Short scale players.... What's your poison?

vin*tone · #1 11-03-2009, 06:40 PM

I'v got an olde '66 Mustang on its way and am going to want to give it fresh set of strings. Seems most short scale players go for flats- specifically 45 - 100 chromes- which BTW is what I've strung on my main player basses. Should I maybe go a little heavier to compensate for the shorter scale?

I'll be using it for old school styles- ska, rocksteady, reggae, soul.

rllefebv · #2 11-03-2009, 08:45 PM

You nailed mine... Chromes. I've never found the need to go thicker on any of my shorties (Dano Longhorn, '78 Musicmaster, '70 Ovation Typhoon)... You may want to go medium scale length on the 'Stang since it is string-through... Chromes tend to run a bit towards the short side, (My Typhoon needs mediums, my '51 RI and '96 MIA P need extra longs!)

I also dig the XL Nickel wounds in any scale. Wonderful strings IMO/IME

-robert

::::BASSIST:::: · #3 11-03-2009, 09:01 PM

If its a string thru you can get away with 34" strings. I use a heavy set of 34" chromes on my Stambaugh ss jazz.

The other good option is the Labella ss strings. They dont have as much tension though. This means the action may not go as low without buzz.

Those are my two favourites.

lo_freq_geek · #4 11-03-2009, 10:01 PM

I just picked up a used Squier Musicmaster shorty with string through for my son and strung it with some regular length D'Addario 1/2 round I had around. I just trimmed enough off to leave 3 or 4 wraps on the post. They sound REALLY good

vin*tone · #5 11-03-2009, 10:23 PM

What gauges are you all using? There's talk of needing slightly heavier gauge bc of the shorter scale- or is this all bunk?

pbass2 · #6 11-03-2009, 10:32 PM

If you wanna go old-school, get Labellas.
I have Chromes on one of my shorties (Jerry Jones Longhorn)---they sound great--REALLY great, but still more modern even after being on for a few years than the Labellas will sound after a few months.
That said, you can't go wrong with either

becker4567 · #7 11-03-2009, 10:37 PM

I had a set of D'Addario Chromes (short scale) on my SX shorty, but they seemed too loose and slopppy, so I swapped them out for a new set of LaBellas Deep Talkin flats, (109 E) and I couldn't be happier. I like the higher tension and smooth feel. This is my third shorty (I have a 1966 Gibson EB3 and a Rogue violin bass) and yes, shortys have slightly different needs as far as strings go. If you check with a lot of short scale players, they tend to go with heavier gauge strings.

mongo2 · #8 11-04-2009, 05:06 AM

My Mustang has longscale Ernie Ball Group II flats (105-50).

I have Chromes shortscale strings on a topload bass but they're only 100-45 (the only gauge Chromes shortscales available).

I prefer the heavier gauge.

davelowell2 · #9 11-04-2009, 06:07 AM

I like the LaBella Deep Talkin' shortie flats.

Fly Guitars · #10 11-04-2009, 05:30 PM

yeah, I like the Labella deep talkin' strings, I have them on most of my shortscales. Gibson EB3 Epiphone Newport etc

vin*tone · #11 11-04-2009, 05:41 PM

lotsa love for Labella. They say on their site that they're not suited to string through bridges.... like the 'stang. Anyone confirm or deny this?

Also- conflicting posts here on tension vs chromes. I might have to investigate.

rfclef · #12 11-05-2009, 12:46 AM

HAd TI Jazz flats on my EPi Viola, have DR green & yellow strings on my goofy EB-0, and Curt Mangans on my Birdsong.... Love the Mangans. SOund great, feel great, and only $20 a set...

mongo2 · #13 11-05-2009, 08:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vin*tone

lotsa love for Labella. They say on their site that they're not suited to string through bridges.... like the 'stang. Anyone confirm or deny this?

I had a couple snap on me, but I've also had several others that haven't.

vin*tone · #14 11-09-2009, 06:21 PM

^hmmm. ...not great news.

Matt R. · #15 11-09-2009, 06:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vin*tone

I'v got an olde '66 Mustang on its way and am going to want to give it fresh set of strings. Seems most short scale players go for flats- specifically 45 - 100 chromes- which BTW is what I've strung on my main player basses. Should I maybe go a little heavier to compensate for the shorter scale?

I'll be using it for old school styles- ska, rocksteady, reggae, soul.

I use .45-.100 D'Addario round wound short scale strings for my 78 Musicmaster. I use the same strings (long scale version of course) on my other basses. The bass also has an Aero Musicmasterer 4 pickup. It sounds massive.

88ric2030 · #16 11-09-2009, 08:23 PM

My two current shorties are a Jay Turser Beatle Bass, which I just re-strung tonight with .45-.100 Chromes. I love these strings and now want to put them on all my basses, including my long scales (migh leave rounds on my Ric 2030, but the 4001 and Jazz are definitely getting flats).
Oh the other shorty is a '58 Longhorn re-issue from the late
90's.That has .50-.105 Danelectro roundwounds(they are actually a D'addario shortscale set that was packaged for Dano) that have been on it for about 6 or 7 years and sound nice and thumpy, But I'll soon replace them with Chromes; those strings have totally spoiled me now, I can't take finger noise anymore

.

You can hear both shorties on my band's new demo.
The Dano was used on "Til The End Of The Day", and 'The Kids Are Alright". The Turser was used on everything else, unfortunately it still had the original sucky roundwounds
that came stock on it.

www.myspace.com/thehigains

smoothoperator · #17 07-06-2010, 10:16 PM

are la bella 760 shortscale long enough for Mustangs or should I opt for the medium scale?

stratovani · #18 07-06-2010, 10:46 PM

La Bella Beatle Bass flats on my Hofner Icon. I forgot what size they are, but no matter, I love them. They sound and feel great and I can sound more like Sir Paul now.

Pilgrim · #19 07-07-2010, 06:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smoothoperator

are la bella 760 shortscale long enough for Mustangs or should I opt for the medium scale?

Labella's official position is that their flats are not to be used in string-through applications. If you feel brave and want to do it, go up at least one length over your scale length.

I love Labellas, but Chromes work for me in applications not suited for Labellas.

Rob Martinez · #20 07-09-2010, 06:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stratovani

La Bella Beatle Bass flats on my Hofner Icon. I forgot what size they are, but no matter, I love them. They sound and feel great and I can sound more like Sir Paul now.

Exactly the same for me. I love the comination of the LaBella Beatles flats and the Hofner Icon. I use the same strings on my Waterstone Indra and Eastwood Club bass.