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Long scale strings on mustangs and violin basses??

C

chilliwilli

Aug 17, 2005
922
303
#1
Thinking about grabbing a mustang or hofner. Both require something a little longer than short scale strings since Mustang ha string thru body construction and Hofner is a 31'' with strings that need to get close that tail piece. I would love to use D'addario's XL balanced tension sets since it is what I've been using

Will it fit these basses?
 
#4
chilliwilli said:
Thinking about grabbing a mustang or hofner. Both require something a little longer than short scale strings since Mustang ha string thru body construction and Hofner is a 31'' with strings that need to get close that tail piece. I would love to use D'addario's XL balanced tension sets since it is what I've been using

Will it fit these basses?
Click to expand...

You need a medium scale set - unless you purchase Pyramid or Thomastik Infeld strings. Pyramid & TI short scale will fit a Mustang and Hofner Beatle.

I don't think D'Addario offers a balanced tension medium scale set.

I'm not sure I'd want to put a long scale set on either of these instruments as doing so may have a detrimental effect on the windings.
 
#6
Root 5 said:
You need a medium scale set - unless you purchase Pyramid or Thomastik Infeld strings. Pyramid & TI short scale will fit a Mustang and Hofner Beatle.

I don't think D'Addario offers a balanced tension medium scale set.

I'm not sure I'd want to put a long scale set on either of these instruments as doing so may have a detrimental effect on the windings.
Click to expand...

I know they don't offer a balanced tension medium scale set. That is why I'm asking if long scales will work
 
#7
I just purchased a Mustang and am interested in what is recommended. The guy at the music store told me for the Mustang standard strings work fine. (it is a very reputable independent music store, not a guitar center, so I believe him.) He said you may loose the taper, but it will work fine. I will post a picture of the headstock when I get home.

Here is a PDF of a manual I found on line and it recommends 30" short scale number 900 flatwounds. So even with the through the body bridge short scale strings should work?

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

I am new to the short scale world, so this is info from a total newbie. Take it for what it is. Photo of headstock coming soon.
 
#8
As far as the hofner, I think part of what limits string choices is that the ball ends need to be small to fit into the tail piece and the ends can't be too thick in order to fit in the tuner holes.

Also, I think if you use a long scale balanced set, the tension will be off since it's not stretched along a long scale bass.
 
#9
Here are the pictures of the head stock of a new Pawn Shop Mustang. It looks like long scale strings will fit if you cut off the taper. What that does to the string and how it tunes or how that affects a balanced set I have no clue.

IMG_1618.jpg

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IMG_1622.jpg

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IMG_1619.jpg
 
#10
32" scale strings for both, if you want to do it right. You may be able to fudge it with longs, but I'd exhaust all possibilities of locating medium scale strings before taking that approach.

Short scale Pyramid flats would do fine.
 
#13
mjac28 said:
The Hofner does not require long strings where did you read that? and the answer to your question no for the Hofner.
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The answer is YES to strings longer than short scale. Any bass with the floating bridge needs longer strings than the standard scale length. As the OP said, he needs the extra length to reach the tailpiece.

BUT - the correct answer is not "Long Scale" strings, which means either 34" or longer scale. Strings that long may result in winding the playing area of the string onto the tuner, and it's not designed to be bent into that tight a curl. The string may break. It has happened to me.

Alternatively, the string may not break - one never knows. In a pinch I have indeed used 34" scale strings on a short scale bass. If they don't break, they can work OK.

The best answer: medium scale, sir, medium scale. :cool:
 
#17
chilliwilli said:
Ok thanks ppl

Next question what round wound strings come on hofner violins and clubs? They are coarse as anything but sounded alright to me. I want to avoid flats and prefer a brighter sound.
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The German-made ones come with Pyramid flats from the factory, but the Asian-made Hofners wear a cheap feeling roundwound that I'm not familiar with except to say they are very rough as you said, and feel identical to the stock strings that ship with SX basses from Rondo Music. I'll guess they might be Chinese in origin.

Darco used to make a set of short scale rounds that were pretty good, but I haven't seen those in a while. Pyramid nickel rounds in light gauge might be your best bet to get the sound you're after.
 
#18
Hmm thanks ill probably start a new thread for this. I searched and people seem to rave about TI jazz rounds, but I'm looking for a more contemporary hollowbody sound.

Just to clarify though a violin and a club bass would both need same strings? They are identical other than body shape it looks like, so a Beatle bass set would work on both?
 
#19
chilliwilli said:
Hmm thanks ill probably start a new thread for this. I searched and people seem to rave about TI jazz rounds, but I'm looking for a more contemporary hollowbody sound.

Just to clarify though a violin and a club bass would both need same strings? They are identical other than body shape it looks like, so a Beatle bass set would work on both?
Click to expand...

Yup. Labella also makes black and white tapewounds for it too.
 

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