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Danelectro Owners Club
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It's funny , I bought two basses last year . A 76 Ric 4000 and an Epi Flying V . (I know there's nothing more pathetic as some old geezer in jeans and sneakers playing a Flying V , but I'm ok with that) . My regular gigging bass is my Dano Longhorn , still with factory strings . Each time I bought a new bass I'd play enough gigs with it to break even , and then go straight back to the old Dano . Almost bought the new Gibson Junior bass , but held off because I realized it would be right back to the Dano after it was paid off .
@msb I like your black longhorn! It's similar to mine but with different knobs. I have the teardrop knobs. Nice amps too. Well done 
Strings for Longhorn '58 reissue:
I love D'Addario strings on all of my basses. I've gone from factory strings, to D'Addario EXLS round wound, & for the past year D'Addario ENR71S half rounds. I bought the half rounds to reduce unwanted finger noise which worked.
My half rounds are dead now. They lost their brightness a while ago, as you'd expect from a year of playing.
I could use advice for my next Longhorn strings. I'd like lower tension half rounds next. Sadly D'Addario does not seem to make anything lower than .045, .065, 0.08 & .100. Have any of you found strings that are similar to D'Addarios with a light tension? I play blues, Motown, R&B, rock & and jazz: a good variety of styles. The Longhorn is my main bass.
Any thoughts?
Thanks, Joel
I love D'Addario strings on all of my basses. I've gone from factory strings, to D'Addario EXLS round wound, & for the past year D'Addario ENR71S half rounds. I bought the half rounds to reduce unwanted finger noise which worked.
My half rounds are dead now. They lost their brightness a while ago, as you'd expect from a year of playing.
I could use advice for my next Longhorn strings. I'd like lower tension half rounds next. Sadly D'Addario does not seem to make anything lower than .045, .065, 0.08 & .100. Have any of you found strings that are similar to D'Addarios with a light tension? I play blues, Motown, R&B, rock & and jazz: a good variety of styles. The Longhorn is my main bass.
Any thoughts?
Thanks, Joel
I’m not sure what strings fit your Dano, but there are flats these days that are as bright as half-rounds and much lower tension. Ernie Ball “Group” flats are one, and their Cobalt Slinkys are even brighter. Not as bright but even lower tension are Thomastik Jazz Flats. The only other half-round I know of is GHS Ground Round and they’re not lower tension than D’A’s IME.
I just put my first ever set of TI flats on a bass and I'm in love! The super low tension feels wonderfully supple. My go to flatwounds for modern, bright sound have been Dunlop, but these TIs just feel fantastic.
I second @TomB , give flats a try. I converted last year and it was an amazing epiphany.
BTW, I'm getting serious Longhorn GAS.... just need to sell a handful of basses.
Hi @TomB ,
Thanks for your message. Short scale strings fit nicely on my Longhorn. I've never tried flats; I always thought I'd lose the clean, bright tone I enjoy. My half rounds were an experiment that I liked. Who knew?
I didn't know about the flats that sound like half rounds. That's amazing. I might try one of the brands you recommend. TI's are always excellent quality. I used them years ago on my double bass. I was always happy with their quality. I've also used Ernie Ball but that was years ago. The same for GHS boomers. I used them in my rock band days.
Time to look into your suggestions. Thanks again for your help.
Joel
Hi @Skillet ,
Thank you for your suggestions. It looks like I'm considering flats. That's a change for me but I'm open to trying something new, especially with low tension.
I recommend the Longhorn. I purchased it because I need a super light bass due to complicated injuries. It turns out that the Longhorn holds it's own and sounds pretty good. Don't sell all your basses but maybe you'll try that Longhorn some day.
Thanks again,
Joel
TI Flats can be controversial, like Ricks, or mixing cabs.
I have a set. On some basses- meh, some basses- cool, but on my Epi Jack Casady semi-hollow body- Holy Cow! They actually growl!
But one thing is certain, never judge a set of TI Flats the day you put them on. Give them a couple of weeks. Also try not to cut them when installing in case you decide they're not for you and you want to sell them here.
I have a set. On some basses- meh, some basses- cool, but on my Epi Jack Casady semi-hollow body- Holy Cow! They actually growl!
But one thing is certain, never judge a set of TI Flats the day you put them on. Give them a couple of weeks. Also try not to cut them when installing in case you decide they're not for you and you want to sell them here.
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Another note regarding the TIs. They usually run around $75. There's a seller on Amazon currently selling them for about $44 with shipping. Amazon link.
They come from the UK so it's a bit of a wait, but it is a savings.
OOooops, the ones on sale are Long scale...
The shorties will run you 70 smackers.
LINK
They come from the UK so it's a bit of a wait, but it is a savings.
OOooops, the ones on sale are Long scale...
The shorties will run you 70 smackers.
LINK
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How about the Ernie Ball group flats or the Dunlops? How do they compare to the TIs, in terms of consistency and working on one bass more than another?
I realize YMMV with strings and playing styles, but any thoughts are appreciated.
I realize YMMV with strings and playing styles, but any thoughts are appreciated.
Just get the TIs. Once you start wondering about the million other types of strings, you will become so overwhelmed you won't be able to make an informed choice.
It's all subjective ya know. I put these TIs on yesterday and I can't put this thing down (long scale PJ parts bass I put together), they feel so good.
I'll say this though. I have Dunlop flats on my Mustang and my Supro Huntington, both short scale basses, and I really really like them on those.
That's the view from Skillet's porch, ymmv
I'll say this though. I have Dunlop flats on my Mustang and my Supro Huntington, both short scale basses, and I really really like them on those.
That's the view from Skillet's porch, ymmv
Strings for a Longhorn? Why, the "original" La Bella 39-96 DTF Dano flats, of course... As for the "short scale" TIs? They're really the same as other string company's "medium scale" strings, and, as such, are just too long for a Longhorn. They will work - maybe, - but you will be winding a bunch of the speaking part of the strings around a very small diameter tuning peg. At best, it will look... odd and unsightly. At worst? Bye bye, $70... But, if that doesn't bother you? Then, by all means - go for it. I have a set of SS TIs, and I thought about putting them on my Longhorn; but.. nah. I have other basses that actually need that length of string, so.. why waste them? I'll go with what a Longhorn originally came with, instead...
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View attachment 3499210 Strings for a Longhorn? Why, the "original" La Bella 39-96 DTF Dano flats, of course... As for the "short scale" TIs? They're really the same as other string company's "medium scale" strings, and, as such, are just too long for a Longhorn. They will work - maybe, - but you will be winding a bunch of the speaking part of the strings around a very small diameter tuning peg. At best, it will look... odd and unsightly. At worst? Bye bye, $70... But, if that doesn't bother you? Then, by all means - go for it. I have a set of SS TIs, and I thought about putting them on my Longhorn; but.. nah. I have other basses that actually need that length of string, so.. why waste them? I'll go with what a Longhorn originally came with, instead...
I think we have a winner.
If you're looking for flats that sound a bit like half-rounds though, the list shortens quickly. That's why I recommended the Ernie Balls. The bonus is that they're relatively low tension. ...not as low-tension as TI's, but I'm finding the EB "Group" strings have a brighter character than TI's over the long term, and sound more like a half-round than the TI's (with which I'm VERY familiar). I haven't much personal experience with the Cobalts but understand them to be brighter still.
PS: I'm a big fan of Labella DTF's, but never claimed they sound like half-rounds.
PS: I'm a big fan of Labella DTF's, but never claimed they sound like half-rounds.
Thanks again. Yeah I am not a flats player. I've used rounds almost exclusively, and happily so for the most part. I tried the halfs this past year just to see what happened. I was mainly trying to reduce unwanted finger noise, and get a less tinny sound than my rounds were generating on the Longhorn. The Longhorn tends to put out extra highs, IME. They can be dialed back significantly but that string noise will persist.
I did try some TI rounds once on my Hofner and they did not work for me.
@TomB I'm definitely thinking about those Ernie Ball strings. Your description of them is what made me think about flats at all:
Tom, the Cobalt Slinkys might be a good experiment for me. It's funny but I tend to repeat what's worked for me and not be that adventurous, especially with strings since there are way too many to choose from. It's awesome that we have so many possibilities, in theory, but it feels like overload. I'll look for some sound samples online & have a listen.
I did try some TI rounds once on my Hofner and they did not work for me.
@TomB I'm definitely thinking about those Ernie Ball strings. Your description of them is what made me think about flats at all:
Tom, the Cobalt Slinkys might be a good experiment for me. It's funny but I tend to repeat what's worked for me and not be that adventurous, especially with strings since there are way too many to choose from. It's awesome that we have so many possibilities, in theory, but it feels like overload. I'll look for some sound samples online & have a listen.
If you like half-rounds, try GHS Pressurewounds. The E string is .96 and should suit your needs. I have a set on my Longhorn and love them. I've run D'Addario half-rounds and Chromes, and much prefer the Pressurewounds. (They've become my go-to string on most of my basses.)
