is this supposed to happen?

[cav]

Ok its a bad picture but...

Bought new strings trying out a different kind and on the low b string the outer winding of the string doesn't reach the bridge on the bass - you can almost make it out in the picture above.

does it matter at all that it is like this?

[Bass Mule]

Horrible pic, but I think I understand what you're asking. As I understand it (not being a 5-string player, so I'm sure I'll be corrected) is that the wider wrap is NOT supposed to be on the saddle. So, your strings are indeed correct.
(edit: this is just referring to tapered B strings. non-tapered b strings would indeed have the wider wrap going over the saddle.)

[plastik-bass[?]]

i dont think it should but i dunno...i got strings that did that execpt the outer wireing didnt reach all the way to the nut....didnt really effect sound but was annoying so i took em off

[cav]

hmm yea - all other string sets ive had on it (and i have tried many) are wound all the way to the end so it does sit in the cradle of the bridge - this set is the first i have seen like this...sounds ok, but i wonder if it does make a difference...

on the image try downloading it and viewing it zoomed out, you can make it out 'better'!

[Bass Mule]

Originally Posted by plastik-bass[?]

...i got strings that did that execpt the outer wireing didnt reach all the way to the nut....

You mean saddle, right? The nut is up by the headstock.

[trevcda]

Tapered strings. I had a set of DRs that were tapered with the same issue of not reaching the bridge. I couldn't get that bass to strobe up with them. So it may affect your set up drastically. I replaced them with what I usually use and all was right with the world again. That's my experience. I'd let a few other chime in before replacing them. Hey, if they work out for you, you can have mine!

[flakeh]

That is correct. Some brands make the low b string narrower near the saddle so they are not high off the fretboard. This way intonation is not horrible off.

This is not a problem and it shouldn't affect sound at all.

[Lalabadie]

You just made me realise my 5-string has two strings this way. Since the sound is fine, and it doesn't come out of tune faster than before, I guess it's okay. It's the core that supports most of the tension, AFAIK, so just make sure there's no friction attacking it at the bridge.

Originally Posted by plastik-bass[?]

i dont think it should but i dunno...i got strings that did that execpt the outer wireing didnt reach all the way to the nut....didnt really effect sound but was annoying so i took em off

Short scale strings for long scale bass, eh?

Don't blame the strings :P

[Bass Mule]

Originally Posted by flakeh

That is correct. Some brands make the low b string narrower near the saddle so they are not high off the fretboard. This way intonation is not horrible off.

This is not a problem and it shouldn't affect sound at all.

Plus, if your saddles are grooved specifically for a lower gauged string, you won't need to re-groove your saddle, or get a new saddle altogether for the low b.

On the flip side of the coin, if your low B saddle was grooved for a the heavier portion of your string (IOW, the wider wrapped portion of the string), you may need to switch back to non-tapered strings.

[kevinmoore73]

Is large blurry picture supposed to happen? I guess, but it depends on the camera.

[plastik-bass[?]]

Originally Posted by Bass Mule

You mean saddle, right? The nut is up by the headstock.

i know where the nut is and i mean the nut...when i strung it through where the string started the thin out was at like the 2 1/2 fret

[plastik-bass[?]]

Originally Posted by Lalabadie

Short scale strings for long scale bass, eh?

Don't blame the strings :P

exactly what it was...didnt pay attention when i bought them...i was really tired