6 String bass long scale vs super long strings?

[Hisler]

Hello! I usually use the D'Addario NYXL32130 nickle wounds, long scale on my 6 string bass. I was gifted some strings for my birthday and they are my usual strings but "super long" instead, are they okay to use? or should I try to return and get normal long scale strings?

 

[michael_t]

Hello! I usually use the D'Addario NYXL32130 nickle wounds, long scale on my 6 string bass. I was gifted some strings for my birthday and they are my usual strings but "super long" instead, are they okay to use? or should I try to return and get normal long scale strings?

D'Addario "super long" is 1" longer than the "long" at 38" in winding length (ball end to taper). The important question is how the low B will fit on your bass. The best thing to do is to measure the actual distance on your bass from where the ball end on the low B is seated to the B tuner post. If it's more than 38", then you'd be okay; if it's shorter than 38", that would mean the full winding on the low B would end up wrapping around the post, which is something you want to avoid.

 

[Hisler]

From ball end to tuning post seems to be about 38" 1/4. Also, what do you mean exactly about the low b wrapping around the post?

 

[michael_t]

From ball end to tuning post seems to be about 38" 1/4. Also, what do you mean exactly about the low b wrapping around the post?

I mean the fully wound portion of the string, ie the main body of the string before it gets thinner at the tuner end. Based on the measurement, the full winding will end right at the tuner post. You might be okay.

 

[Hisler]

I mean the fully wound portion of the string, ie the main body of the string before it gets thinner at the tuner end. Based on the measurement, the full winding will end right at the tuner post. You might be okay.

Okay, Do you think its worth trying or should I try to return and get normal long scale?

 

[michael_t]

Okay, Do you think its worth trying or should I try to return and get normal long scale?

If you have the option to exchange the "super long" for "long", then that's what I would do. But I'm the picky one.

 

[sunbeast]

What is your bass? What kind of tuners? Depending on the fatness of the tuner posts it might not be a big deal to have a little bit of B and E full circumference around the tuners, but definitely not ideal either.

 

[scuzzy]

I'm fairly certain that standard long scale DR strings are 38" winding length, and they work great on my 34" and 35" scale basses. Being rounds, they should be fine. Flats would be a different story.

 

[micguy]

I mean the fully wound portion of the string, ie the main body of the string before it gets thinner at the tuner end. Based on the measurement, the full winding will end right at the tuner post. You might be okay.

 

[micguy]

One of the things you have to account for in cases where things are borderline is string stretch - a string will stretch on the order of a quarter inch under tension.