What scale length and gauge strings come on a Rogue violin bass?

ishouldbeking · #1 04-07-2010, 11:03 AM

Title says it all... I'm assisting my guitarist in a bass purchase for his girlfriend, and he's getting her a Rogue Violin bass on my recommendation. I also want to get a new set of quality strings... brand recommendations and flats vs rounds debates aren't necessary, i'm pretty versed in all of that stuff.

What i do need to know: do these basses take short scale or medium scale strings? I've got a "short scale" Guild from '73 that uses mediums due to the bridge design, so i want to make sure before we place the order. Also: what gauge strings ship on these? Thanks in advance to all of you all-knowing string gurus out there!

NoobOnRoad · #2 04-07-2010, 11:09 AM

I normally use medium string because I don't want to take any chances on my Epiphone Viola. I don't really know what are your preference about strings, but flats on a Beatle bass make it sings.

ishouldbeking · #3 04-07-2010, 11:36 AM

for the moment we're going to use rounds for a few reasons, but down the road flats are a good possibility. OK, i'm most likely going to go with medium scale daddario nickel rounds, as that's always been the perfect "you-know-what-your-getting" straightforward tone string for me... but i need to know what gauge.

i doubt these come with a full 45-105 medium gauge... i'm guessing its the "regular light" (45-100) or "super light" (40-95) set. anyone know? i don't want to buy something that won't fit into the existing nut slot... been down that road on my own, and i don't want this girl having nut trouble (heh) while she's trying to learn a new instrument.

stantonl · #4 04-07-2010, 11:38 AM

I believe short scale strings will work but you might want to get medium scale just to be safe. I put flats on mine as soon as I bought it and have not changed them since so I can't remember exactly what scale they were. I put 105's on mine and the E string was a very tight fit so you might want to go with 100's.

GM60466 · #5 04-08-2010, 11:00 AM

30-1/2

fretlessguy · #6 04-10-2010, 04:57 AM

While the scale is 30 and 1/2, I was advised to use medium scale strings due to the trapeze tailpiece.

newparade · #7 06-14-2010, 12:53 PM

I just put a set of medium Chromes on my Rogue copy and they worked fine. However, I did use an X-acto knife to cut off a bit of the blue wrap near the ball end. With the wrap, it was just a wee bit too large to fit properly.

JimmyM · #8 06-15-2010, 01:08 AM

i've been using long scale d'addario xl's on my jay turser beatle bass just out of convenience. they work fine. but if you want to be "proper," use medium scale strings.

btw, though flats are cool on those basses, i like rounds better. with flats it's all mccartney all the time, but with rounds it's a little more versatile and will still get the mccartney tone once they break in and get rid of that zing.

jasper383 · #9 06-15-2010, 07:22 AM

Short scales will be too short.

N.F.A. · #10 06-29-2010, 04:27 AM

I think that LaBella makes a set of strings made especially for these. They're flats. They sound great on my Rogue VB100 though...

izabass39 · #11 08-16-2010, 07:42 PM

Just got the Rogue VB100 and put a set of Thomastik JF344's Flats and it made all the difference in the world! They are expensive but worth it. I highly recommend these strings for this bass. Gauges are 43-56-70-100 and string length fit fine.

blipndub · #12 08-25-2010, 04:28 PM

Probably a silly question but will regular scale strings cause any neck or bridge problems with a Rogue BB? I'm trading for one tonight and wondering if I can slap my reg scale chromes on it.

ishouldbeking · #13 08-26-2010, 07:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blipndub

Probably a silly question but will regular scale strings cause any neck or bridge problems with a Rogue BB? I'm trading for one tonight and wondering if I can slap my reg scale chromes on it.

They shouldn't. The truss rod will likely need a tweak if the new strings will have a different tension than what comes stock, but that's to be expected. If anything I'd think the biggest issue would be the nut slots needing to be widened to accommodate the larger strings you plan to use. Nothing a tech (or handy bass player) couldn't handle, I think.

Mastermold · #14 08-26-2010, 09:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blipndub

Probably a silly question but will regular scale strings cause any neck or bridge problems with a Rogue BB? I'm trading for one tonight and wondering if I can slap my reg scale chromes on it.

I have regular scale Fender flats (9050ML) on my Rogue viola bass and they work just fine. They've been on two years and do the McCartney thing for me.

blipndub · #15 08-27-2010, 11:01 AM

Thanks for the replies. I threw on the chromes, the diameters were actually about the same as the stock strings so they seem to seat in the nut okay. I straightened out the truss rod under tension after letting it set with the chromes for a day. It's all good. i love this little guy and with the flats it's like 6 pounds of thunder!

Mastermold · #16 08-27-2010, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blipndub

Thanks for the replies. I threw on the chromes, the diameters were actually about the same as the stock strings so they seem to seat in the nut okay. I straightened out the truss rod under tension after letting it set with the chromes for a day. It's all good. i love this little guy and with the flats it's like 6 pounds of thunder!

These Rogue viola basses are fun, I was very surprised at how good it was when I first got mine. The non-Hofner tuners put me off at first because they didn't look right to me, but from a long term durability standpoint I suspect they'll last longer and from a practicality standpoint are easier to string up.

MoireBass · #17 08-27-2010, 12:20 PM

I've got one of those VB-100, the *are* surprisingly decent for the cost. It's a one-trick pony for sure, but it gets maybe 85% of the sound of a true Hofner for 15% of the cost.

For the full McCartney effect, I put Pyramid flats on mine, and replaced the tuner buttons with pearloid mandolin buttons from Stewart-McDonald for a more period correct look. I think I may have had to slightly drill out or ream out the buttons to fit, but it was trivial. And a skinny $14 strap that looks like McCartney's rather than the 3" wide straps I usually use.

Yes, the Pyramids *are*expensive, but when you consider that they'll never need to be replaced and will last as long on this bass as on Paul's Hofner (i.e. decades), not so bad....

davecanady · #18 08-27-2010, 03:03 PM

Flats on a Viola are the best. I looked at the Rogue and the Hofner. I ended up with the Epiphone because of the feel of the neck as much as anything else....just a personal preference. I have an Rogue acoustic bass and am very happy with the quality.

FYI, I have 50-105's on mine. I had to buy med scale. It's hard to find flatwound short scale strings for less than $50.

blipndub · #19 08-27-2010, 03:23 PM

The neck on the Rogue is thicker than I would think would be "normal" for a viola bass, it's rounded like a pbass but thinner of course, I may have to add a few more of these to the stable since there seems to be quite a lot of variance in the types!

This bass was a total random acquisition. A CL ad for the bass maybe trade for some pedals so I offered a Rat and an old Ibanez Phaser next thing I know I'm playing Taxman over and over!

Sungodv · #20 11-01-2010, 03:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jasper383

Short scales will be too short.

Yes, they will. You really gotta get medium scale strings. I like D'Addario rounds on my Rogue. Rotosound flats just didn't do it for me, but I recouped most of my money selling them on eBay.