Flatwound vs. Tapewound Bass Strings - The Ultimate Comparison Video! (No.248)

[@rupe82]

The tapewounds are surprisingly bright which I did not expect.

[@GregsBassShed]

That surprised me too, but having played them for a while now, they have settled down and sound more mellow. I think that have s harder edge to them ,straight out of the packet.

[@mrbungle7586]

Great comparison Greg. For my electric basses, I've mainly used flats for years now. On my AEG Bass I went from phosphor bronze to D'Addario black tapewounds and will never go back. So smooth and the tone is brilliant. Also the volume unplugged isn't that noticeable compared to the bronze. 👍

[@GregsBassShed]

Glad you liked the video. Sounds like you’ve got a really good set-up 👍

[@Tracer9GTRider8]

Yes! I think I mentioned tape wounds in a comment a while back and you said you'd never tried them...glad someone hooked you up!

[@GregsBassShed]

Yes, I remember you mentioning them! It’s great to finally try them.

[@Tracer9GTRider8]

@@GregsBassShed they sound great and look fantastic on that bass!

[@GregsBassShed]

@@Tracer9GTRider8 cheers! I like the way the black strings match the scratch plate!

[@Tracer9GTRider8]

​@@GregsBassShed and with the darker streaks too!

[@KRHUL1]

I have used La Bella black nylon tape wounds on my 4 and 5 string PBs and Flats on my JB. They are superb.

[@GregsBassShed]

Nice!

[@mikefairhurst6934]

Hi Greg, I preferred the tape wound strings, even though a bit buzzy. Perhaps they need to settle in for a while. Also the Rotosound strings have a thicker gauge than usual . I use D'Addario tape wounds with gauges 50 to 105, on my Ibanez when playing in a folk group. I like the feel of them and they are easier on my fingers when playing for some time.

[@GregsBassShed]

I think they do need to settle in a bit and maybe I’ll adjust my plucking style slightly too.

[@stevebarnes766]

Listening with AKG K240 (55 ohm) headphones to be sure to hear the low end vs the laptop speakers. To me, the tape wounds have a little bit of a buzz to them. Like fret buzz, but no where near that bad. It's very subtle. Thanks for doing the side by side playback and making each sample short. It makes hearing the transitions easier to hear (for me anyhow). Thanks for doing this for us!

[@GregsBassShed]

I'm glad the video is useful Steve. It's interesting hearing your analysis too.

[@ottomandietz9187]

Thanks, Greg, for a straight up comparison! I'm lucky enough to be able to split it up, with round wounds for rock and blues on my P/J and black tapewounds for a jazzier sound on my five-string fretless.

[@GregsBassShed]

Nice! I do have separate P basses with flats and rounds as certain gigs require the different tones.

[@frankortega4280]

Nice comparison Greg. I preferred the tone of the Flatwounds. I found them to sound warmer and more consistent between the strings. I’m a long time fan of Flatwounds. I use the Fender 9050 flats and the D’Addario Chromes. I also like the Labella “Deep Talkin” flats however their price point has increased too much for me.

[@GregsBassShed]

Cheers Frank. I’m wondering if the tapewounds will settle in a bit. I’ve never tried Labella’s, but heard great things about them. Bass strings are getting so expensive nowadays!

[@frankortega4280]

@@GregsBassShed Greg, I can’t speak on the Tapewound strings “settling in” after some time. I used them once (Fender Tapewounds) and the outer wrap didn’t give me the impression they would “mellow out” as the Flatwounds do. I think the covering and the low tension may actually work against that.

[@thedad1]

I preferred the flat wounds. Do you think the tone of the tape wounds -being brand new, would change much over time? Thanks.

[@GregsBassShed]

I think that the strings will settle in a bit and I’ll also become more familiar with them and adjust my plucking hand slightly.

[@andewulle9127]

I had a set of D'Addario BNTWs on my Hofner for over 30 years, and I only changed them a couple years ago because I wanted to try the Labella tapewounds before I died... The LaBellas definitely feel like they have lower tension than the DAs. I almost pulled the strings off the bridge the first few times I played after I switched LOL

[@FingalPersson]

heard that one should stay away from tapewound as it doesn't ground unless you touch the bridge of the bass, which can cause unwanted noise. Would you say they hummed more?

[@GregsBassShed]

I can't say that I've noticed any more hum with these strings.

[@FingalPersson]

@@GregsBassShed weird! Maybe I've misunderstood the luthier that told me that tape wound don't ground therefor makes a lot of hum noise. OR maybe he meant it will only make noise on my bass, since my bass is a fretless. I'm currently using flat wounds, but I wanted tapes until a luthier just said "EH NO! that's gonna bother you with lots of noise since the only way you can ground is by touching the bridge, and that touching the bridge while playing bass is not convenient. Have you tried this on a fretless before? Luthier explained, on round wound and flats, you touch your string and its grounded (my flats actually are coated with something, not metallic ) but he claimed that with tape wounds it doesn't help to touch the strings, and the only way to ground it and make it silence was to touch the actual bridge.. So you can let go of your bass and it would not make any noise at all?

[@burp1914]

Seems like they are buzzing. Maybe the lower tension requires a higher action. They did sound better above the 12th fret.

[@BillsBassCovers]

I agree

[@musicforsax]

Yes I thought the same

[@GregsBassShed]

Yeah I can hear the slight buzz but I like it! Remember that this is isolated bass and a lot of these extraneous sounds will disappear within a mix.

[@bluesguy47]

I've been playing D'Addario and Labella tape wounds on a couple of my basses for a long time. I love the fat, low thumpy sound I get from them. Great for slow blues.

[@GregsBassShed]

I’ll have to try the Labella’s- heard good things about them.

[@stevep3757]

They sound quite similar, but the flatwounds sound significantly smoother. The tapewounds seem to have a bit of persistent fret buzz to them.

[@GregsBassShed]

The tapewounds definitely have more buzz to them.

[@mickymondo7463]

Hi Greg, I have just switched from Flats to Tape wound strings, I found the reduced tension required setting the whole thing up again and adjusting the truss rod, but not I have set the thing up it plays much easier, I find I have to use much less pressure on the strings and it is much easier to run up and down, slides and hammer ons are brighter. I'd always used flats as rounds play havoc with my dodgy hand, but tapewound are a really good choice. I've tried the Fender tapes and the Rotosound ones and I find the Rotosound strings are smoother to play

[@GregsBassShed]

Hi Micky, you raise some really good points here. I think that the strings will settle in a bit and I will look at adjusting my plucking style. I think the bas is due a set-up anyway so that might help. But I don’t mind that fret clank!

[@mickymondo7463]

@@GregsBassShed Now I have it set up how I like it, I have a nice low action and minimal fret noise, but barely noticeable unless I have the volume turned right down, the brightness of the notes are much improved, and the range of tones available is greater, I just have to improve my muting compared to the flats a little.

[@chriscantor6329]

After decades of round wounds I have put flat wounds on one of my basses and tape wounds on another. I love the flats and like the tapes. Tapes are easiest on fingers but more muted than the flats, and both are easier on the fingers than rounds. I don't play slap and have no need for brightness.

[@GregsBassShed]

I’ve certainly enjoyed using flatwounds for a few years now. Although I still like roundwounds for certain gigs.

[@robertmock4146]

I think I prefer the flats but not by a wide margin. I was looking at trying tape wounds as well but came across a set of half rounds which really intrigued me. Tried them and wow was the perfect tone I was looking for. I'm a big fan of flats but the half rounds give me both the warm tone and a bit of a snap when needed. Interested in seeing you try those as well. I have a pbj pickup configuration.

[@GregsBassShed]

I remember us chatting about half-wounds before. I’ll have to try them again!

[@jimboflex6194]

Appreciate the video. I prefer the tapewounds. I'll be putting tapewounds on a hollowbody bass, and that little bit of brightness they have will, I think, keep the sound from getting a little too muddy, the way I think flats might tend to do.

[@GregsBassShed]

That's a good plan I think. I may try tapewounds on my Jack Casady hollowbody bass at some point.

[@jimboflex6194]

@@GregsBassShed Used them for the first time in church today (on an Ibanez AFB200); I think the tone is as I'd hoped - warm without being muddy. Thanks for the reply.

[@TerryMcalear]

I have just swapped my precision to flat wounds and love them over round wounds. The flats sounded better to me on the video but I can see that the tape wounds would be perfect in certain circumstances

[@GregsBassShed]

Sounds great, flatwounds work so well on a P bass. I’ll see if the strings settle down more as I play them more.

[@ordro107]

Hey, great video! Did you do anything to the nut to accommodate the larger gauge of the tapes? Or were your strings the same gauge more or less? Btw, if you want to discover the real benefits of tapes vs flats it's with a pick! Despite being designed to be more mellow, somehow with the pick they react quite differently than flats... hence Sir Paul's preference and also the dude who played on all the Serge Gainsburg records...

[@GregsBassShed]

@@ordro107 no, didn’t have to adjust the nut at all. I think the flatwounds on there previously were a slightly heavier gauge. Haven’t really investigated that set-up with a pick but that’s a great idea that makes a lot of sense. I’ll do that.

[@ordro107]

@@GregsBassShed cool. btw your playing sounds great I checked out some other videos rock on man :D make a vid of tapes with pick :D

[@Jill-ni8fe]

I put black tapewound on my Hofner and it totally changed the sound and it feels amazing also

[@GregsBassShed]

I also love the feel of these.

[@DaddyBooneDon]

I haven't changed my roundwounds in decades cuz I hate the bright sound. Wasn't it James Jamerson that said the funk is in the dirt? I can attest to that. Maybe I could switch, and the tapewound sounds like the right choice for me.

[@GregsBassShed]

You could always try them out. I don’t think you’ll like brand new roundwounds by the sound of it 😂

[@golfboy83]

I feel like the tapewounds are a bit more woody sounding. Absolutely beautiful tone!

[@GregsBassShed]

Yeah, that's a great way of describing them 👍

[@LuisMarioMagana]

Good comparison. From how it sounds in the video, I like the flatwound better, it has a thicker and more defined classic bass sound. As for the Tapewound, it loses sub-bass frequencies and adds a click that sounds very plastic to me. I don't like this last aspect at all, but it's a matter of individual taste. Buena comparación. Por cómo suena en el video, me gusta más el flatwound, tiene un sonido de bajo clásico más grueso y definido. En cuanto al tapewound, pierde frecuencias de subgraves y agrega un clic que suena muy plástico para mí. No me gusta este último aspecto en absoluto, pero es una cuestión de gusto personal.

[@GregsBassShed]

Hi Luis, the tapewound strings take a bit of getting used to when playing them and with a lighter touch I have got rid of the clicks. The strings were also brand new and sound better now they have been on for a while. They do have a very particular tone though, and my preference is for flatwounds. Hola Luis, las cuerdas encintadas cuestan un poco acostumbrarse al tocarlas y con un toque más ligero me he librado de los clicks. Las cuerdas también eran nuevas y suenan mejor ahora que llevan un tiempo puestas. Tienen un tono muy particular y mi preferencia son los flatwounds.

[@LuisMarioMagana]

@@GregsBassShed Thank you very much for your response, the experience is very valuable. Greetings from El Salvador!

[@iancampbell9353]

I haven't checked, but have you tried groundwound? They're very lively for a flat feel string.

[@GregsBassShed]

I'm definitely game to try groundwounds and halfwounds on my basses. I've tried them in bass shops before but a while ago so it would be good to try again.

[@mattmorgan8226]

I've loved tapewounds for years. Try Labella gold tapewound. They are the absolute best!!! You'll never go back once you try them!!

[@GregsBassShed]

Thanks for the tip! I’ll check them out.

[@stevebarnes766]

Minor update on how the tape wounds sound. Rather than a "buzz" they may be producing some sort of subtle harmonics.

[@GregsBassShed]

I've always thought that this particular pickup produces a wider range of frequencies than the usual P-bass double pickups. That might be what you are hearing.

[@BillsBassCovers]

I noticed that the gauge is higher (thicker strings). I assume that is because they have less tension and a lower gauge would vibrate more, possibly causing fret buzz if the bass action isn’t set high enough. I did hear a teeny bit more fret buzz on your tape wound playing. Am I analyzing this correctly or am I on the wrong thinking path? Lol. Any way, I might try them out for myself. I’ve heard a lot of good things about them. Thanks for the video, Greg!

[@GregsBassShed]

There’s definitely much more ‘fret clank’ with the tapewounds. I think a lot of that will not be noticeable within a mix and I’m also interested in seeing if the strings need a bit of time to ‘bed in’.

[@mickymondo7463]

@@GregsBassShedI found when I switched from flats to tapes I needed to adjust the truss rod slightly due tot he reduced tension, and just tweak the bridge, now I have it pretty much where I need it to be with minimal fret noise other than one particular note, and I can live with that until I address the offending fret

[@deadandburied7626]

I have tapes, want to try flats as well. Rounds are redundant.

[@GregsBassShed]

Flats are great. I still use all of those three strings. I find rounds useful for when I want a brighter tone.

[@DilligafRich]

I have been thinking of changing from roundwounds to tapes, same ones actually! Did you have to make any adjustments to the nut to accommodate the thicker gauge??

[@GregsBassShed]

No, I didn't have to make any adjustments at all. I did have flatwounds on there before and they are about the same gauge.

[@DilligafRich]

@ ah ok, thanks for getting back to me. Mine has a lighter gauge, 45-100. I went for La Bella’s 50-105, as I didn’t want to have to make any adjustments (just in case).

[@GregsBassShed]

@ sounds good. Let me know how you get on with them once they are on.

[@RoyTaylor-u8y]

I'm curious if the age difference between the sets has any effect on the sound?

[@GregsBassShed]

Me too! 👍

[@CountryFenderBass]

I’m looking to replace my fender strings that came with my P Bass. I like country and old southern rock. Any suggestions? I noticed that strings are such a personal choice. It’s like saying Red Heads make the best girlfriends……..

[@GregsBassShed]

Possibly flatwounds strings. They give more of a thud. You won’t get the brighter tone that you get from roundwounds. So depends what overall tone you’re after.

[@GregsBassShed]

Eric, this video might help: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gqOsiGBuZseeZ6csi=LfSVqbzOaiNulRUl

[@CountryFenderBass]

@@GregsBassShed Thank you

[@pentecostalbeard]

I like the flats better, but both sounded great

[@GregsBassShed]

Probably my preference too if I had to pick one.

[@systemlfo]

Tape wounds always remind of 90s rompler synth bass patches. Kind of plastic. Roundwounds are unmistakable

[@GregsBassShed]

Yeah I know what you mean, although I find that generally in the mix, the Tapewounds end up sounding nice and bassy with a hollowed out thud, if you know what I mean.

[@hamishkirkpatrick9831]

Graham Maby of the Joe Jackson band played tape wound strings with a pick.

[@GregsBassShed]

With a pick? Interesting. But I suppose that’s what Paul McCartney did too!

[@deanaf]

Both. I love them ❤

[@GregsBassShed]

Cheers!

[@StevenDoyleLuke]

Black tapewounds also sound great on Semi-Hollow basses!

[@GregsBassShed]

Could be an option for my white Jack Cassidy bass!

[@StevenDoyleLuke]

I would give a try!@@GregsBassShed

[@chickberth]

Can't stand tapewounds. Flats or rounds for me. But you got a great tone from those tapes.

[@GregsBassShed]

The tapes have definitely taken a bit of getting used to and I only like them for certain situations.

[@stuartmoore6310]

Tapewound sounds slightly brighter, I approve.

[@GregsBassShed]

Cheers! I like em!

[@MrBeachMadness]

You probably should have put a little more relief on the neck for the tapes...I'm hearing a lot of fret buzz that's getting in the way of a true tone comparison. Tapes are generally a lot looser than flats, as they are, essentially, a solid hex core covered in tape. The gauge is usually thinner than regular strings and requires a neck adjustment to speak properly.

[@GregsBassShed]

I probably will tweak the setup but this was a simple swap between strings on the same bass. Interestingly I used this bass with the tapewounds for a rehearsal with my band and recorded a few songs, and none of the buzzing can be heard in the mix. I think that's the thing bear in mind with bass - lots of extra noise can be heard with isolated bass but not within the context of a band mix which is the end game anyway.

[@MrBeachMadness]

@@GregsBassShed I have tapes on my Jack Casady Epiphone bass. They require a fairly light touch

[@GregsBassShed]

@@MrBeachMadness I really want to try some on my Jack Cassidy! I found that plucking right over the pickup with my green tele bass worked well with flatwounds but I’m thinking that maybe plucking a little more towards the bridge might work better with the tapewounds. It usually takes me a little while to get the best sound out of a new setup or bass so I’m sure that I’ll work these strings out pretty soon!

[@MrBeachMadness]

@@GregsBassShed If you either put a little more relief on the neck, or raise the action, and play with a lighter touch, you should get what you need. That's the limitation of the tapes. It's not a steel string, with the physics that comes with that particular composition.

[@GregsBassShed]

@@MrBeachMadness to be honest I was pretty happy at our band rehearsal with how the strings sounded on that bass. I agree that the composition is different to steels but I didn’t notice any limitations. I just felt a need to slightly change how I approached things. I’ll post a video of the one of the songs on the channel over the next few days as I’m pretty happy with how the bass sounded in the mix. See what you think. I think sometimes it’s easy to overthink things with gear and forget how different isolated bass is to finished product.

[@funkingitup1805]

Good video, but "ultimate comparison" would be really sad if true. Need a P bass, J bass, and MM at the very least.

[@GregsBassShed]

@@funkingitup1805 cheers. This is a fictional situation I sometimes put myself under when I would have to choose one bass only 🤣😱. But yes, I need several different basses for my pro work!

[@banzai1881]

on your bass i prefer the flat

[@GregsBassShed]

👍

[@spaceoddity2485]

they sound the same !

[@GregsBassShed]

Try with decent speakers or headphones and you'll hear the difference. If you are listening on a phone or device, then you won't have much luck with bass.

[@rupe82]

I think you may need your ears tested, even on my phone I could hear the difference.

[@foljs5858]

Tapewound sound like flatwound strings who ocassionally fart

[@GregsBassShed]

That’s an eloquent way of putting it 😂