Need Help Identifying Strings

[Turbocharbo]

Hey folks!

I need help in identifying the strings that came with my '64 Burns Jazz Bass (medium scale). They feel like round wounds but sound brighter. Could they be ground wounds? In any case, the G-string is about to go so I'd like to get an extra set because they're really the perfect fit for this bass and I don't see myself wanting anything different.

Any help is appreciated, thanks!

 

[michael_t]

Light blue silk at the tuner end and no silk at the ball end... They look to be like GHS Brite Flats, which are Alloy 52 half-rounds (= groundwound).

Can you do something for me? Measure the E string from the ball end to where the silk starts at the other end. If they're in fact GHS, it should be around 35.5".

 

[Jon Moody]

Light blue silk at the tuner end and no silk at the ball end... They look to be like GHS Brite Flats, which are Alloy 52 half-rounds (= groundwound).

Can you do something for me? Measure the E string from the ball end to where the silk starts at the other end. If they're in fact GHS, it should be around 35.5".

If they're ours, the light blue silk could also have the older, 34" winding length.

 

[Turbocharbo]

Light blue silk at the tuner end and no silk at the ball end... They look to be like GHS Brite Flats, which are Alloy 52 half-rounds (= groundwound).

Can you do something for me? Measure the E string from the ball end to where the silk starts at the other end. If they're in fact GHS, it should be around 35.5".

Looks like it's 34.5"

 

[michael_t]

If they're ours, the light blue silk could also have the older, 34" winding length.

So, the older version with 34" winding length didn't have silk at the ball end, either?

I ask because the older version of Pressurewounds with 36.5" winding had black silk on both ends, while the new version with 37.25" winding only have silk at the tuner end.

 

[Jon Moody]

So, the older version with 34" winding length didn't have silk at the ball end, either?

Yes.

I ask because the older version of Pressurewounds with 36.5" winding had black silk on both ends, while the new version with 37.25" winding only have silk at the tuner end.

It was an outlier that was forgotten about when all the other strings had the ball end silk removed from their specs. So when I updated those, I fixed it.

 

[michael_t]

Looks like it's 34.5"

According to @Jon Moody, they could be an older version of the Brite Flats.

The only thing is the "medium scale" for the new version is 35.5" from ball end to silk.

 

[Turbocharbo]

According to @Jon Moody, they could be an older version of the Brite Flats.

The only thing is the "medium scale" for the new version is 35.5" from ball end to silk.

Ok! Are the new ones the same as the old? If so, @Jon Moody can get some custom made to fit my Burns?

Thanks dudes

 

[Jon Moody]

According to @Jon Moody, they could be an older version of the Brite Flats.

Just checked the old specs; confirmed 34.5" winding length on medium scale Brite Flats.

The new ones, aside from the longer winding length, should have dark blue silk (to match the longer scale BFs).

Ok! Are the new ones the same as the old? If so, @Jon Moody can get some custom made to fit my Burns?

Short answer: no.

Long answer: if you'd like to pay set up fees for each custom string and order a minimum quantity of 100 sets, sure.

 

[Turbocharbo]

I think I just need 1 set ha. I suppose I could get the new set as a backup but hard to say if they're going to sound the same.

 

[Jon Moody]

I think I just need 1 set ha. I suppose I could get the new set as a backup but hard to say if they're going to sound the same.

Initially, no. They'll still sound like a new set of strings. But with time/playing, will settle back into the sound you're used to.

 

[michael_t]

I think I just need 1 set ha. I suppose I could get the new set as a backup but hard to say if they're going to sound the same.

They should still sound the same (once broken in, that is...) as the strings themselves haven't changed. They just won't fit on your bass the same way.

Looks like Fret Nation has a set in stock.

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[MCF]

Hey folks!

I need help in identifying the strings that came with my '64 Burns Jazz Bass (medium scale). They feel like round wounds but sound brighter. Could they be ground wounds? In any case, the G-string is about to go so I'd like to get an extra set because they're really the perfect fit for this bass and I don't see myself wanting anything different.

Any help is appreciated, thanks!

Nice Burns! Can you post some more pics! Some of us would love to see more. Paging @JIO.....

 

[JIO]

Hey folks!

I need help in identifying the strings that came with my '64 Burns Jazz Bass (medium scale). They feel like round wounds but sound brighter. Could they be ground wounds? In any case, the G-string is about to go so I'd like to get an extra set because they're really the perfect fit for this bass and I don't see myself wanting anything different.

Any help is appreciated, thanks!

Nice! To note - (you may already know this) the tuners are not original, and functionally could be considered an 'upgrade', but the ones that came on it worked if maintained. (lubricated) Burns did install their own brand strings from the factory, but I've heard Pyramid Golds are the closest to the originals. Not sure they come in med scale though... On my '63 Vista Sonic (precursor to the Jazz Bass), I installed D'Addario ECB81M Chromes (medium scale 45/65/80/100 regular light gauge flats) and they sound great.

 

[GIBrat51]

There's a good chance that the short scale Pyramids will fit. Like TI short scales, they are pretty much the same length as other company's medium scale strings. The Pyramid short scales should be 33 1/4" from ball end to the start of the silk. If that works on your Burns? There you go...

 

[Turbocharbo]

Yup, tuners aren’t original. I had them replaced because the original ones (which I still have) were falling apart and pretty much made the bass unusable.

I actually bought 3 sets of the original Burns tape wounds (in original packaging) made by Rotosound. I like these GHS so much that I want to get a replacement set before I try the tape wounds.

Good to know about Pyramid Golds, they make beautiful strings. They can custom make any set of strings so I’d get them made in medium scale if I ever went that route. I have a set of flats of theirs on my P and they’re perfect.