Favorite short scale flatwounds??

PatO · #1 10-15-2011, 04:18 PM

Recently got a short scale gretsch and I can't decide what flats to put on it. I love the Rotosound rs88 and TI Jazzflats, but I think I want to try something in the middle on this 30" neck.

The roto's are crazy heavy gauge with very high tension while the ti's are very loose and buttery. What do the TBers use for middle of the road tension and gauge without losing the flatwound tone?

fjadams · #2 10-15-2011, 04:41 PM

Like the GHS Precision Flats, and they come in short scale.
The GHS Brite Flats also come in short scale and give a little more top end.
I use GHS Tape Wounds on my Gretsch, but it's a 32" and they might not fit on the 30".
You might look at the D' Addario short scale Tape Wounds, the Thundertrons seem to get great tone with the tapes.

fretlessguy · #3 10-16-2011, 04:01 PM

Like fjadamas I really like GHS short scale Precision Flats on mine. I also look forward to playing the short scale D'Addario tapes in the future.

TomB · #4 10-16-2011, 05:17 PM

I found Chromes great on my old EB-3... medium tension, great sound.

Lefty52 · #5 10-16-2011, 05:22 PM

Hi Pat, good question! I've just bought my first short scale bass and am going through the process of getting some flats organised.

I had my tech put a set of Roto 77s on it. I find them fairly stiff, at least compared to the Thomastik Infeld Jazz Flats I have on my Jazz bass. I'm not sure the Roto's work well on the shorty bass. I've just ordered a set of GHS Brite Flats from a guy on eBay US. When they arrive I'll do a little shootout between the Rotos, the Brite Flats, and the TIs (I plan to remove them from the Jazz bass and cut them to short scale length).

I'll set up a Pro Tools session and record the results, might take a week or two as the Brites will take a while to arrive from the States.

Please keep us posted on your findings Pat. Good luck.

PatO · #6 10-16-2011, 05:24 PM

You say you might cut a set of jazz flats down to scale? Won't cutting them that short get below the taper and cause the strings to unwind? I have a spare set of jazz flats - if this works I'm golden.

tekdiver500ft · #7 10-16-2011, 05:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PatO

You say you might cut a set of jazz flats down to scale? Won't cutting them that short get below the taper and cause the strings to unwind? I have a spare set of jazz flats - if this works I'm golden.

It might, but the unwinding will be in the tuning machine, so I wouldn't think it would change the sound, nor would it continue to unravel... I think.

Lefty52 · #8 10-16-2011, 05:40 PM

I've read conflicting info on this, but I thought I'd give it a go anyway. TI don't seem to sell Jazz Flats in 30" lengths.

PatO · #9 10-16-2011, 06:03 PM

I just laid out a regular TI E string over a 30" scale with two tuners on each side of the head stock. I dont see how the string not falling apart is possible. To make this work I'd need to cut about an inch in from the end of the silk and I don't want to risk it with these strings.

TI does make short scale Jazz flats, model jf324. Has anyone tried them?

Lefty52 · #10 10-16-2011, 06:32 PM

Pat, I think they're 32", not 30".

I've been doing some reading this morning and came across this bit of info, posted by "bobyoung53": "Just a FYI, The TI's short scale flats are not short scale, they're medium scale, 32". I've never seen a short scale by them, the wound portion will wind around the peg making them go dead in a very short time."

Anyone confirm this?

Pilgrim · #11 10-16-2011, 07:42 PM

To me, the answer is always Labella Deep Talkin' flats.

Unless it's a violin/Beatle bass with floating bridge, in which the answer is Labella Hofner flats (...and the strings on those 30" scale basses need to be 32".)

Turock · #12 10-16-2011, 07:51 PM

I really like the Pyramid Golds, and are what I use on my Allen Woody sig. I had GHS Precision Flats on before that, I liked them also.

PatO · #13 10-17-2011, 07:34 AM

I love the Rotosound rs88 nylon tape wounds on my modulus vj, so I sucked it up and ordered a set of those in short scale. I'll report in when they arrive, my only real concern is the girth of the e string (115) on a short scale bass.

Nordic Groover · #14 10-17-2011, 08:34 AM

I had some LaBella "Hofner Beatles Bass" flats on my Hofner CT violin bass (0.96 E string) which were _very_ low tension... enough to be a problem. Replaced them with a set of Pyramid Gold flats, which unfortunately are no better (though both sets of strings sound great!). Still just way too loose.

I bought a set of heavier LaBella Deep Talkin' flats (0.104 E string) and have fitted them to a Squier Jaguar SS (30" scale) and they are perfect. I may have to buy another set for the Hofner... :-)

This is all by way of comparison to the tension of a set of D'Addario chrome flats on my Squier Modified 70's Jazz (34"), which are always going to be higher tension than the short scales... but...

GregDunn · #15 10-17-2011, 08:51 AM

D'Addario Chromes fit perfectly on my Ibanez Mikro, and they sound great. They look like they'd fit well even on a 30" scale instrument.

jmlee · #16 10-17-2011, 10:04 PM

I use Chromes on my short-scale Rogue Beatle bass. Perfect for that instrument, very smooth and warm sounding. While I love the TI flats on my P-Bass, they are a very low tension string and could be flabby on a short scale instrument where the applied tension is lower than on a 34" scale. Just a thought...

bassbully · #17 10-18-2011, 08:34 AM

Glad I found this thread. I just bought a Musicmaster SS and hate the roundwounds on it although the stock ones are not as bad as most. I ordered a set of SS chromes since I like them allot on my P basses and TI does not make a SS flat. I had wondered about cutting strings also but the string unwinding could cause issues as well as the taper being off at the tuning posts.

Lefty52 · #18 10-18-2011, 05:06 PM

I contacted Thomastic Infeld and enquired about cutting down a long scale Jazz Flat to allow it to fit a short scale bass. Here's their reply:

"Dont cut the string before you install the strings. If you do this before the strings go dead .than the winding material get of from the core wire."

I can't see that it's possible to cut the string AFTER it's installed - how am I to poke the string through the hole me wonders?

Someone also mentioned that a cut off long scale string will be lower in tension on a shorty than it would be if left intact on a long scale. If that's the case, then...... project doomed, and time to buy short scale flats from another manufacturer.

boynamedsuse · #19 10-18-2011, 05:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lefty52

I contacted Thomastic Infeld and enquired about cutting down a long scale Jazz Flat to allow it to fit a short scale bass. Here's their reply:

"Dont cut the string before you install the strings. If you do this before the strings go dead .than the winding material get of from the core wire."

I can't see that it's possible to cut the string AFTER it's installed - how am I to poke the string through the hole me wonders?

. . . .

As a guess, he was probably referring to a tuning post like a Hofner (or guitar) uses where the string goes through a horizontal hole prior to winding it. In such a situation, you don't have to cut anything until you are done.

For a more standard Fender tuner where the end fits down a vertical hole in the tuning post that won't work.

88ric2030 · #20 10-20-2011, 11:36 AM

It depends on the bass. I love the GHS Precision Flats on my Squier Bronco. I have Chromes on a Danelectro Longhorn and a Jay Turser violin bass (actually it's a medium scale, and I have it strung with regular long scale Chromes, which have been on for 2 years, gigged heavily, and held up just fine).