Maybe I'll record a clip between tomorrow and the weekend. I'll have to see if I remember my SoundCloud password...
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TapeWound Club~Anyone?
- Thread starter .BumeStik.
- Start date
Oooh, can I join the club? I've put Fender tapes on my 4-string bass in February and after understanding their tension and how to set up my guitar, I haven't used anything else.
I'm currently planning to get a 5-string bass and my first step towards that was to order a 5-string set (La Bella Black Nylon) to put on as soon as I get that guitar.
I'm currently planning to get a 5-string bass and my first step towards that was to order a 5-string set (La Bella Black Nylon) to put on as soon as I get that guitar.
As I mentioned, I play only tapes, and nearly always unplugged. I like the tone and feel of the Roto 88s, but would like to get more acoustic volume if possible. Does anyone know a tape that's substantially louder on an ABG than the Rotos?
ETA: I'd like to avoid all of the discussion about why ABGs dont work, or must be amped. I've been playing this way for 25 years, and already worn out that teeshirt. Assume I'm gonna play unplugged ABGs, and would like to hear if there are louder tapes, ok? If there aren't, I can live with that.
ETA: I'd like to avoid all of the discussion about why ABGs dont work, or must be amped. I've been playing this way for 25 years, and already worn out that teeshirt. Assume I'm gonna play unplugged ABGs, and would like to hear if there are louder tapes, ok? If there aren't, I can live with that.
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Yes, if you contact LaBella they have them but when I contacted them about a year or so back, they had the black tape wounds in stock here in the states for 4 string but they had to order the low B from Germany...it took week or two but I have them on my medium scale ABG Ibby acoustic bass and they sound great. When I talked to the woman there (I forget her name), she said she ordered a few extras so they might still have some. I'm heading out right now but should be back in a couple of hours...if you need her name, I can forward that onto you when I get back.
@Just Wrong I'm back....
It's actually Warwick/Framus and the email address is [email protected]
The person that helped me was Ashley. They are out of Nashville, TN.
4 string tape wound set P/N is 34200M MS 4.
"B" string P/N is 34130 MS
If I remember, the cost was around $60 for the whole set.
Hope this helps.
~T~
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How are the Galli? Are they brighter or warmer? Plastic (La Bella) or … peach-like, like the Pyramid?Galli do
This is the 6 string set at LOTS Galli G77-6M Medium Scale Black Nylon Tapewound Bass Electric 6 string
Or you can get the 5 string set directly from Galli by selecting medium scale in the drop down box
G77-5 Bass 5 strings
Galli® Strings - 5 strings set Black Nylon tape wound .055 - .130. You can choose your preferred scale length 30\www.gallistrings.com
Mentioned them as a reference to availability. I haven’t actually used them myself
Anybody tried the Galli? Are they brighter or warmer? Plastic (La Bella) or … peach-like, like the Pyramid?
Ernie Ball Launches New Tapewound Bass Strings for Warm, Upright-Style Tone
Ernie Ball has unveiled new Tapewound Bass Strings featuring a black nylon wrap for a warm, mellow, upright-style tone. Available in long and short scale sets.
www.notreble.com
Interesting! I totally missed that announcement.
Here's an article that mentions them on the EB website: New at NAMM 2026
I'm interested to try the 50-105 set. I love La Bella tapes in those gauges. I used to like D'Addario ETB92 tapes a lot as well before I came to prefer La Bella. Curious to see how EB's tapes match up to La Bella and D'Addario.
Here's an article that mentions them on the EB website: New at NAMM 2026
I'm interested to try the 50-105 set. I love La Bella tapes in those gauges. I used to like D'Addario ETB92 tapes a lot as well before I came to prefer La Bella. Curious to see how EB's tapes match up to La Bella and D'Addario.
I'm also curious about the 50-105, but unfortunately, I play short scale basses. More brands need to make 50-105 in short scale. 115 and 112 just feel too big.
A short scale 105 nylon would be like putting a 95 gauge regular string on a short scale. That would result in very low tension. Hence the 115 nylon, which is prob a regular 105 under there
Another short-scale player here. In my experience, D'Addario tapewounds in 50-105 are barely passable while the La Bella White Nylons in the same gauge are exceptionally floppy.
Many people dislike the idea of enlarging the nut slots, but to me personally the trade-off was worth it.
My $0.02 only...
I've done this on several of my instruments. Filed away some of the string slot on the bridge as well. It's really not a big deal.
I think the D'addario Tapes have the thinnest Nylon wrapping.
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I’m pretty sure all short scale Fenders, with the exception of the JMJ, come with a 95 E out of the factory.
But you might be onto something about the nylon wrapping on the D’Addario. On a long scale, the 50-105 D’Addarios feel like they have more tension than the 50-105 La Bella.
Also, I once emailed D’Addario because the tension numbers on the package didn’t match those on the site. I don’t know if they corrected it, but the website numbers were lower than they actually are
I was using and loving the 50-105 White Nylons on a long scale. Tried the 60-115 when I switched to a short scale, but didn’t like the gauge, so I switched to D’Addario.
That said, La Bella’s new Stang tapes are 50-105. I got a Mustang yesterday and wanted to try those, but couldn’t find them in stock locally so I got the D’Addario.
The Stang's might have the thin nylon wrap which adds only .005" to the underlying gauge which is likely a .100.
Consider how thick the Nylon on the Trubass 88's are by comparison. The wrap adds .015" to the underlying .100
Consider how thick the Nylon on the Trubass 88's are by comparison. The wrap adds .015" to the underlying .100
Brandon Shea
Commercial User
Nice club you all have here!
I just recently got a couple sets of tapes, and I posted about the La Bella 750G set over in this thread (with a recording for good measure): La Bella 750G Gold White Tapewounds
I just recently got a couple sets of tapes, and I posted about the La Bella 750G set over in this thread (with a recording for good measure): La Bella 750G Gold White Tapewounds
