Thomastik Jazz Round Question

[testing1two]

Has anyone tried the 36" scale Thomastik Jazz Round strings on a 34" scale bass? I currently have the 34" scale mediums on my jazz bass and the gauge is just too light and floppy. I love the sound and feel though. The 36" scale set is a heavier gauge and higher tension but obviously much longer so I may run out of silk winding at the tuners. It's a rather expensive experiment so I'm wondering if anyone has tried this and had good or bad results.

Anybody tried this?

[Johnny Alien]

The 34" scale is actually already extra long as it is made for through body stringing. A 34" set works on a 35" scale so the 36" scale would be WAY too long for a 34" scale bass. Running out of silk would be an understatement. On top of that while the gauges are larger that is because it is a longer scale and to create the same tension the gauge needs to be larger. The 32" scale is "slightly" higher gauge and would work on a 34" scale if you string through the bridge however I do not think that you would increase in tension enough to be worth the trouble. About the only thing you can do is get used to the tension or possibly try a set of Superalloys. They are slightly higher in the mids than the rounds and don't capture that same exact tone but they are still great TI strings, closer to standard round tension and cheaper to boot.

[Johnny Alien]

Another suggestion is to try a set of DR Sunbeams. They are similar in tone to jazz rounds and while they are also low tension they are still a bit higher than the Jazz Rounds which are the lowest tension rounds I have ever played.

I was not real found of the low tension at first either but once I got used to it I will never play another set of rounds again. I love them a ton!!

[testing1two]

Thanks for the suggestions JA, I really do appreciate them.

I guess what I'm fighting is the fact that the low tension has caused me to not only raise the action of the bass but change my touch as well. It varies drastically from my other basses which may take some getting used to. Also problematic is the fact I do a fair amount of work in Eb for which these would be soggy noodles not to mention the fact I have D-tuners on virtually all of my 4 strings.

I've tried Superalloys in the past and while I love the slick feel their tone is a little on the modern/bright side for my purpose, especially after playing the Jazz Rounds. I think I've played every DR string except Sunbeams so I may have to investigate those although I can't imagine them feeling nearly as smooth as the TI's.

The flats on my P-Bass are perfect and the sound of the jazz rounds on my Jazz Bass have the quintessential sound I hear in my head (when they're not buzzing).

Who knows, maybe someday Thomastik will hear my prayers and develop a set of jazz rounds in a gauge that's more familiar to the fingers of electric bassists. I can't tell you how strange it feels playing an E string that's only .004" larger than my old A string.

[Johnny Alien]

I agree in liking the Jazz Rounds more than the Superalloys. I would not want to downtune the rounds either. If it were me I would experiment with the 32" scale before the 36" scale. But before either maybe give the Sunbeams a shot. They are not quite as smooth as the Rounds but they are still pretty nice. It's a cheaper experiment than the 32" scale TI's. I also would like to see TI make a slightly more tight Rounds set BUT I have a feeling that changing things might alter the overall tone which is what is so great about them to begin with.