Lakland string substitute? Stringing a Lakland 55-01

[Abemas]

I'd like to order a medium gauge set for my 55-01 for a though body option, but I see Lakland is out of stock. Any recommendations for a substitute that will still fit the 35" scale neck?

 

[michael_t]

I'd like to order a medium gauge set for my 55-01 for a though body option, but I see Lakland is out of stock. Any recommendations for a substitute that will still fit the 35" scale neck?

Any specific type of strings are you after? Stainless Steel Roundwound? Nickel Rounds? What?

 

[Abemas]

Any specific type of strings are you after? Stainless Steel Roundwound? Nickel Rounds? What?

Probably nickel rounds. I'm picking it up again after a long hiatus so I'm open to suggestions.

 

[michael_t]

Probably nickel rounds. I'm picking it up again after a long hiatus so I'm open to suggestions.

For "thru-body" on a 35" scale you would need a winding length of at least 38" (ball end to taper/silk).

To the best of my knowledge, Lakland strings are made by GHS. So are Ken Smith strings. What's nice about Ken Smith is their standard "long scale" is 38" in winding length, which is longer than the "long scale" by most manufacturers.

For stainless steel roundwound, you can check out the Ken Smith Rock Masters.

The Master Series for 5 & 6 String Basses - Ken Smith Basses

For nickel-plated steel roundwound, check out the Ken Smith Bass Burner series.

Bass Burner NPS Series - Ken Smith Basses

Another option would be DR "long scale", which is 37.75" in winding length.

DR Lo-Riders come in both stainless steel and nickel-plated steel versions.

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

https://www.drstrings.com/bass-nickel-lo-rider

 

[JTE]

I have had my 55-01 since 2003 and my 55-02 since 2020. I've gone through a lot of strings.

A. D'Addario super long sets work. Must be the super long sets, so options are a bit limited. The Skylines come from the factory with D'Addario EXL170-5SL.

B. Every DR sets I've used fits. I keep coming back to DR Pure Blues

 

[mmbongo]

I always used DR's on mine. Sunbeams or Pure Blues.

 

[emdsd]

S.I.T. make extra long scale that will string thru body. I use the Powerwound Nickels on my 55-01.

 

[Bob_Ross]

For "thru-body" on a 35" scale you would need a winding length of at least 38" (ball end to taper/silk).
To the best of my knowledge, Lakland strings are made by GHS. So are Ken Smith strings. What's nice about Ken Smith is their standard "long scale" is 38" in winding length, which is longer than the "long scale" by most manufacturers.

fwiw I string up my Lakland 55-02D using Ken Smith Rockmaster strings, and I find their Extra-Long #AA-RMM-5X fits better than their standard long scale #AA-RMM-5 when stringing "thru-body".

Not sure how much longer the winding on the Extra-Long string is, but the silk ends up starting ~2.5" past the nut when strung "thru-body" on my 55-02D.

 

[michael_t]

fwiw I string up my Lakland 55-02D using Ken Smith Rockmaster strings, and I find their Extra-Long #AA-RMM-5X fits better than their standard long scale #AA-RMM-5 when stringing "thru-body".

Not sure how much longer the winding on the Extra-Long string is, but the silk ends up starting ~2.5" past the nut when strung "thru-body" on my 55-02D.

Ken Smith "long scale" = 38" ball end to taper/silk. (This is most other manufacturers' "extra long".)
Ken Smith "extra long scale" = 40" ball end to taper/silk.

If the "extra long" goes 2.5" past the nut, the "long scale" should still be long enough as it's only 2" shorter.

 

[Bob_Ross]

If the "extra long" goes 2.5" past the nut, the "long scale" should still be long enough as it's only 2" shorter.

That makes sense. I tried the regular long scale once, and they did fit, but the silk on the B string was dangerously close to the nut so I wanted to get a little more margin for error.

 

[michael_t]

That makes sense. I tried the regular long scale once, and they did fit, but the silk on the B string was dangerously close to the nut so I wanted to get a little more margin for error.

You're right about the B string being shorter. Some Ken Smith "long scale" B strings are only 37" in winding length, so it's better to be safe than sorry.