Lighter gauge for super short scale

[ChristoMephisto]

Looking after a friends late 60's bass with a super short of 24.5" and having trouble getting it to intonation, the saddles are already all the way back and only the G string is close.
The rest are sharp by as much as 40 cent

Think they have the standard gauge of 45-100. Since its a much shorted scale length, would it make more sense to use lighter gauge strings, something like 35-85?

[gary m]

With a scale that short, lighter strings might not have enough tension. Sounds like you have an old National 85-style bass with that short a scale. I'd start with a 40-100 set.

[ChristoMephisto]

Close, it's a Mosrite Dobro bass with a resonator pan.
Just checked, it already has a set of 45-100 on them

[ixlramp]

Yes, much lighter gauges will help. The intonation offset is a measure of the inherent stiffness of the string structure. Thicker strings and flatwounds are stiffer, thinner and/or more flexible strings don't need the saddles so far back. If you're using flats switch to rounds. Perhaps try DR round core Hi-beams or Sunbeams. Circle K Strings are known to be extremely flexible for their gauge and sell a big choice of balanced tension extra-light sets here: Circle K Strings - Standard Balanced 4 Strings

For a constant scientific tension, a short scale actually reduces floppiness, since the anchoring endpoints of the string are closer together. 20 pounds tension guitar strings feel tighter than 20 pounds tension bass strings on a 34" scale.

[ChristoMephisto]

That makes more sense, thx
Tried and moved the A/D strings 80/65 up to the E/A and they were too loose, and floppy
hopefully a set of Rotosound 40-90 will do the trick