I was reading the information about the Gold Tone ME-Bass, which is the solid body version of their Micro Bass. Their web page for it mentions that they have collaborated with LaBella to create a flatwound string called "MBLS MicroBass LaBella Flat Wound Strings". I would like to know if these are metal core or synthetic core strings. I used to own a hollow body microbass, but I sold it because I really didn't like the polymer strings or the synthetic core roundwound strings. I liked playing around with such an ultra-short scale bass though. I think I would like playing one that had metal core strings though. Does anyone know if the MLBS flatwound strings have metal cores?
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Flatwound strings for Gold Tone solid body micro bass
- Thread starter SuperSloMo
- Start date
AFAIK, they do have steel cores; TB member @kohanmike has used them on a number of super-short scale basses of his, including some with magnetic pickups.
Yes, they are metal core. I've used them on all my magnetic pickup mini basses (except one with La Bella black tape wound), on four of my solid body bass ukes with piezo pickup, and on one acoustic Gold Tone GT MicroBass. I really like them, but depending on the scale of the bass, I did have to either add a tailpiece or string-through to accommodate the extra length since they are 25" scale and can't be cut.
I'm slowly getting rid of all my poly strings, just too much trouble having to trim them often, plus they get sticky in humid conditions. Replacing them with the MBLS or Galli 20.5" and 23" flat wound with nylon core, if my test comes out good. Here's my collection of basses with strings used (the Hadean walnut acoustic is the first to get the Galli).
I'm slowly getting rid of all my poly strings, just too much trouble having to trim them often, plus they get sticky in humid conditions. Replacing them with the MBLS or Galli 20.5" and 23" flat wound with nylon core, if my test comes out good. Here's my collection of basses with strings used (the Hadean walnut acoustic is the first to get the Galli).
I received a set of Galli 23" nylon core flatwound and tested them on my custom Fanner SG 22.75" magnetic pickup bass, they work, but have to increase the volume pot from 4 to about 6 compared to the round wound steel core that came with the bass. Very glad they work, will be using them often. This photo is before, and I decided to replace the short spool standard tuners with longer spool Gotoh, on their way.
Interesting! They must have enough steel in the wrap for a magnetic pickup to sense them.
Regarding the length: are you saying the total length is 23", or that you ordered a longer version? And if the latter, where from?
The steel wrap makes them look like standard all steel flatwound, so it seems it's enough for them to work.
Galli makes a 23" scale version special order, as well the standard 20.5" bass uke length (which I'm using on my Hadean acoustic bass uke). I buy from Strings By Mail. Just ordered 3 sets, $43 each.
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Found it, thanks:
guitar-scale acoustic bass
(By the by, Galli's own designation for the flatwound KA-BASS-4FW set is UXB910C; I now see that the nylon tapewound set, UXB810, is guitar-scale acoustic bass.)
Galli prevents SbM from selling their products outside North America, and unfortunately the 23" version isn't available in Europe (yet), AFAIK. Fortunately for me, the uke-bass, 20.5"-scale version would be enough for my own evil plans (when I get around to trying it).
However, I was wondering if the longer-scale set might be long enough for at least *some* of those newfangled nylon-string, Invalid Link Removed models out there - to wit: the Gold Tone M-Bass, the Taylor GS Mini-e Bass and the Guild Jumbo Jr. Bass, which have 23", 23.5" and 23.75" scale respectively. What do you think? How long do the Gallis measure, ball-end to silk?
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From ball end to silk is 24.5 inches, but the silk wraps past the thin part of the string onto the main thickness, so from ball end to the thin part is 26.5 inches.
After finding that the nylon core flat wound does not really work well enough on magnetic pickups, and because I'm having more trouble playing the 22-24" instruments with nerve damage to my neck spinal cord from radiation treatments long ago, and the difficulty finding strings for those scales, I've culled down my collection to ten 21" scale piezo only, with the Kala/Galli flats that are easily available.
The Gold Tone Flatwound Micro-Bass Strings are designed for Microbass. You could use them on the Acoustic Microbass, you'd just have to get a new saddle that's intonated correctly.
Yes those Microbass Flatwound Strings have a Steel Core like Regular Electric Bass Guitar Strings.
This thread is old enough that I let go of all the bass ukes/mini bass guitars that would use the Gold Tone. I now only use Kala/Galli flatwound nylon core on Hadean violin/Hofner bass ukes, for which I have Eric's Guitar Shop in Van Nuys, CA replace the limited bridge and pickup for a fully adjustable all metal bridge with individual piezo pickup saddles.
