Epiphone Viola Bass

[bassman1021]

I recently got an Epiphone Viola bass. I like the bass but not the strings that are already on there. I want to put flatwounds on. I bought some flats and tried to put them on but the balls on the end were too big and wouldn't fit in the tail piece. Can anyone with an Epiphone Viola help me? I just need to know what flatwound strings fit on the viola. Also what scale and gauge to get. I don't want to keep buying new strings and wasting money.

I'd greatly appreciate any help on this.

[rfclef]

Originally Posted by bassman1021

I recently got an Epiphone Viola bass. I like the bass but not the strings that are already on there. I want to put flatwounds on. I bought some flats and tried to put them on but the balls on the end were too big and wouldn't fit in the tail piece. Can anyone with an Epiphone Viola help me? I just need to know what flatwound strings fit on the viola. Also what scale and gauge to get. I don't want to keep buying new strings and wasting money.

I'd greatly appreciate any help on this.

Congrats on the Epi. I love mine. Hated the stock rounds.
This looks familier. I made the same panicked statement... The ball ends on the stock strings WERE smaller than the new ones I got... I made a plea to TB (oops, mighta been another forum) then felt like a dope when, after some jiggling and adjusting, they did fit. You might try again.... If I recall, they gotta go in JUST right to fit in the tail piece...
I currently have TI flats on it (.043-.106) and I love the sound n feel.... due to the tail piece, though the bass is a short scale, you need to get medium scales for most strings...

Hope this helps

[bassman1021]

Thanks for the information. Are these the strings you're talking about?

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/produ...ass?sku=101645


If so, I'll probably get those and then try to get them into the tail piece. Thanks again.

[rickfan63]

Don't get the short scale strings. The tailpiece on the Epi Viola is the same as on my Brice Beatle Bass, and short scale strings won't fit as I found out when I put flats on it. You will need medium scale TI's JF324. The short scale strings will fit a Hofner because the tailpiece is a little longer than the copy basses. If you really want to use short scales, you will need to put a Hofner style tailpiece on.

[Pilgrim]

Originally Posted by rickfan63

Don't get the short scale strings. The tailpiece on the Epi Viola is the same as on my Brice Beatle Bass, and short scale strings won't fit as I found out when I put flats on it. You will need medium scale TI's JF324. The short scale strings will fit a Hofner because the tailpiece is a little longer than the copy basses. If you really want to use short scales, you will need to put a Hofner style tailpiece on.

Exactly right. The tailpiece on ALL the Hofner "Beatle bass" clones and most of the other hollowbodies from the 60's and 70's results in the need for a medium length string, about 32".

The Labella Hofner flats are made for this exact application and sound wonderful!

[rfclef]

Did you have any better luck getting the ball string end thingies into the slot?

[kyral210]

As always d'addario flatwounds are the best!

[bassman1021]

Originally Posted by rfclef

Did you have any better luck getting the ball string end thingies into the slot?

Yeah, you were right. They got in there. Thanks man.

[rfclef]

Originally Posted by bassman1021

Yeah, you were right. They got in there. Thanks man.

LOL. At least you weren't a panicky stooge like me when i posted the same problem... I musta sounded like a real nitwit... Glad you got em in... How does it sound?

[bassman1021]

Originally Posted by rfclef

LOL. At least you weren't a panicky stooge like me when i posted the same problem... I musta sounded like a real nitwit... Glad you got em in... How does it sound?

The flats sound great, much better than the strings that were on. Thanks again.