Fanned Fret B String

[Phil Mailloux]

I'm building a fanned fret 6 string with the longest scale being 37" at the B string.

I e-mailed DR Strings some time ago to enquire about the max scale length I could get with their strings. Their answer was 37.5"

I just tried the B string for the first time and ended up with this.



To all you fanned fret people, is this normal to have the windings like that on a 37" scale or not?

If not which strings do you use that will be long enough for this.

[Smallmouth_Bass]

Dingwall strings!

I have also tried some GHS Super Steels in Long Scale Plus, and the B just starts to taper over the nut, but it still works and doesn't seem to affect the playability.

I have also tried some Ken Smiths that fit. I can't remember the set, but they were specifically long. If I remember correctly, even their regular long scale strings are rated at 38" winding length (bridge to nut). I guess it would also depend on how far back the ball sits on the bridge too...

[budman]

I've been round and round with DR about their method for denoting scale. They don't seem to care. My multi-scale basses use a 36" B and the Sunbeams and Lo-Riders barely fit, only clearing the nut be a few outer wraps. They do make a "long neck" scale string, but it's tapered at the ball end. I think they also make a Hi-Beam super long scale set...I think.

[Phil Mailloux]

Thanks guys, Bud, do you have the windings like this (between fret 1 and nut) on your fanned basses or do you try to find something that fits?

[budman]

Originally Posted by Phil Mailloux

Thanks guys, Bud, do you have the windings like this (between fret 1 and nut) on your fanned basses or do you try to find something that fits?

No, they work on my basses, but just barely.

Originally Posted by budman

My multi-scale basses use a 36" B and the Sunbeams and Lo-Riders barely fit, only clearing the nut be a few outer wraps.

[BruceWane]

Nope, that's not normal. A 37.5" winding length is not adequate for a 37" scale because you lose more than 1/2" of that winding length between the bridge saddle and the anchor for the ball end.

DR makes an extra long Hi Beam .125 guage string, worked great on my Dingwall. I order them from juststrings.com - they're available individually or in a set........

http://www.juststrings.com/drs-xr-125.html

http://www.juststrings.com/drs-lmr-45-125.html

I'm currently strung with a set of D'Addario XL's, "super long scale"..........

http://www.juststrings.com/dad-eps170-5sl.html

The B string on this set is just long enough.

Check the forums at Dingwall for even more options.

http://www.dingwallguitars.com/forum/

Something you might try with your current string - get some heat shrink tubing from Radio Shack and put a little piece on the string right where it contacts the nut to make the string a little thicker. A lot of shrink tubing is too rubbery to use for this, but Radio Shack's shrink tubing is particularly hard when it cools.