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medium scale extra light strings?

#22
Crispus said:
EB regular Slinkies come in medium scale, although you might not like the gauge. I think they feel and sound pretty good, break in fast, and are cheap ($20 on Amazon).

GHS Boomers also in medium scale, 45-100, but I haven’t tried them yet.
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gotta be extra light.

michael_t said:
@pcake ...

If you're willing to spend the money, TI Jazz Rounds are very flexible and low tension...and very smooth in texture. The "short scale" (JR324) is actually 35.5" in winding length, which is at the long end of "medium scale" by most other manufacturers' specs.
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TI jazz rounds are on very much on my radar, but for the traveler ultralight, which is the bass these strings are for, they seem like they'd be overkill.

20240301_175653 (1).jpg
 
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#23
I noticed the newest version of the FretNation site was missing some features I used all the time. I was constantly looking for the lightest stock string sets.

My quest for light and low tension has been going on for years, and Jason at FretNation has been a huge help. Singles, mixed sets, and plenty of sound advice.

Like your search for short scale strings, my search is limited because I need Dingwall lengths, upwards of 37” windings. Jason has been awesome.

I’ve gone as far as using the A-C strings tuned E-G, with very mixed results.

I’ve been eyeing the Ibanez EHB with the idea that I could use all my old sets of any length in my experiments. 4Mal has a couple short scale EHB’s and reports that if he trims the string off at the clamp end, after tuning, that you can’t reinstall the string. ( it will be too short).

The extra light sets I mentioned all fit on my Super P, 34-32”.

I’ve installed lots of “too long” sets on basses, often losing all of the silk ends and well into the outer windings, and never lost a string. Not ideal, but it worked.
 
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#26
Killing Floor said:
Flame suit on. But you can get regular scale and cut them shorter.

Some misinformed folks will say you have to get the silks right or the winding precise. My 4 year old long scale TI flats on my 30.7” scale said hold my beer
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This is fine for a flexible string. But there are situations where taking into account the winding length vis a vis the lowest string tuning post is not 'misinformed'. Good luck wrapping some non tapered extra stiff flat like a Jamerson or a Roto77 string around the lowest string tuning post. Better safe than sorry in those situations. I realise the OP isn't talking about that kind of scenario here
 
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#29
pcake said:
gotta be extra light.



TI jazz rounds are on very much on my radar, but for the traveler ultralight, which is the bass these strings are for, they seem like they'd be overkill.

View attachment 5383467
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Ah, I see, this changes things a bit. I guess my suggestion of TI Jazz Rounds might be a bit overkill for this bass, although I stand by every word I wrote about their magnificence!!!

However, this bass has a piezo pickup, which means you are not limited to electric bass pickups. In fact, phosphor bronze strings may even sound better! It's a shame that Thomastik's nylon core phosphor bronze acoustic strings are only available as long scale. I suspect they would have been PERFECT for what you want, very smooth/flexible strings with a wonderful tone for piezos. But unfortunately I don't think the long scale set will work with the tiny guitar tuners on the Traveler.
 
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#30
Killing Floor said:
Flame suit on. But you can get regular scale and cut them shorter.

Some misinformed folks will say you have to get the silks right or the winding precise. My 4 year old long scale TI flats on my 30.7” scale said hold my beer.
Click to expand...

With the added information we now have about this being a Traveler bass the TIJF long scales wouldn't work anyway (tiny guitar tuners).

I also want to mention that the TI Jazz Flats SHORT scale set is absolutely horrible (IMO). Very unbalanced with a very stiff, heavy gauge .106 E-string and extremely floppy A-D-G strings. I honestly don't understand what TI were thinking when designed this set. Sometimes it feels like TI just pull the gauges out of a hat. Some of their bass string sets are just weird/unplayable, while others are AMAZING. The TI Jazz Flats short scale gauges are unfortunately in the "utterly rubbish" category IMO.

With double bass strings and guitar strings TI at least offer a variety of gauges. Their electric bass string sets are always only available in ONE gauge and can be extremely hit-or-miss. They make wonderful strings (in my opinion the best in the business) but I can't help feeling that electric bass strings isn't exactly their main focus. They also have an almost unbelievably snobbish attitude and very arrogant customer service, bordering on rude. I guess they prefer dealing with world class violinists rather than an honest working bass player...
 
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#31
Deleted member 271037 said:
Thomastik Jazz Rounds short scale. These are 32" because they are made for "short scale with tail piece". Basically medium scale strings by most other manufacturer's standards.

They are the smoothest feeling roundwounds you will ever find, by quite some distance!

The short scale set is .042-.093 but the strings are perhaps even more supple/flexible than you would expect, even with these ultra-light gauges.

The short scale set is actually slightly higher tension than the long scale set, except for the A-string which is slightly higher tension in the long scale set... Thomastik gauges can be extremely weird sometimes.

Personally I find the long scale too floppy, causing fret buzz unless I raise the action higher than I want to but the short scale set is VERY nice, although very borderline light/floppy for my taste! I use the short scale set on an actual short scale bass (with a tailpiece). If you're gonna use them on a medium scale bass the tension will be slightly higher, which is this case is probably a good thing!

The tone can only be described as OUTSTANDING! Very organic, "woody", warm tone. The tone is ultra smooth but still plenty of upper mids presence to cut through a dense mix. It feels like you actually hear the tone of your BASS, without the tone of the strings getting in the way. The dynamics are very lively/bouncy. They're far the most articulate bass strings I've ever played. So much that they may need some time to adapt to.

But do NOT get these strings if you want zing or "clank". You won't get that with these strings. Also, they're not particularly suitable for digging in hard. These strings shine with a softer touch. And no other strings sound even remotely like them. They are totally unique and totally wonderful, IF you can handle the low tension and supple feel.
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Given the flexability of these strings and no real need to worry bout taper, couldn't you use the 089 068 53 and 43 from the long scale 5iver set. Assuming the 089 non taper went through the tuning peg hole Something I've been considering for a Hofner shorty violin bass if I got one. I normally wouldn't consider rounds at all, but I hear the TI rounds are pretty smooth.

And regarding taper and tuning posts, either small diameter posts with guitarish holes or humungus long scale string guages and too big non taper for even fenderish tuners, you can always remove some wrap(s) and create a custom winding length. I did it succesfully for my Mikro following this thread method in order to use a Chrome 132 on it https://www.talkbass.com/threads/diy-making-short-scale-strings-out-of-long-scale-strings.1549282/
 
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#32
lbbc said:
I use SIT extra light 40-95 on all my basses ...short, medium and long scale (and absolutely love them). You can buy them on Amazon for just under $20 per set. Hope this helps
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I've been using the SIT Power Wound Nickels on my two Yamahas and like them a lot.

I looked for a medium-scale set of 40-95 on their website but only saw the 45-105 set, although they do offer the 40-95 set in short scale.
 
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#38
lbbc said:
I use SIT extra light 40-95 on all my basses ...short, medium and long scale (and absolutely love them). You can buy them on Amazon for just under $20 per set. Hope this helps
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got a model number or url?

Bald-N-Bassy said:
Stringjoy, you can custom make a set of whatever gauge you like.
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i've talked to them about this a couple times, and at the time they weren't making custom strings except for long scale. if they offer custom sets in medium and short scale, that would be good to know. i get my customs from newtone.
 
#39
pcake said:
gotta be extra light.



TI jazz rounds are on very much on my radar, but for the traveler ultralight, which is the bass these strings are for, they seem like they'd be overkill.

View attachment 5383467
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I'm sure you've already measured for your own knowledge, but could you share the length between nut and E-string tuning post here? It could be useful for future, prospective buyers of the Traveler Guitars Ultra-Light Bass.
^ (Hence my spelling out the model name, so that it can come up in forum searches.)
 
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#40
bassrique said:
Rotosound 66 comes in short and medium scale. Pretty baby blue silks.
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I absolutely despise Rotowound strings, but I do have a weird thing about trying to match silk color to bass color (where possible). I mistakenly ended up with a set of Roto lights gauge mediums (32") and also happened to send up with a Squire Jag bass in LPB, so it turned out to be a perfect match. I'm usually a 45-105 guy, but these have worked out OK.

If you're looking for 35-95, this is probably the set for you...at least to try. :thumbsup:
 
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