Tapewounds

[Eikari]

I have now experienced the tapewound style of strings for the first time. Bought Fender 9120 and put them on my Jazz. No fingernoise but a class brighter than flats. Great for blues, classic rock for example.

 

[1stnamebassist]

I ordered a set of D'Addario tapes to try on either my Pbass or my Rick. I have the same string on my Fender acoustic and they sound and play great.

 

[sonojono]

I have a cruddy Dean bass and when I bought Tapewounds to help suit my dying Dean bass, the Tapewounds actually gave my bass new life. The tone of the strings is very Beatles esque and Jazzy. Those strings are La Bella Black Tapewounds, I do want to try Rotosound Tapewounds next in the near future!

 

[MonTheNicol]

I am going to try Rotosound Tapewounds in the future. Will probably be my next set of strings for my P bass once I have had the TI's on there for 18-24 months.

 

[1stnamebassist]

OK, got the D'addario tapes and put them on my Pbass and hated them. Tried for about an hour and didn't develop any like for them at all. Pulled them off and put the set of Blue Steels back on. Like the same string on my Fender Tbucket acoustic however.

 

[west al]

I use the D'Addario ETB92 Nylon Tapewounds, they play great for me. I've used the ETB92 Long Scales on Fender, Rickenbacker, Gibson, and Music Man with good sounds.

 

[1stnamebassist]

I use the D'Addario ETB92M / ETB92S Nylon Tapewounds, they play great for me. I've used the ETB92 Long Scales on Fender, Rickenbacker, and Music Man with good sounds too.

Yeah just not what I like. Just not the sound I want from my Pbass. Maybe try them on my Rick further down the road.

 

[hopsbb]

I got D'Addario nylon tapes on my SG and Dean Cabbie,great strings.

 

[fjadams]

I have tapes on quite a few basses.
My favorite tapes are the GHS 3060s. First used them on a Guild Starfire I in 68' and have used them on various basses since.
Next are the various offerings from La Bella.
I have on different basses the Black tapes, White tapes, White Copper tapes. Haven't tried the White Gold tapes yet, but I'm sure I will in the future.
Have used D'Addario on 1 bass and haven't had a problem with them.
Used RotoSound once and the E & A both unwound so I replaced the set.

Since I only short scale basses I haven't used the Fender but haven't heard anybody say anything bad about them.

 

[fretlessguy]

OK, got the D'addario tapes and put them on my Pbass and hated them. Tried for about an hour and didn't develop any like for them at all. Pulled them off and put the set of Blue Steels back on. Like the same string on my Fender Tbucket acoustic however.

I really like tapes on fretlesses and ABGs. I bet they do sound good on that T-bucket.

 

[1stnamebassist]

I really like tapes on fretlesses and ABGs. I bet they do sound good on that T-bucket.

They sound great on the Tbucket. I just finished putting the other set I tried on my Pbass onto my Rick and with headphones they sound good. Have to wait until tomorrow to crank up the amp because the wife just hit the sack because she has to work in the morning. One thing I will say is they feel great. If I can make the Rick growl with these a bit I may leave them on for awhile.

 

[overit]

Just ordered a set of Rotos for an old Roadstar PJ. It already sounded great with some GHS Precision Flats but wanted to try something different.

 

[zontar]

If I can find tapewounds in a gauge similar to what I have--I will try them (Unless they;re too expensive for my means--most I've seen aren't--but they're too small a gauge or too big.

But threads like this help

 

[MonTheNicol]

If I can find tapewounds in a gauge similar to what I have--I will try them (Unless they;re too expensive for my means--most I've seen aren't--but they're too small a gauge or too big.

But threads like this help

The smallest gauge I can find online are 50-65-85-105.

I'm just thinking that if I got the Rotosound Tapes at 65-75-100-115, that surely that would struggle to fit in the nut. Or am I overthinking it?

 

[sonojono]

The smallest gauge I can find online are 50-65-85-105.

I'm just thinking that if I got the Rotosound Tapes at 65-75-100-115, that surely that would struggle to fit in the nut. Or am I overthinking it?

You're in the right to worry about busting a nut. I had to unfortunately file my nut down enable for my La Bella Tapewounds to fit my Bass. Gauges were 60-70-94-115. So of course there was going to be some issues.

 

[1stnamebassist]

Ok listened to them on the Rick and it's a go!

 

[iiipopes]

I have now experienced the tapewound style of strings for the first time. Bought Fender 9120 and put them on my Jazz. No fingernoise but a class brighter than flats. Great for blues, classic rock for example.

Yes, I have them on my custom half-fanned P/J for the same reasons.

 

[Eddie Charles]

When I first encountered D'Adario tape wounds it was on an acoustic/electric bass. Liked them right off. Just for kicks I put them on a Washburn T24 and an Epi EB-0. I was surprised...they are all I use now on all three basses.
I must admit I like the mellow sound that approximates an upright. I can understand that these might not be popular with everyone.

 

[Eikari]

Another thing about tapewounds that i have noticed, is that they are really smooth (silk?, glass?). The sticky feel is non existent, but flats feel sticky to me (at least when new..).

 

[Sparkdog]

The D'Addario tapes will fit standard nuts with no filing, those are 50-65-85-105. They are not as dark and thumpy as the Rotos, but I find the tone a bit more versatile. It's got that essential tapewound vibe (woody, vaguely upright in character) but it's a little brighter and works for many styles of music. They feel great too, super smooth and pretty low tension. You will have to file out your nut to use the Rotos or the La Bellas.