Is this a problem?

[Selim]

I just installed a set of nickel strings from someone that recently pushed out their own brand of strings, and the silk wraps are very long. The wrap on the G D and A strings almost reach the nut slots. OK, I haven't seen that before, but close, no cigar. However, the wrap on the E is sitting in the nut slot. These are regular 34" scale length strings installed on a 34" scale length bass.

Has anybody encountered this before? Is it bad? Any suggestions as to what to do, if anything? I have only encountered this in the world of acoustic bass strings, never with bass guitar. Thanks.

 

[mmbongo]

Yes, definitely not good. The strings are simply not wound long enough.

What kind of bass? String through body or top load?

 

[Selim]

Thanks, mmbongo. Top load. A Fernandes jazz bass. I also bought a 5 string set of the same strings. I haven't installed that set yet, but I pulled out the E string and held it up to the Fernandes. It is also wound that way. This is a new model string.

 

[carsbybigd]

Perhaps the strings are in the wrong package/mislabeled ,take them back and check before you buy. maybe that maker of string uses some"funny math" to calculate their scale length.

 

[Linnin]

What brand is that so people know not to buy them.

 

[Selim]

I sympathize about alerting fellow bass players about a potentially bad run of strings, but this is a quality company that I have a lot of respect for, so I'd rather not say anything until I hear back from the online buyer. It might just be a case of needing to work out the bugs with the production process on a new rollout of strings, and I don't want them to get a bad rep right off the bat.

 

[Pilgrim]

How about just stripping the silks off the area that's touching the nut?

 

[Slevage]

Yes, definitely not good. The strings are simply not wound long enough.

If the wrap is in the nut slot, they are wound too long. It is more likely that the string was incorrectly packaged (short scale string in a long scale package).

 

[Selim]

How about just stripping the silks off the area that's touching the nut?

I did that. At first I hesitated, because I said to myself that I shouldn't have to be doing this. But I went ahead and shaved off the silk on the E string. Now the tone is better, but I think that in doing that, I messed up the string, because the open E buzzes now. I had just had the bass set up beautifully.

 

[Selim]

Also, they don't make a short scale version of these strings.

 

[Jay2U]

A few years ago I had strings with silk at the bridge saddles. I simply burned the silk off.

 

[Jon Moody]

I sympathize about alerting fellow bass players about a potentially bad run of strings, but this is a quality company that I have a lot of respect for, so I'd rather not say anything until I hear back from the online buyer. It might just be a case of needing to work out the bugs with the production process on a new rollout of strings, and I don't want them to get a bad rep right off the bat.

With this in mind, I hope you contact said manufacturer and send some pictures in an effort to bring this to their attention. I'm sure they'd appreciate it.

 

[SLaPiNFuNK]

If the full wind of the string is sitting in the slots then technically the strings are fitting. If the full wind is not in the nut slot then they are definitely too short for your instrument.

You must check that the winding length of the string is appropriate for your specific instrument. Going by "Long Scale" instrument and "Long Scale" strings does not guarantee a proper fit.

An article on the subject:

Invalid Link Removed