what strings for 32" scale?

[ensirider]

Hello! I recently got a Destroyer, and it has a 32" scale. Is there a special kind of string i need to use? Someone told me 32 in short scale some told me standard. Can anyone verify this please?
also, if i use strings meant for a longer scale, will they be loose and clack a lot? When i got the bass the strings were really loose and clacky, could this have been the issue?

Thanks for the input, i really appreciate it

[ensirider]

bump?

[Stick_Player]

Your instrument is medium scale.

30" - short scale
32" - medium scale
34" - long scale
35+" - extra long scale

[lunarpollen]

Level of tension isn't determined by total string length, it's determined mostly by the thickness of the strings and by how they are tuned. Also, different types and brands of string will have different tension, depending on how they are made. But no matter what string length you use, the vibrating length of string under tension will always be the same on a particular bass.

They do make medium scale strings for 32" scale basses. I actually have an unused set of Rotosound roundwound strings in that scale, still in the box... I bought it thinking I would need them for a certain short-scale bass I own, but then I found a better option.

[Pilgrim]

You need medium scale strings if the bass is a solid body (I'm not familiar with the model). If it were a hollowbody with a floating bridge it might use longer strings - but never mind.

You can find them at Juststrings.com.

[fretlessguy]

Search

This will take you to the search engine for the juststrings website for the category "medium scale bass". Good luck and I hope you find what you are looking for.

[Bassamatic]

There are a lot of medium scale strings - this is what you need to get. Using standard (long scale) strings and cutting them will result in less than optimal sound as they will not have the proper tension for their mass.

[KingRazor]

Originally Posted by fretlessguy

Search

Honestly, I don't see this question asked anywhere near as much as questions about drop tuning. Go tell them to use the search function.

Since I'm looking at getting a medium scale bass I think I'm going to look at GHS strings. I'd go with Circle K if they made medium scale strings...

[jmceachern36]

I've got 3 short scale basses and I use long scale strings on all of them. They sound great.

[jongor]

I'm building a Warmoth 32" J right now and plan to use long scale, because that's what's available in the strings I use (DR Black Beauties), and string through the body.

[lunarpollen]

Originally Posted by Gio S

There are a lot of medium scale strings - this is what you need to get. Using standard (long scale) strings and cutting them will result in less than optimal sound as they will not have the proper tension for their mass.

That's not true, they will sound the same as medium scale strings of the same gauge and manufacture because 32 inches will always be the vibrating length of string. The main issue with using long scale strings is that the ends of strings that go into the tuning machines are thinner in order to fit through the holes. With medium scale strings, the fat, wound part of the E and A strings won't reach those holes, which is a good thing because they won't fit through them if they did. If you use long scale strings, you will only be able to get the thin part of the string through the hole and you will still have a few inches of slack that would need to be wound around the peg, which isn't a good idea (if even possible).

Of course this is all dependent on how far the tuning machines are from the nut, where the ball ends are anchored at the bottom of the bass, etc. Sometimes you can get away with using longer scale strings on a shorter scale instrument.