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Short scale 5 string

Copperhead

Copperhead

Still creakin' around.
Supporting Member
Jul 29, 2018
822
1,490
Tennessee
#1
Hey all,
I have an Ibanez short scale 5 string that I would lIke to put some higher tension strings on. I don't know what the present strings are but the B string is very flabby sounding.
The truss rod isn't even tight, and I want to have a set of strings that at least give the truss rod functionality.
I recognize that the short scale is not ideal for a B string but I want some strings that at least give the truss rod a challenge.Flats or round wound, I'm open for either.
Thanks in advance for any and all suggestions.
 
#2
Copperhead said:
I recognize that the short scale is not ideal for a B string but I want some strings that at least give the truss rod a challenge.Flats or round wound, I'm open for either.
Click to expand...
How about Dunlop Flatwound short scale set 45-125?

fretnation.com

Dunlop Flatwound Electric Bass Strings Short Scale Set - 5-String 45-1

Flatwound strings are more popular now than they have been in years. The flatwound sound is heard on all kinds of timeless tracks in rock, funk, and R&B genres. The Flatwound sound helped define the role of bass players today. Dunlop Flatwound Bass Strings provide a clear solid fundamental...
fretnation.com fretnation.com
 
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#3
LaBella do the 760FS-B-S which is a 45-65-85-105-128 set of short scale flats

Maruszczyk do 45-65-85-105-125 short scale sets of steel rounds, nickel rounds and flats (I wonder who makes them)

DR do short scale Sunbeams in a 45-65-86-105-125 set
 
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#5
Copperhead said:
Hey all,
I have an Ibanez short scale 5 string that I would lIke to put some higher tension strings on. I don't know what the present strings are but the B string is very flabby sounding.
The truss rod isn't even tight, and I want to have a set of strings that at least give the truss rod functionality.
I recognize that the short scale is not ideal for a B string but I want some strings that at least give the truss rod a challenge.Flats or round wound, I'm open for either.
Thanks in advance for any and all suggestions.
Click to expand...
Here you go. Great strings from a custom builder.

Official MTD Goods — Michael Tobias Design

www.mtdbass.com www.mtdbass.com
 
#6
Presumably of those sets, nothing's going to be higher tension than the LaBella 760FS-B-S

Screenshot_20260226_214811_Chrome.jpg


ps have to admit, am disappointed that there's no 760FM-B-S. Is the B string available singly?
 
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#8
Copperhead said:
Thanks for the input fellas I'm going to give the LaBellas a try.
Click to expand...
I wasn't sure if La Bella offered a short-scale 5-string set. Good to know they actually do. The La Bella set will definitely be stiffer in feel as well as higher in tension than the Dunlop set I mentioned earlier. The only thing is they're darker in tonal character than the Dunlop.
 
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#9
It is very likely your bass already have a 125~130 gauge on the low B (at least that's the standard that come with all ibanezes 5 string short scale basses).
It's normal that it will feel flobby, even on long scale basses (34 inch) some people feel 125-130 is not tight enough, let alone on a short scale.
If you want decent tension, you need to got at least 145 I'd say, but finding these strings for short scale are a pain. You will have to find some customs or maybe modify a long scale set.

I'm lucky to be close to a custom string maker which can make a set like for example, a 60-155 set for 30 inch. That's what I wanna put on a 5 string short scale once I get my hands on one.
 
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#13
I have an Ibanez 32 inch Mezzo 5 string. I put Dunlop flats 40-120, on it. They are supposed to be fairly low tension as that is what my hands like and are used to. I don't find them too loose. They sound very good. Tuned to standard pitch. The strings are indicated to be for 32 inch scale. Is your bass a 30 inch scale?
 
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#16
michael_t said:
I wasn't sure if La Bella offered a short-scale 5-string set. Good to know they actually do. The La Bella set will definitely be stiffer in feel as well as higher in tension than the Dunlop set I mentioned earlier. The only thing is they're darker in tonal character than the Dunlop.
Click to expand...
I’ve used both the Dunlop flats 45-125 (and the 120 too) and also the Labella. This ^^^ is exactly right. The Labella FS is considerably stiffer, but only a tad higher tension. The set I had featured a tapered B-string for better or worse. They definitely have that DTF voice, where the Dunlops have a more pronounced upper midrange that lasts quite a long time - about a year of steady gigging. I think the Dunlop B is much better balanced sonically with the rest of the set than the Labella 128. I think Labella might make a 120 short scale flat that I’d like to try some day - I could be wrong about that, or maybe it’s only available in the RX round set.
 
#17
I have one of those and I buy the Ibanez coated strings for it. The B is tight as a drum, which I found extremely surprising. They get some kind of black industrial waste on your fingers, but they last a long time too. Actually, right now it is strung like a bass VI without the E string, but it's just for kicks.
 

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