Length of strings for 35" basses?

4-Stringer · #1 02-06-2009, 11:52 AM

what kind of strings are needed for 35" scale basses?
Talking about D'Addario EXL170 on a Yamaha TRB 1005 or a Ibanez BTB 675, do I need the "long" or the "super long" scale strings?

Thx!

HaPpYfAcE · #2 02-06-2009, 12:12 PM

for what it's worth, i just got some d'addario chromes (ECB81-5) from GC and they were too short for my Lakland fretless 55-01

They are 'Long' and still too short, go figure.

Caca de Kick · #3 02-06-2009, 12:23 PM

Back when I had 35" scale basses all I ever used was DR Highbeams, and plenty long enough.

Revmizery · #4 02-06-2009, 12:34 PM

They have a guide on the page to help you determine what brand and what scale you need. here is the link.
http://www.tothestage.com/upload/BassArticle2_1803.pdf

in short you should be good with just the longs.

ShowKing · #5 02-06-2009, 01:13 PM

i go for extra long sets like sadowsky strings

34" = long
35" = extra long

JustDavid · #6 02-07-2009, 06:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Revmizery

They have a guide on the page to help you determine what brand and what scale you need. here is the link.
http://www.tothestage.com/upload/BassArticle2_1803.pdf

in short you should be good with just the longs.

Good info in that link, but there's a recent post on here where someone read only part of it, took that part WAY out of context, & managed to order the wrong length.

A quick measurement will get you the proper string length. Worth the 3 minutes it takes.

wagstaff · #7 02-07-2009, 06:24 AM

I use Warwick red lable on my 35" scale 6er and they are definatly long enough.

cb56 · #8 02-07-2009, 06:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4-Stringer

what kind of strings are needed for 35" scale basses?
Talking about D'Addario EXL170 on a Yamaha TRB 1005 or a Ibanez BTB 675, do I need the "long" or the "super long" scale strings?

Thx!

35" scale you will need the super long scale D'addarios. Trust me, been there done that.
Even on some string through body 34" scale like G&L you'll need the super longs.

smogg · #9 02-07-2009, 06:28 AM

With D'addario strings, "super long" work best on 35" scale necks.

JustDavid · #10 02-07-2009, 06:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cb56

35" scale you will need the super long scale D'addarios. Trust me, been there done that.
Even on some string through body 34" scale like G&L you'll need the super longs.

OP will likely need Super Long, true, but measuring & checking the guide will tell for certain.

cb56 · #11 02-07-2009, 06:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JustDavid

OP will likely need Extra Long, true, but measuring & checking the guide will tell for certain.

agreed, and when ordering them, calling them by their name "Super Long" will avoid confusion, frustration and possibly wasting time and/or money. Just saying.

JustDavid · #12 02-07-2009, 06:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cb56

Just saying.

Thanks for the correction, & the polite presentation!! I've corrected my post to use the length's actual term.

Maybe I should defer further posts until the coffee kicks in?

cb56 · #13 02-07-2009, 07:01 AM

sorry, wasn't being critical just pointing out the possible confusion caused by D'adarrio's unique naming of the string lengths. Post on Bro!

JustDavid · #14 02-07-2009, 07:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cb56

sorry, wasn't being critical just pointing out the possible confusion caused by D'adarrio's unique naming of the string lengths. Post on Bro!

No problem! Didn't get "critical" at all in your reply!!

Here I was having at your post then I get the length term wrong, & you pointed this out in a very gentlemanly way.

I don't like D'Addario's namings. Long = normal?!? I also find their tension namings are counter-intuitive. But I applaud their publishing of string tensions & their numerous informative articles.

msiner · #15 02-07-2009, 07:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JustDavid

I don't like D'Addario's namings. Long = normal?!?

When Leo Fender chose a 34" scale, it was longer than anything else people were making. So historically, 34" is "long". When bass guitar scales got longer, they had to come up with a new name, "super long"

Bassman316 · #16 04-07-2009, 02:18 PM

After reading this post, I'm starting to wonder if I'm S.O.L. with my Brice octave 8-string. It's a 35" scale string-thru-body bridge. The only set of strings I know of that just might make it are the GHS eight string set. Juststrings.com says that they can fit 34-35" scale basses. But I'd like to know for sure before I order them that they'd be able to fit my bass.

JTE · #17 04-07-2009, 03:54 PM

Standard nomenclature in the electric bass string world has been that "long scale" is 34", "medium scale" is 32", and "short scale" is 30".

D'Addario's regular long-scale strings starting sometime around 1990 woulld not fit a 34" scale with string-through-body. The XLS-570 stainless steel long-scale set used to fit my pre EB StingRay, but around 1990 I had to start ordering the extra-long scale sets. For my Lakland/Skyline 55-01 (35" with STB), I've used DR Hi-Beams and Lakland's stainless without any problems.

For Bassman316- I beleiver GHS's site lists the total lenght of the strings, or at least used to years ago. Measure the strings that work, and see what they offer. BTW, my experience contacting D'Addario and GHS has always been that both companies are very good at responding, answering questions, supplying information, and even debating things... I had some interestind discussions with Jim D'Addario when I got my first set of XLS-570 that didn't fit my 'Ray!

jte