24 inch scale strings help

[50hz]

i just picked up a teisco 24 inch scale bass and I need help with strings. any suggestions? will standard 30 inch scale strings be ok? should I go lighter or heavier in gauge?

[xaxxat]

30" scale will work. You may need to undo some of the winding on the tuner end of the string. I used a set of 30" strings on a Strat bass I set up. I unwound the top layer of the E and A strings so that they would fit in the Strat tuners. Unwind only the amount needed and snip it off. I used heat shrink tubing to secure the windings. The D and G strings fit fine as they were. Get the thickest strings you can. Thicker strings = more tension. I used an old set off of an SX shortscale. I think the E is about 0.100". It's a little on the floppy side. When I get around to putting decent strings on, I'll look for a 0.125" or thicker E string. These sub-short scales are a bunch of fun to play.

[50hz]

cool. mine needs ALOT of work before its playable. it's going to be my frankenbass. I was thinking of making it fret less since it needs a re-fret anyway.

[Turnaround]

Originally Posted by 50hz

cool. mine needs ALOT of work before its playable. it's going to be my frankenbass. I was thinking of making it fret less since it needs a re-fret anyway.

You might want to think again about defretting. I've played some 21" and 24" fretless basses and it's not at all easy to play them in tune. Finger position is more and more critical as the scale length shortens.

You might see it as a challenge. I found it a frustration.

[50hz]

I'll take your advice on that one!

[50hz]

flatwound or round? any difference on short scale?

[Bassamatic]

Second that. Even my 30" Hagstrom was really difficult to play fretless, so it got re-fretted.

[Pilgrim]

I'd say leave the frets alone until and unless you prove there is a problem. Don't buy more work for yourself and potentially mess up an interesting bass.

[SBassman]

You can find some relevant dialog in the Sub-Short Bass thread.

You won't find stock strings sized for the bass.

But, you have options:

- Use a heavy gauge set, and stick to flexible, regular strings so that you can wind them around the post. If you use something stiff like a flat, it's far more likely that the string will crack while trying to wind it.

- Use any length you want, but cut the ball end off and recap the end. There are links out there for ways to do that.

I, too, would recommend not defretting the bass yet. Put a fresh set of strings on, give it a run, and take it from there.

[Abner]

I'm not advocating pulling the frets either, but certainly not because of the scale length. How long is that violin scale again?

[SBassman]

Exactly. Scale is not about long or short length. Otherwise, violin players would be hosed.

[50hz]

well I'm definitely not going to go fretless but it does need a re- fret. the frets are pretty gnarly. they seem to fairly level but the ends are pretty chewed up. the neck is surprisingly not as bumpy as I figured it would be but could probably use a leveling as well. the problem that I'm having is the 45-100 strings barely stay in tune, too floppy on the e and a. tuners are actually great. all the strings fit the tuner posts great except for the low e. no problems on the d and g.

[50hz]

here are some pics

comparison to my jazz bass








tuners are in great shape

[George Mann]

I have the same bass. I have not been successful in finding strings to fit it, or figuring out how to modifier an existing set.

I have however designed a custom tail-piece that will allow 30" scale strings to work. But it has not yet been fabricated.

Has anyone successfully shortened the speaking length of a metal bass string?

[JimmyM]

Love basses like that one! As long as the frets are level, you could just have the edges fixed without getting all invasive with it.

As for strings, those tuners are strong enough and the pegs are thick enough to where you could use 30" short scale strings as they are and not damage anything. It has a set of short scales on it already, it looks like.

[50hz]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

Love basses like that one! As long as the frets are level, you could just have the edges fixed without getting all invasive with it.

As for strings, those tuners are strong enough and the pegs are thick enough to where you could use 30" short scale strings as they are and not damage anything. It has a set of short scales on it already, it looks like.

they are actually ghs long scale+ . all fit fine except the E

[JimmyM]

The G really doesn't look that bad to me. Is it slipping?

[50hz]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

The G really doesn't look that bad to me. Is it slipping?

the d and g are fine. the low e is the problem. it's real floppy and doesn't hold tuning well because of the lack of tension. plus the low e was so thick I had to try and cram it in the post and I think it's slipping.

[uethanian]

why not get a BEAD set and tune it up to EADG? on a 25" scale bass, the nut is effectively where the 5th fret would be on a 34" scale.

[JimmyM]

A BEAD set would be to thick and heavy tension for that neck IMHO.