Hi!
I came home from this years Musikmesse (music trade show) in Frankfurt. Germany with strings from the German string manufacturer Pyramid. I had previously heard about their Silver-plated copper-wound strings (on a nylon silk core) but the Black Tape Nylon strings was news to me.
I decided to take the black tape nylons for a spin first!
I have also asked the president of Pyramid strings, Max Junger, some questions and you can find his answers below!
Putting the strings on
Stringing the Ubass with these string was a bit like a usual electric bass stringing session. Since they feature a steel core they are not as stretchy as the original Road Toad Music Pahoehoe or Aquila Thundergut strings. In other words they settle in faster than the before mentioned strings. I used my usual approach, for steel strings, sticking the end of the string into the hole in the string post.
I also used a plastic washer (from a Aquila set) and put the string through the washer so the ball end got a bit bigger, preventing the metal ball end to eat its way into the wood in the back of the bridge.
Time to change the G-string
Plastic washer between the metal ball end and wooden bridge
The feel and sound
I’m quite used to the feel of tape nylon strings having played these types of strings for more then 10 years on regular electric basses. Here’s a recent example with my Rob Allen Guitars MB-2: http://youtu.be/AXIGwa-UUtk
The strings has a texture that feels a bit like ”cloth”. If I compare the feel of my La Bella Tape Nylon strings, the Pyramids feels more like a regular roundwound string.
The higher tension makes playing faster passages easier. So if fast is your thing these strings might be just right for you 🙂
I really like the added tension of these strings, they obviously feel more like a regular bass string. The sound is also very nice ranging from fat, thubby low end (perfect for thumb mute style playing) to a nice top end (making harmonics sing more than other Ubass strings).
Acoustically
They are a bit louder when played acoustically. The top end is a bit more pronounced. You can hear this in the video below. Harmonics do pop out more then on Pahoehoe or Thundergut strings but this is quite obvious because of the different materials and construction of the black tape nylon strings.
Intonation
I have only tried these strings on my fretless Ubass and I find it a bit hard to play in tune compared to with the pahoehoe and thundergut strings I’m used to.
The further up the fingerboard I play, the harder it is to play in tune. I have to compensate quite a bit. When comparing an open string to the 12th fret on that same string I have to shift towards the 11th fret so my octave don’t go sharp.
For a trained ear, playing a fretless Ubass with these strings will/can work but on a fretted Ubass it will be hard playing in tune over, I guess, the 9th fret. (I haven’t tried the strings on a fretted Ubass yet).
If these intonation issues can be fixed these strings are a serious alternative to the Ubass strings already on the market.
Here is some info I have received from Max Junger, the President of Pyramid strings.
– The strings are available directly from Pyramid and retails for about €42. (Art.-No. is # 508/BT)
– For now they are only available for the acoustic/electric UBass. (Up to 53 cm/21 inch scale length).
– They have sold quite a few sets already and the customer feedback have been great.
– Although not yet available for solid body Ubasses there might be plans for some testing in the pipeline 🙂
The company will work on a way to solve the intonation problems I mentioned above. Great!
If you have tried these strings please let me know what you think!
That’s all for this time. I hope to try these strings some more on both fretted and fretless acoustic/electric and solid body Ubasses soon!
Now please check out the video below!
Links:
Pyramid saiten (German language)
Pyramidstrings.com (English language)
Play UBass! 
Thanks for the review. It is nice to have an alternative.
Hi Magnus. Great review. I was wondering how these strings compare to Kala’s Silver Rumbler strings?
I haven’t tried the Silver Rumblers yet…
But will try the Thunder Reds soon… 🙂
Hi, From the video the nylon strings seem sound more towards a bass guitar than an upright bass compared with other strings.
I agree, Douglas! It’s more of a regular steel/nickel string feel and sound with the Pyramid tape nylon.
Does anyone know of a US source for the Pyramids?
Hi!
I tried to find out this on their site but didn’t find any links to US distributers.
I will send them an email and check it out. For now I guess you will have to order from Pyramid direct
if you want to try out the black nylon tape. If you want their other ubass strings you can order here:
http://www.kalabrand.com/ProductPages/StringsU-BASS.html
or here: http://www.gollihurmusic.com/product/2253-STRING_SETS_STRING_OPTIONS_FOR_KALA_U_BASSES.html
Hi Guys, I’ve just moved from a Kala solid U-Bass to a mahogany acoustic U-Bass and wondered which of the string types/makes give the best up-right bass sound? (If any)…
Colin
Hi Colin,
The black original Pahoehoe strings are full of low end goodness. It will give you a nice ”upright’y” sound. However I find the white Aquila Thundergut strings a good alternative to the black ones. I have made a comparison video a while back. Although not exactly jazz, you might get something out by checking that out. I have a audio clip (bass solo on jazz tune) you could check out as well? Links below! Good luck!
https://playubass.com/2012/10/21/song-teaser-test-report-jam-afrique-and-string-test-part-3/
https://playubass.com/2011/08/16/jazz-a-little-solo-on-a-classic-jazz-tune/
what is the purpose of that strap on the neck?
Hi Leo,
I think you mean the Fretwrap by gruvgear.com. I use it to dampen the strings when I tap and want to keep the open strings from ringing! Check out these videos for more insight!
Hope my answer helps!
All the best,
Magnus
I was going to ask about the fretwrap as well, but since I don’t tap much, I probably wouldn’t have much use for it. But it might be useful to mute the strings a bit in some situations, so I’ll check it out.
I’m also grateful for the Pyramid strings review. I believe they now sell just round wounds (with nylon cores) in addition to the tapewound strings you feature here. At some point, I’d like to try them on my acoustic Kala U-Bass. But after watching this video, the tapewound strings sound a bit better (better bottom end, a little less attack) to me. Knowing that the string tension is a bit higher on these strings, did you have to adjust the truss rod any after you strung up the bass?
Hi Matt,
Sorry for this late response!
These Tape Wounds didn’t work that well. It was very hard to get them to intonate…even on a fretless!
I don’t think they would work at all on a fretted…
Bur at the moment I’m trying out a new string from Galli Strings. This is also a Tape wound string and so far I’m happy with them. I will try them on a fretted ubass and then write a review so stay ”tuned”!
All the best,
Magnus
Hi Matt,
Sorry for this late response!
These Tape Wounds didn’t work that well. It was very hard to get them to intonate…even on a fretless!
I don’t think they would work at all on a fretted…
Bur at the moment I’m trying out a new string from Galli Strings. This is also a Tape wound string and so far I’m happy with them. I will try them on a fretted ubass and then write a review so stay ”tuned”!
All the best,
Magnus