7 string dilemma

benhamen · #1 06-09-2010, 12:00 AM

ok, this is gonna be a mouthful....

so a made a 7 string bass in high school. i wanted a low f# for some reason, and my thought at the time was that i should lengthen the scale so that it wouldn't sound too floppy (35.5"). what i failed to consider was that i would also be lengthening the scale for the smaller strings, which is causing them to break after a short time (or so i assume). i continually kick myself for not fanning the frets. I'm currently using conklin snakeskins, and at $75+ a set, i don't much care for replacing strings on a regular basis.

so now that we're done laughing at my youthful ambitions, what should i do to avoid this problem? bigger strings? smaller? i bought a single unwound string to replace one that broke, and that seems to have handled the tension better than any so far, although it sounds drastically brighter than the wound strings... ....???? i've even considered moving up or down a string if that would help.

that aside... i have also heard that flatwounds generally have lower tension than roundwounds... and i have been seriously considering pulling the frets on my bass anyway, so if i were to go fretless and get flatwounds, could that solve the problem? and... perhaps a stupid question... what about contrabass and/or cello strings? as uprights have a much longer scale... could that work?

!!! and thanks in advance!

dmusic148 · #2 06-09-2010, 12:08 AM

Your string breakage problem is probably at the bridge- too much bend angle there. There is no other good reason strings would break often, even on a 35.5" scale.
The solution is to shim the neck(if bolt-on) at the entrance to the neck pocket, so that you can lower the bridge saddles, reducing the bend angle.

FunkMetalBass · #3 06-09-2010, 12:08 AM

The Conklin gauges should work just fine. What tensions are you using for your C and G-strings? I use a 35" scale on my 8-string, and it has a high F on it.

If it keeps breaking, look to your bridge, nut, and technique. Also, you might want to contact Circle K Strings. He's got some balanced sets that should help you out.

Pics of the bass?

BassCycle · #4 06-09-2010, 12:09 AM

Cheaper strings. Carvin 6 string sets are only about $16/set. I'm sure it's not the F# string you're breaking, just keep the one you have. You'll save a lot of money, especially if you're only gonna be breaking them all the time.

knuckle_head · #5 06-09-2010, 12:20 AM

Take a look at a PDF from my site - this one - and see if one of the three sizes I offer fit what you built. While looking it over consider that a full thickness around your tuning post may result in a snapped core, particularly the thicker gauges, so choose carefully.

Sadly, the price on my .174 set isn't any better than the Snakeskins and I'm betting that would be the right set for your scale length. But the .166 set is only $63 - they'll be a bit loose I think but they'll save you $10.

benhamen · #6 06-09-2010, 04:53 PM

hey thanks guys!

so i don't think that the angle at the bridge is too sharp, although i suppose it wouldn't hurt to round the edges on the back of the saddles a little. i put up a pic so you could see what you think. and it has a zero fret, so the strings are barely resting on the nut itself, so i'm fairly sure that isn't it either. i suppose it could have just been a few bad sets of strings, if its generally accepted that the scale length isn't the issue.

the more i think about it, the more i want to look around and try to figure out a way to get a set of flatwounds for it so i can pull the frets. unfortunately from the sounds of it those are nigh impossible to find for 7s, but i'll see what i can do.

BassCycle · #7 06-10-2010, 01:09 AM

Nice bass! Maybe you're just playing too hard. I used to break a lot of strings. Turn up your amp and lighten your touch.