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Guitar Scale Acoustic Basses

I don't know why we don't see more acoustics with adjustable saddles. Not that hard to do...
It's harder then you think, with standard acoustic guitar / bass piezos you need to have the pickup between the saddle and the top/bridge plate for best sound and feedback resistance. If the saddle needs to move, it now requires a wire and a hole for that wire to go through and you need a second piece for the saddle to sit in.

Another way to do it is to use a soundboard pickup but those have a few things going against them, they are more prone to feedback, they pickup more handling noise, and they are harder to get to sound good with even string to string output.. Compounding that a position that might work with one bass might not work with another built "identically".
 
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Plunker, I couldn’t find a UK dealer who could supply the CB40s so I got them online from Strings By Mail in the US. With standard shipping they arrived in a few days and cost just over £20 all in. That’s around half the price of the D’Addario phosphors in the UK for strings that in my opinion (and many others) are far superior, especially when amplified. They fit on my GS Mini perfectly, despite Taylor’s dire warnings, so it’s win win for me.

Hi Roger,
It's been awhile and I've now had the chance to play the CB40s, on my Ortega D-walker. And I just want to thank you for your advice (as well as everyone else sharing their experience with the CB40s, in this thread and others)! They feel great to the fingers and sound terrific through an amp (though I still need the pre-amp for adjustment - the D-walker has none - I don't have to tweak the tone as much as I did with the original strings). The D-walker is still not for acoustic playing (if you want a bass sound), although these rattle a little less than the originals.
Cheers!
 
FBD

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Build thread over here: Winter Build Off 2019: Acoustic Cigar Box Parlour Bass
 
Got to try Gs mini Taylor and 250 I by for the first time today. Both nice. Taylor was nicer. But for the price it should be. My d Walker I liked better than ibby too but it also is higher. I like the gold tone the best out of those four. However, the ibby would be the second choice just because of price. It is a good deal for sure.
 
Got to try Gs mini Taylor and 250 I by for the first time today. Both nice. Taylor was nicer. But for the price it should be. My d Walker I liked better than ibby too but it also is higher. I like the gold tone the best out of those four. However, the ibby would be the second choice just because of price. It is a good deal for sure.

I'm not familiar with the D Walker bass. Just took a look at the Ortega site and they have several short scale models. Also looks like they don't really distribute in the US. That's too bad. I love that the put a cutaway on the short bass. There is a Cordoba short scale with cutaway, and the Traveler Guitar has a partial cutaway, but I think the other options out there don't.

edit: The Cordoba doens't have a cutaway. They have a very similar 6-string acoustic with cutaway - got them mixed up.
 
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Available on amazon
Ortega Guitars D-WALKER-RD Deep Series Extra Short Scale Acoustic Bass with Agathis Top and Body https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007VL933Q/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_vCuGCbJJ7XQCX

Which is where I got the one that I had. The micro bass just fits my body better. And after trying a host of strings. Pahahoes are best for me for it. And at that scale tension is better and quiet slides. Just gotta make sure I keep playing myguitar with flats to keep fingers up but can really go back and forth readily.
 
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As a short and sub-short scale enthusiast,I have been following this thread closely. I just ordered the 5 string Magma from Argentina. All communication with the company was email. I had to wire transfer the money so, if they were to stiff me, I have no recourse however them seem like honest people. Does anyone else in this thread already have one? I may have missed it. I’ll update any status changes as they occur.
 
As a short and sub-short scale enthusiast,I have been following this thread closely. I just ordered the 5 string Magma from Argentina. All communication with the company was email. I had to wire transfer the money so, if they were to stiff me, I have no recourse however them seem like honest people. Does anyone else in this thread already have one? I may have missed it. I’ll update any status changes as they occur.

How did you arrange for shipping? How long for shipping?
 
I've been playing my PNB again and enjoying it. I had recently bought a low end compressor. A simple EHX bass preacher. Only today I remember that I haven't tried it with the Ibanez. I put those two together, and - awesomeness. It evened out all the string volume. Perfectly.

I'm going back to CB40s on the bass. I loved them, and I got very irritated when they imploded on me. But I did beat up on those strings with all the different times I took them on and off, and, I cut my E too short. I'm going to cut the new E with lots of left over and just tuck it under the other strings at the head. I think that will make it less likely to implode.

I have read lots of references in different places, not just here, about people throwing CB40s on these basses - not just the Ibby but all of them. Either the word is getting out, or we have lots of like similar thinking people outside the TB universe.

Anyway, back to some acoustic play for me. :) If I ever gig with it, I will buy a second. [I have an OCD thing about having pairs of all major pieces of equipment that I gig with - this transcends both bass and my current active gigging on drums - my primary instrument.]
 
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Scooching this over from my coming-back thread, wherein I was made aware that this topic existed.

E541C197-2E7D-4ECC-B742-DEDF3C84EA97.jpeg

It was love at first touch. I never buy anything without doing tons of research and financial planning, but nothing ever felt so right as this bass in my hands and I couldn't get it out of my head after I left the shop (about two hours' drive from my current residence), and upon getting home I pretty much just turned right back around and headed back to make things right.

So, what's this I'm hearing about different strings you can put on this darling? Here I thought it was just the D'Addarios- y'all tellin' me there's options here?

--^@
 
I've been playing my PNB again and enjoying it. I had recently bought a low end compressor. A simple EHX bass preacher. Only today I remember that I haven't tried it with the Ibanez. I put those two together, and - awesomeness. It evened out all the string volume. Perfectly.

I'm going back to CB40s on the bass. I loved them, and I got very irritated when they imploded on me. But I did beat up on those strings with all the different times I took them on and off, and, I cut my E too short. I'm going to cut the new E with lots of left over and just tuck it under the other strings at the head. I think that will make it less likely to implode.

I have read lots of references in different places, not just here, about people throwing CB40s on these basses - not just the Ibby but all of them. Either the word is getting out, or we have lots of like similar thinking people outside the TB universe.

Anyway, back to some acoustic play for me. :) If I ever gig with it, I will buy a second. [I have an OCD thing about having pairs of all major pieces of equipment that I gig with - this transcends both bass and my current active gigging on drums - my primary instrument.]
Based upon my reading in this thread, I tried a set of CB40s on my fender BG29. I’ll likely never use a different string on that guitar. Love them. The strange thing for me was when I contacted labella asking the overall length. They told me that the strings were an inch too short for my application. I replied again asking the OAL because they did not include that info in their answer to my query and was not sent a reply. I ordered a set on a chance and they fit just fine. Wonderful strings. I can see that they might not be for everyone however for my application they are perfect.
 
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I grabbed the spare saddle for my PNB and filed it down 2 mils. I started with coarse and finished with 600 grit. BINGO!... even volume across the board.The saddle sits right on the pickup and seeing as how the bottom of the original saddle was rough as a cob, the smooth replacement may transfer better....methinks. Plugged in, I also notice less feedback but it is better when played with the sound hole cover on. With the cover on, it sounds better/punchier picked closer to the bridge. Acoustically it sounds best picked nearer or over the sound hole.

Action is now 2mm at the 12th fret no buzzes. Good thing that they come with a spare bridge pin as I couldn't get the original G-string pin to re-seat. The spare worked great...
Got a set of CB-40s coming.
Feeling better....
 
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