Shortscale strings with most bottom end

[Dan_reeves]

Oh, ok, Dan, thanks for clarifying that: "deep" is the optimal descriptor. Jon threw me a bit with describing them as "bright" but if they're both bright AND deep, … well that would be the best of both worlds for me. Thanks much to both of you!

I have Chromes on both my short scale and long scale bass, and I think the short scale version sounds fuller, in general. That can be attributed to the shorter scale of the instrument and strings, but its still there.

I am a Chromes fan in general though, so full disclosure. I even prefer them on electric guitar I just love them. I am not affiliated with them in anyway...

I have also tried the LaBellas but I had intonation issues with the set I had. Others love them, so I would not overlook them on my account. Pickups will have an effect too, if you use only the neck pickup with the tone rolled off you should generally get the sound you desire I would think.

 

[Marcus Duke]

I recently switched to Pressurewounds on my Maruszczyk short scale and love them. My Mustang is sporting Chromes and will probably stay that way. I use that base for different, mellower music than the Maruszczyk.

I wanted to like Labella flats on the Mustang but ultimately didn't. The Chromes are a little more lively to my ears.

Curious what you mean by mellower music. I'm hoping to use the bass in a rock group, but also in small ensembles without a drummer. But in each case, I'm looking to FEEL the bass in the lower ranges.

 

[Marcus Duke]

I have Chromes on both my short scale and long scale bass, and I think the short scale version sounds fuller, in general. That can be attributed to the shorter scale of the instrument and strings, but its still there.

I am a Chromes fan in general though, so full disclosure. I even prefer them on electric guitar I just love them. I am not affiliated with them in anyway...

I have also tried the LaBellas but I had intonation issues with the set I had. Others love them, so I would not overlook them on my account. Pickups will have an effect too, if you use only the neck pickup with the tone rolled off you should generally get the sound you desire I would think.

Yes, the P pickup, rolled off, is the closest to the fatness I want to feel but I do like using both the P and J pu/ps. Sounds like I should give the Chromes a try, given all the feedback about those. Cool.

 

[Dan_reeves]

Yes, the P pickup, rolled off, is the closest to the fatness I want to feel but I do like using both the P and J pu/ps. Sounds like I should give the Chromes a try, given all the feedback about those. Cool.

If it were me and I was unsure and could afford it, I would buy a couple of the sets mentioned here. GHS and LaBella will sound a bit mellower, I think DR Legends come in short scale also and those are pretty mellow too - nice thing about flats is you can take them off if you don't like them and either keep them for a rainy day to try when your sonic tastes change, or sell them. But that way you end up figuring out what works best for you personally. Best of luck - took me a while to figure out what works best for me. Wish you the best!

 

[michael_t]

I think DR Legends come in short scale also...

One thing to note...
DR's "short scale" is 34" in winding length (ball end to silk), which is most other manufacturers' "medium scale".

 

[de@n]

I use short scale TI flatwounds on my JMJ Mustang...I like it a lot...

 

[JimmyM]

Curious what you mean by mellower music. I'm hoping to use the bass in a rock group, but also in small ensembles without a drummer. But in each case, I'm looking to FEEL the bass in the lower ranges.

Some people see flats as something to be used with mellower music, some don't. Don't worry about anyone else's opinions but your own. If you like it, that's the only thing that matters.

 

[JimmyM]

I have Chromes on both my short scale and long scale bass, and I think the short scale version sounds fuller, in general. That can be attributed to the shorter scale of the instrument and strings, but its still there.

I am a Chromes fan in general though, so full disclosure. I even prefer them on electric guitar I just love them. I am not affiliated with them in anyway...

I have also tried the LaBellas but I had intonation issues with the set I had. Others love them, so I would not overlook them on my account. Pickups will have an effect too, if you use only the neck pickup with the tone rolled off you should generally get the sound you desire I would think.

I once got a LaBella string with intonation issues, but it was the only string out of the four sets I've bought, and LaBella replaced it right away.

 

[macmanlou]

I liked using Chromes and TI Jazz Flats ("short scale" TIs are longer than most shorts and they fit the Mustang well) on my through-body Mustang, but LaBella [Invalid or Expired Link Removed] are my favorite, especially for their strong fundamentals at the bottom end.

 

[Dynacord]

Everyone has their preferences but I LOVE the Pyramid Gold flats for short scale in particular. Really full with great clarity.

 

[BazzaBass]

Labella makes a special through body set for the Mustang Bass. They are excellent strings and anything else you try will not be as good in terms of quality (you might prefer the sound or feel of something else but LaBella makes some of the best flats you can get). I have a similar set on my Kinal, although I'm using Dogal flats on a different bass and like them even better for me. The LaBellas are more balanced than Chromes in terms of tension. They are excellent. The through-body set for Mustang bass is 760-MUS. That's what you want. If you don't like those I will be surprised, but it would help you to pick another set by another brand once you can determine what it is you dislike about them, if anything. Start with those.

Agree!

 

[macmanlou]

I don't have a through-body Mustang. Strings attach to bridge on top. That said, which LaBellas would you recommend, then?

OK, then the LaBella 760F-MUS will not fit properly. They are for string-through Mustangs. Most short scale sets will fit your bass well (but TI "shorts" are too long).

I'd recommend either LaBella 760FS-S, 45-105, or 760FL-S, 43-104. I use the 45-105s on my top-loading short scale (not a Mustang).

 

[gln1955]

Curious what you mean by mellower music. I'm hoping to use the bass in a rock group, but also in small ensembles without a drummer. But in each case, I'm looking to FEEL the bass in the lower ranges.

Some people see flats as something to be used with mellower music, some don't. Don't worry about anyone else's opinions but your own. If you like it, that's the only thing that matters.

Jimmy is correct, as usual.

In my case, I play my Mustang at church -think slow rock ballads mostly, with acoustic guitar, keys and light percussion. I don't need or want to stand out. The Mustang with Chromes is just the ticket. I've played that bass with my classic rock band and it's OK as is my Maruszcyk Jake with whatever they put on those basses at the factory. The GHS Pressurewounds just add a bit more higher harmonics and give me the presence I'm looking for in that band. I can't say I've ever had a problem getting good bottom end from either of those basses with any strings.

What works for you is whatever sounds good playing your music with your hands, on your bass, through your amp....

 

[Dan_reeves]

I once got a LaBella string with intonation issues, but it was the only string out of the four sets I've bought, and LaBella replaced it right away.

And I do not doubt they would've done the same for me, but in true TB fashion I moved that bass before I could even contact them.

 

[Markzts]

I have two short scales and have been through the string search as well.

One bass has chromes - I have had labella flats and daddario tapes on it as well. The labella's were stiff and were more subdued ( chromes give me more highs if I open up the tone pot ) and the tapes were too different sounding across the four strings ( D and G have a very different tone from E and A ). This bass is passive and has a lace bass bar pickup in the P position, but I may pull that for something else.

The second bass ( going for a more aggressive tone with this one ) had ghs pressurewounds which I loved the tone of, but the 0.096 E string was too thin for what i wanted on a shorty. Next came the ghs balanced nickels and I will never take these off ( except to replace them ). The tone is even across the four strings ( balanced as ghs would say ) and the 0.106 E string feels and sounds great for me. This bass is active with bart jazz pickups ( though I have had dimarzio and fender in it before ).

I am in the middle of another short scale build where I am building the bass to use long scale strings ( through body and wrap around the back to take up the length ) so that I can experiment with a wider variety of strings. This one will get medium pressurewounds to start with and we'll see from there. It will have a humbucker neck pickup and dimarzio ultra jazz at the bridge.

Experimentation is your friend ( though not a friend to your wallet ). I have 6 different basses and each has a unique set of strings on them. I have a bone pile of of string sets I have tried, but once I get what I am after tonally, it's worth it.

Now, if I could only get my hands to play what's in my head, I'd be good.

 

[Iristone]

Yes, the P pickup, rolled off, is the closest to the fatness I want to feel but I do like using both the P and J pu/ps.

That's why your bass has two pickups and two volume knobs. You can turn between both settings fairly quickly, or blend in just a bit bridge pup for added definition.

 

[J-Mags]

The strings it comes with actually are really light, and I had better results with just about everything.

For rounds, I tried GHS Pressurewounds and GHS Boomers, and I liked the Boomers better with this bass. They had a cranky authority in the mids that, to me brought out the low end. The Pressurewounds were more refined, but I felt that the Boomers gave me more to work with, including my favorite tone-rolled-off sound ever.

For flats, I've tried a zillion varieties on various Mustangs and other short scales, and for low end, you can't beat GHS Precision Flats (although some swear by La Bella, which I tried so long ago, I don't really remember). Don't be alarmed by the .096 E string. It delivers. Unlike La Bellas and Chromes, they sound great right out of the box.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

I'm not a big short scale fan, nor a fan of flats. Or so I thought. Recently picked up an Alien Audio 30" scale 5 string and put Dunlop stainless flats on it and absolutely love it - all the way down to the low B. It sound phenomenal and plays like butter. Part of it is probably the onboard EQ because I bump the bass a bit, part is the construction - roasted maple neck. It's not a gospel slap machine, but for anything else, it's crazy good. Really glad I gave short scale a shot - and flats.

 

[Jon Moody]

But I want to "feel" the bottom end much more than what is happening now, where I hear the notes super clearly but don't feel the air being pushed by the lower frequencies.

It's the Rumble100, with the 12" speaker.

If you're looking to feel the air being pushed, you'll never get it with that combo. Too little power and with only a 12" speaker, it's gonna be limited in what you can do.

Changing strings will "help," but you're still gonna be limited with what you want.

 

[Ric5]

Maybe "bottom end" is not the best descriptor, but I just purchased a used, shortscale Mustang PJ bass and it came with roundwounds, light scale I think. I like the sound of these strings in the mid to upper range, but not so much on the lower range (e.g., open strings to the 4th-5th fret). EQ helps, but I'm interested in what flats you'd recommend that would better accentuate lower frequencies in the low range (open to half-rounds as well).
At present, I tend to roll off all the treble on the bass and my Rumble amp and turn the amp's bass all the way up to get more bottom out of the lower notes (with limited satisfaction), but wonder if some different strings would be the better solution or at least improve the low frequencies in combination with the EQing.

Get a shortscale bass with a real neck pickup for more low end