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Coated Strings for Epiphone Viola Bass

Discussion in 'Strings [BG]' started by bujilog, Jan 3, 2015.

  1. Jan 3, 2015 #1
    bujilog

    bujilog

    Jan 3, 2015
    Hey guys, completely new here but I just had to sign up for this. Not sure if I'm posting in the correct thread.

    So I got myself an Epi Viola bass and totally love it. But, due to my incredibly sweaty hands I got through the stock strings in about 3 weeks. I use Elixirs on my guitars and swear my life on them. Love the tone and feel so I went ahead and got myself a set for the bass. And that was when I learned my (expensive) lesson about long scale strings on short/medium scale guitars.

    So, after a day searching and reading about what coated strings I can get to replace them, I'm coming up with zilch. Are there no coated short/medium scale strings? I'm looking at the Black Diamond Black Coated and DR K3 Coated strings but can't find any information on what their scale lengths are.

    And if there aren't any coated strings for the scale length, what would you recommend I use? Preferrably rounds since flats and other types of strings are rarely, if at all, available here in my country.

    Thanks!
     
  2. Jan 5, 2015 #2
    GIBrat51

    GIBrat51 Innocent as the day is long Supporting Member

    Mar 5, 2013
    St Joseph County., Indiana
    I spent some time looking, and yes, I think you're pretty much out of luck. As of right now, there isn't a large pool of medium-scale strings (you do know you need mediums, right?) to fish around in, and "specialty" strings are scarce. You might want to think about tapewounds; they are roundwounds, but sound much more like flats, in my experience. LaBella makes nice ones, and they are available in medium scale. I wound up with Rotosound 88 tapes on my Rogue violin bass. They're a little large for the stock nut (60-115), but the Rogue needed a new one anyway; they are very deep, very woody, and very, very loud. But, the LaBellas should fit your Epi with no problem. Other than tapes, you may just have to resign yourself to changing strings a lot, until something better comes along. Sorry.
     
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  3. Jan 5, 2015 #3
    bujilog

    bujilog

    Jan 3, 2015
    Thanks for replying! Yeah, read around and figured I needed mediums. Ordered myself a set of D'Addario tapewounds, and will hopefully get them in about...a month (third world problems).

    Another question though, so I have the long scale Elixirs fitted on right now and when I fret the strings at the 1st and 16th, there's absolutely no string clearance at the 7th fret. Is it because of the strings being long scale or do I need to make adjustments at the truss rod? I'm looking at the neck and it seems to be straight enough to not affect it though.
     
  4. Jan 5, 2015 #4
    Killer Of Giants

    Killer Of Giants

    Jun 7, 2014
    Henderson, Nevada
    none
    I actually change my strings like every two weeks, nothing against you at all, I just really enjoy the Resonance of fresh strings
     
  5. Jan 6, 2015 #5
    bujilog

    bujilog

    Jan 3, 2015
    It's tough on the wallet though!
     
  6. Jan 6, 2015 #6
    GIBrat51

    GIBrat51 Innocent as the day is long Supporting Member

    Mar 5, 2013
    St Joseph County., Indiana
    I doubt seriously that the long scale strings are the cause. I'm not an expert on these things, but if your frets are level like they should be, then yes, I think you might need to tighten the truss rod a hair or two. You should have a few thou of clearance at the 7th fret. And, I forgot about D'Addarios; I don't ever use them (they give me the itchies). Their tapewounds are well regarded, though.:)
     
    Last edited: Jan 6, 2015
  7. Jan 6, 2015 #7
    bujilog

    bujilog

    Jan 3, 2015
    Ahh. I had sneaky suspicion that the strings weren't the cause or that. Yeah, D'Addarios are fine for me, LaBellas and Rotosounds are impossible to get here unless I order from another country. :facepalm: