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AEB/tapewound gauge options

Later_Peter

Later_Peter

Apr 17, 2015
352
229
Central Oregon
#1
just brought home a short scale AEB. Wanting to change the strings, I tried a set of Chromes I had... even after shaving off all the silks, they would not fit through the bridge's holes...
I would rather use tapewounds, anyway. However, I don't want to order blind. What gauge/diameter will slip through smoothly???
Thanks, people.
(I've done a bunch of searches, btw)
 
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#2
Later_Peter said:
just brought home a short scale AEB. Wanting to change the strings, I tried a set of Chromes I had... even after shaving off all the silks, they would not fit through the bridge's holes...
I would rather use tapewounds, anyway. However, I don't want to order blind. What gauge/diameter will slip through smoothly???
Thanks, people.
Click to expand...
What model? (30" ABGs aren't common, so it would be useful to know if a new one has surfaced.)

Does it have pins at the bridge? If so, you could simply widen the problem pins so that they accept the string. (Or buy a new set of acoustic bass guitar bridge pins from Amazon, or wherever, and carve those out mercilessly.)
If it is a non-pin design, could you order cheap rounds and see what gauge fits? Based on that, you could then get flats with the same gauge, and remove the silks as you've done to the Chromes.

I'm afraid there's nothing thinner than 105 in the tapewound realm, plus you cannot shave silks off those, because the nylon tape would come unravelled.
The only exception around is the Warwick Tapewound Bronze, which do come in 40-100 gauge. Shortest length is medium scale, but the E string may fit at the tuning post, if with quite a bit of full-gauge string wound on it. Problem is, if the D'Addario Chromes set you've tried (to try) was the correct length (ECB81S), its low E was already a 100.
Other problem: the Warwick set in question (34210 ML MS 4) is not currently in stock at their online USA store:
https://shopframuswarwickusa.com/collections/strings
 
#3
just widen the holes in the bridge. no downsides if done carefully.

your limiting factor when choosing strings gauge is not bridge or nut slots, they're easy to widen. your limiting factor is truss rod: you may be able to find strings for which you won't be able to straighten the neck enough. this was the case with 115 tapes on my abg.
 
#6
Later_Peter said:
that is/was my fear... mention "Johnson" & not "Fender/Gibson or even Epiphone" & the responses may stop.
Click to expand...
If you expect an owner of that exact bass to tell you what gauges fit you may have to wait a while.
Let's see. First of all, I'll add links to it, so that others may get a clue:

31irNa54sKL._AC_.jpg

https://www.amazon.com/Johnson-JG-702-CE-Cutaway-Acoustic-Electric/dp/B004WDQ8HK/

so2os53oz2wrw8ghjw35.jpg

https://reverb.com/item/3266060-used-johnson-jg-702-ce-bass-guitar-natural

So this is the bridge. I'd just do as @Aloe above said, and try to widen each hole (or just the one/two where strings won't go) using something like a gimlet, or maybe an Allen key that barely fits: thrust it in there and give it a good reaming, taking advantage of the L shape.
 
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#7
To get more of an upright bass vibe, on the AEB I used to own I put Roto Tru-Bass nylon tapes on it. They gave it the bloom more than the sustain of phosphor bronze strings. caveat: the G string is really tight compared to the other strings, so I changed it out for a La Bella tapewound G string, standard (60) gauge.

I recommend the new nut, because the 50-105 set offered by both La Bella and D'Addario are actually about the same as a 35-90 under the tape wrap, and they may not have enough tension to get enough downforce over the saddles to interact with the piezo pickup properly.
 
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#8
Apparently, (meaning: I found my old man reading glasses & moved the light) there is a "sleeve" of some sort in the hole in the bridge. That prevents me from assaulting it with a tool of some sort.
So... now to find: A. a micrometer (to measure current string) or 2. blindly purchase a package of someone's "Acoustic Bass Phosphor/Bronze" sets...
As Mr. Davies proclaimed:
"Hep me. Hep me.
Hep me someone puh leeeze..."
 
#9
so, the upshot is: I've opened the 45-100 Chromes... could not get the E string through (ball end wraps would not fit)... the recommendations of .96 E string flat wound seem to be where I'm headed... (although, most "light" set acoustic bass string seem to be 45 - 100)
Going downtown today, with that original E to find a micrometer...
Seems as though .096 is where it's at! & thanks to MATT @ Strings By Mail... found me a set of short scale light flat wound La Bella's...
THANK YOU, ALL!!!
 
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