Cutting strings to fit short scale?

[ajwest]

Is there any kind of consensus on whether or not it's safe/wise to cut down strings in order to fit a short scale bass; specifically a new Hofner Icon? I've searched around and heard arguments both for and against. Can anybody help a newbie? Can I get a witness?! :-)

[slejhamer]

I've been told to avoid long-scale strings on my Mustang bass because the thicker wound part of the string should not wrap around the tuner. I believe the thinking is that the string winding might separate from the core, or something like that. I can imagine flatwounds having a problem, but I'm not sure about rounds. I've heard of a number of people who use them on shorter scale basses with no problem.

Anyway, there's a decent enough selection of short- and medium-scale strings that I don't worry about it. Why don't you want to use short-scale strings?

[ajwest]

Thanks for the advice. I'd love to use some short scale flats, it's just that nobody in my city has any in stock and the new Hofner Icon B-Bass is on the FedEx truck as we speak! ha! It's actually for my wife, but I'm just as excited I think. It looks like she'll have to do the roundwounds until I can order some flatwounds online. If I can find some cheap flats in the meantime, I might try cutting and see what happens.

[rhp335]

LaBella makes a set that is called the Hofner Beatle bass flatwound. $38 from juststrings. They worked great on my Rouge which is basically the same bass.