Piano Strings for bass?

[Kromwarp]

Anybody using them? Is it even plausible?

 

[TomA1234]

If they are steel and you have a way of anchoring them to the bridge then possibly.

 

[JTE]

I met a guy about 35 years ago who claimed to be using Steinway piano strings on his bass. I didn't look at his bass (and that long ago I'm not sure I'd be able to tell anyway), but that was the appeal of Rotosound RS-66 anyway. Seems like an expensive and awkward way to go about it.

John

 

[rtslinger]

Sir Paul did it so it is possible how good it will be for your your bass neck or your fingers is another issue to ponder

 

[OPBASSMAN1994]

I've never heard of anyone doing it, but it seems possible if they're the right gauge, and you can find a way to anchor them on the bridge.

 

[Thumpin_P]

Sir Paul did it so it is possible how good it will be for your your bass neck or your fingers is another issue to ponder

I agree, when I was in high school, I asked the same thing of the music teacher, she commented that the tension may be too much for the neck. I also think it would tear your fingers up. If you have a beater bass, the experiment would be intriguing.

 

[Floyd Eye]

It is also pretty highly debatable that McCartney ever did it.

 

[Jon Moody]

There are a string manufacturer or two that make bass strings based upon the principle behind winding piano strings (it IS different). They'd be more "piano-based" bass strings than anything else.

 

[BoomingBass]

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[88ric2030]

There is a band here in Baltimore called The Motor Morons, sort of an industrial joke band that's been around since the mid 80's. Outside of machines (grinders) used as instruments, the only actual musical notes come from a Fender P-Bass with only one string, and it's a piano string.

 

[FunkMetalBass]

There are a string manufacturer or two that make bass strings based upon the principle behind winding piano strings (it IS different). They'd be more "piano-based" bass strings than anything else.

Pianos don't use a core wire, IIRC...right?

 

[ixlramp]

You wouldn't want to use a piano string, they're very stiff since they're designed for a higher tension (very thick core wire). They therefore have high inharmonicity, vibrating somewhat like a solid bar.

"Question:
What is the average tension on a steel piano string?

Answer:
Approximately 180lbs on the tenor and treble strings with a 15-20% increase on the Bass strings"

 

[Meddle]

Plus on pianos they must set them up in triplicate for a reason.... And they must give pianos metal frames for a reason....

 

[Jon Moody]

Pianos don't use a core wire, IIRC...right?

I don't think so, I believe they have a core. It had something to do about number of wraps I thought.

Looks like a trip to Google is in order! Now I'm curious.

 

[walterw]

i think piano strings have much bigger wraps around much bigger core wires. a bass string of the same given size would have multiple layers of thinner wrap wire over a thinner core.

a piano string the size of a bass G might even be a solid plain string!

 

[walterw]

You wouldn't want to use a piano string, they're very stiff since they're designed for a higher tension (very thick core wire). They therefore have high inharmonicity, vibrating somewhat like a solid bar.

"Question:
What is the average tension on a steel piano string?

Answer:
Approximately 180lbs on the tenor and treble strings with a 15-20% increase on the Bass strings"

each?!

a whole set of bass strings might be 200 lbs!

 

[ixlramp]

Yes each. From the site of a piano tuner: http://www.fosterpianos.co.uk/pianofaq0006.html

So that's 4 times the tension of bass strings. 180lbs = 4 x 45lbs. Sounds about right.

Also:

"Question:
What is the overall tension of the strings on a piano?

Answer:
When tuned to concert pitch approximately 18 tons"

 

[SanDiegoHarry]

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I suspect the term "Piano String" is more a marketing ploy than reality here...

 

[SanDiegoHarry]

Yes each. From the site of a piano tuner: http://www.fosterpianos.co.uk/pianofaq0006.html

So that's 4 times the tension of bass strings. 180lbs = 4 x 45lbs. Sounds about right.

Also:

"Question:
What is the overall tension of the strings on a piano?

Answer:
When tuned to concert pitch approximately 18 tons"

yep - the harp / bridge, even on a small piano is *massive*...

 

[FunkMetalBass]

Plus on pianos they must set them up in triplicate for a reason.... And they must give pianos metal frames for a reason....

Is this suggesting that piano strings have a higher tension?

If so, then you can easily account for that by getting lighter piano wire gauges, dropping them into the 35-45lb range.

i think piano strings have much bigger wraps around much bigger core wires. a bass string of the same given size would have multiple layers of thinner wrap wire over a thinner core.

a piano string the size of a bass G might even be a solid plain string!

Yes. The thinner core allows for greater string flexibility.

I believe most piano wire is plain and unwrapped up until ~.053", so yes, a G-string is accurate.