The ULTIMATE bass string Shootout... tapes vs rounds vs flats

Ok... let's talk bass strings!

In this video I’m comparing 3 different types of bass strings…

Roundwounds vs Flatwounds vs Tapewounds.

i.e. the ultimate string shootout! ;)

I figured it’d be fun to film a video for you so you can hear them in comparison with each - and most importantly, on the same bass.

Once you watch the video where you can hear in comparison to each other… make sure to leave a comment below the video and let me know which one YOU preferred.

As always, see you in the shed…

Scott :)

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[gavinvonmeyer]

I love the flatwounds. - Those lower notes hit me in the soul.

[KidxVicious]

I'm sure that trick of kinking the end of the string does work to stop the "dead string" issue, but it's more of a band-aid fix. The real issue is that your string becomes twisted from the process of winding it onto the tuner. So you'll stop the movement of the core vs. the winding, but you'll still have a twisted string, which is not ideal.

What I do instead of this trick is: Stick the end of the string down into the tuner, then bend and start winding it onto the post. Once I have a centimeter or so of string on the post (enough to hold it there with my left hand), I slide my right hand all the way down the string to the ball end, making sure it's straight. By the time you get to the ball end you will feel the twist being worked out of the string. Then, once you have the string untwisted, continue winding it onto the tuner like normal. No more twisted strings. I have been doing this for like 15 years and have never had a single "dead string".

[SHUSHIchannel]

COMPARE

ROUNDWOUNDS - TONE CONTROL - WIDE OPEN 11:26
FLATWOUNDS - TONE CONTROL - WIDE OPEN 11:47
TAPEWOUNDS - TONE CONTROL - WIDE OPEN 12:05

ROUNDWOUNDS - TONE CONTROL - OFF 12:26
FLATWOUNDS - TONE CONTROL - OFF 12:46
TAPEWOUNDS - TONE CONTROL - OFF 13:05

[HPNGOMUSIC]

The flatwounds sound Woody almost. It’s like you’re getting both the sound of an upright bass on an electric

[PANICBLADE]

One of the secrets to the brighter tapewound tone is the lower tension. Wider string amplitude compensates for the smoothness of the wraps and when it rattles against the fret, it puts back some of that rasp and growl. The flatwounds, being totally metal, have higher tension than roundwounds, so they vibrate more firmly, leading to a smoother and more consistent tone. A lot of people think tapewounds are darker by default due to the outer wrap muting the string a bit, but that's not necessarily true. If you peel off the tape around the string, you will find a small roundwound string in there, which, since it is metal, the pickups will "pick up" on rather than sensing the vibration of the flat outer ribbon of the flatwounds, rounding some of the treble out.

[dangracia]

I have to tell you Scott, I only used round wounds on the '82 Jazz I bought in 1985 until I saw this video. I had used flats on my '65 Jazz that I bought in '66 because pretty much all bass strings were flat wound back then. I moved to Fender's Tape Wound strings in early 70's and that's what was on it when it was stolen in '76. In 1985 I found another Jazz with the same neck profile and it had rounds on it. I had only used rounds on it until you came out with this video in 2017. I had moved from Blue Steel rounds to DR Black Beauty's and had worn off a lot of the coating on top. So it was time to replace them.

After watching your bass string shoot out, I decided to give LaBella Tapewound flats a try. I got them in white instead of black to match my white Jazz bass. They are the BEST strings! They still have a lot of the brightness of the rounds I'd used but had much better balanced sound from string to string. The D and G strings never sound weak or thin. They are also easier on the fingers and I get very little string or fret noise. I REALLY like my tape-wounds, and it's all your fault. Thanks for doing this!

[barryjwz]

yoooo i'm a guitarist that recently fell in love with playing bass and i looove your channel man
you can learn so much just sitting in your room nowadays

[charlesgreaves]

I play flat wounds on a fret-less, and love that upright bass sound, but you are committed to that one sound. I did think the tape wound strings hit a nice straddle between sounds.
Just ordered a Sire 4 string, and I think I will give some real thought to tape wounds after listening to this.
Great video.

[rickdaddario]

Got a fretless not to long ago and put the tapes on it. That is a match made in heaven. They sound great and don't eat your fretboard.

[kunstmol]

The thing about flats is, they feel soooo nice on the fingers

[ctrlaltbass]

for some reason different types of paint are coming to mind... as though roundwounds are gloss, flatwounds are matt and tapewounds are silk... somewhere between the two... if that makes sense??

[paulneeds]

THAT.

Was very interesting..

I’ve always used rounds - I’m 60 btw. My *impression* has always been that tape wounds were like flats, but without any ‘catchy bits’ where the flat winding butts up against itself - and mainly suitable for jazz and orchestral gigs, where basically the bassman is replacing a plucked upright bass sort of sound.

Your video has really made me think again.. there’s much more top there than I expected - very much more.

I may even be tempted to give them a try - like you, Scott, I have neuro issues with my hands - following a neck accident though. My hands, particularly the *insides* and fingers/fingertips are extremely hypersensitive and can be excruciatingly painful.

Meds help, but I do find rounds feel sort of abrasive - particularly on bass strings, even moreso than on 6/12 strings.

It’s been a massive issue, as you can imagine I’m sure. The occupational therapists were incredible when I was in hospital - they ordered all kinds of stuff in for me to see if it would help, including right-fitting ‘support’ gloves that look similar to those you use.

But of course, I left hospital and that degree of help and support went with it. But, I found a thing called a Pykmax which helped massively with helping me hold onto picks for both guitar and bass.

As for finger style... when I was much younger I used to emulate John Entwistle’s style - he played with both fingers and picks. But following the accident, and not playing a lot of bass until I recently started putting a new one together (a J bass), I could not get back into regular finger picking at all, and I just put it down to the nerve damage in my neck inhibiting and slowing my fingers, as it has for my left hand to a lesser extent.

But I suddenly remember led while setting this bass up that I’d never played right hand with 1st and 2nd - it was always 1st and *3rd*! - a remnant of my hand position playing my old custom built Explorer bass! 1st and 3rd fingers are a pretty similar length, whereas the 2nd is longer! With the hand at a right angle to the strings, I just found it easier, and just using finger 2 when moving up or down a string..

Any way - thanks.. may we’ll try tapes to see if they feel less abrasive to both hands, while still giving me a basic tone that can always be frigged on the amp.

[BrianPthegreatcommission]

Flats on the PJ
Tape on the acoustic
Round on the 5
That's how I roll.

[BadvisionStudios]

I like the giddy joy in your discovery of the tapewounds... Great tone!

[bigbass]

As usual, a fun and interesting video! I began playing in 1967. I used LaBella Blue silk flats, in individual pink packages. That was all we had in the home of Ampeg at one time- Woodside Queens, N.Y.., in the local music shop. E.and O. Mari, who owned the LaBella String Company, were in the next neighborhood over, where I was born... Astoria, Queens, N.Y. City. Since then, and discovering Rotodounds in 1969, I've played everything you can imagine. I used nickel rounds for a very long time, then stainless D'Addario.. and now, at 70 years of age, and 23 basses in my collection, more than half are strung with flats. Mostly Fender 9050ML, some Chromes, and some Rotosound light RS77's. None are black nylon tapewounds. I have not tried them since about 1970. I don't recall liking them all that much. Seems like they might be made better, as most strings seem to be nowadays.
Rounds are just great, for full, ringing sustain, and a nice singing tone in the upper registers.
Flats have that big, unmistakable front end attack, and quicker decay. The fundamentals seem to punch out better in a band setting. Remember- before about 1968 or so, EVERY electric bass you heard on recordings had flat wound strings on it.
To me, there really isn't anything that compares to a hollow body bass with flats- played in what I like to call the "British Invasion" part of the neck.. the big bloom of those shortened strings and quick decay, are so powerful... All the strings you tested, sounded great. It really boils down to preference.

[andystaff]

I loooove tape wounds. Been playing them for years! I really feel like you have more tonal control when you use the tone knob. They can sound like rounds and they can sound like flats. You're absolutely right about the tension, makes for some great vibrato.

[glennhall]

I agree been touring for 40 yrs and I change a lot of strings! I love the round wound sound. They're bright without losing bottom. And Scott you wouldn't believe how much grief I get for wearing gloves! I have arthritis in my hands and the really help. Thanks so much.

[DannySapko]

I love the direction you're taking your channel Scott - these last few videos have been fantastic! I find that flatwounds get better with age. Play them in for a month and you might grow to like them!

[tshohankie]

Rounds produce a lot of high harmonics that make it hard for me to hear the basic tone (I'm 63). Also flats invoke that "wrecking crew" sound that Carol Kaye made famous.

[michaelhiltz]

I really love flat wound strings, they just have a lovely feel, my fingers don't get worn out as fast on flat wound strings, also I find that you have to change round wound strings more often because dirt builds up in between the ridges on the surface of the string. Also the tone on flat rounds I find has more bass to it than the round wound, with out the bass sounding over done. I have never tried the tape wound I might try them in the future. But for now I love the flat wound strings.