Multi Scale Flatwound Tension

[SteC]

".052 - .110"... Those are the 1954 Originals you're talking about, aren't they? They're very high tension on a 34" scale, so even higher on a multi-scale. Why would you want anything that heavy?

This is a good point. You might need to go a little lighter on E and A strings. Idk what the appropriate B string gauge is. Idk if you can get singles?

Does anyone have clips of flats on multi scale? Looking forward to hearing how it sounds, sounds cool!

 

[michael_t]

This is a good point. You might need to go a little lighter on E and A strings. Idk what the appropriate B string gauge is. Idk if you can get singles?

If I can make one suggestion, it would be the GHS Precision Flats light set (45-60-75-95, 38" winding) and a single 126B (XLFB126, 38" winding).

On a typical 34" scale, the tensions on that set gradually get lighter going from D to B, which would work out well on a multi-scale as those tensions would be better-balanced as the scales on D-A-E-B increase incrementally.

GHS Precision Flats 45-60-75-95-126 on a standard 34" scale:

G 045 - 41.5 (lbs.)
D 060 - 46.5
A 075 - 38.5
E 095 - 36.7
B 126 - 34.4

Again, just a suggestion...

 

[iiipopes]

Anyways, for flats on a multiscale, does see any issues with this train of thought? Any “the tension wouldn’t work” or “the tone would vary wildly” or whatnot?

I computed the tension that a standard set of strings would have on my fanned fret P-style bass, 33.25 to 34 scale fanned forward only with a square nut, when I was looking for strings for it almost 20 years ago. Remember that tension varies as the square of the scale length, not linearly.

So...I'm going to compute the resulting tension on one string to show how you do it on the other strings. Let's take the A string, which the OP reports is 34.5 inch scale. The 34 inch scale tension on the GHS flats as reported is 38.5 pounds. 34.5^2 is @1190 (rounded). 34^2 is 1156. You divide these two numbers to get percentage difference. 1190/1156 = @1.03 (rounded). You take this result and multiply it by the listed tension @ 34 inches. So 1.03 X 38.5 = @ 39.7 pounds resultant tension at the different scale length on the OP's bass, which is hardly noticable. Since some strings are less than 34 inches scale length and others are more, the higher strings will have marginally less tension in about the same amount as the lower strings will have marginally more tension, so the overall tension for the set will even out. As a kicker, the strings may actually feel better balanced as a result, with the resultant tensions being closer to each other. The overall tension may be a little bit more on the entire set, but probably nothing the truss rod can't handle.