I'm wondering if anyone has got good results from doing this. What size or scale length Double Bass strings will fit a 34" scale electric bass? 1/8?
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Short scale double bass strings on electric bass?
- Thread starter mastershake
- Start date
I've never done this and would advise against it unless you are absolutely certain that the tension won't exceed standard flatwounds, or your neck could be damaged.
If the goal is to get more of an upright-like thud or some other effect, read reviews of the available brands to narrow down other candidates. Also, fractional upright strings will cost at least double what a standard E-flatwound would.
If the goal is to get more of an upright-like thud or some other effect, read reviews of the available brands to narrow down other candidates. Also, fractional upright strings will cost at least double what a standard E-flatwound would.
I was wondering the same thing this morning, I figured the tension may be too high for an electric bass neck to handle.
Then I found the Daddario tension charts.
1/4 scale double bass strings, medium tension, ranges about 51 lb for the G, about 58 for the E. THat's on 35 1/2 scale.
Now, Long Scale, medium guage Chromes have a 55 lb G, and a 41 lb E. Highest tension on G, at around 60.
I don't think that a set of double bass strings would damage your neck, but I don't want to find out. On alot of electric string sets, I notice the E is normally loosest, with the D being tightest. On the tension charts, it looks that E is tightest, G is loosest on the DB sets.
I honestly would not buy double bass strings for an electric. I thought string prices were already high as it is. A single double bass string costs as much as a set of decent electric rounds. Unless you want to spend $100+ to restring your bass, I'd say go with heavier gauge flats.
Then I found the Daddario tension charts.
1/4 scale double bass strings, medium tension, ranges about 51 lb for the G, about 58 for the E. THat's on 35 1/2 scale.
Now, Long Scale, medium guage Chromes have a 55 lb G, and a 41 lb E. Highest tension on G, at around 60.
I don't think that a set of double bass strings would damage your neck, but I don't want to find out. On alot of electric string sets, I notice the E is normally loosest, with the D being tightest. On the tension charts, it looks that E is tightest, G is loosest on the DB sets.
I honestly would not buy double bass strings for an electric. I thought string prices were already high as it is. A single double bass string costs as much as a set of decent electric rounds. Unless you want to spend $100+ to restring your bass, I'd say go with heavier gauge flats.
Also, don't forget that most double bass strings have a non-metallic core. Only the outer wraps are metal. So, unless your bass has piezo pickups in the bridge, or some other type of obscure bridge pickup, you'll get a very weak output from the pickups. Normal magnetic pickups require steel strings to function.
There are some steel core upright bass strings, such as the Super Sensitive brand, but they will have much higher tension. And they are similar to electric bass flatwounds anyway.
There are some steel core upright bass strings, such as the Super Sensitive brand, but they will have much higher tension. And they are similar to electric bass flatwounds anyway.
No. Just looking to see if there is any alternatives to the electric bass strings that are already available.
I tried it with old strings once years ago when I was still playing double bass in a jazz band. It didn't work well:
1) the silk at the ball is longer, which when put on an electric bass extends over the bridge saddle and up a significant portion of the speaking length, damping the sustain. Of course, some folks like that tone;
2) the strings are much, much, more flexible, and are manufactured to take much more tension; this makes it difficult to get them to seat on an electric bass without constantly retuning up to pitch, especially those strings with a braided, spiral, or synthetic core.
3) the silk leader may or may not sufficient to anchor the strings, and depending on the relative differences in scale length, may still have the speaking length around the tuner post, risking breakage.
4) there are some double bass strings that are completely synthetic or non-ferrous, with either gut, nylon, perlon, or other synthetic core or wrap or both, and some are copper and other non-ferrous metal wrapped, which, of course, will not produce a tone out of a pickup.
My advice: to get some of that character, use La Bella Tapes in the regular (60-115) gauge in your choice of flavor. yes, Rotosound 88's are supposedly designed for this, but to me thay are over-damped, the G string is too tight, and the A string is unbalanced.
1) the silk at the ball is longer, which when put on an electric bass extends over the bridge saddle and up a significant portion of the speaking length, damping the sustain. Of course, some folks like that tone;
2) the strings are much, much, more flexible, and are manufactured to take much more tension; this makes it difficult to get them to seat on an electric bass without constantly retuning up to pitch, especially those strings with a braided, spiral, or synthetic core.
3) the silk leader may or may not sufficient to anchor the strings, and depending on the relative differences in scale length, may still have the speaking length around the tuner post, risking breakage.
4) there are some double bass strings that are completely synthetic or non-ferrous, with either gut, nylon, perlon, or other synthetic core or wrap or both, and some are copper and other non-ferrous metal wrapped, which, of course, will not produce a tone out of a pickup.
My advice: to get some of that character, use La Bella Tapes in the regular (60-115) gauge in your choice of flavor. yes, Rotosound 88's are supposedly designed for this, but to me thay are over-damped, the G string is too tight, and the A string is unbalanced.
It did not work for me for all the reasons @iiipopes cited.
Also the much larger balls might dent the body of your bass.
The nut slots need to be filed to fit the larger string gauges.
The increased excursion of larger gauge strings might require significantly higher action.
In addition to black tapes some electric bass strings that can be more upright-like are Thomastik Jazz Flats and Dogal Jonas Hellborg flats for a more modern Spirocore type sound. Galli Synthesis Flats for a more thumpy steel over synthetic gut sound. I really like the sound and feel of the Gallis but they do take up to a couple of weeks to completely stretch out and hold pitch. None of these are at all cheap but they are less expensive than upright strings and fit 34-35" scale basses.
Also the much larger balls might dent the body of your bass.
The nut slots need to be filed to fit the larger string gauges.
The increased excursion of larger gauge strings might require significantly higher action.
In addition to black tapes some electric bass strings that can be more upright-like are Thomastik Jazz Flats and Dogal Jonas Hellborg flats for a more modern Spirocore type sound. Galli Synthesis Flats for a more thumpy steel over synthetic gut sound. I really like the sound and feel of the Gallis but they do take up to a couple of weeks to completely stretch out and hold pitch. None of these are at all cheap but they are less expensive than upright strings and fit 34-35" scale basses.
I thought about trying those Galli’s on my Ibanez EUB, but they don’t appear to be easily accessible here in the U.S.
What is it about proper electric bass guitar strings that doesn’t work for you?
Strings By Mail is a Galli dealer. They may not have all the options officially listed on their website, but it's just a matter of shooting an email to Matt at [email protected] and tell him what you need, and he'll be able to special order it for you.
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Nobody stocks them but I got them right from Galli within a week.
My impressions after several months on my main bass.
They really do take a couple of weeks of stretching to hold pitch. It's crazy how many turns of the tuner it takes over the first couple of days. They're totally playable when you put them on but a gig or even a rehearsal could be frustrating. Once they settle they're fine if you don't completely slack them off. If you do they take 2-3 hours under tension to settle again. Pretty normal compared to nylon core upright strings like Pirastro Obligatos.
They're stiffer than I thought a nylon core would be. They're a similar stiffness to GHS Precision flats but the nylon gives a much more supple feel. It's hard to describe. I much prefer soft strings like TI flats but I like these Gallis a lot.
Another thing I've never seen on any other string is the strength of the fundamental. When you pluck a steel core string and watch your tuner it spikes sharp a cent or two until the overtones settle. These don't spike at all. Probably the closest thing to the gut sound without dropping huge money on a set of custom bass guitar size Sonores from Gerold Genssler.
