A flats vs rounds comparison

[Grog]

The Memphis ES Les Paul Bass came from the factory with flat wounds. The only new bass I’ve bought that was shipped with them.

[Dave W]

My Vox Spyder came with tapewounds. It was made in '68 and I bought it new in '69. It was an Eko-made bass and Eko sold strings under their own name so I'd guess that was the brand. I never changed them the whole time I owned the bass.

[Grog]

I’m not sure if the Tape Wounds are any good anymore, but here is a batch of never used Gibson bass strings. (1) Tape Wound, (1) Flat Wound & (1) Round Wound.....

[Dave W]

Good price for 1998! Why wouldn't the tapewounds be good? The nylon wrap shouldn't deteriorate.

[Grog]

They must have sat in the store for 25 years. I offered them $10 a pack & they were happy to let them go..... They also had NOS Ripper/Grabber cases in stock at the time.

Nylon coating still looks as new!

[Dave W]

As I suspected!

I'm surprised Groth had anything around that long. Old stock was the province of Torp's in St.Paul and Suneson's on E. Lake Street.

[ilan]

Tapewounds often necessitate widening the nut slots, something I don't want to perform on a vintage bass.

[Dave W]

Tapewounds often necessitate widening the nut slots, something I don't want to perform on a vintage bass.

I've never had to widen a nut slot for tapewounds, the nylon wrap has compressed enough without binding in the slot.

[patman]

D'addario's and GHS are normal gauges

[Grog]

The NOS Gibson strings seem to be extra light gauge. .091 E string......

[Dave W]

The NOS Gibson strings seem to be extra light gauge. .091 E string......

You mentioned that these were years old when you bought them. Back in the 70s, they were probably the only flatwound set Gibson offered.

[Bubbalou88]

I have been very happy with TI Jazz Flats and LaBella Low Tension Flats (little more tension than TI's but less than most others)

[Bubbalou88]

For the most part I use TI Jazz Flats or LaBella Low tension flats( little higher tension than the TI’s)
For rounds I like DR Silver Stars or Black Beauties ( both are thin coated) for less Finger to string noise . If you use a coated string I recommend top loading only as the feed thru the body string ferrules are not typically grounded and might pick up noise

[tore00]

I've a 1967 Guild Starfire and I stringed initially with Thomastick flats. No sustain, maybe because of the high magnetic field of the bisonic pickup. I tried to lower the poles, but no luck. I changed to roundwound and she plays beautiful. Deep, resonant, a great bass. I presented her in this post
http://bassoutpost.com/index.php?topic=10154.15

[Bubbalou88]

Yep, it is amazing how a string works well on one bass or guitar and not another mostly due to pickup characteristics!