Guitar Scale Acoustic Basses

[SBassman]

You guys have been busy lately!

I was on Lark in the Morning's Website, trying to find a good source for a Contrabass Balalaika (don't ask!), when I found a new string source, at a crazy good price:

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Silver-plated, nylon core, and coated, so no problem with the dreaded La Bella Blackfinger Syndrome.

They're meant for classical guitar, so you get an extra pair of skinny strings thrown in- you can use them to fish for squirrels, or to hold up your pants...

This looks like a great find. I wish the E were a little thicker, but, I am likely to try them.

 

[SBassman]

You guys have been busy lately!

I was on Lark in the Morning's Website, trying to find a good source for a Contrabass Balalaika (don't ask!), when I found a new string source, at a crazy good price:

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Silver-plated, nylon core, and coated, so no problem with the dreaded La Bella Blackfinger Syndrome.

They're meant for classical guitar, so you get an extra pair of skinny strings thrown in- you can use them to fish for squirrels, or to hold up your pants...

Can't tell if they are ball end. Any idea?

 

[staurosjohn]

What kind of bridge is that? I don't see pins, but I also don't see ball ends at the edge.

It’s a flat plate with a bit of wooden ‘overhang’ which hides the ball ends nicely.

 

[steve_rolfeca]

This looks like a great find. I wish the E were a little thicker, but, I am likely to try them.

No clue.

But if you ever bought a set of CB40's, you could always tie the little dice that came with them onto the ends...

 

[SBassman]

No clue.

But if you ever bought a set of CB40's, you could always tie the little dice that came with them onto the ends...

That would be a great idea - if not for the Black Hole that is in my household. I have bought several CB40 sets over the years, and all those dice - escaped to the black hole.

 

[SBassman]

Those Alice strings are - tie, not ball end, per Thorn at Lark In The Morning.

 

[tymbrewolf]

 

[SBassman]

1. I wish those strings were available in the U.S.

2. I wish there were affordable production guitarrons available in the U.S. I'd be all over one. Or two.

Some guitarrons are 650mm scale - which is the GSAB zone - 25.6".

 

[tymbrewolf]

Free shipping

 

[tymbrewolf]

No. Not USA

 

[SBassman]

No. Not USA

Exactly.

A year ago - I may have been inclined to send my money. Not anymore. Outside of the bad blood that is brewing as a result of the crisis, even previous to that there was a big wave of scamming by overseas companies advertising in the U.S. - and never delivering products. Like the ad on Facebook telling people they could have a small electric car for 299. That basically was a license for the bad guys to take your money - and maybe even initiate some other identity theft.

For me, for mail orders, its U.S. or nada. No Aliexpress specials for me.

 

[tymbrewolf]

Hear anything on the new aquila strings?

 

[SBassman]

Hear anything on the new aquila strings?

Not yet.

 

[bsman]

I'm subscribed to this thread, because if my prior bass experience is correct, I may be in need of a new set of strings for my Ibanez in ten years or so...

 

[HaphAsSard]

1. I wish those strings were available in the U.S.

2. I wish there were affordable production guitarrons available in the U.S. I'd be all over one. Or two.

Some guitarrons are 650mm scale - which is the GSAB zone - 25.6".

Free shippingView attachment 3828612

No. Not USA

Guys, just ask Lark in the Morning when the next batch is due. They list these as well, but they're out of stock at the moment:
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Now, finding them in Europe is another matter.
It is an interesting set: very affordable and also so far the only one I've seen that's intended for linear E-to-E, Niibori guitarron tuning.
Guitarron string sets found in the West (such as this by La Bella, or the D'Addario one) are for mariachi, reentrant A-A tuning.
The (retuned) Mexican guitarron and the identically-tuned contrabass guitar are the two lowest members of the guitar orchestra, introduced in Japan by Hiroki Niiboori in the late Fifties and fairly popular in the Far East.


...And I'm also interested in those new Aquila Thunderreds.

Gauges?

The low E in the prototype set, according to the video description, is a .138".

 

[tymbrewolf]

So thinner than pohoehoe strings for 22 to 24 inch

 

[HaphAsSard]

Quite so.

 

[MakoMan]

So- I recently picked up one of the 30”- from GC... had to do some resoldering of electronics & added a strap pin & ‘no-drill’ thumb rest... strung ‘er up with Labella low-tension flats... sounding good! (I realize it’s not a sub-short scale... just making mention)
View attachment 3826476 View attachment 3826474

Very nice!

 

[Tim Skaggs]

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

Anyone know why the GT MicroBass Flatwound bass strings can’t be used with the M-bass?

Here’s the statement from the link to the Gold Tone MB Flatwound Strings.

NOTE: Can be used on ME-Bass or fretless M-Bass (cannot be used on fretted M-Bass).

 

[tymbrewolf]

They are too stiff which throws intonation off. You can send the bass back to gold tone to retrofit the bass. Last i heard it was about 190 including strings and shipping. You pay shipping to them.