I've been guilty of this a time or two... It certainly can limit you to one or two string brands. Is it a builder issue or string maker issue?
Also, don't people give the taper a shot of fast CA and unwind anymore? That's what I've done in the past, when needed (the E, anyway).
Here's the list I use, now. Some sources list "winding length", others say "ball to taper/silk". Close enough?
Someday I might put it into excel (probably not) so I can sort by the various parameters, instead of scrolling for length, type, silk color, etc.
It would be nice to have a master list posted somewhere that can be updated as needed.
Lengths and colors - Sourced from all over:
Black Diamond Bass Strings:
Long Scale = 37.25” Winding length
Multi-colored silk or no silk.
Clear Tone Bass Strings:
Long Scale = 37.5" Ball to Taper
No silk.
Curt Mangan Bass Strings:
Extra Long Scale = 38.75” Wound length.
Long Scale = 36.75” Wound length.
Short Scale = 34.75” Wound length.
No silk.
D'Addario Bass Strings:
Short Scale = 32" Ball to Taper (or Silk)
Medium Scale = 34" Ball to Taper (or Silk)
Pro Steel Long Scale = 37.1" Ball to Taper (or Silk)
Super Long Scale = 38" Ball to Taper (or Silk)
Silk:
Dark Blue: Chromes, Flatwounds.
No silk: EXL, NYXL, and ProSteels, color-coded ball ends.
Dean Markley:
Long Scale = 37.25" Ball to Taper (or Silk)
Silk:
White /Silver: Blue Steels
Gold: SR2000
DR Bass Strings:
Lo Rider:
Long Scale = 37.75” Winding Length
High Beams:
Short Scale = 33” Ball to Taper (or Silk)
Long Scale = 37.75” Ball to Taper (or Silk)
Extra Long Scale - 40.5" Ball to Taper (or Silk)
Fat Beams, DDT:
"Old Long Scale" = 38” Ball to Taper
Silk:
Gold: Flats
Gold or no silk: Rounds
Dunlop Bass Strings:
Long Scale = 37.25" Ball to Taper
Silk:
Black.
Elixir Bass Strings:
Long Scale = 36.5" Ball to Taper
Extra Long Scale = 38" Ball to Taper
No silk.
Ernie Ball Bass Strings:
Long Scale = 37.25" Ball to Taper
Super Long Scale = 38.25" Ball to Taper
Silk:
Purple: Slinky Cobalt Flats.
Dark Blue: Stainless Steel Flats.
Everly Bass Strings:
Long Scale = 37.75" Ball to Taper
No silk.
Fender Bass Strings:
Short Scale = 32" Ball to Taper
Medium Scale = 34" Ball to Taper
Long Scale = 36.5" Ball to Taper
Silk:
Black: Roundwounds.
Green: Flatwounds.
No silk: Newer production roundwounds.
Fodera Bass Strings:
Long Scale = 37.5" Ball to Taper
Extra Long Scale = 39.25" Ball to Taper
Silk:
Dark Green.
GHS Bass Strings:
Short Scale = 32.75” Ball to Taper (or Silk)
Medium Scale = 35.5” Ball to Taper (or Silk)
(Old) Long Scale = 36.5" Ball to Taper (or Silk)
Universal Long Scale = 37.25" Ball to Taper (or Silk)
Long Scale Plus = 38" Ball to Taper (or Silk)
Super Steel = 38” Ball to taper (or Silk)
Silk:
Red: Boomers (Nickel-plated rounds).
Yellow: Short-scale Boomers (???)
Purple/Magenta: Precision Flats.
Blue: Brite Flat.
Ken Smith Bass Strings:
Short/Medium Scale = 34.5” Ball to Taper
Long Scale = 38" Ball to Silk
Extra Long Scale = 40" Ball to Silk
Some B strings "Medium Scale" option = 36.5" Ball to Silk
Silk:
Orange and Blue: Burners.
Purple:
La Bella Bass Strings:
Short Scale = 32" Ball to Silk
Medium Scale = 34" Ball to Silk
Long Scale = 37" Ball to Silk
Extra Long Scale = 38" Ball to Silk
Silk:
Purple: Olinto Signature flats.
Green, Red, or Black: Flats.
Harley Benton Bass Strings:
Long Scale Flats = 35.63” Ball to Silk
Long Scale Rounds = 36.85” Ball to Silk
Silk:
Red: Flat HQS
Light Blue: Light gauge 4-string Rounds
Orange: Medium Gauge 4-string Rounds
Red: 5 string Rounds
Hofner Beatle Bass Strings:
33.8” Ball to Silk
Silk:
Black or Green
Old: Lime green
MTD Bass Strings:
Long Scale = 37.25" Ball to Silk
Silk:
Yellow/Gold: SS Rounds
Silver/White: Nickel Rounds
Red/Black + Red ball wrap: Super Polished
Pyramid Bass Strings:
MultiScale: B = 39", E = 38.5”, A = 38”, D = 37”, G & C = no taper. Wound length.
Super Short Scale = 31.9” Wound length.
Short Scale = 34.35” (rounds), 33.27” (flats). Wound length.
Medium Scale = 36.22” (rounds), 34.65” (flats). Wound length.
Long Scale = 37.4” (rounds), 36.42” (flats). Wound length.
Super Long Scale = 39.37” (both). Wound length.
Silk:
Dark Green: Short Scale Flats
Red: Medium Scale Flats
Purple: Long Scale Flats
Black: Super Long Scale Flats
Rotosound Bass Strings:
Short Scale = 32" Ball to Silk
Medium Scale = 34" Ball to Silk
Long Scale = 37" Ball to Silk (or Taper)
Extra Long Scale = 39" Ball to Silk
Silk:
Red: Rotosound Swing Bass 66 and Jazz Bass 77.
Forest Green: Solo Bass 55.
Yellow / Gold: Tru Bass 88 Tapewound.
Light Blue: Short and medium-scale flatwound.
Multi-color: Nexus
Sadowsky Bass Strings:
Long Scale = 37" Ball to Silk
Extra Long Scale = 39" Ball to Silk
Silk:
Gray/Silver
SIT Bass Strings:
Long Scale = 37.25" Ball to Taper
Extra Long Scale = 38" Ball to Taper
Silk:
Now: Purple.
Previously: Black, then Light Blue.
Spector Bass Strings:
Long Scale = 38" Ball to Taper
Silk:
Dark gray.
Thomastik-Infeld Bass Strings:
Short Scale = 35.5" Ball to Silk
Long Scale = 37" Ball to Silk
Super Long Scale = 39.75" Ball to Silk
Silk:
Red, both ends.
Warwick Bass Strings:
Long Scale = 37.4”
Medium Scale = 35.4”
No Silk.
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