DR High beams, nice and bright, gives my Mensinger Cazpar a bit of sheen on the top end of the sound.
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Favorite Short Scale Strings? Why?
- Thread starter donahue
- Start date
Here's additional info for the OP...
There have been a few recommendations for DR strings. One important thing you need to know is the "short scale" by DR is 33.75" in winding length (ball end to taper), which is one full inch longer than the "short scale" by GHS, which is 32.75" ball end to taper/silk.
As per @iiipopes' post above, you might want to measure your bass to find out exactly what "winding length" is needed for a proper fit.
There have been a few recommendations for DR strings. One important thing you need to know is the "short scale" by DR is 33.75" in winding length (ball end to taper), which is one full inch longer than the "short scale" by GHS, which is 32.75" ball end to taper/silk.
As per @iiipopes' post above, you might want to measure your bass to find out exactly what "winding length" is needed for a proper fit.
I run TI flats "short scale" on both of my short scale instruments even though everyone says they are medium scale. They work fine for me on my Musicmaster and violin bass with a Fender style neck and headstock. Some of the string wraps around the post just a little, but it causes no issues with tuning or stability. They've been on both for a while. My Precision has TI flats also. The best part is I will never have to change bass strings for as long as I live.
Try DR HI Beams or Sunbeams - both come in "short" scale sizes... Your bass, if I remember correctly, has a relatively dark tonality, especially that neck pickup. You might find either DR set livens it up a little bit.
I love the Hi-Beams on my Bantam... but I'm waiting for Sunbeams to come back in stock so I can try them, too.
I love the Hi-Beams on my Bantam... but I'm waiting for Sunbeams to come back in stock so I can try them, too.
Labella .039, .056, .077, .096
760FHB flats for Höfner Beatle Bass.
I've used other flats, the Daddario is good.
Fender isn't too bad but when I was using them I was gigging a lot, they wore "okay."
I have a brother who swears by roto sound with monel.
Why? I don't like the wear and tear that stainless steel roundwounds can cause on fret material, I don't like same wear and tear on fretless necks finger boards so I switched to Flats years ago.
Before that I used Roto round wounds, until Ernie Balls came on scene.
I recall a Vox Cougar Cougar semi-hollow with single coils that was sporting plastic tape wraps. Which might have been Labella...
760FHB flats for Höfner Beatle Bass.
I've used other flats, the Daddario is good.
Fender isn't too bad but when I was using them I was gigging a lot, they wore "okay."
I have a brother who swears by roto sound with monel.
Why? I don't like the wear and tear that stainless steel roundwounds can cause on fret material, I don't like same wear and tear on fretless necks finger boards so I switched to Flats years ago.
Before that I used Roto round wounds, until Ernie Balls came on scene.
I recall a Vox Cougar Cougar semi-hollow with single coils that was sporting plastic tape wraps. Which might have been Labella...
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I run GHS Precision Flats on my SG and it's great! I remember using long-scale Roto Basses on it too, but it's got the large-post Grover tuners so the thick part of the strings can bend over it.
Personally I wouldn't use round cores on short scales: they are low tension to begin with, and the added flexibility of a round core means even more floppiness. I also like the extra 'crunch' afforded by hex cores (or am I hearing things)
Personally I wouldn't use round cores on short scales: they are low tension to begin with, and the added flexibility of a round core means even more floppiness. I also like the extra 'crunch' afforded by hex cores (or am I hearing things)
Not all round cores are created equal. You'd be surprised at how firm GHS Balanced Nickels feel even on a short scale, not to mention they're higher in tension than either NPS or SS hex-core rounds of comparable gauges. In fact, the short-scale Balanced Nickels are more than 20 lbs. heavier than the short scale Precision Flats, 143.3 lbs. vs. 122.2 lbs.
If you want rounds, I like LaBella RX Stainless Rounds. The big draws for me are the brightness of stainless steel and the balanced tension.
Yes. I've used them on my Reverend Watt. It's a toploader.
Good to know... Thanks. I was just wondering because the La Bella website only lists "long" and "extra long".
I like GHS Pressurewounds on short scale basses. Whenever I get a new one I try those first string change. Best of both worlds IMO. Seems to work well with the chewier vibe most shorties have. Highly recommended.
I was curious about the absence of "medium scale" and "short scale" for the RX SS Rounds on the La Bella website after reading about D'Addario discontinuing all but the standard "long scale" for their ProSteel line. As I understand it, stainless steel is in short supply everywhere.
In the past year, LaBella has taken down custom string buying options from their website and it appears they're only making bestsellers. They've discontinued the RX strings before for short scale, and they may have done it again. So if you want them and see stock, buy them.
Wow so many good suggestions. I didn't realize so many types came in short scale.
I wish they made short scale Nickel Lo Riders. I love DR Lo Riders.
I also like GHS Pressurewounds so I will look into that.
I think i have a used set of GHS balanced nickels somewhere I will try. I think they were taken offs.
Thanks
I wish they made short scale Nickel Lo Riders. I love DR Lo Riders.
I also like GHS Pressurewounds so I will look into that.
I think i have a used set of GHS balanced nickels somewhere I will try. I think they were taken offs.
Thanks
Yeah I use Nickel Lo Riders on almost all my basses - I love them. Unfortunately they don't fit my short-scale. But I was surprised at how taught the hi-beams felt. I remember them being a lot looser feeling on my Lakland when I tried them years ago on that bass. They don't really feel floppy on the shorter scale, at all.
I would agree with your comments on DR, however I have run both Hi Beams and Sunbeams and although some of the speaking length of the E string wrapped around the post, it was totally fine on my Bronco bass. No issues at all due to the flexibility of the round core. And it wasn’t even a full wrap - maybe a half wrap.
To the op, I’d vote for the Hi Beams based on what you are looking for. With that being said I eventually moved on and have Ernie Ball Regular Slinkies on my shortie and I really like them. But I change strings like socks so maybe I am not the best person to ask.
Thanks for your perspective on this.
One thing I hesitate to do personally is to give advice to people based on "it worked for me, so it should be okay for you, too". I feel it's always best to present the facts and make people aware of what's at stake and let them decide how they want to proceed.
