long vs. short

[indianjjy]

Can I use long scale strings on my short scale gretsch ?

[fretlessguy]

I think it would be better to go with strings made for shortscales. I hear of others breaking off the longscale sets to do it, but I do not think it is wise.

The two best places I have found to get shortscale strings are:
www.juststrings.com
www.bpstings.com

Particularly look at GHS and D'Addario. They make shortscale sets of just about every type string they make. Rotosound and SIT make a few good sets as well.

[JimmyM]

I'm using long scale D'addario Half Rounds on my Jay Turser Beatle bass. I don't recommend it but you can do it. You can break the windings on the fatter strings if the fat part of the string winds around it too much, but some strings are OK with it, and apparently Half Rounds are one of them.

[Deacon_Blues]

Just curious - Is there actually another difference than the string length and gauge? The short scale strings seem to be a bit thinner, otherwise there is no other difference that I know of. If you can wind a thick string around the tuner pole I don't see a problem. The tricky thing is to know what strings can handle that.