High F questions

[EADG mx]

I'm thinking of stringing a 6 string bass E-F


3 questions:

1) I'll most likely be using standard gauges, .105-.045 for the E-G and around .030 for the C

I was wondering what gauge of F I would need to use for the most consistent tension. This is for a 34" scale bass but if you know a good gauge for 35" scale that would be appreciated as well



2) What are some makers of high F strings? So far I know Labella, Conklin, D'Addario


3) Are high F's wound, unwound, or can they be both? j/w



thanks a lot

[mark roberts]

Originally Posted by EADG mx

I'm thinking of stringing a 6 string bass E-F


3 questions:

1) I'll most likely be using standard gauges, .105-.045 for the E-G and around .030 for the C

I was wondering what gauge of F I would need to use for the most consistent tension. This is for a 34" scale bass but if you know a good gauge for 35" scale that would be appreciated as well



2) What are some makers of high F strings? So far I know Labella, Conklin, D'Addario


3) Are high F's wound, unwound, or can they be both? j/w



thanks a lot

Dean Markley SR2000 .022
DR Hi Beams .025
Labella RW .022
Ken Smith .020 wound, .018 plain steel

[cheapimitation]

You can also by reels of music wire -- it is a standardized product, pretty much -- and make your own plain wire strings. I save the ball ends from old BG strings and use plain wire purchased from a piano supply house. The gauges that you will probably want for your high F are thinner than the gauges used on the highest notes of a piano (typically the highest piano note uses size 13 wire, which is .031 inches in diameter; if you want .018", that would be size 7. Size 8 is .020", and size 6 is .016", and they continue all the way down to size 4/0 (a smaller size than size 4, which is .013"; after size zero, which is .009, it goes to 2/0, 3/0, and 4/0, which is .006". So, while size 7 is larger than size 6, for example, size 3/0 is smaller than size 2/0.). Even though these small sizes aren't found on pianos, many piano suppliers sell them anyway, for use on dulcimers and zithers. A 1/2 pound coil of the stuff would make many, many strings, and costs about the same as 2 plain strings from a bass string company.

All you need to do is make a loop around the ball end, then twist the wire around itself a number of times -- say at least 5. A pair of needle-nose pliers will help.

I really dig the sound of plain wire, and use it on my C strings and sometimes G. After that the pitch gets a little shaky, but it's still a cool sound. Maybe not right for most conventional bass playing, but worthy of experimentation.

[EADG mx]

Originally Posted by cheapimitation

You can also by reels of music wire -- it is a standardized product, pretty much -- and make your own plain wire strings. I save the ball ends from old BG strings and use plain wire purchased from a piano supply house. The gauges that you will probably want for your high F are thinner than the gauges used on the highest notes of a piano (typically the highest piano note uses size 13 wire, which is .031 inches in diameter; if you want .018", that would be size 7. Size 8 is .020", and size 6 is .016", and they continue all the way down to size 4/0 (a smaller size than size 4, which is .013"; after size zero, which is .009, it goes to 2/0, 3/0, and 4/0, which is .006". So, while size 7 is larger than size 6, for example, size 3/0 is smaller than size 2/0.). Even though these small sizes aren't found on pianos, many piano suppliers sell them anyway, for use on dulcimers and zithers. A 1/2 pound coil of the stuff would make many, many strings, and costs about the same as 2 plain strings from a bass string company.

All you need to do is make a loop around the ball end, then twist the wire around itself a number of times -- say at least 5. A pair of needle-nose pliers will help.

I really dig the sound of plain wire, and use it on my C strings and sometimes G. After that the pitch gets a little shaky, but it's still a cool sound. Maybe not right for most conventional bass playing, but worthy of experimentation.

Good idea, that might be a little beyond me though

thanks anyway

[EADG mx]

Originally Posted by mark roberts

Dean Markley SR2000 .022
DR Hi Beams .025
Labella RW .022
Ken Smith .020 wound, .018 plain steel

thanks a lot, I'll look into those


I see you play a 9 string? Do you recommend either wound or plain steel? why?