Cutting Flatwounds

[swarfrat]

I'm looking for a heavy set of flats for a sub-short scale bass (25.5" scale, top load bridge, 0.094" slot in the tuners.). Because it's so short, regular short scale strings are just too long. Has anyone ever tried soldering the string and unwinding to that point?

 

[WestyBassBob]

You mean unwinding the wrapping and then soldering it in place between the post and nut?

I suppose that would work. It may change the tone though.

 

[swarfrat]

I was actually thinking soldering past the nut at the point I want the winding to stop and then unwinding to that point. The idea being you need to stop it from unwinding itself.

 

[WestyBassBob]

I was actually thinking soldering past the nut at the point I want the winding to stop and then unwinding to that point. The idea being you need to stop it from unwinding itself.

Yeah that makes sense. I suppose it would work with some caveats. Solder is typically tin and lead. Your strings will probably be stainless steel or nickel. So the solder won't make the strongest connection. It should be fine, but don't be shocked if it fails in time.

Silver solder would be better but that requires a blow torch and would probably ruin the string.

 

[swarfrat]

Actually - we only need to mechanically prevent it from unwrapping. Manufacturers do it with silk. Heat shrink tubing might be enough (and less tedious than a proper lashing)

 

[WestyBassBob]

Actually - we only need to mechanically prevent it from unwrapping. Manufacturers do it with silk. Heat shrink tubing might be enough (and less tedious than a proper lashing)

That's a good idea. You could also try smearing some epoxy around the string near the end. They may also do the trick.

 

[macmanlou]

These are hard to find, but they should fit your bass without cutting. They are good gauges for a 25.5" scale bass. String Gauges: .048, .068, .088, .108

MicroBass LaBella Flat Wound Strings | Gold Tone Folk Instruments

 

[iiipopes]

You can't go too heavy on the gauges on a short scale. Even though it would bring up the tension, it also makes the strings less flexible, and they lose overtones. This means they go thump. I grant that is counter-intuitive, but this issue for short scales and what strings to use to balance tension and tone has been an issue at least since the Italians started making harpsichords 400 years ago.

 

[swarfrat]

Yeah, but they still install frets #5-12 on a 34" scale, so it should be good.

 

[BarfanyShart]

You should go to the "Guitar Scale Acoustic Bass" thread. Guitar Scale Acoustic Basses. There is a lot of talk about strings - A LOT - and early in the thread there were people talking about cutting strings at the bridge side and re-tying the ball ends, if I understand correctly. Never done it, but think about it sometimes.

 

[BarfanyShart]

This is where the guy starts talking about cutting the strings, there is a part 2 on the following page.
Guitar Scale Acoustic Basses

 

[swarfrat]

Well, I guess I'll keep rounds on the guitar scale fretted basses in the house. It was a noble goal though, shaping a budding bass player's ideas from the get go!

 

[mikewalker]

Maybe try heavy gauge cello strings? I use them on my Arpeggione and it's only 26 or 27 inch scale (if memory serves). Maybe check out some for 1/2-size or 1/4-size cello? I buy cheap Chinese cello strings on eBay - they have ball ends, and so far they have lasted a long, long time...

 

[MynameisMe]

I think we could start a thread about "what is the best solder for flatwounds".

 

[smo]

Wait.... you're not meant to cut flats?

I've been cutting them to size for 15+ years. Never had any unwind from the machine heads ever.

 

[michael_t]

Wait.... you're not meant to cut flats?

I've been cutting them to size for 15+ years. Never had any unwind from the machine heads ever.

The OP is talking about cutting into the main body of the string, not about cutting it down to size by cutting the silked/tapered end.

 

[tree_trunker]

Wait.... you're not meant to cut flats?

I've been cutting them to size for 15+ years. Never had any unwind from the machine heads ever.

I agree with @smo. Just be sure to make a 90-degree bend in the wire about an inch below where you are going to cut. That will keep things put so your strings won't go dead. Man, I sound like a redneck...

 

[swarfrat]

Yeah but I'm talking about cutting the well into the played are for most of you guys. It sounds like Labella/Gold tone have crossed this bridge and found it unsuitable for 25.5" scale fretted basses. I'm staying with rounds. So I guess now it's just a footnote in the guitar scale bass string thread

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

I'm looking for a heavy set of flats for a sub-short scale bass (25.5" scale, top load bridge, 0.094" slot in the tuners.). Because it's so short, regular short scale strings are just too long. Has anyone ever tried soldering the string and unwinding to that point?

Can't you just cut the string at the length you need? 2 tuning knobs past the post?

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

Wait.... you're not meant to cut flats?

I've been cutting them to size for 15+ years. Never had any unwind from the machine heads ever.

Why would any string? You cut every one that is ever placed on your instrument, and nothing ever happens. It gets pulled at the post. Not at the 1/4" that you place in the post before winding. This whole thing makes no sense.