What do strings like those on this bass do ?

**Headstock** · 03-23-2009, 07:51 PM

In hijack avoidance of manfloozy's awesome new Dargie bassi arrival thread here

I am curious about the black coated strings on the Bongo. What are those called and how / what would you describe they do to the tone of the bass?

Assuming they deaden/mellow the tone?

Are they primarily used on fret less ?

Primary genres where they are used ?

**Aussie Mark** · 03-23-2009, 07:57 PM

They look like tapewounds to me, probably La Bella.

**Marco** · 03-23-2009, 08:50 PM

Yeah they look like La Bella's, the kind James Jamerson used. I have a set on my Earthwood and they are really thumpy. They are thick too, I think the E string gauge is 115.

**gafman** · 03-24-2009, 12:39 AM

I have Labella's on my Fretless Stingray. They are black nylon tapewounds but mine have purple windings at each end as opposed to the yellow ones shown. I am not sure if there is a difference, maybe gauge.
I have tried some others and didn't really like the feel of them as they felt more plastic to the touch. These ones are less tacky to the fingers.
Thumpy as Marco said, also mellow and a nice tension. They came on the bass when I bought it and I like them that much that I haven't changed strings yet. Having said that I would like to try some roundwounds to hear my girl really sing.
Oh yeah, and they look great.

**roscopeco2000** · 03-24-2009, 08:01 AM

so where do tapewounds sit compared to roundwounds and flat wounds? not as bright as rounds but brighter then flats?

**Manfloozy** · 03-24-2009, 05:57 PM

My verdict is still out on these. They feel really good, but I am not a fan of the heavier guage. They do have a good amount of tension on there, and they do have a good thump to them. They are also still fairly bright, but there is almost (if no) finger noise on them at all from what I can tell.

One of the two is about to get a fresh set of flats, and I'm not sure which one yet.