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Guitar Scale Acoustic Basses

#1,221
So, I got some LaBella flats made for the UBass, arrived today. Put them on, as well as added a strap button to the heal. Definitely lost some acoustic volume, but so much nicer on the fingers, and I prefer the tone. They also sound great amplified.

I also hit the frets with Gorgomyte, polished up nicely. And noticed that the saddle is not compensated, and the intonation reflects that. When this whole quarantine thing is over I'm going to have my tech cut me a compensated bone nut, as well as a bone saddle for it. Even then I'm pretty sure I'll still be under $500, works for me.
 
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#1,224
Gee Man said:
I can't post a pic of packaging, as I lucked out and got them very slightly used via reverb. I can post a link to get them new though, Invalid Link Removed
Click to expand...

That's what I have on my Sojourn Port, and I really like them, too. The intonation could be better, but it is very close to what I also found with the stock strings. I'm sure a compensated saddle would help, but I seldom play any higher than the "money notes" (up to the 7th fret or so), and they sound great.
 
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#1,226
Don M said:
Any one try the Galli strings on a Sojourn or anything longer than a UBass?
Click to expand...
I have the Galli tapes on my Kala UBass. Anything over 21" scale won't work as the wrapping would be on the nut. I'd love to try to get them to make longer ones though.

I need to restring it. So sloppy.
 

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#1,227
Gee Man said:
So, I got some LaBella flats made for the UBass
Click to expand...
Gee Man said:
I can't post a pic of packaging, as I lucked out and got them very slightly used via reverb. I can post a link to get them new though, Invalid Link Removed
Click to expand...
As you verified for yourself with the intonation issue, the La Bella/Gold Tone MBLS were not made for the UBass. They were made for the Gold Tone MicroBass, and GT actually spells out how they're meant for either their solid-body models (which have a continuously adjustable bridge, made more or less like an electric guitar fixed-saddle wraparound bridge) or their fretless hollowbodies (no adjustable bridge, but one can compensate with fingering). Their construction is that of normal flatwounds (steel core) and, being on the stiff side, they would require a different positioning of the bridge than most of these instruments, made with nylon-core strings in mind, have from the factory. The Michael Kelly Sojourn minibass models are an exception because they come with steel-core roundwounds, so the bridge saddle position, albeit not perfect, is almost there.
Same thing for the black nylon tapewound set made by Pyramid.
UBasses have now both nylon-core flats and nylon-on-nylon tapewound options, both made by Galli. However, as mentioned, they're too short for guitar-scale basslets.
 
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#1,228
Gee Man said:
So, I got some LaBella flats made for the UBass, arrived today. Put them on, as well as added a strap button to the heal. Definitely lost some acoustic volume, but so much nicer on the fingers, and I prefer the tone. They also sound great amplified.

I also hit the frets with Gorgomyte, polished up nicely. And noticed that the saddle is not compensated, and the intonation reflects that. When this whole quarantine thing is over I'm going to have my tech cut me a compensated bone nut, as well as a bone saddle for it. Even then I'm pretty sure I'll still be under $500, works for me.
Click to expand...

I like the feel of nice polished frets. I might have to buy some gorgomyte. Have never used that before.
 
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#1,229
I wanted to come back here and just say a little more about a phosphor bronze alternative.

I think I wrote a bit about using EB Slinky 2935 Nickel 95 to 40s on one of my MKs. Those worked out extremely well. I also later put EB Earthwood 2070 Phosphor Bronze 95-45s on my other MK. I am not really big with phosphor bronze, but there is something about these strings I really like. They feel good and they sound very good - again, coming from someone who sometimes hears phosphor bronze on an AB and cringes.

If you are a phosphor bronze advocate, the Earthwoods are an alternative - and they are much less expensive than the stock strings.
 
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#1,230
Years ago, when I still played acoustic guitar, I remember using Earthwood strings from time to time, and I recall them being on the warmer end of the phosphor bronze spectrum. Phosphor bronze strings are pretty unappealing when brand new, but broken in--a few weeks to a few months old--they can sound nice as they mellow out. I used to restring my guitar only once or twice a year, and bass strings can last a lot longer than guitar strings!

On another note, does anyone have experience with the La Bella Silverbacks? Gold Tone has them as an option for their 23 and 25-inch scale M-basses.
 
#1,231
fermata said:
Years ago, when I still played acoustic guitar, I remember using Earthwood strings from time to time, and I recall them being on the warmer end of the phosphor bronze spectrum. Phosphor bronze strings are pretty unappealing when brand new, but broken in--a few weeks to a few months old--they can sound nice as they mellow out. I used to restring my guitar only once or twice a year, and bass strings can last a lot longer than guitar strings!

On another note, does anyone have experience with the La Bella Silverbacks? Gold Tone has them as an option for their 23 and 25-inch scale M-basses.
Click to expand...

The Silverbacks are the Contrabass strings in thicker gauges.
 
#1,232
fermata said:
On another note, does anyone have experience with the La Bella Silverbacks? Gold Tone has them as an option for their 23 and 25-inch scale M-basses.
Click to expand...
@cavemanbass's experience with the La Bella/Gold Tone MBLNS Silverbacks, installed on a Taylor GS Mini-e Bass, was documented on a series of posts, starting from this one:
Taylor GS Mini-e Bass
mostly on the same thread.
CliffsNotes on the practicalities of fitting them: the .115" E string needed some filing of the pin at the bridge side, and some flattening of the string itself at the tuning post side for it to fit through the post slot (impossible to thread it into the post hole). I'll leave you to the reports themselves as to the tone/feel aspects.
 
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#1,233
HaphAsSard said:
@cavemanbass's experience with the La Bella/Gold Tone MBLNS Silverbacks, installed on a Taylor GS Mini-e Bass, was documented on a series of posts, starting from this one:
Taylor GS Mini-e Bass
mostly on the same thread.
CliffsNotes on the practicalities of fitting them: the .115" E string needed some filing of the pin at the bridge side, and some flattening of the string itself at the tuning post side for it to fit through the post slot (impossible to thread it into the post hole). I'll leave you to the reports themselves as to the tone/feel aspects.
Click to expand...

I also tried to put them on an Ibanez PNB15 Parlor, and I bailed when I saw I would need to drill the post.
 
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#1,235
SBassman said:
I like the feel of nice polished frets. I might have to buy some gorgomyte. Have never used that before.
Click to expand...
I love the stuff, every fretted instrument that comes through my doors gets the treatement, and then at least once a year . I love shiny smooth frets.

For me, flats are the ticket, I can't stand all of the finger noise on roundwound bass strings of any sort.
 
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#1,238
Gee Man said:
Its kinda like a micro polishing material, but it is impregnated with some sort of oil that conditions the fretboard, not sure I would want that on my strings.
Click to expand...

True. I think I am going to get some ultra fine grit papers or pads and hit the strings. I did that a couple of times in the past, and it yielded some fun results. Same for the frets. I haven't used that gorgomyte stuff, but I have frequently hit my frets with an ultra fine 3M pad, and I was always happy with the results.

#smooothfretsandstringsforthewin
 
#1,239
In this lock down I've had time to mess with recording a little. My gear isn't great - one key thing I'm missing is a decent microphone. But in any case, I recorded this track with my PNB played through a prototype distortion circuit I built and into my new (used) MXR D.I.+. I only used the EQ on the MXR, not the "color" switch or distortion. Drums are from my Alesis SR16 and lead guitar through a distortion pedal and a little chorus. I might re-record the guitar part. I have to use my phone to record guitar and I might try moving the mic position and maybe reducing the amp volume a little. Most of the work I've been doing lately is with my Yamaha BB434 but I just can't get the dynamics I get from the PNB, and I think the harmonics play well with the distortion. In this case it is not a very dynamic bass part, though the distortion is cranked down to a fairly low level. I get a few weird squirty sounds, which I think are not the clipping distortion but something in my circuit getting overdriven. The weird noises don't bother me though. This composition is directly derived from a Beethoven piece. The style has been changed significantly obviously. All very amateur stuff, but that's where I am now.

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
 
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