Bass VI (and other 6 string short scale bass users)- what strings?

[sunbeast]

I just recently got ahold of one of the old Danelectro Baritones with 30" scale that I've wanted for ages. I have been working on converting it into a Bass VI-style guitar (so tuned E to E one octave lower than guitar). I finally put my first set of Bass VI strings on- the D'addario Light Gauge Nickel set- and I am getting some really nasty hollow overtones from the low E string on frets above the 5th (and to a much lesser degree on the A string). It is reminiscent of the issues I had had with many heavier B strings when I had a 5 string bass- just a wobbly, hollow tone overrun by harmonics.

My question- is this the nature of these instruments, or could it be a bad string or bad string set? What strings are you guys using? I am very attracted to the flatwound option, but they seem to sell for quite a bit of money- so I want to make sure my problem is solved before going that route!

I love the way all the notes sound except most of the low E-given that this is most of the register I was adding by converting it to a Bass VI, I want to get this figured out!

Some more info-
*to get proper intonation of the low E, I had to flip the bridge saddle around backwards. This isn't the problem, as I had the overtones before I reversed it- just wanted to mention that the string is intonated properly!

*Other modifications I did to convert it from Baritone to Bass VI:
I bought one of the metal replacement bridges, drilled out the holes in the back of that to accept the larger strings, widened the nut slots, and drilled out the E string tuner slightly to fit the fattest string (looking back, this was probably not the optimum solution to that problem, but still seems to be sturdy enough for the time being and they are cheapo tuners anyway!).

Thanks for your opinions!
Karl

[jasonmasters]

my main ax is a benavente vortex 6 that I tune as a guitar in D standard, so D to D. I have a Kahler Tremolo bridge so i need to use light gauge strings otherwise the tension pulls the bridge too far forward, so I use D'addario extra super lights, which is a 4 string set that are gauged 35-95, and then I go to juststrings.com and buy single strings for the high two. you can buy D'addario singles for about 3 bucks each, i use 30 and 28 gauge for the high two, but if you were tuned to standard you could use a single, unwound string for the high E that you can buy as an 18 or 20 gauge, which has a pretty interesting sound!

[sunbeast]

That is a cool idea! I just looked at building a set of Chromes using your method and it comes out way cheaper than the LaBella flats that I've seen.

So the two single guitar strings are long enough then?
I know D'addario tends to leave alot less extra string than some other manufacturers (at least for bass strings- you have to buy Extra-long scale in order to string through the body, which is usually not an issue with other brands).

Thanks,
Karl

[jasonmasters]

yeah you'll most DEFINITELY have enough room. I can't remember if I have a 34 or 35 inch scale but either way the strings I order stretch past my headstock before i clip them

[sunbeast]

Originally Posted by jasonmasters

yeah you'll most DEFINITELY have enough room. I can't remember if I have a 34 or 35 inch scale but either way the strings I order stretch past my headstock before i clip them

I just looked at the website again- are the 2 single strings you ordered from the "guitar" section or the "bass" section of the "single strings" part of the online store? I noticed that for the XL Nickels, they offer alot more small gauges in the "bass" section- whereas for the Chromes I would have to order singles from the "guitar" section.

If you order all the strings from the "bass" part, then they are probably actually made in a long enough scale for a 34" bass. In this case, maybe I should just try the Nickels again with my own gauges since the Chromes are less available for single strings!

Thanks again,
Karl

[jasonmasters]

I order the single strings in the bass section. they're D'addario roundwounds. the only bass I have flats on is a 4 string so I haven't done much searching for whats available in small strings for flats...

[sunbeast]

cool- I'll give the rounds a try. Maybe I just need a higher tension lo E to get what I'm looking for!