Anybody use tapewounds?

pjmuck · **Posted:** July 20th, 2010, 7:36 am

I picked up a set of Rotosound black nylons to satisfy my curiosity, since I've never tried tapewounds before. The question now is what bass to put them on. Is there any one quintessential instrument that these are typically married to? I'm guessing they'll work best with a hollow/semi-hollow bodied bass.

Agent00Soul · **Posted:** July 20th, 2010, 8:30 am

I always think of the Let It Be movie. They are quite visible. Paul Samwell-Smith from The Yardbirds also used them. So you're thoughts of hollow bodies is spot on....

AustinLeftyBass · **Posted:** July 20th, 2010, 8:31 am

I've used them on certain basses for decades, I love 'em.
I use them on my Gibson EB-2, Epiphone Rivoli, and Epiphone EB-O. I had them on my blue Fender Jazz for a while, as a tribute to Herbie Flowers. Listen to any of his classic tracks and you're hearing a Jazz with Roto tapewounds.
My faves are by GHS but the Rotosounds are good too. I don't like the Fender's, they're rough, I like 'em smooth.

Agent00Soul · **Posted:** July 20th, 2010, 8:47 am

Yes - thanks for the reminder! How can I forget Herbie Flowers?? Not only did he play on many classic Brit-rock recordings, he made AMAZINGLY funky "canned music" with organist Alan Hawkshaw that's now sampled by DJs like Skeewiff, Urusula 1000, the Chemical Brothers and Moby. Here's the same Jazz bass he's always used.

AustinLeftyBass · **Posted:** July 20th, 2010, 9:01 am

http://www.curtisnovak.com/vintage/JazzBass59/

Frenchy-Lefty · **Posted:** July 20th, 2010, 5:01 pm

There is a Bobby Vega lesson on Bassplayer TV where Bobby plays a cool Fender Jazz with Taperwounds. He even plays slap with them.
I had some on a Rogue VB100 and thought it sounded awesome with a pick.

thumbslam · **Posted:** July 21st, 2010, 7:53 pm

I have a set of La Bella deep talkin flats on my Spector fretless. They are wrapped with some sort of plastic and smooth as silk. Are they tapewounds? I have no idea but I will say they look cool (black with purple silk) feel great but sound like crayons kind of plasitic sounding, Blek!!....They are coming off this week and being replaced with half-rounds. What is the difference between flat wounds and tape wounds?

danomite64 · **Posted:** July 21st, 2010, 8:45 pm

Believe it or not, tapewounds sounded great on every Soundgear I've tried them on. Unfortunately, I had to sell that bass earlier this year, so I guess I'll have to put a set of tapewounds on one of my other Soundgears.

Agent00Soul · **Posted:** July 22nd, 2010, 7:50 am

thumbslam wrote:

What is the difference between flat wounds and tape wounds?

Tapewounds are wound with a nylon ribbon and flatwounds have a metal ribbon (nickel or steel I assume, but not sure).

Matt R. · **Posted:** July 22nd, 2010, 8:01 am

That Lake Placid Blue Jazz Bass....

AzWhoFan · **Joined:** March 14th, 2008, 10:57 am **Posts:** 2866

AustinLeftyBass wrote:

I've used them on certain basses for decades, I love 'em.
I use them on my Gibson EB-2, Epiphone Rivoli, and Epiphone EB-O. I had them on my blue Fender Jazz for a while, as a tribute to Herbie Flowers. Listen to any of his classic tracks and you're hearing a Jazz with Roto tapewounds.
My faves are by GHS but the Rotosounds are good too. I don't like the Fender's, they're rough, I like 'em smooth.

that bass sure does have balls to spare!

LeftyBassist.com

Anybody use tapewounds?

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