32" Scale String Recommendations

[Gilmourisgod]

First the Stupid Question:
Will Long Scale strings work, or is 32" considered "Medium" scale. I have 32" scale bass build in progress here:
The Hossenfeffer III Build

I'll need strings for it sooner than later. I tend to like light gauge strings, like .040-.95, something like that. Ive never owner a bass with flats, but my son put Labella Deep Talkin on his Hofner clone, and I can appreciate the slick feel, thought I might give it a try on this bass. I have several other basses with rounds, so I have that high end rounds sizzle well covered. Time to try something else. D'Addario Chrome flats maybe?

 

[tallulahsdaddy]

I have D'Addario Chromes on my 32" scale Tele Bass, and I like them a lot! They thud more than sing, but that's perfect for what I use The Slab for.

 

[HaphAsSard]

First the Stupid Question:
Will Long Scale strings work, or is 32" considered "Medium" scale. I have 32" scale bass build in progress here:
The Hossenfeffer III Build

I'll need strings for it sooner than later. I tend to like light gauge strings, like .040-.95, something like that. Ive never owner a bass with flats, but my son put Labella Deep Talkin on his Hofner clone, and I can appreciate the slick feel, thought I might give it a try on this bass. I have several other basses with rounds, so I have that high end rounds sizzle well covered. Time to try something else. D'Addario Chrome flats maybe?

Since it's your build, I'd strongly advise you to make sure it accepts long-scale strings: this way you won't have to think about string choices anymore. Many users of less-than-long scale basses can tell you how frustrating it is to look for something peculiar (tapes, flats, uncommon gauges) only to realise it doesn't exist in less than 34" scale version.
However, I see your build is at a pretty advanced stage. Any chance you could scoot the tailpiece over a smidgen toward the cutaway? Just to reach a total of about 37" between the ball-end anchoring point and the E-string tuning post.

 

[blacktocomm]

Dunlop makes a great medium scale flat.

 

[Gilmourisgod]

That ship has most definitely sailed, the bridge recess and nut location are fixed! It's 32" or Bust now. I shortened the scale a bit due to my increasing problems with arthritis, the reach on a standard 34" scale is getting painful. Does it matter? Will 34" scale strings work on a 32" scale bass, other than cutting off a bit of string length? The definition of "medium scale" apears to be 30-33", and Juststringsonline.com seems to have a selection of Medium Scale to choose from, question is, what do people recommend? I have no previous experience with Medium Scale.
https://search.juststrings.com/search?catalog=juststrings&query=medium+scale+bass&x=0&y=0

 

[HaphAsSard]

That ship has most definitely sailed, the bridge recess and nut location are fixed! It's 32" or Bust now. I shortened the scale a bit due to my increasing problems with arthritis, the reach on a standard 34" scale is getting painful. Does it matter? Will 34" scale strings work on a 32" scale bass, other than cutting off a bit of string length? The definition of "medium scale" apears to be 30-33", and Juststringsonline.com seems to have a selection of Medium Scale to choose from, question is, what do people recommend? I have no previous experience with Medium Scale.
https://search.juststrings.com/search?catalog=juststrings&query=medium+scale+bass&x=0&y=0

It depends. The risk of breakage, when some of the full-gauge, untapered string is wound on the tuning post is reduced the wider the post is, the lower the tension, the more flexible (light-gauge, thin-core, round or tape as opposed to flat) the string is. Also, it is only a problem with fat A strings, Es and low Bs: light-gauge As and thinner are flexible enough to go untapered on the post if need be.
As things are, can you tell us what the distance between tailpiece and E-string tuner is gonna be? This way you can be given proper advice on options.

 

[Hot Rats]

First the Stupid Question:
Will Long Scale strings work, or is 32" considered "Medium" scale. I have 32" scale bass build in progress here:
The Hossenfeffer III Build

I'll need strings for it sooner than later. I tend to like light gauge strings, like .040-.95, something like that. Ive never owner a bass with flats, but my son put Labella Deep Talkin on his Hofner clone, and I can appreciate the slick feel, thought I might give it a try on this bass. I have several other basses with rounds, so I have that high end rounds sizzle well covered. Time to try something else. D'Addario Chrome flats maybe?

I've got .050 - .110 DR pure blues on my 32" jazz and .045-.105 Dunlop nickels on my 32" p bass and have had no problems with the extra length. I cut them to the proper length and they work fine.

 

[iiipopes]

It depends on the string and the bass. On my Squier Tele, I have a two-inch long piece of steel tubing behind the bridge that I run the string through before the bridge so the ball is offset behind the bridge so only the silk goes around the E string tuner. On my Squier Jag H (MM pickup), the bridge is too close to the end of the body, and yes, I have a wind of the speaking length around the tuner post. I have a spare string for when it breaks, and it will break eventually. But I know this going in.

As mentioned above, if you have a DR "short scale" string that has the 34-inch winding, that will probably work if the bass has the conventional Fender-style plate bridge. I have a DR flatwound E string in reserve. Others, such as La Bella, make some versions of their strings in a mid scale, as in their 760FL 43-104. And finally, let us all repeat the mantra:

1) Measure from the ball anchor to the tuner side of the nut;
2) Measure from the ball anchor to the middle of the lowest string tuner post;
3) Purchase strings where the advertised speaking length/winding length is between these two measurements.

Yes, as above, but I so enjoy the tone of the strings I have, Fender 9050CL (yes, I actually have one set left), for right now, on this bass, it is worth waiting for the E string to break to get the tone I want.

 

[GIBrat51]

First the Stupid Question:
Will Long Scale strings work, or is 32" considered "Medium" scale. I have 32" scale bass build in progress here:
The Hossenfeffer III Build

I'll need strings for it sooner than later. I tend to like light gauge strings, like .040-.95, something like that. Ive never owner a bass with flats, but my son put Labella Deep Talkin on his Hofner clone, and I can appreciate the slick feel, thought I might give it a try on this bass. I have several other basses with rounds, so I have that high end rounds sizzle well covered. Time to try something else. D'Addario Chrome flats maybe?

Okay, "stupid question" first:
Depending on the "not 34" scale" bass? Yes, sometimes Long Scale strings will not only work, they will actually fit. If there's no silk, most long scale strings will fit my 30.5" scale Gretsch Broadkaster (it's a BIG bass). If the silk is ball end only, they will usually fit, too. In fact, although it's a short scale, with a floating bridge and a trapeze tailpiece (a la Hofners), several brands of Medium Scale strings are actually too short for it. Anyway; will Long Scale strings "work" on your new bass? Maybe yes; maybe no. If you have to cut Long Scale flats in the speaking part of the string to make them fit? Well... just be sure to put a 90 degree bend in them before you do, and pray as you tighten them up... Some people get away with this for years; some people win lottery's too... Most flats do not like having the speaking part of the string wound around a bass tuner post - especially the smaller diameter bass tuner posts. You'll have better luck trying this trick with rounds... Next:
YES. 32" scale is considered Medium Scale. Some European Short Scale strings - made for short scale basses with trapeze tailpieces and floating bridges (your son owns one), are more or less Medium Scale strings. This type of short scale bass probably accounts for the majority of Medium Scale string sales, in fact. I have a bunch of basses that need Medium Scale strings, and all but one of them wear flats. IME, there's a pretty decent selection of medium scale flats; round wounds? I couldn't say for sure, but... not so much, I suspect. Only my Gretsch Broadkaster wears "medium scale" rounds; the Short Scale TI JR 324s. Pyramid makes "short scale" flats and rounds that would work, too. A reply to my post on another thread, indicated that short scale GHS's are most likely long enough - flats or rounds - so you might consider those. I have the Short Scale GHS Precision flats on a Warmoth Mini-P bass. If you want articulate thump? There you go... As for the La Bella DTFs? I use them, too - and like them. In your case, though, I wouldn't use their "Hofner BB" flats. They have an extra long, extra thin leader to accommodate the Hofner's geometry and little guitar-style tuner holes. You don't need that. Any of their medium scale DTF's should work. D'Addario Chromes? For various personal reasons, I don't use D'Addario strings, but... yeah, if you want to try them - and they come in Medium Scale...
Anyway; yes, medium scale flats - and rounds - are out there. You're just in for a serious scavenger hunt to find all of them. Keep us posted, and... happy hunting...!

 

[iiipopes]

I just ordered a set of La Bella 760FL-M to compare to the flats I currently have for my mid-scale basses: Fender 9050CL (yes, that E string will eventually break; I have a backup); EBSS; Optima RB (with an E string extension spacer), and a DR flats E string.

Remember that for the same make, model and gauge of strings, a set strung on a 32 inch scale bass will have about 12% less overall tension than the same set strung on a 34 inch scale bass, essentially the same as tuning down one fret then capo at the first fret.