Can you install .105 gauge strings on a violin bass?

[Jean Rodriguez]

This is really more of a quick question rather than a discussion starter. I managed to save up a few bucks and can now afford some flat wound strings for my violin bass. On my other basses, I am used to installing .50-.105 gauge strings on them. But, I've read that you should keep the gauges small on violin basses because of the neck. The bass came with .100 gauge strings. I assume that moving up to .105 shouldn't do any damage, right?

 

[drurb]

This is the double bass side.

 

[Jean Rodriguez]

This is the double bass side.

I was told by another user that I should ask this in the double bass section

 

[Gorn]

I was told by another user that I should ask this in the double bass section

The other user is wrong.

Sure you can use a 105. The issues with string size isn't the gauge so much as what strings are the correct length and have ends thin enough to fit in the tuning posts.

 

[GIBrat51]

As I said in your other thread; I have 60-115 Roto 88s on my MIK Rogue, and it's fine. As Gorn Captain said, the only problems would be; being too big for the tuner holes; being too big for the tailpiece hole; and getting the right string length. But, the first two are Hofner - not Rogue - problems; and, most medium scale strings will take care of the last one...

 

[reddesert]

This is really more of a quick question rather than a discussion starter. I managed to save up a few bucks and can now afford some flat wound strings for my violin bass. On my other basses, I am used to installing .50-.105 gauge strings on them. But, I've read that you should keep the gauges small on violin basses because of the neck. The bass came with .100 gauge strings. I assume that moving up to .105 shouldn't do any damage, right?

Flatwound strings are typically higher tension than roundwounds, about one gauge worth (like the difference between light and medium gauge), so if you are playing 50-105 rounds on your other basses, 45-100 or 40-100 flats may be fine on the violin bass. They will be slightly lower tension on the violin bass because it is a short scale length. This is fine. Don't forget that you should get medium scale winding length strings for a violin bass due to the extra length to the tailpiece. IME, you may have difficulty finding 50-105 medium scale length flatwounds. 45-100 or 40-100 will be easier to find.

 

[Andrew Zataray]

Ive had a question myself and honesty I don't know who else to ask. I have an epiphone viola bass and I got medium gauge .105 strings and plan to put them on. Will they work and not do any damage? Im planning to do a set up when I do so, should I be fine? They're also long scale and im sure you can get them down to size. It's just so hard and frustrating to find the specific length and gauge for basses than are a minority.

 

[Jean Rodriguez]

Ive had a question myself and honesty I don't know who else to ask. I have an epiphone viola bass and I got medium gauge .105 strings and plan to put them on. Will they work and not do any damage? Im planning to do a set up when I do so, should I be fine? They're also long scale and im sure you can get them down to size. It's just so hard and frustrating to find the specific length and gauge for basses than are a minority.

Don't have the viola, but I do have the Rogue VB100 and I installed the .105 gauge strings on them. I bought them long scale and was able to cut them down to size with no problem. After putting them on, there was no damage to the neck or body of the bass aside from the action becoming a bit higher and the tension of the strings feeling tighter for obvious reasons. In short, you can install the strings on your epi viola bass with not problems. If you're still having concerns or hesitations about putting on the strings, you can take your bass to a tech and have him do it or give you his opinion.

 

[iiipopes]

The question is not the gauge of string. Any gauge string can be installed if the string anchor in the tail piece will accommodate the string ball and the thicker windings; sometimes the slot in the E-string anchor needs a little relief for it to fit.

The real question is getting the right winding length and leader so that the windings will fit just past the nut then taper quickly the thin leader required by the smaller Hofner type tuners.

The third question, which is probably why this thread is there, is why are there very few .105 strings sold to fit a Hofner bass. The bottom line is that the larger the diameter, the usually less flexible the string, and it can go thump more easily and not be consistent tonally with the A-D-G strings on a short scale bass.