This strategy might work for our OP here for the upper strings - find guitar strings with enough winding length, and use bass ball ends to hold them in the bridge. The lower 4 strings can be a short scale bass set.
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Looking for a specific guage set for my 30" 6 string bass
- Thread starter jzucker
- Start date
This strategy might work for our OP here for the upper strings - find guitar strings with enough winding length, and use bass ball ends to hold them in the bridge. The lower 4 strings can be a short scale bass set.
yes, i've done that a bunch of times. On a 6 string bass tuned E-E or E-F, often the top 2 strings have lower output than the rest so I've used GHS progressive "Alloy 52" guitar strings which have more magnetic properties than steel and are louder.
Looks like d'addario strings through juststrings are the best / cheapest bet. I like daddario strings so it's a win/win. Juststrings doesn't carry the .030 for some reason so I ordered my regular set but with the .028 on top. Then I added the GHS Progressive Alloy 52 in .028, .038, .048. Not sure how they'll sound on this bass. They are a bit zingy sounding compared to nickel plated steel.
I guess I missed that. What country are you in? I only ask because in Las Vegas Newtone took less time than kalium takes to get to me, and it was a comparable price point.
I liked the SR2000 strings when I was playing 7's. That set may be worth a look, the top six gauges are .022, .027, .047, .067, .087, .107 although I'm wondering if that .022 is wound, it's been a number of years since I've bought them new. I could never get an unwound high F to sound good.
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There will be no duties on strings. You're looking for one-off strings that are very specific. "Cheap" isn't going to be part of the equation.
i've used those before as well as the D'Addario 6 string set where I've used only the top 5 strings and put a .022 or .024 on top. I've found that the top 2 strings of both sets were too light and were plinky.
The daddario gives you .032 and with my added string .022 or .024. So it's slightly heavier than the SR2000 set. But the top 2 strings are prone to pinging. Here's a clip I did with the daddario set and a .022 progressive on top. You can hear the ping on the top strings and I have to deliberately play lighter on them which makes the balance weird...
Compare the fullness of the top 2 strings on this bass which uses .050, .040, .030
Even though I like the tone of the 33" JCR better, the 30" mensinger does not ping due to the heavier strings.
i'm positive they'll be able to help you, but in my experience, their communication is painfully slow. when i was dealing with them a few years back, i got the impression they were a one-man operation.
The plinky sound is caused by the long scale length. It's one of the reasons guitar players love Les Paul guitars; their shorter scale sounds "sweeter" on the high strings. By shortening the scale length, you tend to get a rounder tone. Try the lighter string, I think you'll be surprised.
You should have said in your original post that you were only interested in USA strings. Too bad, there are some excellent strings made in the UK, Germany and Italy, for example.
They are uk based but I've gotten custom strings faster and at the same cost including shipping as others like kalium or stringjoy, plus better selection.
It kinda doesn't make sense to not use them tbh. Their service and delivery time is great.
