LaBella Black Tape Double Bass Strings are a great soft and playable double bass string that is similar to gut double bass strings. LaBella Black Tape strings for the double bass have a strong bottom and response. These upright bass strings are in many ways produced like the Labella Supernil strings but the LaBella Black Tape Double Bass Strings have a smoother wrap and a closer feel to steel double bass strings.
These double bass strings are black nylon, tape wound with a rope core. Great for jazz pizzicato solos, LaBella Black Tape Double Bass Strings combine gut string tone with metal string sustain.
LaBella Black Tape Double Bass Strings are also noted as being "Ron Carter's String of Choice"!
Upton Bass is a double bass specialty company located in Mystic, Connecticut. We are ready to offer advice and answer any questions you have regarding your double bass, strings for your double bass, or related topics. Please contact us here or call our shop at (860) 535-9399. Our hours of operation are Tuesday through Saturday 10 am - 6 pm.
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John Kolivas on 03/24/2005
I'm the bassist and leader of the Honolulu Jazz Quartet, and in the past I've used Thomastic Weichs and Piastro Obligato strings. I was pleasantly surprised by the sound and feel of the LaBella Black Tape strings. The tension was higher than I was used to, so I had to lower the action a bit. But the sound is beautiful and resonant on my 1910 Czech bass with the Gage pickup. I especially like the response on the G and D string (nice jazz twang sound) which I wasn't getting with any other string. I'm finding it easier to play double stops (esp. 10ths and octaves). The feel of the string is silky smooth. I'm working on the arco sound which is a little thin. However, it's hard to beat that Ron Carter, Buster Williams sound!
Norris Gaselee on 03/22/2005
These replaced a set of Helicore strings which I have been using for 5 years on a 20year old Zeller carved bass. Now they are "played-in" the tone is superb. I play with 16 piece swing band and don't bother with an amp at rehearsals and with these strings the band leader asked if I could turn it down! Silky smooth, soft onthe fingers and so easy to play. Would reccommend them to anybody. At yesterday's concert played thro' my Gallien Kruger amp and Underwood pick-up they sounded even better.
JB Hittle on 01/22/2005
For those jazz players who swore they would never use anything but Thomastik Spirocore strings, the LaBella Black Tape (Series 7710- Deep Talkin' Bass) string is a delightful discovery. The strings have the feel and sound of gut, but with the quick response of Thomastik steels strings. And when combined with the David Gage Realist pickup, the sound produced is absolutely a SPOT ON fully natural and woody acoustic bass sound. This is the string of choice for such bass virtuosos as Ron Carter, Buster Williams and Steve Novosel. If you remain skeptical, listen to Ron Carter playing his fine old Juzek bass fitted with this string/pick-up combination on his latest album,
"THE GOLDEN STRYKER," or hear Steve Novosel playing with the LaBella Black Tapes/Realist combo on "THE JOHN HICKS TRIO WITH STRINGS" or with David 'Fathead' Newman on "CHILLIN'. Or with Shirley Horn on "THE MAIN INGREDIENT." These strings are a little more difficult to control than steel strings, but the feel is georgeous and the sound divine. You can play arco on this string with adjustment for the black tape winding. It takes a good rosin (I use CARLSON's Swedish) and some extra attention to wrist control. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED for professional jazz musicians.
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