| Author | Message | ||
| flpete1uw
Intermediate Member Username: flpete1uw Post Number: 104 Registered: 11-2011 |
I have no doubt this has come up before so I apologize for any redundancy. My experience has only been with long scale 34" and Med. scale 32". I never had an issue using any strings designed for long scale on Medium scale Basses however the move to short scale seems like it might be a bit too much? I guess the issue is being that the choices are fewer in the short scale world or to extend my choices can I get away using strings designed for Med. Scale? All real world input welcome!! Pete | ||
| mario_farufyno
Senior Member Username: mario_farufyno Post Number: 845 Registered: 9-2008 |
I always cut string's end since I don't like them doing more then 2 turns on the post. I do that to avoid strings getting loose or slip when bended hard as I'm used to do when playing. I cut the end, bend tip 90 degrees before install. They never reeled off and never got problems doing that (for 30 years, now) concerning tuning stability or pitch. So I'm pretty sure there is no problem using long strings on short scales... | ||
| rustyg61
Senior Member Username: rustyg61 Post Number: 718 Registered: 2-2011 |
The issue you may run into using long scale strings on a short scale bass is that you may cut the thread off on some strings & not others depending on how far back they are thread wound. Also, some strings taper off on the end windings so if you cut them back before the taper, they could start to unwind. I still use Alembic strings on my SCSD. I tried Curt Mangan's but they didn't have the brightness that Alembic strings do, so I went back to Alembics. It is definitley harder to find short scale strings! I get mine from Bass Central in Florida, they have a good selection & are one of the few vendors who carry Alembic strings. | ||
| mario_farufyno
Senior Member Username: mario_farufyno Post Number: 852 Registered: 9-2008 |
GHS offers short scale option to all their string sets. In their site ou can find models and link to online sellers like juststrings.com. | ||
| mario_farufyno
Senior Member Username: mario_farufyno Post Number: 853 Registered: 9-2008 |
GHS offers short scale option to all their string sets. In their site you can find models and links to online sellers like juststrings.com. Not as fancy as some other brands, but think they're fine (and fits my budget). I'm pretty sure other brands like D'Addario and Rotosound have short scale options, too. | ||
| hieronymous
Senior Member Username: hieronymous Post Number: 1169 Registered: 1-2005 |
It can also depend on the bridge/tailpiece design. Are you playing an Alembic? If so, then long-scale strings should be fine, since there is a fair amount of space between the bridge and tailpiece. If it is a one piece bridge with saddles, then short scale strings might be more appropriate. Then there are string-through-body basses too, like the Fender Mustang. Here's are two pics illustrating the different bridge types: Alembic strung with long-scale D'Addario Chromes:  Gibson strung with short-scale LaBellas:  What kind of short scale(s) do you have? | ||
| keith_h
Senior Member Username: keith_h Post Number: 1818 Registered: 2-2005 |
Harry, I think he purchased this one. Keith | ||
| hieronymous
Senior Member Username: hieronymous Post Number: 1170 Registered: 1-2005 |
Ah yeah, nice one! I'd be willing to bet that long scale strings would be fine, but each brand is a little different... I noticed in my pics that you can see the headstock of the Gibson in the pic of the Alembic - perfect clearance of the nut, but on an Alembic those strings might not work. Unfortunately (well, fortunately for me) I no longer have the Gibson so I can't measure... | ||
| dfung60
Senior Member Username: dfung60 Post Number: 574 Registered: 5-2002 |
I think the problem you have with long scale strings on a short scale bass will be that you don't want the outer wrap of the string to be bent around the tuner post. I'm not sure how they tack the end of the winding down on a regular string (must be soldered or pinched down), but there's nothing holding the "speaking" part of the string on the core but the tension of the wrap. If the outer wind gets bent, then it can cause the windings to unravel, killing the string. On an Alembic, you have a problem with the E string because the tuning head is close to the nut (certainly less than the 4" difference in scale length!). You may have a problem with the G string too since it's also close to the nut in a 2+2 config. It's not an issue for an Alembic with brass nut, but on a Gibson EB bass, you'll stress the nut too if the fat part of the string goes into the tuner. David Fung | ||
| murray
Intermediate Member Username: murray Post Number: 138 Registered: 7-2007 |
If you need Acoustic Bass Guitar strings then I use Fender 7060 45 - 100 Phosphor Bronze (32"). As stated above, Rotosound do Short scale strings - just search for that. An example is 'Rotosound RS66S Swing Bass 66 Short Scale 40-90' £12 online. I have used them but they do others. Glynn | ||
| murray
Intermediate Member Username: murray Post Number: 139 Registered: 7-2007 |
Last post for Rotosound RS66S refers to 30" and stainless. Glynn | ||
| flpete1uw
Intermediate Member Username: flpete1uw Post Number: 105 Registered: 11-2011 |
Where else can you get such input? Harry, I had to smile when you asked if I was playing an Alembic. Keith, I did purchase that Bass still waiting on her. Googling this question brings up an interestin debate about strings wrappings and the like. But like Harry asked are you playing an Alembic. This is an interesting question though. Pete | ||
| mario_farufyno
Senior Member Username: mario_farufyno Post Number: 855 Registered: 9-2008 |
Does anybody really had an cutted string unraveled? I always read about it, but it never happened to me... | ||
| gtrguy
Senior Member Username: gtrguy Post Number: 549 Registered: 9-2004 |
Never had it happen in 35+ years of playing bass. I wonder if the end could be soldered if someone wanted to? Dave | ||
| flpete1uw
Intermediate Member Username: flpete1uw Post Number: 106 Registered: 11-2011 |
Mario, I never had an issue with any unraveling either. And as far as I can tell no noticeable issues with the sound. Like I said going 34" to 32" is one thing 34" to 30" I was thinking might be another. From what it sounds like here with using Alembics there shouldn't be a problem cutting the strings to fit. However, it could be similar to if your amp can go to 11 instead of 10? ~Pete | ||
| hieronymous
Senior Member Username: hieronymous Post Number: 1171 Registered: 1-2005 |
So there are two basic issues for Alembic short scales - strings too short, the silk winding may extend past the nut - strings too long, you may be wrapping a portion of the string around the post that you don't want to. Unfortunately, I think it comes down to experimenting with different brands. Which is kind of a bummer since bass strings can be so expensive. Too bad we can't have stickies in this forum showing the results of our experiments. | ||
| flpete1uw
Intermediate Member Username: flpete1uw Post Number: 107 Registered: 11-2011 |
Harry, that’s at least 1 part of the way that this can be broken down. Is there a problem with officially or real world experience in wrapping part of the playing side of the string to the post? ~Pete | ||
| rustyg61
Senior Member Username: rustyg61 Post Number: 719 Registered: 2-2011 |
I was just looking at my SCSD & the E string is much smaller where it is wrapped with thread than the main part of the string. If you cut a long scale string to fit & you have to cut all the way down to the fat part of the string, it may not fit into the hole in the tuner. One thing you can do is measure the length from the tailpiece where the string is anchored, up to the tuner & then measure the same length on a long scale string & see how much you will have to cut off. If you have to cut all the way back to the fat part of the string, personally I wouldn't do it. I just held a long scale Ernie Ball E string up to my SCSD & while it could be cut to still have part of the thread wound skinny part of the string to insert into the hole in the tuner, you would still be wrapping part of the fat part of the string around the tuning peg, & the fat part is not really designed to be bent at that small of a radius so that could cause problems. There are several brands who make short scale strings, but finding them in your local store can be a problem. The Guitar Center by my house doesn't carry a large stock of Short scale strings. | ||
| jacko
Senior Member Username: jacko Post Number: 3297 Registered: 10-2002 |
Rusty's hit on the main issue with using long scale strings on a short scale bass.. "the fat part is not really designed to be bent at that small of a radius " I didn't know that when I made my first bass and snapped the E string on two sets of rotosounds - just tuning up - before the shop keeper asked what scale length my bass was. | ||
| hieronymous
Senior Member Username: hieronymous Post Number: 1173 Registered: 1-2005 |
Too bad this board doesn't support polls - we could have people check in on a) when they've had long-scale strings break on short scale basses and b) when short scale strings didn't fit on a short scale bass. Results might be interesting! | ||
| hieronymous
Senior Member Username: hieronymous Post Number: 1175 Registered: 1-2005 |
So this isn't an Alembic bass but it's an illustration of one of the potential issues:  These are the only GHS flats available for long scale bass - the M3050 set, called "long scale plus" - the packaging states: LONG SCALE PLUS - 38" WINDING LENGTH THIS SET FITS 34" AND 35" SCALE BASSES You can see how much of the un-silked portion had to be wrapped around the post, but so far so good! Doesn't affect the sound, hasn't broken or unraveled. We'll see how long it lasts, but I don't foresee and problems. Now, if it was a low B it might be a different story. And admittedly it's a Fender post so a little bit bigger perhaps than the tuners Alembic uses. | ||
| flpete1uw
Intermediate Member Username: flpete1uw Post Number: 114 Registered: 11-2011 |
Well my first attempt in putting short scale D'addario EXL170S on my Short Scale series had the taper part in the playing section . Also the thinner taper lowered the action to an unusable buzz. I'm just going to use long scale strings and be done with it. | ||
| cntrabssn
Member Username: cntrabssn Post Number: 51 Registered: 6-2002 |
Hello Pete, Maybe this post is a bit late. I think you'll find that in most cases, medium scale strings will be a better fit for your short scale bass. It does depend on the string, but I've broken long scale E-strings on a couple of occasions with my short scale Alembic. The following string sets worked for me in medium scale: - GHS Boomers - D'Addario XL170 - Rotosound Swing Bass (though the standard gauge was quite light) - Fender Nickel round wound - GHS Pressurewound DR does make a short scale High Beam set that fits nicely. I'm currently using those. -nate. |
