String Lengths-Quandry

[RikBass]

It may be a silly question but i have in the past always pretty much ignored string length - ie. long scale, medium scale, short scale - and just as long as they fitted and had the right guage I would use them.

However, i have recently been wondering if the string tension is different between the scale lengths. Say, 45s to 105s on a normal jazz as opposed to my 24 fret custom. Would medium scale strings feel tighter on a longer scale bass?
And so would long scale strings on my long scale bass feel a bit softer and easier to bend?
Or is it just a matter of the right section of the string wrapped a round the machine head?

Please help!

[73jbass]

Originally Posted by RikBass

It may be a silly question but i have in the past always pretty much ignored string length - ie. long scale, medium scale, short scale - and just as long as they fitted and had the right guage I would use them.

However, i have recently been wondering if the string tension is different between the scale lengths. Say, 45s to 105s on a normal jazz as opposed to my 24 fret custom. Would medium scale strings feel tighter on a longer scale bass?
And so would long scale strings on my long scale bass feel a bit softer and easier to bend?
Or is it just a matter of the right section of the string wrapped a round the machine head?

Please help!

Your regular jazz and your 24 fret jazz should both be 34" scale,therefore,the same string tension. Medium scale strings will most likely be too short for a long scale bass.

[RikBass]

thanks.
I suppose i am really wondering about tension on the strings varying.

[lindseyp]

The tension on the strings will vary between a 34-inch scale and a 35-inch scale, if that's what you're asking. OR, are you asking about the tension differences between short-, medium- and long-scale strings? In that case, some manufacturers list the tension differences on their sites. I think D'addario does that on this site: http://www.daddariostrings.com/Resou...sion_chart.pdf.

[RikBass]

Thanks mate.
I was meaning between scale length sets but that link answers my questions. Cheers

[TheCrack]

For a given string length or scale (nut to bridge) a heavier guage string will require higher tension to reach the same pitch than a ligher guage string. This is plain ol' physics.

[Koki]

Unlogical question. String length has nothing to do with tension, only thing that could happen is that medium scale string will be too short and will not make it to the tuners.
Thickness matters