Author Topic: Strings for Short scale  (Read 3420 times)

patman

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1349
    • View Profile
Strings for Short scale
« on: August 12, 2009, 10:20:26 AM »
Considering changing the string on my Danos...right now they have real sweaty Ernie Ball roundwounds on them...

Have used Chromes (too high tension to slap--too artificial sounding in the midrange) and TI Jazz flats (loved everything about them except I kept breaking strings because they are 32 inch scale and had too much stuff wrapped around the tiny little posts) Dadarrio nickel rounds (liked slinkies better)

Am open to rounds or flats--they need to be lower in tension and relatively flexible to do what I do.  They attraction to flats is that it would be nice to put 'em on and leave them for a couple of years.

I'm throwing it out to forum just because experimentation is so expensive...

Was considering GHS Precision flats or ?  Maybe the real light Labellas? or Roto Trubass?

If I get slinkies again--it'll take weeks to get 'em to sound good.

Any ideas??
« Last Edit: August 12, 2009, 10:36:12 AM by patman »

leftybass

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 777
    • View Profile
Re: Strings for Short scale
« Reply #1 on: August 12, 2009, 10:41:50 AM »
Have always had good luck with GHS Precision Flatwounds, not GHS Brite Flats tho'. I use LaBellas on my Hofner, they work great, haven't tried them on any of my other shorties. Rotosound Trubass I love 'em, only possible downside is your nut slots may have to be widened for them to fit.
"Top 10 Best Bass Players" 2014 Austin Music Poll
"Top 10 Best Bass Players" 2013 Austin Music Poll
"Top 10 Best Bass Players" 2012 Austin Music Poll
"Top 10 Best Bass Players" 2011 Austin Music Poll
"Top 10 Best Bass Players" 2010 Austin Music Poll

Proud owner of Dee Murray's Steinberger.

ramone57

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 748
    • View Profile
Re: Strings for Short scale
« Reply #2 on: August 12, 2009, 11:18:36 AM »
I generally buy D'Addario EXL160S Short Scale 50-105.  shorties are hard to come by at most of the local shops except these. 

leftybass

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 777
    • View Profile
Re: Strings for Short scale
« Reply #3 on: August 12, 2009, 11:55:59 AM »
Even here in Austin where everyone plays guitar, short-scale bass strings are not easy to find, that's why I use www.juststrings.com
"Top 10 Best Bass Players" 2014 Austin Music Poll
"Top 10 Best Bass Players" 2013 Austin Music Poll
"Top 10 Best Bass Players" 2012 Austin Music Poll
"Top 10 Best Bass Players" 2011 Austin Music Poll
"Top 10 Best Bass Players" 2010 Austin Music Poll

Proud owner of Dee Murray's Steinberger.

patman

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1349
    • View Profile
Re: Strings for Short scale
« Reply #4 on: August 12, 2009, 11:58:34 AM »
leftybass,

Do you use the 96-39 set of Labellas on the Hofner?

What are pyramids like?
« Last Edit: August 12, 2009, 12:10:29 PM by patman »

leftybass

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 777
    • View Profile
Re: Strings for Short scale
« Reply #5 on: August 12, 2009, 01:40:47 PM »
Nope, I use the heavier set, I dont know the guages off the top of my head. I dig 'em.
Pyramids I used for years and they were OK but became absolutely impossible to find, dealers I'd been getting them from since forever were telling me they couldn't get them anymore, so that's when I took a chance on the Labellas and now won't use anything else. They're very punchy all over the neck, our soundman sure likes them, he was always having trouble with the Pyramids, when I'd play high up on the D and G strings the bass would get lost in the mix, and so he was having to use a ton of compression on the bass channel, but no more.
"Top 10 Best Bass Players" 2014 Austin Music Poll
"Top 10 Best Bass Players" 2013 Austin Music Poll
"Top 10 Best Bass Players" 2012 Austin Music Poll
"Top 10 Best Bass Players" 2011 Austin Music Poll
"Top 10 Best Bass Players" 2010 Austin Music Poll

Proud owner of Dee Murray's Steinberger.

leftybass

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 777
    • View Profile
Re: Strings for Short scale
« Reply #6 on: August 12, 2009, 01:44:29 PM »
"Top 10 Best Bass Players" 2014 Austin Music Poll
"Top 10 Best Bass Players" 2013 Austin Music Poll
"Top 10 Best Bass Players" 2012 Austin Music Poll
"Top 10 Best Bass Players" 2011 Austin Music Poll
"Top 10 Best Bass Players" 2010 Austin Music Poll

Proud owner of Dee Murray's Steinberger.

Pilgrim

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 9989
    • View Profile
    • YouTube channel
Re: Strings for Short scale
« Reply #7 on: August 12, 2009, 03:58:35 PM »
I've had good luck with flats in general, but Labella Deep Talkin' flats have always been a cut above the rest!
« Last Edit: August 13, 2009, 07:42:26 AM by Pilgrim »
"A computer lets you make more mistakes faster than any other invention with the possible exceptions of handguns and tequila."

Saf

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 161
    • View Profile
Re: Strings for Short scale
« Reply #8 on: August 13, 2009, 04:28:11 AM »
+1 I like them really good on my shorties.

ilan

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3908
    • View Profile
Re: Strings for Short scale
« Reply #9 on: August 13, 2009, 03:14:40 PM »
I have four shorties and all of them wear Fender Nickelplated Steel 5250XL's. I wish I could find a long scale set that sounds this good.


The guy who bought the same bass twice — first in 1977 and again in 2023

Dave W

  • Administrator
  • *****
  • Posts: 22259
  • Got time to breathe, got time for music
    • View Profile
Re: Strings for Short scale
« Reply #10 on: August 13, 2009, 03:46:33 PM »
Are the 5250s different from the nickel plated 7250s in some other way besides scale length?

ilan

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3908
    • View Profile
Re: Strings for Short scale
« Reply #11 on: August 14, 2009, 12:37:55 AM »
Assuming they are identical in materials and structure, still the scale length and different tension (.040 on a 30" scale) should make them sound different, right? Maybe I should have written, I wish I could find a long scale set that on a long scale bass will have the same tone and feel as the 5250's on my short scales. Especially after they mellow down. Does that make any sense?

I should just go out and get some 7250's, in 34 years of playing bass I have never tried them (it's always been Roto's back in the day, DR's, or TI's).
« Last Edit: August 14, 2009, 05:43:04 AM by ilan »
The guy who bought the same bass twice — first in 1977 and again in 2023

lowend1

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2581
    • View Profile
Re: Strings for Short scale
« Reply #12 on: August 14, 2009, 04:05:56 AM »
I have four shorties and all of them wear Fender Nickelplated Steel 5250XL's. I wish I could find a long scale set that sounds this good.




+1 on these
If you can't be an athlete, be an athletic supporter

leftybass

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 777
    • View Profile
Re: Strings for Short scale
« Reply #13 on: August 14, 2009, 06:07:23 AM »
+1 on these

How's the tension? I dont know why but I've always thought Fender strings had high tension.
"Top 10 Best Bass Players" 2014 Austin Music Poll
"Top 10 Best Bass Players" 2013 Austin Music Poll
"Top 10 Best Bass Players" 2012 Austin Music Poll
"Top 10 Best Bass Players" 2011 Austin Music Poll
"Top 10 Best Bass Players" 2010 Austin Music Poll

Proud owner of Dee Murray's Steinberger.

lowend1

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2581
    • View Profile
Re: Strings for Short scale
« Reply #14 on: August 14, 2009, 12:06:25 PM »
How's the tension? I dont know why but I've always thought Fender strings had high tension.

Had them on a EB-3 ho that I sold recently. Tension was fine for me, and I generally like a flexible string.
If you can't be an athlete, be an athletic supporter