For my main 28.6" 5 string tenor bass, that I tune in E standard tuning, that is E to C, I use quite low, and very close to perfectly balanced, tension strings.
1 Elixir Nanoweb Stainless Steel bass string gauge .085 string for the low E, and for the remaining 4 strings Elixir Nanoweb nickel-plated guitar strings, of the gauges: .068 - .052 - .038 - .028.
The low tension and gauge prevents the fretted notes from getting thuddy, even far up on the fretboard towards the bridge (this is a known issue, or feature, depending who you ask, of short scale basses, the fact that relative to gauge the stiffness of the strings increase exponentially the shorter the scale length, preventing the strings from vibrating properly), and I've adjusted my fretting and plucking technique accordingly.
The reason why I use Elixir guitar strings for the upper 4 strings, beside obviously Elixir bass strings not being available in those gauges, and fitting perfectly in length to the 28.6" scale, is that the guitar strings are constructed differently than the nickel-plated bass strings, and. relative to gauge, got a much brighter tone in comparison relative, that is except for the stainless steel Elixir bass strings which is a much brighter sounding alternative for bass, hence why I use this for the low E (Elixir guitar strings only being available at max gauge .080).
And actually this results in a very lively and snappy low E string, despite the short scale length, and balance perfectly tone, tension wise with the upper 4 guitar strings, and the very close to perfectly balanced tension between string gives a very consistent balance feel wise between strings as well.
Oh, and as a bonus the coated Nanoweb Elixir strings last almost forever.
I still like to change strings approximately every 3 month or so, but honestly the strings haven't really degraded tone or feel wise in any way by then, and I am confident that I could even go 6 months with the same set of strings without issues, and that is with an average playtime of 1 to 2 hours a day.
You don't get that initial week of bright metallic sounding fresh roundwounds with Elixir Nanoweb strings, which I admittedly do love, on the other hand the Elixirs easily sound exactly as lively and fresh as when you put them on for months in and out, pretty closely resembling how regular uncoated roundwound D'Addario XLs will sound after they have been broken in for a week or so.
1 Elixir Nanoweb Stainless Steel bass string gauge .085 string for the low E, and for the remaining 4 strings Elixir Nanoweb nickel-plated guitar strings, of the gauges: .068 - .052 - .038 - .028.
The low tension and gauge prevents the fretted notes from getting thuddy, even far up on the fretboard towards the bridge (this is a known issue, or feature, depending who you ask, of short scale basses, the fact that relative to gauge the stiffness of the strings increase exponentially the shorter the scale length, preventing the strings from vibrating properly), and I've adjusted my fretting and plucking technique accordingly.
The reason why I use Elixir guitar strings for the upper 4 strings, beside obviously Elixir bass strings not being available in those gauges, and fitting perfectly in length to the 28.6" scale, is that the guitar strings are constructed differently than the nickel-plated bass strings, and. relative to gauge, got a much brighter tone in comparison relative, that is except for the stainless steel Elixir bass strings which is a much brighter sounding alternative for bass, hence why I use this for the low E (Elixir guitar strings only being available at max gauge .080).
And actually this results in a very lively and snappy low E string, despite the short scale length, and balance perfectly tone, tension wise with the upper 4 guitar strings, and the very close to perfectly balanced tension between string gives a very consistent balance feel wise between strings as well.
Oh, and as a bonus the coated Nanoweb Elixir strings last almost forever.
I still like to change strings approximately every 3 month or so, but honestly the strings haven't really degraded tone or feel wise in any way by then, and I am confident that I could even go 6 months with the same set of strings without issues, and that is with an average playtime of 1 to 2 hours a day.
You don't get that initial week of bright metallic sounding fresh roundwounds with Elixir Nanoweb strings, which I admittedly do love, on the other hand the Elixirs easily sound exactly as lively and fresh as when you put them on for months in and out, pretty closely resembling how regular uncoated roundwound D'Addario XLs will sound after they have been broken in for a week or so.
