33" flatwound string choices

[pablohonig]

I'm exploring options for flats on a four string 33" scale bass with the following measurements and a 2-2 headstock.:

Distance from ball end to nut 34.5"
Distance from nut to closest tuner centroid: 2.5" (1st and 4th strings)
Distance from nut to furthest tuner centroid: 4.5" (2nd and 3rd strings)

By my math, that makes it so that the string wound length range appropriate for the 1 and 4 is 34.5"- 37", while the 2 and 3 string can tolerate 34.5" - 39". Would that be the correct calculation?

I know that it is mission critical that the silk is the only element contacting the tuning peg to avoid breakage, and than the silk mustn't reach beyond the nut.

La Bella was my first choice for many reasons, including familiarity and quality. Based on their handy string guide (https://www.labella.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/La-Bella-Strings-Bass-String-Guide.pdf), I've gathered these specifications:

La Bella Deep Talkin' Bass Flats/Tapes Standard/Long

La Bella Deep Talkin' Bass Flats/Tapes Medium

La Bella Deep Talkin' Bass Flats/Tapes Low Tension

Am I correct in understanding that my 1st string (G) is going to require the Low Tension string option or another brand entirely due to scale length? It feels like I've landed right in between in the worst way

 

[pablohonig]

Moderators: if this belongs in strings, please do migrate it! Thanks.

 

[michael_t]

Distance from ball end to nut 34.5"
Distance from nut to closest tuner centroid: 2.5" (1st and 4th strings)
Distance from nut to furthest tuner centroid: 4.5" (2nd and 3rd strings)

GHS "medium scale" = 35.5" in winding length (ball end to taper/silk), which is ideal for your bass. GHS Precision Flats do come in "medium scale".

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

 

[michael_t]

By the way, the "short scale" TI Jazz Flats (JF324) are also 35.5" in winding length.

 

[michael_t]

Rotosound "medium scale" = 35.25" in winding length.

Jazz Bass 77 Medium Scale | 40-90 • Rotosound Music Strings

 

[HaphAsSard]

I'm exploring options for flats on a four string 33" scale bass with the following measurements and a 2-2 headstock.:

Distance from ball end to nut 34.5"
Distance from nut to closest tuner centroid: 2.5" (1st and 4th strings)
Distance from nut to furthest tuner centroid: 4.5" (2nd and 3rd strings)

By my math, that makes it so that the string wound length range appropriate for the 1 and 4 is 34.5"- 37", while the 2 and 3 string can tolerate 34.5" - 39". Would that be the correct calculation?

I know that it is mission critical that the silk is the only element contacting the tuning peg to avoid breakage, and than the silk mustn't reach beyond the nut.

La Bella was my first choice for many reasons, including familiarity and quality. Based on their handy string guide (https://www.labella.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/La-Bella-Strings-Bass-String-Guide.pdf), I've gathered these specifications:

La Bella Deep Talkin' Bass Flats/Tapes Standard/Long
View attachment 4991398

La Bella Deep Talkin' Bass Flats/Tapes Medium
View attachment 4991399

La Bella Deep Talkin' Bass Flats/Tapes Low Tension
View attachment 4991400

Am I correct in understanding that my 1st string (G) is going to require the Low Tension string option or another brand entirely due to scale length? It feels like I've landed right in between in the worst way

I disagree: you can fit a variety of different strings on your bass.
(Obviously not short-scale nor superlong-scale ones, but still.)
In fact, all three La Bella lengths you're considering would fit fine.

- With the long-scale one, the G would be wound on the post partly silkless, but a G, even a flatwound one, even a La Bella, is simply too flexible to break at the post.
- Their medium-scale sets may be initially too short (even though simply shaving back the silk might suffice), but if you kept them from falling into the nut slots (with a phone card or a similar stiff but thin object) in the first week or so, they would stretch enough to clear the board-ward side of the slots.
- The 37" winding length of the LTFs would indeed work fine (a fraction of an inch of the fat part would end on the post but, then again, they're more flexible than the DTFs).

 

[TrustRod]

If you haven't bought tuners yet a fatter post with a larger radius will be more tolerant of bending the full width of a string. 1/2". Hipshot's for example.

Licensed Ultralite® Bass Tuning Machine 1/2

 

[GIBrat51]

I can't think of any "normal" long scale strings that wouldn't work on my 33.25" scale basses. If there are, I haven't found them yet...
Yes, I have a string or two with a little speaking part of it wrapped around a tuner post - even on 34" scale basses. But, other than looking a little unsightly because the silk didn't show like the other strings, it's never, ever been a problem. It's nice to know your bass's exact measurements - and, yes, I know them for all of mine - but, sometimes that's all it is - nice; but always necessary...

 

[iiipopes]

Looks like D'Addario regular long gauge will fit, since their advertised winding length is 37.1 inches, and your ball to tuner is at least 37 inches, depending on what edge of the nut you measured from and which place on the tuner post you measured from. I use D'A XL's on my 33-inch scale bass for this very reason. To be sure, re-measure from the ball anchor to the middle of the tuner post.

It really only matters to the E string, because the A and D strings will be far enough up the headstock to not matter, and the G string is thin enough that it will wind around anything. D'A doesn't even bother to taper their XL G strings because of this.

 

[michael_t]

I'm exploring options for flats on a four string 33" scale bass with the following measurements and a 2-2 headstock.:

Distance from ball end to nut 34.5"
Distance from nut to closest tuner centroid: 2.5" (1st and 4th strings)
Distance from nut to furthest tuner centroid: 4.5" (2nd and 3rd strings)

By my math, that makes it so that the string wound length range appropriate for the 1 and 4 is 34.5"- 37", while the 2 and 3 string can tolerate 34.5" - 39". Would that be the correct calculation?

I know that it is mission critical that the silk is the only element contacting the tuning peg to avoid breakage, and than the silk mustn't reach beyond the nut.

What type of bridge is it? Is it the type that would allow a spacer at the ball end to extend the length of the E string so the full winding doesn't reach the tuner post?

By the way, La Bella is the only company who explicitly warns against any of the full winding on their flats wrapping around the tuner post. Most flats can wrap around the post without breaking.

Like this...

 

[pablohonig]

What type of bridge is it? Is it the type that would allow a spacer at the ball end to extend the length of the E string so the full winding doesn't reach the tuner post?

View attachment 4992547

View attachment 4992536

By the way, La Bella is the only company who explicitly warns against any of the full winding on their flats wrapping around the tuner post. Most flats can wrap around the post without breaking.

Like this...

View attachment 4992542

Are those some GHS Precision Flats in purple silk?! Regrettably, the bridge won't accommodate extensions, but it looks like medium scale GHS products have just the right string winding length at 35.5, working perfectly for every string. I think I'll toss an order in for some from Fret Nation.

Thanks for all of the help!

 

[michael_t]

Are those some GHS Precision Flats in purple silk?!

Yes, they are. 45-60-75-95, which are the same gauges as the medium-scale set.

 

[Killing Floor]

If TB didn’t exist what strings would you choose? Use them. You’re way overthinking it for 1 inch and not all strings even have silk.