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Dunlop Flats, Medium & Short Scale Lengths
- Thread starter jhawk
- Start date
I sent the same question to Dunlop a couple of weeks ago and got the same answer. Their customer service people don't seem to know the difference between "scale length" and "winding length".
Dunlop "medium scale" = 34" in winding length (ball to silk).
Dunlop "short scale" = 32" in winding length (ball to silk).
I got this info from Jason at Fret Nation.
Yes, Dunlop customer service has no idea What they're talking about. Smh.
Awesome. Sounds like the medium scale will work for my bass. I have chromes on now, but I think I'm getting some inharmonicity up the neck due to their stiffness (which is a shame, because I quite like the right hand feel, especially on the D and G strings).
Let me know if you empirically find them to have a different length if you buy a set. An Amazon review said medium was 33.5", and short was 32.5". Wasn't sure I could believe either measurement. It boggles my mind that this isn't standard info that all string manufacturers publish.
Thanks!
I'm with you on that 100%!
This is one of the reasons why I like dealing with GHS, who is very clear regarding the winding lengths on their bass strings.
Once you get your set, you can let us know about the actual winding length.
I'm with you on that 100%!
This is one of the reasons why I like dealing with GHS, who is very clear regarding the winding lengths on their bass strings.
I just wish they made a heavier gauge short scale set in their precision flats and pressure wounds!
You can always try the Balanced Nickels 44-60-80-106 in short scale.
Roundwounds just feel wrong to me after playing on flats! I guess I'm a wimp haha
I just had a short test run with the GHS Brite Flats (Alloy 52 half-rounds) on my P bass. As their name implies, their main tonal character is more of a flatwound but still with some of the roundwound clarity and definition. I was quite pleased with the way they sat in a band mix with a nice full-bodied punch of a flat and definition and sustain of a round. The medium set (49-62-84-108) is available both in short-scale (32.75" winding) and medium-scale (35.5" winding).
Yeah I was actually reading the thread in which you talked about those this morning. How would you say the stiffness compares to flats? The gauges may be a step backwards for me, not because I wouldn't like the feel, but because I seem to be having inharmonicity issues with my medium scale Chromes on the E string (100 80 65 45), due to string stiffness.
Half-rounds in general tend to be stiffer than rounds of similar gauges. I've only tried the light set of the Brite Flats (45-56-77-98) and found them to be comfortable without feeling loose or floppy. I would guess the 49-108 set is at least as stiff as, or even stiffer than, the Chromes 45-100.
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If Amazon review is correct with those numbers, that's only 1" difference between "short scale" and "medium scale", while the difference between "medium scale" and "long scale" (37.25") is 3.75". That's kind of odd, isn't it?
Nice! Even better for me. My custom bass is sort of awkward on what strings it can accept. I designed it initially to accept short scale strings, but had to make a design change part way though the build.
My bass only works with winding lengths from about 32-5/8" to 34-1/8". Live and learn I suppose...
Hey, I have a set of dunlop short scale flats sitting right here.. gonna pop them open and measure...
31" silk-to-silk , and 32" silk-to-ball
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In fairness, you were warned...Nice! Even better for me. My custom bass is sort of awkward on what strings it can accept. I designed it initially to accept short scale strings, but had to make a design change part way though the build.
Hahaha I knew you'd find me! But really, who actually listens to the important information given on forums?
Actually, I did have everything planned out so that my bass would accept most short scale string sets without any fuss, but realized after I'd gotten further into the build that I needed to place the bridge about 1/4" farther from the nut. This suddenly put me in an awkward and even more limiting situation where only some medium and some short scale strings work...
But for what it's worth, I'm dreaming up a new medium scale (around 31.5-32") that will accept LOOOOONG scale strings. I have learned my lesson the hard way lol. At least my bass looks cool though.
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