Taperwound versus full-wound B strings?

[82Daion]

Since this is the first time I've had to confront this, I figured I'd ask about it.

 

With a 5-string bass incoming, I've been shopping around for strings. It seems that many manufacturers offer the option of a taperwound B-string on their 5-string sets. However, I can't seem to find out what, exactly, the benefits of this are other than having a better fit in the saddle.

 

Have I answered my own question, or is there more to it than that?

 

Thanks for your help!

 

[bassman1956]

I wish the E's came that way also. Maybe even the A's.

[Kindness]

I have limited experience with them, I typically don't like how it feels when I play closer to the bridge. As a result, I don't have anything useful to say about tone.

 

The main advantages are the ability to sit/fit the saddle better and to bring the intonation point further towards the nut, which is helpful if the bridge saddle doesn't have enough travel to intonate with a full wound string.

[Renfield]

 

I wish the E's came that way also. Maybe even the A's.

 

 

Years ago when I was experimenting with strings every set I bought, I tried some that had at least the E and A taperwound. I think they were Dean Markley SR2000's.

[82Daion]

I wish the E's came that way also. Maybe even the A's.

 

As far as I know, most taperwound sets come like that.

 

 

The Smith already has a set of them on it, from what I can tell, so I'll probably clean them and see how I feel about the difference before buying anything.

[bnyswonger]

Smith Tapercore is my string. I use the TCRM set. I'm sure they make it in a 5 pack.

 

If you keep them clean, they'll stay crisp for 6 months.

[L-1329]

 

The main advantages are the ability to sit/fit the saddle better and to bring the intonation point further towards the nut, which is helpful if the bridge saddle doesn't have enough travel to intonate with a full wound string.

 

 

They also reduce the break angle of those thick B strings, which on my basses made a big and very noticible difference. It helps let the string stretch straight, where the steep break over the saddle doesn't put unnatural bends in the nut-to-saddle string length.

[82Daion]

Smith Tapercore is my string. I use the TCRM set. I'm sure they make it in a 5 pack. If you keep them clean, they'll stay crisp for 6 months.

 

Those are the stock strings, in fact.

 

 

They're not terribly expensive, either-I might have to get in touch with Ken if I don't spring for my normal DR's.

[Kindness]

They also reduce the break angle of those thick B strings, which on my basses made a big and very noticible difference. It helps let the string stretch straight, where the steep break over the saddle doesn't put unnatural bends in the nut-to-saddle string length.

 

I hate you!

 

Love,

Jerkness

[L-1329]

I hate you! Love, Jerkness

 

Yeah?! Well, uh... I hate you too. And Hamer's suck!

 

 

Jerk!

 

 

 

Love,

LJ60

 

 

[bleepo]

 

Years ago when I was experimenting with strings every set I bought, I tried some that had at least the E and A taperwound. I think they were Dean Markley SR2000's.

 

That's my string... Will Lee gauge.

[Renfield]

 

That's my string... Will Lee gauge.

 

 

Cool. Are they taperwound on some strings or am I thinking of something else? I literally tried well over two dozen different brands of strings in a 6 month span over 10 years ago, so the memory is foggy at best on it now.

[catphish]

I use ken smith nickle burners with taper B. I tried a few different sets when I was experimenting with them. To my ear they made the B string tone more defined, or focused. Could just be my imagination.

[Renfield]

 

I use ken smith nickle burners with taper B. I tried a few different sets when I was experimenting with them. To my ear they made the B string tone more defined, or focused. Could just be my imagination.

 

 

I agree. I found the buzzed less too, sitting lower in the saddle and all they make a more natural path along the fretjob meant for smaller strings.

[Hawkeye]

One supposed advantage of the taperwound B is that the string can vibrate more freely with a smaller defined breakpoint over the saddle giving a more defined fundamental.

 

However, there's another school of thought that says that taperwounds may be more "floppy" than straight gauge strings.

 

I haven't really done an A/B test on this. I've used both and it seems like other factors (like scale length, construction and setup) make more of a difference in determining the "tightness" or "floppiness" of a B-string than the taperwound issue does. FWIW

[Renfield]

 

One supposed advantage of the taperwound B is that the string can vibrate more freely with a smaller defined breakpoint over the saddle giving a more defined fundamental. However, there's another school of thought that says that taperwounds may be more "floppy" than straight gauge strings. I haven't really done an A/B test on this. I've used both and it seems like other factors (like scale length, construction and setup) make more of a difference in determining the "tightness" or "floppiness" of a B-string than the taperwound issue does. FWIW

 

 

The only downside I personally found to them was they broke a lot easier with an exposed core like that.

[bnyswonger]

 

The only downside I personally found to them was they broke a lot easier with an exposed core like that.

 

 

That's interesting, because I'm a bad string breaker and my experience has been they break LESS often than a standard set. I can break a roto or a boomer ar an ernie ball in a matter of days - the tapercores seem to resist it for much longer.

[Hamer-Bass-Head]

when playing taperwounds with any kind of high gain tone, the harmonics seem wrong to me somehow; I was told it's due to the fact that the string isn't vibrating evenly...the witness point at the bridge is right at the center of the string while at the nut it's at the outside edge. I've tried a bunch of different brands and always end up with the same result more or less. I'd assume if you had a raised nut and the taper on both ends the problem would be gone...but who makes a bass you can do that with?...steinberger?

[bnyswonger]

when playing taperwounds with any kind of high gain tone, the harmonics seem wrong to me somehow; I was told it's due to the fact that the string isn't vibrating evenly...the witness point at the bridge is right at the center of the string while at the nut it's at the outside edge. I've tried a bunch of different brands and always end up with the same result more or less. I'd assume if you had a raised nut and the taper on both ends the problem would be gone...but who makes a bass you can do that with?...steinberger?

 

I've heard this over at TB - I respectfully contend that you're nuts.

 

How can harmonics be off?

 

What you're saying about the nut and bridge would only apply to an open string note...and I am at a loss to see how it would matter.

 

I play loud and with a lot of high end content sometimes, too.

[Hamer-Bass-Head]

I've heard this over at TB - I respectfully contend that you're nuts. How can harmonics be off? What you're saying about the nut and bridge would only apply to an open string note...and I am at a loss to see how it would matter. I play loud and with a lot of high end content sometimes, too.

 

you are absolutely right about it only affecting open notes...I didn't think about that. But what I said about the harmonics sounding off is true, the ears don't lie; and it's exascerbated by using a grindy modern distorted sound. When you play the notes sound out of tune somehow.

I don't read talkbass so I can assume there are others who hear the same thing I do.

[catphish]

the ears don't lie;

 

Mine do. They refuse to hear an obvious difference between different types of instrument cables.

[Hamer-Bass-Head]

Mine do. They refuse to hear an obvious difference between different types of instrument cables.

 

 

well the difference is only apparent when you put your cables up on those fancy wooden stands

[82Daion]

you are absolutely right about it only affecting open notes...I didn't think about that. But what I said about the harmonics sounding off is true, the ears don't lie; and it's exascerbated by using a grindy modern distorted sound. When you play the notes sound out of tune somehow. I don't read talkbass so I can assume there are others who hear the same thing I do.

 

Are we talking about the harmonic content of the sound or playing the natural harmonics on the string?

 

 

Given that piano strings work just fine in this configuration, I'm not sure why it would change things with a bass.

[Hamer-Bass-Head]

I guess the harmonic content of the string, if I'm describing it correctly...