New string surprise... Tapewounds

[Gustopher]

Ok, I had no intention of ordering tapewounds... but I supposed the universe had other plans. I ordered from regular ol' Fender SS Flatwounds from Amazon. It was a good price and I wanted to try fender flats, no brainer. I received my package yesterday afternoon and opened the envelope to see these strings. The Fender package was correct and said 105-55 SS Flatwound - long scale... however, inside of this box was an unopened pack of black tapewounds, black silk. I am guessing that someone returned these or they got mixed up at the packaging factory.
Not to be deterred... I figured, I've always wanted to try tapewounds too, so I went ahead and installed them. Aside from being larger (can't be certain the size, since the packaging was wrong" they feel great! I love the low tension and they sound just wonderful on my pbass. I played for a long time last night and I really wish I had given these a try years ago. I think I'm in love. They look neat on my black pbass with black pickguard too (rosewood fretboard)... they just kinda disappear.

They get a big thumbs up from me.

 

[Malcolm35]

Thanks, if I ever get around to changing my flats I'll keep this in mind.

 

[bignc]

Did you have to open up the nut any? Or do they sit fine?

 

[michael_t]

can't be certain the size, since the packaging was wrong...

Fender Tapewound 9120M = 58-72-92-110.

 

[Gustopher]

Did you have to open up the nut any? Or do they sit fine?

They sat fine in the nut, but they feel large lol.

 

[Gustopher]

Just to add a little more info to this, I noticed that the tension felt lower so I checked and yep I needed to make small adjustment to my truss rod to loosen it. Once I did, I was able to get my action set really nice and how I like it.

 

[bignc]

I play flats but mostly so I don’t have to worry about changing strings often. I want to try tapes again though- my Lb-100 is white/black pickguard and a darker (brazilian cherry) fret. Black would look cool

 

[Gustopher]

I played for another couple hours tonight and I am thoroughly happy with them. I have no idea how they will break in over time but I really like what I am hearing and feeling so far.

 

[Samatza]

I like tape wounds on my fretless basses, they sound and feel great. I generally use the Daddario tapes but have tried the clear ones from La Bella too.

 

[voodoobassist]

I ordered some l'abella white tapewounds a couple of months backs. I am NOT a flatwound type guy, but curiosity and a desire to change some things about my sound drove me to give them a try. I fell in love with the tone of them on my Benavente dual split coil bass. Thick, chewy, super comfortable to play, even though they initially felt huge under my fingers. I still run rounds on my other basses, but the tapes are quickly becoming my preferred sound. I still don't like the sound of regular flats though. Go figure.

 

[RestlessBoom]

I started using tapes about 8 years ago and never looked back. I love the low tension (especially since my band is tuned a half-step down) and the feel of the strings themselves. I’m primarily a pick player, and tapes get me the tone I want- thumpy but with a great attack and no string noise

 

[MJ_Sotti]

I've been back to roundwounds for awhile now...they're all I've ever used. I don't like flats, they feel funny to me.

But a couple years ago I tried black LaBella tapes and used them a long time. Love them. Bendy, slick and they look cool.

I use them on my fretless now.

 

[RedMoses]

La Bella 760N black tape are my favorite string, ive been using them for over 20 years, with the right Bass there is no better string. Lovely mid range, smooth feel, low tensions (so i can run the heaviest strings) and just the right amount of high end to cut through a mix.

 

[TemplesOfSyrinx]

I play flats but mostly so I don’t have to worry about changing strings often. I want to try tapes again though- my Lb-100 is white/black pickguard and a darker (brazilian cherry) fret. Black would look cool

It looks just like this.

 

[bignc]

View attachment 4424426
It looks just like this.

Ooooooooooooooo. You guys are such enablers!

 

[Killing Floor]

Ha! Sometimes the universe has your back.

 

[pingvuiini]

I have been playing fretless exclusively for 30+ years and based on the dates of some of these digital photos I started using tapes in 2011. My favorite are D'Addario, but I have also used LaBella, GHS and Status Graphite tapes at various times.

My latest involvement with tapes has been interesting. In the last 4 years I have been playing 23" scale fretless uke basses exclusively due to problems with my fretting pinky and ring fingers. I started out using silicone rubber Pahoehoe uke bass strings which sound good but come with many annoying idiosyncrasies. I contacted D'Addario and LaBella to see if they could make 23" scale tapes and D'Addario said they had no plans to do so and LaBella said they 'couldn't make the intonation work.' Last year I commissioned a custom 5 string fretless uke bass (see bottom photo) using Pahoehoe strings and I asked the builder to make allowances for changes in the event I happen to find a string manufacturer to make 23" scale tapes for me. About 5 months ago, I discovered Pyramid strings in Germany and they we willing to make a custom set of tapes for my uke bass. They asked for all the key measurements and when I finally got them they fit perfectly and felt wonderful! The action was high past the 12th fret due to the difference in tension, so I shipped the bass back to the original builder to have everything adjusted and to add a magnetic pickup. After several weeks of major surgery the bass en route back to me and I can wait to play it.

I love how I can slide/glissando all over the place and not have any finger noise with tapes. I actually bought a cheap fretted bass earlier this year and with tapes I can still get a decent snap for slapping, but it's tone down a little bit and not so bright which I like.

 

[Gustopher]

Here is a reference pic, for anyone curious;

 

[Rocket Queen]

FWIW, here’s Scott’s take on tapes:

 

[woodyng2]

Been a huge fan of various Labella Tapewounds for about a decade.
I started with the classic black set, and have used the plain white and copper white tapes on several different fretted and fretless basses. The copper white set is my favorite, a very unique sounding combination of thumpiness and a warm roundwound tang. I also love that Labella offers these in a 50-105 gauge,which usually only requires a minimum of nut slot filing.
They are a beautiful sonic compliment to my Rickenbacker Cheyenne and my Tune wb4f fretless.