my Ibanez ANB I had a different amp and cab setup than now so it's a bit hard to compare directly but I found that they had a pretty even tone (apart from the G). As far as the B goes, there are differences between the B and the middle and high registers in all string sets I've tried, including flats, rounds and Rotosound black tapes and it is the one string in any set that either goes 'off' first and/or requires different handling compared to the E on a 4 when playing regardless of whether tapes or not. I think this is more the case at lower volume - I've found no noticeable discrepancy in either gig volumes and recorded sound - this might have something to do with my playing attack being a bit lighter though at volume.
I also thought that the whites were lower tension than the blacks which might be an issue and require some adaptation of technique. I remember having to tweak the truss rod a bit when changing over.
TLDR the B on the whites sounded good to me, consistent with other string sets I've used -if the G hadn't been so pingy I would have kept them on for a bit of contrast with my other 5 string, which also has LaBella black tapes fitted. I definitely prefer the 'earthier' tone of the blacks over the whites though.

 

[ADHD librarian]

Hmm...I really like the G string on the black tapes so I may not swap for the white gold. What did you think of the B on the whites?

Pretend you're playing a guitarrón, white nylon B, E & A, black nylon, D & G.
(and let me know how it sounds)

 

[FeltTipPen]

On the whole, and this is just my opinion not hard fact, the whites have a brighter overall tone than the blacks. When I had the whites fitted to my Ibanez ANB I had a different amp and cab setup than now so it's a bit hard to compare directly but I found that they had a pretty even tone (apart from the G). As far as the B goes, there are differences between the B and the middle and high registers in all string sets I've tried, including flats, rounds and Rotosound black tapes and it is the one string in any set that either goes 'off' first and/or requires different handling compared to the E on a 4 when playing regardless of whether tapes or not. I think this is more the case at lower volume - I've found no noticeable discrepancy in either gig volumes and recorded sound - this might have something to do with my playing attack being a bit lighter though at volume.
I also thought that the whites were lower tension than the blacks which might be an issue and require some adaptation of technique. I remember having to tweak the truss rod a bit when changing over.
TLDR the B on the whites sounded good to me, consistent with other string sets I've used -if the G hadn't been so pingy I would have kept them on for a bit of contrast with my other 5 string, which also has LaBella black tapes fitted. I definitely prefer the 'earthier' tone of the blacks over the whites though.

Thanks for sharing your experience! I like that the whites are brighter but I too prefer an earthier tone on this particular fretless. The pingy G string is a turnoff too. I don't think I would like the lower tension compared to the black tapes.

You're reminding me of being mindful of my fretting on the B string to adjust for the differences. I don't seem to notice a difference on the B string with my D'Addario rounds on another fretless, but then again I've had that bass for 7 years and used tapewounds for 6 months.

For now the black tapes are staying as I used it live this morning and the low B sounded fine (though I used it sparingly for this setlist!).

 

[FeltTipPen]

Pretend you're playing a guitarrón, white nylon B, E & A, black nylon, D & G.
(and let me know how it sounds)

Intriguing idea! I may actually consider it!