Rounds for 35" Thru-body Lakland 55-01

Bassist4Life · #1 10-05-2010, 08:57 AM

Sorry about not doing the search button thing right now guys!

I just need some quick assistance. I'm frantically practicing for a big gig, and I need to swing by Guitar Center (or another shop) to grab some:

5 String, Roundwound, 35" Scale, Thru-body strings.

Which set do I grab? I don't wanna' get a set where the taper on the B string is sitting in the nut. Please help a TB brother out. I won't bug any of you about the search function next time around, promise.

Joe

mmbongo · #2 10-05-2010, 09:30 AM

DR or Dunlop.

Bassist4Life · #3 10-05-2010, 09:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mmbongo

DR or Dunlop.

Thanks, but what length? That's the most important thing.

Mike Shevlin · #4 10-05-2010, 09:43 AM

I think you would need DR High Beam Extra Long Scale, and Guitar Center doesn't stock them~ I get them at juststrings.com~ I use them for multi-scale basses. For my Lakland 5594, I've always just strung them through the bridge. I think you should just string at the bridge for this gig (I actually prefer this method on this particular bass) with any long scale string that you normally like, and screw around with the through body strings when you have more time.

Bassist4Life · #5 10-05-2010, 09:51 AM

Thank you for your fast response! I would like to go through the body.

I'm the kind of guy that rarely buys bass strings. I had my TI flats on my P-bass for over 5 years and I just recently switched over to rounds. This is why I'm having some trouble.

Thanks again, Joe

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Shevlin

I think you would need DR High Beam Extra Long Scale, and Guitar Center doesn't stock them~ I get them at juststrings.com~ I use them for multi-scale basses. For my Lakland 5594, I've always just strung them through the bridge. I think you should just string at the bridge for this gig (I actually prefer this method on this particular bass) with any long scale string that you normally like, and screw around with the through body strings when you have more time.

Bassist4Life · #6 10-05-2010, 10:06 AM

I just got off the phone with Lakland...

They said the only 5 string set they can guarantee will work is the set they sell made by GHS.

I'm in a time crunch so he suggested I purchase the longest ones I can find for stringing through the bridge and they may or may not work through the bridge.

I guess that means "Super Long" by D'Addario for at least through the bridge.

Joe

JTE · #7 10-05-2010, 11:04 AM

I've got a regular set of DR Hi-Beams on my 55-01 and they fit just fine, didn't order a special long set. I'm not sure about the D'Addario. Their regular long-scale doesn't fit a 34" scale Lakland through-body (nor just about any through-body bass). I never tried any D'Addario on my five, but I had to get the D'Addario Extra long scale strings for my pre EB StingRay, so I wouldn't count on them fitting a 35" through body.

BTW, my experiences with through-body and top-load on Laklands is that it doesn't make any difference. I strung my two 4-94 with alternating strings (E and D top-load, A and G through-body, reversed on the other one). Before I did this, I SWORE there was a subtle but real difference in sound and feel. However, after this real-world objective and truly side-by-side comparison which I repeated when I restrung the basses (but changed which strings went which way on each bass), I had to admit there's nothing to it. However, being a musician, I can still be a flake, so I still string 'em all through the body.

John

Gearhead17 · #8 10-05-2010, 11:34 AM

Ken Smith Roundwounds for my 35" Spectors are the only way to go for me. Otherwise Guitar Center does not stock or carry them. See if you can get a hold of Lakland youself and ask them directly what they are strung with and what else would work with their basses.

mmbongo · #9 10-05-2010, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bassist4Life

Thanks, but what length? That's the most important thing.

That's the beauty of Dunlop and DR. They just fit. You don't have to worry about buying the right scale length. They don't have all those confusing different lengths to worry about, except for a few special sets by DR. Both have about 38" of winding. I've used both through body on my 35" Peavey.

Bassist4Life · #10 10-05-2010, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gearhead17

Ken Smith Roundwounds for my 35" Spectors are the only way to go for me. Otherwise Guitar Center does not stock or carry them. See if you can get a hold of Lakland youself and ask them directly what they are strung with and what else would work with their basses.

I spoke with Lakland today. They said the strings made for them by GHS are the only ones they can guarantee to fit.

I left a message with GHS and they got back to me right away. The rep there told me that there was a GHS 4 string set I could get, but then I'd need to get a separate B string.

I figure if I'm going to go through all that trouble, then I'll just order the strings directly through Lakland in the future. They're affordable... something like 22 bucks for the 5 string set.

Joe

Bassist4Life · #11 10-05-2010, 11:39 AM

The DR Hi Beams would probably sound really nice, but they cost almost twice as much.

Thanks for the suggestion.

Bassist4Life · #12 10-05-2010, 11:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mmbongo

That's the beauty of Dunlop and DR. They just fit. You don't have to worry about buying the right scale length. They don't have all those confusing different lengths to worry about, except for a few special sets by DR. Both have about 38" of winding. I've used both through body on my 35" Peavey.

YES, that's exactly what the guy at GHS said. He told me that I would need 38" winding.

As I was saying, the DRs are a little pricey, but since I'm in a bind...

Thanks

AtomicPunk · #13 10-27-2010, 05:06 AM

Which strings did you end up with? How do you like them? Just curious...

Hoover · #14 10-27-2010, 06:53 AM

I use Ken Smith Rockmaster (Stainless Steel Roundwound) Mediums in their "Extra Long Scale" length on my Lakland 55-02D and they fit perfectly for backloading thru-body.

The exact Smith part # is AA-RMM-5X

available here: http://www.juststrings.com/ksb-aa-rmm-5x.html

mmbongo · #15 10-27-2010, 07:45 AM

Dunlops are about half the price of DR.

kraigo · #16 10-27-2010, 07:58 AM

Liberally snipped...

Quote:

Originally Posted by JTE

BTW, my experiences with through-body and top-load on Laklands is that it doesn't make any difference.

John

I'm thinking of going back through the body on my 55-01 because the bridge pieces are set pretty low on my 55-01 and I'm concerned about the lack of down pressure. Not a huge deal, but since I have the option, I'm probably going to do it the next time I change strings.

KO

JTE · #17 10-27-2010, 08:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kraigo

Liberally snipped...

I'm thinking of going back through the body on my 55-01 because the bridge pieces are set pretty low on my 55-01 and I'm concerned about the lack of down pressure. Not a huge deal, but since I have the option, I'm probably going to do it the next time I change strings.

KO

Try this...

String the B, A, and G through-body, and the E and D top load. Next time you restring reverse it. Using this true side-by-side comparison see if there's a real difference. That's what I did (on my 4-94s) and that's why I don't think it's important. Before I did this real test, I was one who was certain there was a difference in feel. However, this test (repeated on two different fretted 494's over several string changes) convinced me it's psychological.

I still string through the body though... I'm a musician, so I don't have to be rational all the time!

John

Bassist4Life · #18 10-27-2010, 09:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AtomicPunk

Which strings did you end up with? How do you like them? Just curious...

I got the Lakland strings. I wasn't in love with them at first. The tension on them was a lot higher than the strings already on the bass. I believe it was strung up with Hi-Beams. Also, I didn't love the taper core B string.

I had to do a complete setup on the bass for the Lakland strings. The B string wouldn't go though the body. I emailed Lakland and the called me at home moments after my email... ON THE WEEKEND. They sent me out a whole new set of strings at no cost so I can get a good B string.

I'm learning to love them, but I may try something else.

Arthur U. Poon · #19 10-27-2010, 09:30 AM

I use the D'Addario XL170SL (Super Long Scale) on my Lull with a through body B-string and a 35" scale. They aren't too expensive and I like their feel and tone. YMMV.

kraigo · #20 10-27-2010, 11:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JTE

Try this...

String the B, A, and G through-body, and the E and D top load. Next time you restring reverse it. Using this true side-by-side comparison see if there's a real difference. That's what I did (on my 4-94s) and that's why I don't think it's important. Before I did this real test, I was one who was certain there was a difference in feel. However, this test (repeated on two different fretted 494's over several string changes) convinced me it's psychological.

I still string through the body though... I'm a musician, so I don't have to be rational all the time!

John

I believe you and will gladly grant you occasional irrationality, but it does look like through-body would give you better down pressure. I'm not sure that it makes any difference sonically though. Still, the break angle is nearly non-existent on my 55-01 and I can pick the Lakland stainless steels at a shop very close to work.

BTW, back on topic Lakland would be my choice because the tapered portion of the B string is long enough that you CAN string through the body.

KO