Not-floppy short shortscale flats?

[deliciouspesto]

Does anybody make non-floppy shortscales? The scale needs to be really short, like 28/29", and the silk at the ball end needs to be either gone or extend less than an inch maximum.

Is there a type of string I should be looking for given the shortness of the scale and the silk requirements at the bridge? Any tips from shortscale users would be appreciated.

[jallenbass]

Chromes for me are definitely not floppy. Neither are GHS.

[honeyiscool]

La Bella strings do quite well in terms of tension but yeah, that silk thing...

[deliciouspesto]

Originally Posted by honeyiscool

La Bella strings do quite well in terms of tension but yeah, that silk thing...

yeah the distance ball end to saddle is really short, and it seems many shorts have long bridges to deal with this sort of issue already. Anybody ever have to deal with such a situation?

[hdracer]

What bass & bridge are you talking about?

[deliciouspesto]

Originally Posted by hdracer

What bass & bridge are you talking about?

an old uncommon model with its own bridge, the exact distance from where the ball is caught to the saddle is a little over 2cm, so figure 1/2 of an inch or so max silk coverage.

[jmceachern36]

There's no silk on the ball end of the GHS flatwounds.

[jasper383]

I would think the 49-109 La Bella short scales would be a good choice for you. No silk at the ball end, not floppy.

I have the medium scale 49-109 set on my Ibanez short scale bass, and they are great.

La Bella Electric Bass Guitar Deep Talkin' Bass Med. Short Scale, .049 - .109 Stainless Steel Flat Wound, 760FM-S

[bassballs_dk]

cut off and use the ball ends from some old strings and slide them over the string, this will extend the length so you can avoid silk or wrapping to touch the bridge saddles.

Simple but it works

Chromes is very tight (to tight for me) and I used the trix with the ball ends with them.
Now I use labella extra light deep talking bass, but I prefer them sloppy, as mentioned in a previous post labellas do not have silk in the ball end.

[deliciouspesto]

Originally Posted by bassballs_dk

cut off and use the ball ends from some old strings and slide them over the string, this will extend the length so you can avoid silk or wrapping to touch the bridge saddles.

Simple but it works

Excellent idea, in fact I've already tried it, but it doesn't work in this situation for a couple of reasons related to the bridge design. The biggest issue is that because of the short distance, and because the hole is as close to the body as it can be, the angle is really sharp and the top of the string grinds against the string hole and it doesn't intonate well. If the angle wasn't so sharp I could use extenders but it just doesn't work in this case.

Thanks for the tips on the other strings, how do the GHS and those short labellas compare tonally to other strings out there? I've used labella 760FM on a long scale and I didn't really like the sound or feel of them.

[bassballs_dk]

Originally Posted by deliciouspesto

Thanks for the tips on the other strings, how do the GHS and those short labellas compare tonally to other strings out there? I've used labella 760FM on a long scale and I didn't really like the sound or feel of them.

If you don't like the 760FM don't buy the short ones they sound the same

GHS will give you a darker thumpier sound more old school

Chromes is brighter than labellas but still closer in sound and feel than the GHS to the 760FM's

I love and use GHS on my Danelectro shortscale

I switched from chromes to labellas on my Gibson SG bass because i liked the floppier feeling and the lighter gauge better.

All a matter of taste i guess

[deliciouspesto]

Originally Posted by bassballs_dk

If you don't like the 760FM don't buy the short ones they sound the same

GHS will give you a darker thumpier sound more old school

Chromes is brighter than labellas but still closer in sound and feel than the GHS to the 760FM's

I love and use GHS on my Danelectro shortscale

I switched from chromes to labellas on my Gibson SG bass because i liked the floppier feeling and the lighter gauge better.

All a matter of taste i guess

There are a couple of GHS models, the pressurewound/bright flats/precision flats. Dark and thumpy sounds good for finger, but I want to be able to get a good snap in the mids if I use a pick. Can you or anyone else compare any of those to other flats out there, i'm just not familiar with chrome or ghs flats.

Oh and I definitely don't want the roto77 sort of phasey brightness, thats just too much, if that helps.

Getting close I think

[bassballs_dk]

Originally Posted by deliciouspesto

There are two GHS models, the pressurewound and precision flats. Dark and thumpy sounds good for finger, but I want to be able to get a good snap in the mids if I use a pick. Can you or anyone else compare any of those to other flats out there, i'm just not familiar with chrome or ghs flats.

Oh and I definitely don't want the roto77 sort of phasey brightness, thats just too much, if that helps.

Getting close I think

I would say the precision flats is what you are looking for, I think they have this midrange snap you are looking for played with a pick. But they are light gauge in shortscale but I don't think they feel floppy. (cheap too)