S.I.T. Shortscale: The old Pro Spec./vs. Power Wound?

[Jim T.]

I bought a bass around '06/'07 that had S.I.T. Pro Spec short scale strings on it. These days I no longer see the term "Pro Spec" on S.I.T.'s site just Power Wounds. Are they the same-renamed? Were Pro Spec. from their custom shop and still available nowadays?
Anyone know the color of the package graphic? I seem to remember something other than the green colored Power Wound(s). These also have no silk(s) if that helps any.
Thanks.

 

[michael_t]

Have you tried to contact the company directly with the question?

 

[Jim T.]

Yes, sent them an email query but haven't heard back yet. Thought I'd ask here in the meanwhile. Thought there might be some old Pro-spec. S.I.T. users here and know their history. Lots of short scale players here on T.B. thought perhaps someone might have custom ordered a set at some point.
I'll post whenI hear back from the company and share.

 

[Jim T.]

Hi Guys n' gals,
Here's the response(s) I received from the extremely helpful Eddie Speedy at S.I.T. I actually remembered his name from way back in '07 because Carey Nordstrand put a piece of paper in the case telling me who he worked with to decide on the strings. I've been completely happy with the strings and the original set is still on the bass and remarkably "zingy" after 15-ish years. (I do play very softly with vol. up, wash my hands before playing and/or clean 'em with an alcohol wipe)..
Here's Mr. Speedy's email response:

" Thanks for reaching out. The strings you have would have been Powerwound strings. In the past if we did a custom set for someone or we only sold a few 100 sets or so we would put them in a generic PRO SPEC package. We sell a lot more short scale and medium scale strings now so we moved them into their own package to match our line. Hope this helps. If you need anything else let me know."

In regards to the low B (although my bass was built to accept a long scale B) Eddie wrote:

"Currently the only B string we make is short scale is a .125 and it has a 32.5 inch live part. Our standard long B strings are 37.250 inch live part and our extra long are 38. inch live part. All the strings are 48 to 49 inches long. We do have B strings in .125 and 130 that are recessed at the ball end. Those are available in long and extra long. Hope this helps."
Eddie Speedy
S.I.T. String Co. Inc,

This was in regards to my question regarding the availability of a fully wound B as opposed to the Tapered shown on the solo bass stings on juststrings, etc. My original B is fully wound. I may try a tapered later.

The hex core really helps keep things feeling more like a 34" on this particular bass, anyway. It takes a bit of effort to do a lot of bends but I prefer that over doing too many "accidental bends". Their packet description of "warm & punchy" is true on this particular instrument anyway.

Hope this info. will help other short scale bassists. S.I.T.'s customer service is top notch.

 

[michael_t]

S.I.T.'s customer service is top notch.

I couldn't agree with you more...

I recently tried SIT Silencers on my P bass. Unfortunately they didn't work out for me, but when I sent in my feedback to them through the "Contact Us" link on their website, I got a response from them within half an hour. Yup, Eddie Speedy, who was very "speedy" with his responses to my emails back and forth. He actually offered to send me another set of SIT string of my choice free of charge, so I asked for a set of Foundations Stainless Steels 45-125 for my son to try on his Ibanez. Eddie confirmed the very next day they were ready to ship.

Now that's what I call excellence in customer service!

 

[Jim T.]

Well.... I have to 'fess up to a mistake in the post above... the old Pro-spec strings (now power wounds/labeled) are ROUND wounds. Not having the original packaging, and their nice stiff feel (similar to my 34" basses) I assumed they were hex cores but after getting out a magnifying glass, they're indeed round wounds. I wanted to correct this. If anyone is looking for a relatively stiff short scale string these might do the trick for you.

 

[michael_t]

Well.... I have to 'fess up to a mistake in the post above... the old Pro-spec strings (now power wounds/labeled) are ROUND wounds. Not having the original packaging, and their nice stiff feel (similar to my 34" basses) I assumed they were hex cores but after getting out a magnifying glass, they're indeed round wounds. I wanted to correct this. If anyone is looking for a relatively stiff short scale string these might do the trick for you.

I take it you meant round core. (as opposed to hex core)

 

[Jim T.]

Michael, Yep. Geez, this "Boomer"/senior brain stuff... Round CORE round wounds. Thanks for the question.
I hear playing music is good for the brain, guess I'll up the dosage!
Or...just proof read more better..;-)

 

[michael_t]

Geez, this "Boomer"/senior brain stuff...

I hear playing music is good for the brain...

Yes, indeed! I'm 66 and my brain is still as sharp as it's ever been. Playing music is also good for your heart.

 

[thisheregiraffe]

Let me join in with some more praise for SIT. I put a set of NR45105S short scale SIT Power Wound Nickel (45-105) strings on an Epiphone SG E1 bass last week. I think the SIT Power Wounds have greatly improved the playing experience on that bass! I have this Epiphone on a short-term rental because I felt like playing around with something different. It's a fun little bass, but I found the OE strings to be not very good. Poor tuning stability and a smidge too floppy when plucking over the mudbucker. SIT strings live up to their name as they stay in tune, and their 45-105 set added just the right amount of stiffness to make playing this bass more comfortable for me. A bit of extra stiffness for better response when plucking over the mudbucker, but also not too stiff when plucking closer to the bridge. I also really enjoy the texture/feel under the fingers of the Power Wounds. For me, this is basically the Goldilocks set for this bass.

 

[Jim T.]

Yes, indeed! I'm 66 and my brain is still as sharp as it's ever been. Playing music is also good for your heart.

Mike-I'm 71 so there ya go ;-)

I've just ordered a set of the hex cored S.I.T. light gauge strings 40-95 (four string set) for my short scale six to see if I'd like them.
If they prove to be TOO light for me and/or don't sound great on this bass I'll put 'em on my bronco bass later.
These will be my lst Hex Cored strings ever, let alone on a short scale, so hoping the tension will feel "similar" to the med. light round core set.

I'm (so far) keeping the original med. light .130 low B and the 30 high C-(possibly experimenting with a smaller C (28?) if needed later.
Wondering how much of a neck adjustment I'll be needing going to the lighter set IF I keep the same low B and high C.
Being on the outside(s) of the fretboard wondered if it will minimize the need for a truss rod tweak on a neck through instrument and interested in your opinions.

In older threads the general consensus here seems to be that a reduction from .45 to .40/.100 to 95, etc. shouldn't make enough of a difference to require truss rod tweaks but the proof's in the pudding I guess. I do prefer my string action to as low as possible so I MAY get away with that...

I LOVE the medium lights I've used for years and years but now that I'm practicing trombone jazz duet parts with another guy, for the Be Bop fast lines and easier chording, I'm thinking the lights might be a comfier fit. ( I MAY also keep my original E string if the light gauge is too indistinct...but I've had an issue with clean barre-ing due to a slightly bent index finger and hoped a .95 would help with that.
If it's too light, I'll keep: The .130 low B (pretty certain a .125 is going to be too floppy) the original .100 E and the original .30 C.

They'll be here next week and after a few days-weeks I'll report back for any who might be interested.
Bass: Nordstrand's original custom single cut with Seymour Duncan single/double coils with an older Mike Pope pre. Neck through (laminated maple). Very stiff neck, front to back profile similar to my Matt Garrison 6. Again any opinions, advice, etc. are welcomed.
Cheers.

 

[Jim T.]

The S.I.T. Powerwound lights have been on an played all day for 3 days. Here's the promised report so far:
They nearly match the round core medium lights in feel. There is a slight -small difference of course, but I was very surprised that their tautness/feel was pretty similar. These are pretty "stiff" light gauge strings.

At lst, wasn't sure the perceived "weirdness" of a slightly different feel -slightly thinner sound, was something I was going to like but after dialing in the EQ both passively and active, I've surprisingly gotten VERY close to the thicker set.

I have to change my technique a bit to adapt to avoidance in making some fret noise, but now that I have, the growl/grind is equal to the thicker gauged set.

I expected the lights to be MUCH more bendable and they're actually pretty stiff still, so it'll take more work than I thought for bends but the ease of fretting with my slightly bent index/barre finger is a huge improvement. Probably should've tried this a long time ago.

I originally thought I'd try a round core light set down the road to make it even easier, but think it's likely to be too noodle-y on this neck through. In the meanwhile, I'm SO close to this instrument's Fodera-ish sound with the S.I.T. hex core lights that I'm concerned I'd lose that "baseline" sound, ending up more towards a Fender Jazz-ish thang. I can get that sound with the Pope pre but still have more tonal variation with the hex cores.


If you're thinking of trying a light gauge hex core string that retains a lot of the sonic and feel properties of the Medium Light Power Wounds, these worked well for me. Keeping the 130 B and the 30 C (still might try a 28 later) negated having to do a truss rod adjustment and the intonation is still pretty spot on (by ear) but will dial things in for sure with a tuner and tools later.

I'll try to play them out in a jam soon to see how they do sitting in with bands, but I already know it's not going to be a problem from blasting away with a stereo home system playing country, jazz, rock, blues.

I like the Power Wounds all around and especially for their grind/growl for either gauge.
That's the report. Might go back eventually to Mediums, but probably not...