Yes they can, and I’ve done it on my Sire. La Bella is round wound under the tape so no issues there.
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TapeWound Club~Anyone?
- Thread starter .BumeStik.
- Start date
Yes they can, and I’ve done it on my Sire. La Bella is round wound under the tape so no issues there.
Around 4 weeks to get my order of Magma 53-140 Black Nylons from the U.S. Held up in customs here in Oz as usual.
Now to the strings themselves. At least some specs and comments about the physical aspects of them. I haven’t tried them sonically as yet.
Generally the quality looks to be pretty good. The only issue I found in the set I received at least, is the A .093 string was ‘over silked’ at the tuning post end. By that I mean too many layers of thread. Making the taper much too fat. A preliminary attempt to shove it down the tuning hole was unsuccessful and I had to remove silk and nylon wrap thereby exposing the metal wrap underneath. Now if I was in the U.S I would prob return the set for another or a refund. But seeing I ain’t, I will just live with it. But a bloke shouldn’t have to be messing with a string physically just to be able to make it useable before even trying it sonically imo.
Moving on. The strings feel pretty smooth and the nylon wrap well applied.
Total Length of Strings
B 49.475”
E 49”
A 49.625”
D 49.375”
G 50.75”
Winding lengths per string
B 37.25”
E 37”
A 36.75”
D 36.75”
G 36.75”
Neither Magma U.S.A or Magma Argentina got back to my email request about string tension.
I was gonna try and get an approx idea via doing some non destructive Calculations but I realise the method has too big a flaw in it to be valid. So when I string em up I just see how they feel compared to the only other tapes I’ve tried which are Roto88’s
Some pics
Closeup of B string silked taper compared to A string on the right.
Work done to allow A string to go down tuner hole. I put a little shrink wrap on silk to stop any unravelling
Now to the strings themselves. At least some specs and comments about the physical aspects of them. I haven’t tried them sonically as yet.
Generally the quality looks to be pretty good. The only issue I found in the set I received at least, is the A .093 string was ‘over silked’ at the tuning post end. By that I mean too many layers of thread. Making the taper much too fat. A preliminary attempt to shove it down the tuning hole was unsuccessful and I had to remove silk and nylon wrap thereby exposing the metal wrap underneath. Now if I was in the U.S I would prob return the set for another or a refund. But seeing I ain’t, I will just live with it. But a bloke shouldn’t have to be messing with a string physically just to be able to make it useable before even trying it sonically imo.
Moving on. The strings feel pretty smooth and the nylon wrap well applied.
Total Length of Strings
B 49.475”
E 49”
A 49.625”
D 49.375”
G 50.75”
Winding lengths per string
B 37.25”
E 37”
A 36.75”
D 36.75”
G 36.75”
Neither Magma U.S.A or Magma Argentina got back to my email request about string tension.
I was gonna try and get an approx idea via doing some non destructive Calculations but I realise the method has too big a flaw in it to be valid. So when I string em up I just see how they feel compared to the only other tapes I’ve tried which are Roto88’s
Some pics
Closeup of B string silked taper compared to A string on the right.
Work done to allow A string to go down tuner hole. I put a little shrink wrap on silk to stop any unravelling
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Have put the Magmas on my parts Squier and done a full set up with BEAD tuning. I was impressed with intonating of these strings. The The E2 on the fat B string is perfectly in unison with E2 on the E string. I typically have to mess around a bit to get it like so with big B’s. Sometimes it is never right on ( who plays above the 12th anyways right! he he).
The feel is similar to the Roto88’s I would say. Tension and stiffness wise. The B sounds more defined than the Roto88 135, but I only have a headphone amp, so I am missing out on a lot of low nuance I guess.
The D 073 in this set sounds nice and sweet. A little more pronounced than the other strings, but possibly a pickup artifact which I’ll address if need be.
All in all I am pretty happy with the purchase of these strings. Despite the A string issue mentioned previously ( it sounds good and that’s what matters in the final analysis.
Some pics from some angles
Break angle over Nut
Action at 12th
Construction 8/10 ( would have been a 9 if no quality control issue with the A)
Sound 9/10. Very good. More pleasing to my ears than the Roto88’s. Particularly the D string. I never got on with the Roto D to be honest.
The feel is similar to the Roto88’s I would say. Tension and stiffness wise. The B sounds more defined than the Roto88 135, but I only have a headphone amp, so I am missing out on a lot of low nuance I guess.
The D 073 in this set sounds nice and sweet. A little more pronounced than the other strings, but possibly a pickup artifact which I’ll address if need be.
All in all I am pretty happy with the purchase of these strings. Despite the A string issue mentioned previously ( it sounds good and that’s what matters in the final analysis.
Some pics from some angles
Break angle over Nut
Action at 12th
Construction 8/10 ( would have been a 9 if no quality control issue with the A)
Sound 9/10. Very good. More pleasing to my ears than the Roto88’s. Particularly the D string. I never got on with the Roto D to be honest.
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I have them on my Squier basses, a J and a P.
On the CV P, I'm going for an old school sound. I put a 70's DiMarzio pickup in there and put the LaBella tapes on it.
On the Jazz bass, I wanted to see if I can get the early Larry Graham sound. I put LaBella tapes on it as well.
I'm considering Rotosound tapes on my Fender Vintera Jazz, also for copping the Graham tone. I recently found out on another thread that was the brand he used.
On the CV P, I'm going for an old school sound. I put a 70's DiMarzio pickup in there and put the LaBella tapes on it.
On the Jazz bass, I wanted to see if I can get the early Larry Graham sound. I put LaBella tapes on it as well.
I'm considering Rotosound tapes on my Fender Vintera Jazz, also for copping the Graham tone. I recently found out on another thread that was the brand he used.
Back to tapewounds on one of my fretless basses, this time the LaBella Coppers! I just was not satisfied with the lack of authority the Thomastik-Infled flats provided *to my ears* for the low B string. I'm sure others are happy with it and the other strings are great.
I would have gone back to the Gold White tapewounds but wanted to try the Coppers.
The low B has the authority that I was looking for! I like both the Gold White and the Copper White. I haven't played the Coppers long enough to compare it to the Golds but I definitely hear the complex mids that has been described by others on TB.
I would have gone back to the Gold White tapewounds but wanted to try the Coppers.
The low B has the authority that I was looking for! I like both the Gold White and the Copper White. I haven't played the Coppers long enough to compare it to the Golds but I definitely hear the complex mids that has been described by others on TB.
Hi everyone.
I am trying tapes for the first time. I’ve got LaBella 750 Copper Whites for my Fender Am. Std. Fretless Jazz with factory installed 60s Custom Shop pickups. So far I like the tone, feel and tension. And they look fantastic on that bass (sunburst+tort+rosewood). What I don’t like is lower output (compared to other strings I’ve used in the past) and grounding noise.
I can deal with lower output but noise is little annoying especially when practicing with headphones.
I was aware that grounding noise it’s a nature of all tapewounds and it can be solved with active EMG pickups.
I have never had grounding issues with other strings before. Rolling tone helps a little bit but I am looking for other solutions.
So here are my questions:
1. Are there other tapewounds strings that deal better with grounding issues by using some sort of conductive tape (if such even exists)? Or they all the same?
2. Will noise gate pedals help me with that issue? Or they were not designed to deal with this kind of noise.
I appreciate any input.
I am trying tapes for the first time. I’ve got LaBella 750 Copper Whites for my Fender Am. Std. Fretless Jazz with factory installed 60s Custom Shop pickups. So far I like the tone, feel and tension. And they look fantastic on that bass (sunburst+tort+rosewood). What I don’t like is lower output (compared to other strings I’ve used in the past) and grounding noise.
I can deal with lower output but noise is little annoying especially when practicing with headphones.
I was aware that grounding noise it’s a nature of all tapewounds and it can be solved with active EMG pickups.
I have never had grounding issues with other strings before. Rolling tone helps a little bit but I am looking for other solutions.
So here are my questions:
1. Are there other tapewounds strings that deal better with grounding issues by using some sort of conductive tape (if such even exists)? Or they all the same?
2. Will noise gate pedals help me with that issue? Or they were not designed to deal with this kind of noise.
I appreciate any input.
Run a wire through each of the ball ends and attach one end to one of the saddle intonation screws. Make sure ball ends are contacting the rear of the bridge plate. Alternatively you could also put on an ashtray bridge cover and have that attached to the bridge plate by a discreet wire. And rest your palm or some fingers on it to play depending on plucking approach
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I just realised a wire through the balls wouldn’t achieve anything additional if the string ball ends are contacting the bridge anyway. That pesky tape will still insulate your fingers. The ashtray cover wired to bridge and used as hand/finger rest is def something to try though I reckon
Yeah, I was gonna say attach a wire between yourself and the bass. lol.
Or, maybe find something that is not you to attach the wire to.
Or, maybe find something that is not you to attach the wire to.
That was a method for session players at one point. Alligator clip on the bridge, wire from that to a flat pad that gets tucked into your waistband.
But proper shielding and noiseless pickups have all but got rid of the need for that.
i find that the Galli brand tapewounds have the most output of all the tapewound brands and the best overall tension.
You can also look into rack mounts and noise supressors.
I've got an old 2ch Alesis compressor+limiter+noise gate rack unit and I'm content with it. ~$50 and goes after the graphic EQ.
Question for those that have a 5 stringer…. Which tapewound set has a clear b string and retains the barky bridge pickup tone? I’ve only used the 4 string la Bella’s (except for a 5 string years ago but I don’t remember…)
It’s not my favorite tone, but one I’ve come to use a lot to be heard. I’ve got nickel rounds on my new 5 at the moment.
Edit: I have a preference for labella. I played on an unknown tapewound on a Fretless in a store and hated them.
It’s not my favorite tone, but one I’ve come to use a lot to be heard. I’ve got nickel rounds on my new 5 at the moment.
Edit: I have a preference for labella. I played on an unknown tapewound on a Fretless in a store and hated them.
I have a 5 string with Bartolini original soapbars with LaBella Copper White Tapewounds. I always play with both pickups on full, personal preference. I find the B string to be clear and even. I also liked the B on the Gold White Tapewounds also, but overall prefer the tone of the Coppers.
Hopefully this helps some. Going to practice today and see how the bridge pickup solo sounds like
How do they compare to the blacks?I have a 5 string with Bartolini original soapbars with LaBella Copper White Tapewounds. I always play with both pickups on full, personal preference. I find the B string to be clear and even. I also liked the B on the Gold White Tapewounds also, but overall prefer the tone of the Coppers.
Hopefully this helps some. Going to practice today and see how the bridge pickup solo sounds like
I found the LaBella Black Tapewounds to be really nice strings with a deep tone and can get into really nice vintagey territory. I know there are other posts that describe them better than I just did.
I would have kept them on the bass except I did not like the low B. In my experience, I found it to be less defined and boomy for my ears.I then went to Gold White Tapewounds which had a more defined low B and brighter overall. But I missed the darker character of the Black Tapewounds. I then experimented more with the Coppers, which I've stayed with. The Coppers still have definition but not as bright as the Golds. Also to add, others describe the complex mids of the Coppers, which I do hear. It may or may not be a distraction and I heard them less when I turned up my treble and high mids (I usually turn those down with other basses). It also helped me hear my B string even better.
Dark to bright: Black----->Copper---->Gold----->White
And on a side note for this thread, I'd like to hear from someone with experience with all the LaBella Tapewounds: I found the Gold and Coppers to have lower output than the Black Tapewounds. It's not a dealbreaker, which I know it is for some.
Hope it helps!
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I have tried all 4 sets of the La Bella tapes. I agree with your assessment on brightness, personally I didn't like sound of the White ones, not that they don't sound OK but they didn't sound like tapes to my ears, they sound like a well worn rounds without the finger noise. Having used the GHS tapes for over a decade, I also didn;t like the Black ones much, too little definition for me.
I do love the Copper and Gold best and have them since 5 years on my acoustic bass and one of my slab body P basses. However I didn't notice a difference in output between the different sets.
@subdude67, Good to know you didn't notice a difference in output.
To me the tonal characteristic of the Golds would be nice on an acoustic bass as well.
Sometimes I'm curious to try the regular Whites but from everything I've read I'd end up back with the Coppers
What did you like/dislike about the GHS tapes?
To me the tonal characteristic of the Golds would be nice on an acoustic bass as well.
Sometimes I'm curious to try the regular Whites but from everything I've read I'd end up back with the Coppers
What did you like/dislike about the GHS tapes?
I tried the La Bellas (and other tapewounds) over the years because I could,
I still like the GHS best, to me, they are the most comfortable and pleasing sounding tapes of them all. But I enjoy the copper and white La Bellas too, it seems harder and harder to buy truly crappy strings these days
