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??
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.
I generally buy D'Addario EXL160S Short Scale 50-105. shorties are hard to come by at most of the local shops except these.
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 (http://www.juststrings.com)
leftybass,
Do you use the 96-39 set of Labellas on the Hofner?
What are pyramids like?
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.
Here 'tis:
http://www.juststrings.com/lab-760fhbb.html (http://www.juststrings.com/lab-760fhbb.html)
I've had good luck with flats in general, but Labella Deep Talkin' flats have always been a cut above the rest!
+1 I like them really good on my shorties.
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.
(http://ep.yimg.com/ca/I/juststrings_2066_165577728)
Are the 5250s different from the nickel plated 7250s in some other way besides scale length?
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).
Quote from: ilan on August 13, 2009, 04:14:40 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.
(http://ep.yimg.com/ca/I/juststrings_2066_165577728)
+1 on these
Quote from: lowend1 on August 14, 2009, 05:05:56 AM
+1 on these
How's the tension? I dont know why but I've always thought Fender strings had high tension.
Quote from: leftybass on August 14, 2009, 07:07:23 AM
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.
I used to really like the old Rotosound shortscale flats. Very smooth and medium tension.
Rotosound Jazz 77's? I have them on a bass and like them.
I think that's what they were. They had blue silks and were a lot smoother than the long scale flats.
I've had the same problem locating short-scale strings local as everyone else. Usually, each shop might have 1 set. When my Dano Longhorn was my primary bass, I'd just buy or order 2 sets to keep myself for a bit should I get a break.
I've used D'Addario EXL and at some point I think I tried DR Strings, and Thomastik Roundwound.
I didn't notice a lot of difference between them other than the strings with a lot of cloth wrapping around the ends and top had trouble fitting into the bridge and tuners. They looked a little more snazzy but they were a pain to load.
I've mainly stuck with the D'Addario because of the cheaper price. Though I too would be interested to try the Rotosound Trubass just to see how they sound.
fwiw
I tried the "regular" slinkies (cut them down) 105-50, on my Dano, and the added tension seemed to "cure" all of my bitches regarding the strings that were on it, and sounded really good.
Patman
There are plenty of short scale strings out there. You can find them at juststrings.com.
Just from memory, Labella, GHS, D'Addario and Rotosound make short scale strings.
Problem is that you always have to mail order - local stores never carrry short scale strings...especially flats.
I used S.I.T. power flats on my last project which was a short scale . I like them so far & the price is right.
I've been using Smith round shorts on my Shorties for the last 3 years. I'm very impressed with their tone, consistancy and longevity.
I've got them on my Epi Allen Woody sig bass, Epi EB3 and Greg Bennett (Samick) ultra short scale P bass.
I can highly recommend bassguitarstrings.us. They have been excellent. Even refunded the difference in postage when it turned out cheaper than what they originally quoted which was already most reasonable.
http://www.bassguitarstrings.us/store/product.php?productid=16503&cat=346&page=1
I never knew Ken Smith offered short scale strings. I'll have to remember that if and when I get another shortie. I like the gauges.
Dave, they correspond to the same gauges as GHS shorts. I'm almost sure they are just rebranded but at a much lower price. And as I alluded to before they last a long time even with regular sweaty use.
a few months ago i bought a $40 broken in 2 Vantage Flying V bass 8) 30" scale.originaly i wanted to restore it but the ends of the V's were way smashed. and the crack was missing a lot of wood. so i epoxied the thing back together,used the same epoxy to build the ends back up and covered the whole thing in tons of well placed skate stickers.and like 20 coats of polyurethane (so they don't peel up).yeah it's a little cheesey and juvenille,but so am i. :mrgreen: anyway before i had a chance to try any short scale strings,my drummer gave me 2 sets of "Blue steels". i've tried these a few years ago and didn't like 'em. but on this bass with the 70's DiMarzio pup this thing kills.i can't belive how good it sounds and how easy it plays. they're 34" strings cut down. but they work fine and i have a spare set.now i need a case. i really like the short scale.
(http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x120/yrofrat/vvvvv001.jpg)(http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x120/yrofrat/vvvvv003.jpg)
wow, juvenile or not i like that bass. v's were made for that sort of finish.