short scale, extra light rounds

[pcake]

i prefer extra light, roundwound strings, and i haven't found many options for my short scales. i've used d'addario super light nickels for a long time, but i'm ready to branch out if any decent options are out there.

beside d'addario, who makes extra light (around 40-95) rounds?

 

[AK Bass Guy]

You must play with a very soft touch if you can keep a set of very light strings from flopping around and bending out of tune when fretting the note on a short scale bass.
Back on target, just from reading TB posts it would seam when it comes to low tension D’addario is basically king. Rotosound make some very light strings but Rotos usually feel higher tension than their counterparts in the same guage.

Cheers.

 

[Rocket Queen]

Fender (5250XL)
GHS (3135)
Rotosound (RS66S)
SIT (NR4095S)

 

[michael_t]

beside d'addario, who makes extra light (around 40-95) rounds?

Fender (5250XL)
GHS (3135)
Rotosound (RS66S)
SIT (NR4095S)

I'm a big fan of the SIT Power Wound Nickels. Highly recommended!

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EDIT: I should clarify by saying I haven't used the short scale set myself. But I've been very happy with the long scale 40-100 set.

 

[ajkula66]

Another vote for SIT.

 

[pcake]

You must play with a very soft touch if you can keep a set of very light strings from flopping around and bending out of tune when fretting the note on a short scale bass.
Back on target, just from reading TB posts it would seam when it comes to low tension D’addario is basically king. Rotosound make some very light strings but Rotos usually feel higher tension than their counterparts in the same guage.

Cheers.

dunno, never had any problems. i have weak fingers that don't seem to get stronger, not even when i was playing in 3 bands. and a project it's weird.

Fender (5250XL)
GHS (3135)
Rotosound (RS66S)
SIT (NR4095S)

are the fenders back? i used them for a few years, then they stopped being available anywhere, and i was told by several retailers they were discontinued. i really liked them. will be trying them again. thanks!

michael_t and ajkula66 - i'll try the SIT set next. thanks for the recommendation!

 

[pcake]

Thomastik Jazz rounds 42-93. but pricey! and GHS Pressurewound #7700 40-96 (sort of a roundwound "hybrid")

i could well be wrong, but aren't TI short scales actually medium scale? i was under the impression that they wouldn't fit my 28.6" and 30" scale basses without having wrap on the tuners.

btw, i didn't enjoy GHS pressure wounds. not only is the string tension and stiffness higher, but they died out in 6 months, and when i found a thread about that, a lot of people were experiencing it. i can live with 6 month strings, but not high tension, stiff 6 month strings

 

[michael_t]

i could well be wrong, but aren't TI short scales actually medium scale?

Yes, you're correct. TI's "short scale" is 35.5" in winding length (ball end to taper/silk), which is at the long end of "medium scale".

 

[lowfreqgeek]

I did a really fun experiment many years ago: I put .080-.030 (A-C from a 6str set) onto an Ibanez Mikro 4, tuned E-A-D-G. I then used a SansAmp BDI for the quintessential SansAmp grind and played a wedding gig with it. The band freaked out about, in a good way, and even recently the band leader recalled that specific gig and bass - 10+ years later.

I obviously don't do that all the time (or it wouldn't have been a one-off 10+ years ago), and it took a little effort with my technique to make it work, but it turned out really cool and vibey with the ability to add a TON of expression to every note. It didn't sound "floppy" at all.

Anyway, the LS strings didn't have any issues wrapping around the tuning posts because they were significantly smaller than the intended gauges. They were anything be stiff, and they sounded really cool and stayed in tune, as long as I was cognisent of the lighter tension. Give it a try - it just might be your thing.

 

[subtlestew]

i could well be wrong, but aren't TI short scales actually medium scale? i was under the impression that they wouldn't fit my 28.6" and 30" scale basses without having wrap on the tuners.

btw, i didn't enjoy GHS pressure wounds. not only is the string tension and stiffness higher, but they died out in 6 months, and when i found a thread about that, a lot of people were experiencing it. i can live with 6 month strings, but not high tension, stiff 6 month strings

I've got the short scale TI rounds on my 30 inch Lull. Plays great, sounds great. I would highly recommend them. No issues with length IME.

 

[pcake]

thanks.

i have a set of SITs on the way, my piccolo strings arrived yesterday and aren't on a bass yet.

next stop, TI jazz rounds, although i'm tempted to get long scale ones first for one of the spectors...

 

[Highs&Lows]

Dunlop Superbrights offer a short scale set with Gauges 100 80 60 40. Superbrights are very low tension so even without the 95 low E it will feel very soft to the touch. They also feel quite balanced tensions wise and (to my ears) sound very nice.

 

[pcake]

100 is uncomfortable for me with most strings, but could be worth a try in the future.

 

[Skerrvydog]

looks like all the GHS shortscale varieties are 95 light gauge. I had the Presurewounds on my Supro for a couple years, but the 95 E string was too light for me, hard for me to intonate.

 

[pcake]

looks like all the GHS shortscale varieties are 95 light gauge. I had the Presurewounds on my Supro for a couple years, but the 95 E string was too light for me, hard for me to intonate.

you must have mighty mitts! i found the extra light pressure wounds stiff, and actually found i didn't want to play the bass they were on.

 

[Skerrvydog]

Dunlop Superbrights offer a short scale set with Gauges 100 80 60 40. Superbrights are very low tension so even without the 95 low E it will feel very soft to the touch. They also feel quite balanced tensions wise and (to my ears) sound very nice.

i was just browsing the Dunlop website and only see short scale super bright nickels 40/120, 5-string packs. but i'll keep these in mind for short scale for the future - i jsut put on some 45-105 sumbeams that i really like, but i'd definitely be interested in a good 40-100 short set!

 

[michael_t]

i was just browsing the Dunlop website and only see short scale super bright nickels 40/120, 5-string packs...

Dunlop Super Bright Nickel Plated Steel Electric Bass Strings Short Sc

Dunlop Super Bright Nickel Plated Steel Round Wound Electric Bass Strings Short Scale Set - 4-String 40-100 DBSBN40100S Gauges: .040 .060 .080 .100 The new Dunlop Super Bright Nickel Plated Steel Bass Strings are for the bassist that wants to stand out in the mix. Dunlop Super Bright Nickel...

fretnation.com

 

[Skerrvydog]

you must have mighty mitts! i found the extra light pressure wounds stiff, and actually found i didn't want to play the bass they were on.

Dunno! Tension and feel seems so subjective. I found myself looking exclusively at round core strings vs hex core to achieve a mire flexible feel, regardless of string weight. i just prefer the way round core moves i guess. I cannot play d'addario strings, they just feel super stiff to me. AK Bass Guy above says

when it comes to low tension D’addario is basically king

and i just dont get that at all. D'Addario to me feel exact opposite, round or flat wound they are a hard pull

I loved those light gauge GHS groundwound for their slinkiness, i could bend that G string a full 3rd! Felt like playing guitar!

 

[Skerrvydog]

Dunlop Super Bright Nickel Plated Steel Electric Bass Strings Short Sc

Dunlop Super Bright Nickel Plated Steel Round Wound Electric Bass Strings Short Scale Set - 4-String 40-100 DBSBN40100S Gauges: .040 .060 .080 .100 The new Dunlop Super Bright Nickel Plated Steel Bass Strings are for the bassist that wants to stand out in the mix. Dunlop Super Bright Nickel...

fretnation.com

Nice, thanks. funny i couldnt find them on Dunlop's own site, go figure.

 

[AK Bass Guy]

Dunno! Tension and feel seems so subjective. I found myself looking exclusively at round core strings vs hex core to achieve a mire flexible feel, regardless of string weight. i just prefer the way round core moves i guess. I cannot play d'addario strings, they just feel super stiff to me. AK Bass Guy above says

and i just dont get that at all. D'Addario to me feel exact opposite, round or flat wound they are a hard pull

I loved those light gauge GHS groundwound for their slinkiness, i could bend that G string a full 3rd! Felt like playing guitar!

IDK. To me any D’addario string I have played rounds, or chromes they feel me lighter, and more loose to me than Rotos, EBs, DRs, or La Bellas of the same gauge. I play in general .45 to .105 because I like a medium tension they have on rounds and I like my flats to have just a little more tension.