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can I use large scale strings on medium scale bass?
- Thread starter drewphishesp
- Start date
I made a similar post few months ago, It seems people just wind over pegs without problem, unless they are scared to break the balance of the universe.
Both my 80cm(31.4") basses have longscale flats and my 35" acoustic has same longscale sets eighter, not being string through helps the 35"
Having a good tuner is a must to be honest.
How accurate is the warning?
Both my 80cm(31.4") basses have longscale flats and my 35" acoustic has same longscale sets eighter, not being string through helps the 35"
Having a good tuner is a must to be honest.
How accurate is the warning?
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Which type of tuning machines on your bass?
If the diameter are small like Ibanez kind of tuning post , the B string could get break while make tune. I been break the DR hi beam B string on my previous Cort Action dlx V once which has small tuning post.
I do believe the Fender kind of large diameter tuning post are safety choice.
30-32 scale bass with Fender type tuning post has no problems with 34 scale bass string. B string gauge > 130 has better tone clarity but could be floppy for heavy hand player.
If the diameter are small like Ibanez kind of tuning post , the B string could get break while make tune. I been break the DR hi beam B string on my previous Cort Action dlx V once which has small tuning post.
I do believe the Fender kind of large diameter tuning post are safety choice.
30-32 scale bass with Fender type tuning post has no problems with 34 scale bass string. B string gauge > 130 has better tone clarity but could be floppy for heavy hand player.
I have a set of these for my 32” 5-er. La Bella medium scale DTFs…
La Bella 760FS-B-M Flatwound Stainless Steel Medium scale Bass Electric 5 string
La Bella 760FS-B-M Flatwound Stainless Steel Medium scale Bass Electric 5 string
As mentioned above, La Bella makes medium scale flats. Also DR Legends are flat wound and come in medium scale. I have a set on my 5 string med.scale P/J. 45 - 125. I like them. Stable B. good sounding strings.
D
Agreed. I can't stand the tone of brand new Dunlop flats but they're really nice when broken in.
But if the OP is looking for the "nice highs" of D'Addario Chromes I'm not sure a broken in set of Dunlops (or any other flats for that matter) is the answer... I don't think you'll find any brighter flats than D'Addario Chromes except perhaps a BRAND NEW set of Rotos but that's a different kind of bright and they mellow out quite fast (plus their medium/short sets are RUBBISH, far too light/floppy).
As for the getting the thumpy LaBella tone with Dunlops a bit of foam muting under the strings might perhaps take them in the right direction.
Anyway, I don't think ANY strings will offer both the brightness of Chromes AND the thump of LaBellas. The Dunlops may actually be a good compromise.
[This invalid link has been removed]. It's the 33" minimum figure that's probably a smidgen underestimated but it does look like there's some distance between nut and B-string post.
__________
To the yeasayers above: your posts are well and good if considered as replies to the *title* of the thread. What about the *opening post* though? Do you think a low B, and a flatwound one to boot, is always safe if one attempts to wind it on the post at full gauge?
^ This. Thank you. The right answer is often "it depends".
__________
La Bella is a legit option, if on the thump side of the flatwound spectrum (unlike Chromes when new), but the OP may well be interested - they just appear to not care for MOR flats - so yeah.
[Speaking of which: gotta love TB exchanges like:
- Do you have suggestions for me? Not X though, I have tried and don't like X.
- Get X.
]Re DR Legends, that too would be a good option but, as pointed out by michael_t in a past post, the five-string version is a lot more elusive than the four:
It's funny. I even called la Bella! They told me they don't make the 5 string medium set so maybe those were special run? Not sure but I tracked down some, gonna try those out. I like them on my p bass
My own basses are 4 string though I did It on a friends 5 string Ibanez Talman 5, 30" (762 mm). My friend had worries too but I knew bass had upgraded 1/2 Hipshot tuners with quality posts so I wasn't
No intonation or tuning stability problems at all and string didn't break.One thing thats advised; If the string is a round core, bending the string 90°
before the cutting point to avoid unwinding. You will push that inside the post so no problem.
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I'm sincerely pleased to know (and good call on the roundcore caveat). Was it with flats?My own basses are 4 string though I did It on a friends 5 string Ibanez Talman 5, 30" (762 mm). My friend had worries too but I knew bass had upgraded 1/2 Hipshot tuners with quality posts so I wasn't
One thing thats advised; If the string is a round core, bending the string 90°
before the cutting point to avoid unwinding. You will push that inside the post so no problem.
Yes, It was TI jazz flats, also advised because didn't trust low budget basses neck with something heavier
My basses at 4 string med scale have seen La Bella, GHS P, TI Jazz, Ernie Cobalt and D'addario Chrome at various gauges.
[This invalid link has been removed]. It's the 33" minimum figure that's probably a smidgen underestimated but it does look like there's some distance between nut and B-string post.
__________
To the yeasayers above: your posts are well and good if considered as replies to the *title* of the thread. What about the *opening post* though? Do you think a low B, and a flatwound one to boot, is always safe if one attempts to wind it on the post at full gauge?
^ This. Thank you. The right answer is often "it depends".
__________
La Bella is a legit option, if on the thump side of the flatwound spectrum (unlike Chromes when new), but the OP may well be interested - they just appear to not care for MOR flats - so yeah.
[Speaking of which: gotta love TB exchanges like:
- Do you have suggestions for me? Not X though, I have tried and don't like X.
- Get X.
Re DR Legends, that too would be a good option but, as pointed out by michael_t in a past post, the five-string version is a lot more elusive than the four:
Volo33. 33 scale.
I recall few owner mod it to BEADG without string length issue with 34 scale bass string.
Dunlop flats are my favorite flatwound string. They feel amazing. As far as sound is concerned, i like them right out of the box. If I need a different tone, I have knobs for that.
Ric5
Inactive
- Jan 29, 2008
- 29,772
- 30,452
- Disclosures
- I like 5, 8, 10, and 12 string basses
my 32" 5 string bass with long scale strings. I added this to bridge to make the string longer.
I wanted to keep the fat part of the B string before the taper out of the tuner
Nothing is “always safe” and given that LaBella specifically warns against through-body, I’d assume they met be in a higher risk category.[This invalid link has been removed]. It's the 33" minimum figure that's probably a smidgen underestimated but it does look like there's some distance between nut and B-string post.
__________
To the yeasayers above: your posts are well and good if considered as replies to the *title* of the thread. What about the *opening post* though? Do you think a low B, and a flatwound one to boot, is always safe if one attempts to wind it on the post at full gauge?
^ This. Thank you. The right answer is often "it depends".
__________
La Bella is a legit option, if on the thump side of the flatwound spectrum (unlike Chromes when new), but the OP may well be interested - they just appear to not care for MOR flats - so yeah.
[Speaking of which: gotta love TB exchanges like:
- Do you have suggestions for me? Not X though, I have tried and don't like X.
- Get X.
Re DR Legends, that too would be a good option but, as pointed out by michael_t in a past post, the five-string version is a lot more elusive than the four:
That said, it’s only a string on only a bass. So I’d try it without a moment of hesitation because the risk is minute and the consequences are too small to measure. What I’m saying is “if there’s a lesson to be learned I’m willing to learn it.” And I’ve played over 40 years and toured extensively for several years and apparently I still haven’t learned it.
FWIW if a manufacturer of my bass or my string recommended against a certain combination that I prefer, I’d overrule anyway. The worse that could happen is nothing. Or 1 broken string which would then be my first broken bass string since maybe 1982(?).
edited follow up that some of y’all act like bass strings are precious and irreplaceable, they are not.
Strings are wound under proper playing tension, so that if you cut long scale strings down and use them on Medium or Short scales, they will be floppier than they were designed for with muddier sound. It is the lack of variety of strings that has kept me away from Medium Scale for many years and the biggest negative with Mustang Basses.
On the other hand, I have the T.I. Short Scale Flats on my Medium Scale Jaguar bass. T.I. says they can be used for either (!). They are long enough. I must say that I found the sound to be quite amazing due to the higher tension. Very clear and punchy with reduced bottom thud. At the last gig where I played it, the sound engineer commented on how clear the bass sound was.
On the other hand, I have the T.I. Short Scale Flats on my Medium Scale Jaguar bass. T.I. says they can be used for either (!). They are long enough. I must say that I found the sound to be quite amazing due to the higher tension. Very clear and punchy with reduced bottom thud. At the last gig where I played it, the sound engineer commented on how clear the bass sound was.
