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Guitar Scale Acoustic Basses
- Thread starter SBassman
- Start date
Has anyone experimented with these strings on their mini/short scale acoustic basses? In particular the 42-54-74-90 strings.
i can't find those on the ernie ball website, but the package doesn't say they're short scale - if they're not, this would apply: Designed for basses with a 34 inch scale, the overall string length is 48" and the taper begins at 37 1/4"
if they're short scales, here's what ernie balls says about their short scale strings
Designed to fit 30.5" scale basses, the string length is 48" with a taper at 32.5".
my 24.75 inch scale bass is 26 inches from nut to ball end, 27 inches from tuner to saddle, so i can't see how those would work, so the taper would be several inches too long.
Yeah you're right. FWIW
From Sweetwater:
Note: These strings are 29-5/8" scale length and manufactured with small ball ends (like guitar strings) — not the large ball ends used on traditional electric bass stings"
i'd have rather been wrong.
hopefully black diamond will come through, but in the meantime, i'll keep you guys up to date with my custom order from newtone.
I have used those to test new solid body guitar to bass conversions as they are cheap. Alittle too small but. Nice cheap strings ad test bed fodder
tuesday i heard from newtone - they say my strings are on the way. with all the madness, i have no idea when to expect them, but i'll let you all know when the arrive.
my newtone strings arrived today from the UK. they're in quarantine, will try 'em out on sunday. stay tuned...
here's my first report on the newtones
my report - newtone strings for a 24.75" bass
short version: they fit!
my report - newtone strings for a 24.75" bass
short version: they fit!
I've just found web-mention of an older model (from >10 years ago) of steel-core stringed, guitar-scale acoustic bass, the Tanglewood Sundance TW15 Baby Bass C B:
Tanglewood TW15 Baby Bass modification – Gotoh small bass tuners + La Bella Deep Talkin’ Bass strings light
Similar, but not the same as, the (similarly not current, AFAIK) BeaverCreek Bass Travel Size.
Modern alternatives are the Michael Kelly Sojourn Port (older versions of which, without the port part, also existed a decade or so ago) and the Orangewood Oliver Jr.
A bit longer scaled (27"), the discontinued Alvarez MSB1 and the Journey OB660.
[Purpose of the post, beside mentioning the TW15, is to have all these models listed in the same post in case a relevant query comes up. I'm a big believer in the database function of this forum.]
Tanglewood TW15 Baby Bass modification – Gotoh small bass tuners + La Bella Deep Talkin’ Bass strings light
Similar, but not the same as, the (similarly not current, AFAIK) BeaverCreek Bass Travel Size.
Modern alternatives are the Michael Kelly Sojourn Port (older versions of which, without the port part, also existed a decade or so ago) and the Orangewood Oliver Jr.
A bit longer scaled (27"), the discontinued Alvarez MSB1 and the Journey OB660.
[Purpose of the post, beside mentioning the TW15, is to have all these models listed in the same post in case a relevant query comes up. I'm a big believer in the database function of this forum.]
After reading most of the posts on this thread, I thought, nah, I want shorter, under 24" scale, but a bit ago I took out my Gold Tone GT 23" MicroBass and found that again I have to trim off the Pahoehoe strings after it sat for a few months, plus the notorious out of balance pickup needed my cut apart remedy, so I put it aside to maybe work on it in the near future. Then I came across a post about the 24.75" guitar scale Michael Kelly Sojourn Port Acoustic-Electric Travel Bass that really caught my eye, I had to have it because I figured I can use my preferred 25" Gold Tone/La Bella flatwounds, which I can't do with the GT MicroBass. I checked online, but the Sojourn was pre-order only with a 6 week arrival time, so I called Sam Ash and they said my local store has one in stock. I flew over there and bought it, with a $20 discount from $399, $379.
It's a bit longer than my others, 36" rather than 34" and does not fit in my regular gig bag, but it came with it's own very nice gig bag, so that will became my go to one. As soon as I got it home I turned the preamp so it faces me when I'm playing, and changed the strings to the 25" Gold Tone/La Bella flatwounds, but they do need a slight extension at the ball end so the silks will wrap the spools properly. I also added a neck heel strap button that matches the tail strap button. Now I just have to sell my Gold Tone 23" MicroBass that has black Pahoehoe strings and a better Joyo preamp.
It's a bit longer than my others, 36" rather than 34" and does not fit in my regular gig bag, but it came with it's own very nice gig bag, so that will became my go to one. As soon as I got it home I turned the preamp so it faces me when I'm playing, and changed the strings to the 25" Gold Tone/La Bella flatwounds, but they do need a slight extension at the ball end so the silks will wrap the spools properly. I also added a neck heel strap button that matches the tail strap button. Now I just have to sell my Gold Tone 23" MicroBass that has black Pahoehoe strings and a better Joyo preamp.
Hey...if your in the Cincinnati area, the two local big box music stores have a total of like 10 of the guitar scale basses on the floor? 2 23" and a 25" Gold Tone, 2 Sojourn Ports and 1 Old model Sojourn, 2 Guild Jumbo Juniors (one at discount), 1 house brand and 1 Taylor.
I think that is what I saw.
There were also a couple of the Kala U-basses.
I think that is what I saw.
There were also a couple of the Kala U-basses.
Stupid COVID restrictions!
I'm still bouncing back and forth between the AVNB1E and my Guild. They're both loaded with CB40's, both sound great but different, and I can't make up my mind which one to keep.
I'm a couple of hours northeast of Detroit, I'm owed some time off, and it would probably clear my head to play a bunch of GSAB's back to back.
Unfortunately, the US/Canada border is still closed to casual traffic...
IF you can make it across, Cincinnati is only about 4 hours south and both stores are in the Northern suburbs.
I've been in and out of this thread a few times, dithering about getting a GSAB--but with the current sale on Orangewood's [Invalid or Expired Link Removed], I took the plunge. (The 30-day $15 return policy is nice, too.)
A mini acoustic seems like just the thing for the stay-at-home era. (They say the couch is the new stage.) I'll be back with a review after it arrives in a week or so.
A mini acoustic seems like just the thing for the stay-at-home era. (They say the couch is the new stage.) I'll be back with a review after it arrives in a week or so.
