Length of your 'B' String

[mattpnolan]

I play a 39" scale 6 string Knuckle w/ a low F#. The strings are 42" which is about the length of a 3/4 URB string. Any chance the Ken Smith tooling is long enough to make a string of that length?

Wow, 39"! I want that sooooo bad. Unfortunately, I have to really stretch my grad student budget just to find a decent 35-36"

 

[KSB - Ken Smith]

bassman314, sounds like you have a tight tollerance for your 'B' length.. Strings can vary +/- 1/4" in the making.

Baron, 39" Scale length.. Wow, sounds like you have your work cut out for you. Playing horizontal with EB I prefer just 34". That feels about the same as 41-42" upright with a Double Bass for me... Sry, but we do not have any plans in the near future to make strings of that length.. Thx anyway for asking....

Juneau, if you split the difference between the Nut and the post you will get 40".. If the string is too short, it wont work. Too long is less of a problem unless they break on the Post..

zero7, sounds like you have the situation under control..... Thx for the plug..lol

Great work guys, thx and keep 'em coming..

 

[KSB - Ken Smith]

Sandman, I see you voted "Other"... Can you give an explanation of what length your bass required..

BTW, I found out from the MOD Brendan that in order to Vote for more that one String size, you must do it ALL at the same time. Once you Vote and Post, you cannot go back and Vote again. So just make all the measurments first and then Vote.. If you need to tell us more, just do it by posting in the Thread right here.

BTW, Do any 4-stringers out here have problems with your 'E' string length? If so, I can start another Thread/Poll and get it 'Stickied" hopefully..!!??

 

[flea-bass]

Does the string length affect the "tightness" or the overall sound of the B string?

 

[Juneau]

Absolutely (assuming you meant scale length, not string length). Is it necessary for a great B-string? Absolutely not.

 

[KSB - Ken Smith]

This has been discussed and debated many many times.. Here's my scoop on it... The Design of your Bass, Vibration ability of the wood, length and angles at both the headstock and bridge from the Nut/Bridges saddles to where it is anchored at the Post or end of bridge/tailpiece ALL matter in the sound and feel/tightness of the strings!! Period !!

Now, a Double Bass is MUCH more acoustic than a sloid body Electric Bass BUT it does matter.. In my earlier days when I would mod a Fender with a Badass Bridge, I pulled the bridge back further for more room/less angle break between the string saddle and the end of the bridge.. Everytime...It sounded deeper and the tension was 'different'.... There is always a ratio between the strings and the wood vibrating. If the wood is too stiff, the strings may feel flabby. If the wood/neck it softer or too soft/less stiff the strings will vibrate the wood more and create more tension overall..

I have several Double Basses with string lengths from 41" to 42.5" currently in my posession. The longer Bass is actually looser and the shoter Bass is actually the tighest. I recently let up the Tail wire UP on 2 of my Basses about 1" lessoning the lenght behind the Bridge but increasing the angle per inch and the tension loosened up.

String length/scale length alone does not determine the tension alone.....

 

[Juneau]

Great explanation ken. BTW, I voted for 39" I think, but it seems like 40 or 40+ might be what I should have voted with the numbers I gave. If so, feel free to correct my vote so you have an accurate view.

 

[59jazz]

I recently e-mailed D'Addario about the Super Long Chromes I ordered. The reply was "DA does not offer a 40" D string...........So, when these go dead, I'll resume my search for a set of 38" flats, with a 40" D.

H2

 

[heath_the_great]

weeelll..considering use a KSD v70j 5er as my main (dont worry, i plan to get the 60 and 70 in a 4 )

so i selected 36"

i wanted to try dean markley fretmasters, flatwound over the neck, roundwound over the pickups..but they dont make em in 5's......

i like taperwound strings, and id love something like extended life, taperwound bright flats...if they exist ....

 

[Razman]

From the ball to just past the nut is 39", 41" to the tuning post. So I guess I need a string thats at least 39 inches to the silk, and 42" overall to wrap around the post about twice.

That sound right?

I concur with your measurements. I have a Dingwall Voodoo Z1, and from the very end of the ball to the center of the tuning post is 41". From the same to the zero fret is 38.5"; from end of ball to where the string goes past my nut and tapers is 39.25". From end of ball to saddle is 1 3/8ths; strings are tapered past that point, so from ball end to initial taper is 2.25".

Dingwall strings are currently on my bass. I'm going to try a set of DR's next (and I have another OEM set too) and see how they work for me. The B is pretty long; I think the taper doesn't start until just before 41", right where it meets the tuner. I'll probably put them on next month. They are not tapered near the ball.

I hope this helps. It seems from the pole that a 39" length is most popular so far. Any idea as to when a set like this would be available?

Thanks,

Eric

 

[KSB - Ken Smith]

Razman, from your measurements it sounds like 40" winding length is best for your Bass to keep the main winding off the post. This will also make it easier to tune.

 

[slybass3000]

I have a custom left-handed 5 strings , 35" scale with your pick-ups and bridge on it. A 38 or 39 inches to the silk would be perfect.
No taper please!!
SB

 

[clanner]

34 inches, so according to you it should be between 35.5"-36.5". I play an ibanez sr 405.

 

[KSB - Ken Smith]

It is really according to your Bass. Measure the Ball to the nut and to the 'B' post. The distance between the two would be best.

 

[twangchief]

I may be just blowing smoke here but.....

on most longer scale basses isn't the A thru G the longest strings or are string set lengths determined based on the lowest string?

 

[KSB - Ken Smith]

The strings within a given set are usually the same length. After measuring enough string for 3-4 wraps around the tuner, the excess is usually cut off. This is another reason why Silk wrapping after the windings are usefull so the string cant unravel. B-strings though can break if overwound so it is not uncommon for one to have a shorter wound B so 'just enough' string passes the nut and stops b4 the tuner.

 

[SummerSoft]

So, is it possible to change the sound of my 35" scale bass to sound more like an upright by changing the length of my strings?
Thanks

 

[chance planet]

I have a Carvin XB75 five string fretless - requires a 38" winding length. Question: When string manufacturers specify "long" and "extra long", are there generally standard measurements that correspond to these descriptions? I recently ordered a "long scale" five string set and they came up short. Thinking that maybe extra long will work but I wish they included actual length in the description so I'd know for sure. I haven't found any manufacturers that do this.

 

[KSB - Ken Smith]

I have a Carvin XB75 five string fretless - requires a 38" winding length. Question: When string manufacturers specify "long" and "extra long", are there generally standard measurements that correspond to these descriptions? I recently ordered a "long scale" five string set and they came up short. Thinking that maybe extra long will work but I wish they included actual length in the description so I'd know for sure. I haven't found any manufacturers that do this.

Manufactures are not Musicians. I made my living as a Professional Bassist in NYC for 20 years. I kno first hand what it's like to have or not have something you need.

We list the winding length in our lit. and website. There is no such thing as far as long scale, extra long, etc. All Basses are diferent and have different needs. That's why I started this Threat/Survey in the first place. Winding Length IS the only way to measure your needs. If you are buying a slotted Fingerboard, that's different!!

 

[SGT. Pepper]

Thats a personal question.