Need Help Determining String Lengths for my EUB Build (PIX)

[Nate74]

After some research I'm still having trouble determining if I need to be hunting for 1/2 size strings (or maybe 1/4 size) for my EUB build project that is nearing completion.

Knowing I'd have to install and remove strings countless times as I worked on the final setup of my EUB, I bought some very cheap 3/4 size strings off ebay. This required me to cut off the "silk" on the non ball ends causing some unraveling and some issues with even getting the strings onto the tuners.

The basic specs of my build are:
- Ball to bridge is appox. 4" of string length
- Vibrating string length is approx. 41"
- Nut to closest tuner is approx. 1.25" of string lenght

And some pix (from before I slotted the nut and bridge):



As you can see there is no silk on any of the tuners and what you can't see is how the E-string is unraveled a bit and barely into the tuner. Once I get the bass finished and the electronics installed, I'm fairly confident the situation with the E-String will get worse with playing and as I mentioned, these were pretty cheap strings that I'll end up changing for playability and sound reasons soon enough.

So I get to thinking that I need shorter strings and start reading here and elsewhere about lengths. From some research I found this site that shows the vibrating string length of various size basses.

http://www.doublebassguide.com/?page_id=3

It says for a 3/4 - 106cm (41.7"), 1/2 - 97.5cm (38.3") and 1/4 - 90cm (35.4"). But it says nothing about the length of the strings from "silk to silk."

Sorry for the long winded explanation, but here's the question (finally). Given the specs of my bass, do I need to be looking at 1/2 size strings? Is there a source for what the "ball to silk" and "silk to silk" dimensions are?

I really had a heck of a time with getting the E string into the tuner and the unraveling probably will make the string unplayable. What I think I need is at least an inch or so of the tapered silk wrapped portion to avoid these problems.

I'm a few weeks from being done, but would love to have the right strings on hand for when that day finally comes.

[Francois Blais]

Well, it's an interesting question.
The problem with most fractional strings is that they're not the same as the regular lenghts.
They can be lighter gauge too, so you can end up with very floppy strings.

You also learned that you MUST leave some silk part at the tuning peg.
I leave about two inches myself.

I suggest you experiment with Corelli strings.
The 1/2 size is the same string as the regular one, just "cut" shorter.
The 1/4 size is actually somewhat thicker, and should fit your instrument quite well, in both dimensions and tension.
The nickel set (300B) is a bit thicker and warmer sounding than the tungsten set (350B).
(Bob Gollihur has the tungsten set in stock at a great price)
In both cases this is the medium gauge.
With Corelli, the medium gauge is in fact the thinnest, but on a EUB this is a moot point, as acoustic volume is not a requirement.

Hope this helps!

[Nate74]

Merci Francois,

At $100 a set I think I'll want to figure out if 1/4 or 1/2 are the way to go before I start "experimenting"

I found the same manufacturer of the cheapy 3/4 set that I already have also makes 1/2 and 1/4 for about a third of the Corellis.

I'm also wondering if one of the local music shops that specializes in stringed insturments might let me open a 1/2 and 1/4 set of strings to see what will fit...