"Best" String for short scale Bass?

[bassplyr5150]

Just acquired a short scale (29 1/4') Jazz, and I was wondering if there was a type of string (Round, ground, or flat) that works "best" with a shorter scale instrument.

Here's the Bass in need of new strings:

Thanks in advance for the input.

[Pilgrim]

I think you will find numerous discussions of strings if you search. Short vs. long scale makes no real difference.

Please click on the second sticky link in the strings section titled: STRINGS FAQ + RULES: READ THIS FIRST BEFORE POSTING!!!

[bassplyr5150]

I did a search using my exact question.

These were the keywords the search function used:
"best, string, short, scale, instrument"

You know what came up? My own post.

Now, can we have a civilized discussion on the topic?

[netbot]

i've ti's on my duesenberg shortscale. the JF324 to be exact. they are shorter and make it easy to insert the string in to the tunig machine. usually they are thicker than longscale strings.

[fretlessguy]

Well, what do you like to play now? After thinking about it, go to www.bpstrings.com and click on the bass page, and you will see all different short scale gauges and string types to fit your heart's desire.
www.juststrings.com carries a wide selection as well, but it is quicker to just use the search engine and type in "short scale bass" where you can look all the different brands on one page.
I use SIT nickel rounds (.40-.95) on one of mine and a set of D'Addario Half Rounds (.45-.100, I think) on my Essex Short sclae fretless jazz.

FG

[becker4567]

I've recently become a real LaBella 'Deep Talkin' flats convert. I have a set on both a reguar scale and a short scale, and they seem to have a bit more tone on the shorty (although that probably has more to do with the bass itself than the strings). Unfortunatly, bass strings a too expensive to buy a set just to experment with (I've purchased way too many sets just to find out I don't care for them), so if your looking for a set of flats, give the LaBellas a try.

[Pilgrim]

Sorry - wasn't trying to be snotty - but I couldn't help but notice that the phrasing of your question is a direct quote from this sticky:

STRINGS FAQ + RULES: READ THIS FIRST BEFORE POSTING!!!

...which has many good links which may help you, and also says "If you're going to ask what kind of strings you should buy, make sure you FIRST look through all the links below, then do a search."

I tried a TB search for "best strings short scale" and found 2,260 threads - of which yours was the first. Using your search string, I got 805 hits. I suppose that the problem is that asking for "the best" anything on a forum with no additional criteria is problematic....and I grant that it can take time to comb through threads which may nit directly address your question.

But I will offer personal opinion, which may or may not have any value to you. I prefer flats...and I leave them on indefinitely. My oldest set was installed around 1972 on a '63 P, so those strings are at least 37 years old. As far as string selection, it makes NO difference to me whether the bass is long or short scale, as I own a number of both. Strings are strings - if I like 'em on the long scale bass, I'll like 'em on the short scale, and vice versa.

My top 3:

Labella Deep Talkin' flats
Rotosound Jazz Bass flats
D'Addario Chromes

Those are the "best". Trust me.

And I second juststrings.com as an excellent, competitively-priced source that provides a lot of good info on their website.

[ProfGumby]

If, ah who am I kidding, when I get a short scale I will have to use flats. Every short scale with rounds I have ever tried feels funny to me. You know, squishy, wimpy, rubber bandy, flippy floppy funny...

But I played one with flats (I think they were DR's) and hoo mama!

[bassplyr5150]

Pilgrim, no apologies necessary. Hell, if anything, I owe you one for biting your head off with my own complete understanding of the question I was trying to ask, and the complete and utter failure that was my attempt to convey it.

Frankly, personal opinion is what I'm after. If people post things the way that you and ProfGumby did (This is what I use and why), then I can take that and run with it.

And yes, I am a bad newby for not running a better focused search. I did look at all the thread titles, and none of them seemed to touch on what I needed, and I didn't think about the debates within the threads that might have lead me down the correct path.

Thank you again for the wisdom of your experience (37 years without changing strings? Like 'em dead sounding, do ya? Or are flats naturally that way?), and I promise to do better from here on out.

[Pilgrim]

Bassplyr150, thanks for your gracious and thoughtful reply! That's a display of class that we don't always get here.

With forums, you never know. Sometimes the title of a thread is just what you're looking for, but other times it doesn't seem to be relevant and the thread takes a turn into your desired topic...or not. It just takes time to sort through all that stuff. There are many gems hidden in threads, but finding them can be a challenge.

Yup, I confess that I like dead strings in general. Call it a personal oddness or failing. Maybe I'll change someday. I seldom change strings on a bass - I have a 2000 MIM Jazz that has the original 9-year-old rounds on it, and they sound fine to me.

If I don't like the sound of a bass, strings are the first place I look. I have a a Rogue VB-100 violin bass that came from the factory with horrendous sounding, tinny, nasty strings. I installed Labella Hofner flats and the change in sound was amazing - a complete change of character and exactly the classic depth and character I was looking for.

So my all-purpose fix is: if in doubt, install Labella flats.

However, I've also had very positive experiences with Rotosound Jazz Bass 77's and D'Addario Chromes. The Chromes are thought to be a bit brighter than many flats, and I have them on my Applause (Ovation style) acoustic-electric. They sound great - and IMO are a considerable improvement in feel and sound over the phosphor rounds that came on it.

I'm not really sure how much sound difference there is between various types of flats, as I don't change them a lot. I do know that I like flats of all kinds better after they've been on the instrument a few months and have settled in. Flats change sound and lose their (to me) excessive brightness as they go through their first few months. 37 years ain't bad!

Hope this helps somewhat.

[Mazatleco17]

I use Rotosound 88 black nylon strings with my shortscale and love it.

[conundrum]

So, from this thread I gather it's fine to use "longscale" strings on a short scale bass?

I've got some exl170's which I'd like to use on a Dean XM EVO bass. I've had to cut the strings when fitting them to a 34" bass, anyway.