Black nylon tapewound strings for Stagg EUB?

[Paul S]

I like the sound and feel of black nylon tapewound strings on my electro-acoustic bass and, when I had one, fretless bass. So, in an idle moment this afternoon I wondered if you could get similar for EUB/double bass and it seems you can.

Thomann list these Pyramids: [url="http://www.thomann.de/gb/pyramid_black_tape_nylon_double_bass_s.htm"]http://www.thomann.de/gb/pyramid_black_tape_nylon_double_bass_s.htm[/url] which seem pretty good value. Has anyone tried them and, if so, got any opinions? Are there better ones to be had?

Ta

[Beer of the Bass]

LaBella do a set which have been around for a long time. I've not tried them myself (as they're reputed to be challenging to bow) but Ron Carter and Buster Williams both use them. From the sound of those two, I'd expect them to be at the bright and growly end of things.

[petebassist]

I love the sound of the bass on the theforgottenworks sample tracks - what did you use for 'tangle' in terms of bass, pickup, recording method etc?
That's a great tone.

[Paul S]

Thanks for that. Gosh, the La Bella strings are over three times the price of the Pyramids! I only paid a little bit more than that for the bass

[Beer of the Bass]

[quote name='petebassist' timestamp='1447174964' post='2905552']
I love the sound of the bass on the theforgottenworks sample tracks - what did you use for 'tangle' in terms of bass, pickup, recording method etc?
That's a great tone.
[/quote]

Cheers! It's my old German/Bohemian flatbacked bass with Spirocore Mittels. We just used the internal stereo mics on a Tascam DR40 for this recording, quite close to the bass at about the height of the end of the fingerboard. (I hope Paul S doesn't mind the digression!)

[bobmartin]

Bear in mind that the Stagg scale is longer than standard, so check the new strings playing length.

[Paul S]

I didn't realise that! Thanks

(and no I don't mind the digression )

[Maude]

Innovation Rockabillys are a smooth black nylon tapewound.
Nice thumpy sound for bluegrass, country and, surprisingly, rockabilly type music.
Reasonably good top end but obviously not as articulate as a higher tension metal string.
Don't bow very well but it's doable producing quite a dark growlly tone.

[Maude]

Forgot to say they're about £80-90.

[ljbass]

Presto Jazzicato £90 on Thomann
http://www.presto-strings.com/doublebass.html

[bobmartin]

[quote name='Paul S' timestamp='1447176145' post='2905573']
I didn't realise that! Thanks

(and no I don't mind the digression )
[/quote]

Some of the silk winding comes over the nut. There's been a few posts about it.

[Paul S]

Thanks for all that - I had no idea there was that much choice. Not good for bowing isn't an issue

[Marc S]

Haven't tried this particular brand, but I had a set of black nylon wound strings on my Stagg EUB (sold some time back)
They were nice strings (sadly, I can't recall the make, as I bought them slightly used)

They were lower tension and much easier to play pizz than the Stagg stock strings, With a nice "dark" sound a low growly tones
But very difficult to bow, without "rolling". Bear in mind that I don't really play with a bow -
but as I was trying to learn to play with a bow, it was quite off-putting......

Thanks for posting that link, as this seems a good price for those wishing to try nylon wound strings

[Paul S]

While we are here, then - what tapewound strings do we know definitely fit the Stagg? I've emailed Pyramid custumer service to ask about string length but suspect I may as well have emailed my cat.

[ljbass]

If it helps, Presto Balance Hybrid strings are 135 cm (53") from the ball end to the beginning of the silk wrap and the wrapped part for winding on pegs is pretty long. I suppose Jazzicato are the same dimenson...

Edited November 11, 2015 by ljbass

[Paul S]

thanks for that! I will compare with what is currently on there.

[ljbass]

+ dimensions on Innovation strings page http://www.innovationstrings.com/inn_info.htm

[Paul S]

Thank you. Using similar dimensions from the Stagg, bridge to nut A = 41.5", tailpiece to bridge B = 12" , so A+B= 53.5". nut to tuning peg C = 5", or 2.5" to the start of the silk.

From that, Innovation 3/4 and 7/8 are both the same size and would fit.

Edited November 12, 2015 by Paul S

[Paul S]

In view of all that I've just bought a set of Innovation Rockabilly strings - Bonners music store on eBay had them for £75 which seems a pretty good price.

Thanks for the input! I'm going on holiday tomorrow so I won't get to try them for a bit but I'll report back once I've fitted them.

[Paul S]

Fitted them just now. As predicted the silks were overhanging the nut by a fair bit so I took the bridge off and mounted it as little further up on the body. No detrimental effects, it seems, and the strings fit just nicely now.

They feel great and, at home level practice, sound much better than the mis-matched strings that were on there when I bought it. Have to say they look pretty cool too.

[attachment=205618:eub1.jpg]

Edit - i don't mean I moved the bridge, do I. The tailpiece.

Edited November 23, 2015 by Paul S