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NBD: BlackStar CarryOn Sub-scale

HoHumbucker

HoHumbucker

Feb 10, 2022
696
2,140
Jemez Mountains NM
#1
Got this delivered yesterday. Been looking for something that I can take with me in the truck and hotel rooms. The Kala UBass has been good, but I really want something that feels more like a bass.

Ordered from Gear4Music on 04Sep23. U$D220 + 44 shipping from UK = U$D263.20 to my door.
Arrived 14Sep23. Boxed nicely. No shipping damage.

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weighs in at 2.947kg in useful units, 6lb8oz in Imperial
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scale is right around 24 inches (61cm)
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overall length is 32.5 inches (82.5cm)
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nut and string spacing
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A couple issues out of the box.
1) the volume knob was not installed. I did find it in the bubble bag. I loosened the set screw and pushed onto the pot shaft. But as you can see, is does not seat all the way down equal to the tone knob. Not sure this is an issue, but did notice it.
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The nut appears to be glued in adequately, but the slots are not cut very well. A string slot is quite wide, D string slot I will likely widen a bit. I pulled the strings up and penciled the slots for a little lube. You can also see a small chip off the slot on the E String.

IMG_8974.JPG


The frets feel smooth without any rough edges or burrs. Finger board feels pretty decent. I am not finding any buzzy frets at this point. It does have a little bit of neck dive with a cheap 2" web strap. I have straplocs on order. I hope that will help a little bit on the small bass.

IMG_8979.jpg

And the group photo with Kala UBass, CarryOn, G2220 short scale, and 4HH.

I think it will be great for playing on the road. It can easily fit in an overhead bin. Now to find a bag for this little guy.
 
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#3
What’s the word on replacement strings? How’s the tone with that P pickup so close to the bridge on the high string side?

Odd that they put set screw knobs on knurled pot shafts. I’ve broken pot shafts like that tightening down set screw knobs, so be careful.

It’s incomprehensible to me that they’d make a very unusually sized travel bass but not sell it as a package deal with a proper size bag.

I love little basses but the pickup location on this one just looks odd to me and I worry about how it would sound.
 
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#4
J Posega said:
What’s the word on replacement strings? How’s the tone with that P pickup so close to the bridge on the high string side?

Odd that they put set screw knobs on knurled pot shafts. I’ve broken pot shafts like that tightening down set screw knobs, so be careful.

It’s incomprehensible to me that they’d make a very unusually sized travel bass but not sell it as a package deal with a proper size bag.

I love little basses but the pickup location on this one just looks odd to me and I worry about how it would sound.
Click to expand...
- The strings do not sound too bad to my ear, but I do not have a lot of bass experience and cannot pick up a lot of the subtleties you all talk about a lot here.
- The knob fit quite tightly on the splined shaft. I pushed the knob on and lightly tightened the screw for a friction fit
- They were selling package deals for the CarryOn guitar, but not the bass. There is now listed a gig bag for the bass for U$D42.30 + shipping from the UK. I don't recall seeing that a couple weeks ago when I placed my order, otherwise I would have likely ordered it as well.
- I am a long way from gigging and bought this really to expand my practice options. Definitely going for feel (which seems to be pretty decent) over pure tonal characteristics.
 
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#6
smallatom said:
If any of you want to see and hear a review, I posted this a couple months ago:
Click to expand...

Thanks for refreshing our memory on this. Your video was one of the main reasons I thought this little bass would be helpful for me while I travel. As you said, the right hand does not know the difference in length. I so far have found that since I am playing short scales already, the left hand does not have to adjust too much between my basses.
 
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#7
HoHumbucker said:
Thanks for refreshing our memory on this. Your video was one of the main reasons I thought this little bass would be helpful for me while I travel. As you said, the right hand does not know the difference in length. I so far have found that since I am playing short scales already, the left hand does not have to adjust too much between my basses.
Click to expand...
Yeah, it's definitely a cool travel bass for those reasons. Also, I talk about the pickup position in the video, which is definitely pretty close to the bridge. This produces a pretty unique sound, different than all my other basses. It has the percussive element of a J bridge pickup, but with a different vibe. Definitely interesting in my opinion, but anyone that sees this thread can watch the video and hear for themselves to see if it resonates with them.
 
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#8
My earlier question should have been “Do they sell replacement strings?” Because those will eventually die and you may end up in the body of many sub-short scale players, lamenting that there are no off-the-shelf string sets available, so you have to resort to unwinding strings or ordering custom ones.
 
#9
J Posega said:
My earlier question should have been “Do they sell replacement strings?” Because those will eventually die and you may end up in the body of many sub-short scale players, lamenting that there are no off-the-shelf string sets available, so you have to resort to unwinding strings or ordering custom ones.
Click to expand...
Not sure since I just got this a few days ago. I did find this one video using D'Addorio strings. I have asked for a source in the comments.
 
#10
HoHumbucker said:
Not sure since I just got this a few days ago. I did find this one video using D'Addorio strings. I have asked for a source in the comments.
Click to expand...

D'addario doesn't make any sub-short scale strings, and they're reluctant to do anything custom without a huge order, so it's likely that he cut and unwound the tuner end of those strings.
 
#11
J Posega said:
What’s the word on replacement strings? How’s the tone with that P pickup so close to the bridge on the high string side?
Click to expand...
I have written Blackstar about the OEM strings, what they use, and if they sell to us owners. I have not received a reply from them. Sending a followup request today.

I also wrote to StringJoy since I really like their short scale strings for my Sire U5. I got a nice note back from them. Scott Marquart from StringJoy replied back almost immediately saying
Unfortunately we don't have any bass strings with short enough of a scale length to work on this travel bass, but it's great to know about it for the future.​
I suggested
Perhaps you might take a look at having options for this travel bass and other sub-scales.​
He replied
Absolutely, definitely something we'll look into in the future!​

So maybe if enough folks ping SJ about sub-scale strings, they might be interested in helping to fill that void.
 
#13
#14
smallatom said:
Has anyone tried this shop? Apparently they do custom string sizes, but I've never tried them. Best Guitar Strings for Acoustic, Electric, Guitar, Bass
Click to expand...
I have to say, I am not sure I have ever gotten a response from a company quite like this.
At 5:56AM on a Sunday morning I sent this request in on their automated web form.
Greetings!
I have recently picked up a Blackstar CarryOn 4-string bass to have something to play when I travel. It does not appear that there many sources (if any?) for strings for this little guy. I am curious if you might have or be able to provide string for this bass. I have tried to reach out to Blackstar about their OEM strings, but received no reply.

The scale is right around 24"
I have used calipers to measure string thicknesses at
0.125"
0.105"
0.085"
0.065"

If not, do you have any suggestions where the community might source strings?
Thanks in advance for your consideration and reply.
​
13 minutes later I received a personal reply back directly from Curt Mangan. Goodness I did not expect that early on a Sunday morning. But very much appreciated.
Thanks for asking.
We made a few 26" taper bass strings a while back.
Can you tell us what the measurement is from where the ball end goes to to nut?
Curt​

After I measured the ball->nut length, he wrote back
Thanks! If the distance from the nut to the first tuning post is about 2 inches, I think we may still have some strings with a 26.5 inch taper that would work.
If so, we can help you.
I'll check our custom stash box tomorrow and let you know.​

I will keep you all posted. But count me impressed and very willing to work with someone who responds so quickly. I will do business with folks like that any day.
 
Last edited:
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#15
HoHumbucker said:
I have to say, I am not sure I have ever gotten a response from a company quite like this.
At 5:56AM on a Sunday morning I sent this request in on their automated web form.
Greetings!
I have recently picked up a Blackstar CarryOn 4-string bass to have something to play when I travel. It does not appear that there many sources (if any?) for strings for this little guy. I am curious if you might have or be able to provide string for this bass. I have tried to reach out to Blackstar about their OEM strings, but received no reply.

The scale is right around 24"
I have used calipers to measure string thicknesses at
0.125"
0.105"
0.085"
0.065"

If not, do you have any suggestions where the community might source strings?
Thanks in advance for your consideration and reply.
​
13 minutes later I received a personal reply back directly from Curt Mangan. Goodness I did not expect that early on a Sunday morning. But very much appreciated.
Thanks for asking.
We made a few 26" taper bass strings a while back.
Can you tell us what the measurement is from where the ball end goes to to nut?
Curt​

After I measured the ball->nut length, he wrote back
Thanks! If the distance from the nut to the first tuning post is about 2 inches, I think we may still have some strings with a 26.5 inch taper that would work.
If so, we can help you.
I'll check our custom stash box tomorrow and let you know.​

I will keep you all posted. But count me impressed and very willing to work with someone who responds so quickly. I will do business with folks like that any day.
Click to expand...
Wow! That's some good customer service. Let us know how it works out.
 
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#16
HoHumbucker said:
I have not, but perhaps they are like StringJoy?
I have reached out to them on their website to see if they have any strings, are interested in supplying some, or have any other sourcing suggestions. I will let you all know what I hear.
Click to expand...
Curt Mangan Strings have been around since 2004, i.e. ten years longer than StringJoy (who, by the way, appear to have been significantly reducing their custom options).
HoHumbucker said:
I have to say, I am not sure I have ever gotten a response from a company quite like this.
At 5:56AM on a Sunday morning I sent this request in on their automated web form.
Greetings!
I have recently picked up a Blackstar CarryOn 4-string bass to have something to play when I travel. It does not appear that there many sources (if any?) for strings for this little guy. I am curious if you might have or be able to provide string for this bass. I have tried to reach out to Blackstar about their OEM strings, but received no reply.

The scale is right around 24"
I have used calipers to measure string thicknesses at
0.125"
0.105"
0.085"
0.065"

If not, do you have any suggestions where the community might source strings?
Thanks in advance for your consideration and reply.
​
13 minutes later I received a personal reply back directly from Curt Mangan. Goodness I did not expect that early on a Sunday morning. But very much appreciated.
Thanks for asking.
We made a few 26" taper bass strings a while back.
Can you tell us what the measurement is from where the ball end goes to to nut?
Curt​

After I measured the ball->nut length, he wrote back
Thanks! If the distance from the nut to the first tuning post is about 2 inches, I think we may still have some strings with a 26.5 inch taper that would work.
If so, we can help you.
I'll check our custom stash box tomorrow and let you know.​

I will keep you all posted. But count me impressed and very willing to work with someone who responds so quickly. I will do business with folks like that any day.
Click to expand...
The supershortie sets they (hope to) have are probably remainders from when TBer @SBassman had them make strings for his PiccoBass (basically, a forerunner to the CarryOn, which he designed and sold commercially, a while back) :
https://www.talkbass.com/search/36305862/?q=piccobass&t=post&o=date&c[node]=8
 
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#19
HaphAsSard said:
Curt Mangan Strings have been around since 2004, i.e. ten years longer than StringJoy (who, by the way, appear to have been significantly reducing their custom options).

The supershortie sets they (hope to) have are probably remainders from when TBer @SBassman had them make strings for his PiccoBass (basically, a forerunner to the CarryOn, which he designed and sold commercially, a while back) :
https://www.talkbass.com/search/36305862/?q=piccobass&t=post&o=date&c[node]=8
Click to expand...

Cool. Thanks for the memory. That was lots of fun. Wish I could have kept it going.

Curt Mangan makes fantastic strings and was a big help back then.
 
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#20
HoHumbucker said:
I have to say, I am not sure I have ever gotten a response from a company quite like this.
At 5:56AM on a Sunday morning I sent this request in on their automated web form.
Greetings!
I have recently picked up a Blackstar CarryOn 4-string bass to have something to play when I travel. It does not appear that there many sources (if any?) for strings for this little guy. I am curious if you might have or be able to provide string for this bass. I have tried to reach out to Blackstar about their OEM strings, but received no reply.

The scale is right around 24"
I have used calipers to measure string thicknesses at
0.125"
0.105"
0.085"
0.065"

If not, do you have any suggestions where the community might source strings?
Thanks in advance for your consideration and reply.
​
13 minutes later I received a personal reply back directly from Curt Mangan. Goodness I did not expect that early on a Sunday morning. But very much appreciated.
Thanks for asking.
We made a few 26" taper bass strings a while back.
Can you tell us what the measurement is from where the ball end goes to to nut?
Curt​

After I measured the ball->nut length, he wrote back
Thanks! If the distance from the nut to the first tuning post is about 2 inches, I think we may still have some strings with a 26.5 inch taper that would work.
If so, we can help you.
I'll check our custom stash box tomorrow and let you know.​

I will keep you all posted. But count me impressed and very willing to work with someone who responds so quickly. I will do business with folks like that any day.
Click to expand...

Any update on the strings? Its the only thing really holding me back on this purchase.
 

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