Alembic Guitars Club

Connecting => Miscellaneous => Topic started by: mike1762 on October 06, 2010, 05:31:28 PM

Title: Taper Wound Strings
Post by: mike1762 on October 06, 2010, 05:31:28 PM

My band is playing a few songs where I'm going to have to pull out my 6 string (for the low B).  I really hating the feel of the B.  I have taper wound strings on it (DR Long Necks).  Wouldn't the narrow winding passing over the bridge serve to decrease the string tension?  I'm thinking that if I went to a non-tapered set, the tension would be higher and it wouldn't feel so floppy.  Thoughts?

Title: Taper Wound Strings
Post by: 2400wattman on October 06, 2010, 06:00:21 PM

Mike, the taper wound string just makes the string easier to intonate. You may want to use a heavier string to make the B string tighter.

Title: Taper Wound Strings
Post by: mike1762 on October 06, 2010, 06:19:59 PM

Hmmm... I really hate heavy strings.  Maybe I'll try some Lo-Riders (the hex core is supposed to make the strings stiffer).

Title: Taper Wound Strings
Post by: adriaan on October 07, 2010, 01:03:11 AM

LoRiders are pretty stiff - it's what made me change back to HiBeams.

Title: Taper Wound Strings
Post by: mike1762 on October 07, 2010, 06:41:41 PM

I just ordered a set of 125 Lo-Riders... I'll report back on my findings.  Back to my original question: it seems to me that the decreased mass at the anchor point (the bridge saddle) WOULD result in less tension.  But admittedly, the E string is also tapered and it feels about the same as my other LS basses.

Title: Taper Wound Strings
Post by: mike1762 on October 13, 2010, 05:43:26 PM

I just got the strings (DR Lo Riders 30 - 125) and they are a definite improvement over the Hi Beams (from a B string perspective).  If you have a floppy B you might want to try these.