Guitar Scale Acoustic Basses

[steve_rolfeca]

If memory serves, one of the Uke bass companies offered an intonation fix that was reversible- They widened the slot in the bridge, and the new saddle was asymmetrical. That way, you could flip it around to get the right intonation for either string type.

Was that Goldtone?

 

[SBassman]

If memory serves, one of the Uke bass companies offered an intonation fix that was reversible- They widened the slot in the bridge, and the new saddle was asymmetrical. That way, you could flip it around to get the right intonation for either string type.

Was that Goldtone?

I believe it was.

 

[tymbrewolf]

Yes that is the one i mentioned.

 

[skycruiser]

Relevant thread:
Mono Neon on a Mini Taylor Bass mad funk !!

 

[tymbrewolf]

 

[SBassman]

View attachment 3836648

What are we looking at?

 

[steve_rolfeca]

What are we looking at?

A Goldtone bridge modified with an insert at the factory.

Allows the user to quickly and easily switch between different types of strings, without compromising the intonation.

If you'd like the same service performed on a non-Goldtone instrument, look me up. I own a couple of chisels, and I'll try pretty much anything if I've got enough Red Bull in me...

 

[skycruiser]

Full set, Taylor GS Mini in action:



Just noticed he's playing a RH model left handed.

 

[steve_rolfeca]

I remember when Mono Neon was a slap-happy NAMM presenter. I love what he's been doing lately with people like Corey Henry.

The Taylor sits beautifully into that mix, as does the acoustic guitar. I love, love when the flute comes in with a solo for the first time.

I kind of wish the keyboard player had ditched the electronic instruments for acoustic, as well. The horn section sounds so different against the acoustic-flavoured string instruments in this arrangement...

 

[SBassman]

I remember when Mono Neon was a slap-happy NAMM presenter. I love what he's been doing lately with people like Corey Henry.

The Taylor sits beautifully into that mix, as does the acoustic guitar. I love, love when the flute comes in with a solo for the first time.

I kind of wish the keyboard player had ditched the electronic instruments for acoustic, as well. The horn section sounds so different against the acoustic-flavoured string instruments in this arrangement...

I had similar thoughts. Would love to hear that band with just the core of them. I'm not really a lover of tech/electronic tones, and I have to confess I'm sometimes not a lover of wind instruments. Would love to hear them with that bass player in a stripped down config.

 

[tymbrewolf]

Yes pic from Wayne, the pres of gt, on how they modify

A Goldtone bridge modified with an insert at the factory.

Allows the user to quickly and easily switch between different types of strings, without compromising the intonation.

If you'd like the same service performed on a non-Goldtone instrument, look me up. I own a couple of chisels, and I'll try pretty much anything if I've got enough Red Bull in me...

..

 

[tymbrewolf]

And i will mail you mine to test if you want to with the caveat you break it you buy it.

 

[steve_rolfeca]

And i will mail you mine to test if you want to with the caveat you break it you buy it.

I'm sorry, mate, but that's not the way my new COVID entertainment special works.

Here's the deal:

• You send me your expensive stuff, along with enough money for return shipping (plus $50 for snacks and beverages).
• I fart around with it until something breaks, and then I ship the wreckage back.

I do have a special for people who can't afford the full package. You send me your gear, no return shipping required. After it breaks, I bin the leftovers and open a new Talkbass account under a different name...

 

[SBassman]

Folks - there is another string alternative. I imagine it has the potential to be a really good one.

Someone posted in another thread about using strings from a bajo sexto. I have always been looking at string gauges of other instruments hoping for a match to our GSABs and Sub Shorts, but somehow bajo sextos escaped me.

A bajo sexto is - 25.5" scale. And, sets out there come in both Phosphor Bronze as well as Steel.
All possibly - without cutting - actual use of the tapered silk portion of the string for the tuner.

I believe I will be climbing back down the rabbit hole ...

 

[HaphAsSard]

All possibly - without cutting - actual use of the tapered silk portion of the string for the tuner.

Looking at this closeup of a headstock
https://fraulini.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Bajo-tuners.jpg
taken from this webpage
Building a Bajo Sexto – Fraulini Guitars
the low E and A do taper. Should those from one specific set not, at guitar scale and at those gauges* they'll probably have good chances to not break at the post anyway, like the Ernie Ball Earthwood .095 low E that you (and that new basslet, the Orangewood Oliver Jr. bass, that has them stock) use.

* [The E appears to be usually a .092; the A ranges between .074 and .081, with .078 being a popular gauge across sets.]

EDIT - These appear to taper as well:
https://i5.walmartimages.com/asr/1e...205e4_1.f112892e36a36202ed17ebff9422baf8.jpeg
unlike these (possibly - the resolution is not great):
https://www.butlermusic.com/image/cache/1000x1000/catalog/products/391955956850-3-1000x1000.jpg

 

[SBassman]

Looking at this closeup of a headstock
the low E and A do taper.
* [The E appears to be usually a .092; the A ranges between .074 and .081, with .078 being a popular gauge across sets.]

As I looked at the various sets out in the wild, I found phosphor bronze, steel, and nickel. Mostly, with tie/loose ends, but direct on the Black Diamond website, I found ball ends. I have a set of nickel ball ends on the way to me. Will report both here and in the sub short thread sometime in the future.

 

[SBassman]

Here is an update from Mimmo at Aquila on his next generation of synthetic strings for basses:

Hi Mimmo - are these the strings we have been discussing? Our friends in the forum asked for an update. For a guitar scale acoustic bass, say, 25" scale, can you tell us what the gauges will be?

• yes exactly. this week I keep the decision to adjust all the extrusion parameters in order to have the final product. Now I have the first very good prototypes and I admit that I am very happy. I am just working on the 3rd strings that is the A note because there are still a few of troubles. The interesting things are many: these strings are NOT sticky they slip on the nut; they are a lot loud, their gauges are thinner than before. For example while the E thundergut is of 5,0 mm gauge here the gauge is of 3,80 mm only not in tesnion but when installed on the instrument it drop to 3,2 mm only.

3.2mm is .126".

 

[tymbrewolf]

So get him to send out a few to test. My gt mbass is stringless and waiting at 23".

 

[SBassman]

As I looked at the various sets out in the wild, I found phosphor bronze, steel, and nickel. Mostly, with tie/loose ends, but direct on the Black Diamond website, I found ball ends. I have a set of nickel ball ends on the way to me. Will report both here and in the sub short thread sometime in the future.

Just got confirmation that my Black Diamond Bajo Sexto strings did indeed ship. Tracking says I could have them today.
I also over the weekend got confirmation that I will receive a new Aquila prototype set to explore.

Lots of interesting stuff ahead. Stay tuned. Will post the Aquila info here only, and will post the Black Diamond info to both here and the Sub Short thread.

Rock and roll.

 

[SBassman]

Just got confirmation that my Black Diamond Bajo Sexto strings did indeed ship. Tracking says I could have them today.
I also over the weekend got confirmation that I will receive a new Aquila prototype set to explore.

Lots of interesting stuff ahead. Stay tuned. Will post the Aquila info here only, and will post the Black Diamond info to both here and the Sub Short thread.

Rock and roll.

Well, we had a snag with the Black Diamonds.

When they wrote back, they told me the taper starts at 28. Whole point of this was to find strings where we could Use the taper, not have to cut into the string. I did explain everything again, and I offered to collaborate if they wanted to size some of their strings properly to our basses. I will keep you posted.