can I use large scale strings on medium scale bass?

[drewphishesp]

have a 5 string 32" scale bass.
I can only find one company that makes flats for it, and i dont love them (dunlop)

can I use longer strings and just cut them?

 

[michael_t]

have a 5 string 32" scale bass.
I can only find one company that makes flats for it, and i dont love them (dunlop)

can I use longer strings and just cut them?

One thing you do want to avoid, especially with flats, is to have too much of the full winding on the low B wrapping around the tuner post. It can be done on a 4-string but things get trickier with a 5-string due to the thickness of the low B.

Can I assume you're using the standard BEADG tuning?

 

[drewphishesp]

correct BEADG.
the strings id try would be chromes, I also wonder if the gauge would be too thick for 32

 

[michael_t]

correct BEADG.
the strings id try would be chromes, I also wonder if the gauge would be too thick for 32

Here's the all-important question... What's the actual measurement on your bass from where the ball end on the low B is seated to the B tuner post? Also, does this bass have a thru-body option for stringing?

 

[drewphishesp]

no thru body, its 33" from ball end to nut, 36 to B string tuning post

 

[michael_t]

no thru body, its 33" from ball end to nut, 36 to B string tuning post

D'A Chromes .132B is 37.1" from ball end to taper/silk, meaning a full inch of the full winding would end up wrapping around the tuner post.

Dunlop Flats "medium scale" do have the right length at 34" from ball end to taper/silk. What is it you don't like about them? Just curious...

 

[drewphishesp]

they just kinda sound boring to me, like not the nice highs of chromes, but not the great thump of labellas, idk maybe when they break in theyll be better

 

[HaphAsSard]

no thru body, its 33" from ball end to nut, 36 to B string tuning post

Is it the Ibanez Mezzo, by any chance?
Anyway. Would consider threading the B (and maybe, unnecessarily but symmetrically, the G) through a 1"-long piece of metal or otherwise stiff tubing, so that said tube ends resting between ball-end and back of bridge, and the string tapers right before the tuning post at the other side?

 

[drewphishesp]

its a serek mw 2 5

 

[HaphAsSard]

its a serek mw 2 5

Hm. The tubing would protrude a bit then, and potentially get in the way of things. Toughie.

Galli Jazz Flats, in 4-, 5- and 6-string alike, can be ordered in medium scale,
JF45130 5 strings Medium
but the (trans-Atlantic, I assume?) transaction could set you back a non-irrelevant sum.

 

[michael_t]

they just kinda sound boring to me, like not the nice highs of chromes, but not the great thump of labellas, idk maybe when they break in theyll be better

I personally have never used the Dunlop Flats. But they do get mostly positive reviews around here. People who like them always talk about their ability to "thump" (once broken in) while retaining some midrange clarity.

 

[iiipopes]

DR flats are round in tone, and do get really dark over time, but they are another alternative. Their "short scale" has a 34-inch winding. I do have a spare Legend Flat E string I took off another project bass that I just measured and will fit on a 32-inch scale bass with a top-load plate bridge and Fender-style headstock (E tuner closest to the nut). They appear to offer a low B string. The kicker is that post-covid I don't know if they are still making the flats in the shorter scale. If you want to see what a seated in string would sound like, PM me and I'll mail it to you.

 

[Ralph Manak]

These may work:

MARUSZCZYK INSTRUMENTS F5 Medium Scale 32"

 

[Ric5]

have a 5 string 32" scale bass.
I can only find one company that makes flats for it, and i dont love them (dunlop)

can I use longer strings and just cut them?

it depends on the bass and on the strings But I use long scale strings on 30" 32", 33" and 34" basses

 

[seanm]

I used long scale chromes on medium (Hagstrom H1B), and short (Musicmaster), scale basses. Worked for me. But neither where 5 strings.

 

[drewphishesp]

My other idea is to just use the Dunlop b string and the chrome 4 string set

 

[michael_t]

My other idea is to just use the Dunlop b string and the chrome 4 string set

The only problem with that is you can't just buy a single Dunlop low B unless you're willing to order six of them at a time. At least that's what I was told when I inquired about ordering singles from Dunlop a few years ago.

EDIT: Or, maybe you can buy the Dunlop medium-scale 5-string set and sell the E-G to someone who wants a 4-string set.

 

[drewphishesp]

Eh I have the 5 string set on right. Is. I'd just take em off and save for backup

 

[JimmyM]

they just kinda sound boring to me, like not the nice highs of chromes, but not the great thump of labellas, idk maybe when they break in theyll be better

They will.

 

[Killing Floor]

You can. But you’ll have a couple people say you can’t. But you can. Like you said, not everyone makes every set in every length. Haters gonna hate hate hate but if it fits through the tuner it works.
Not dismissing that there are certain exceptions.
But this is a TalkBass made phenomena, that you must ride or die with certain strings.
Even flats.

How do I know about using long scale flats on a short scale bass? Because some dummy cut 1 TI flat before he realized he grabbed the long package instead of the short. That same dummy has had perfect performance from that set for over 2 years of heavy use. I’m a maniacal string changer the second I don’t love a set. Still waiting for anything to happen because of where the winding is or where the taper is. Still have the shorter length set in the package. Avert your eyes.