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Source for custom U-bass strings?

C

caladan

Guest
Jul 22, 2016
9
2
#1
I'm working on a silly project, an 8 string U-bass, with a range from low B to high Bb.

Owen at BassUke sells Pahoehoe U-bass strings in 18 different gauges - great! - so I did some math and picked out 8 strings that would be bested suited, based on gauges used in existing 4 and 5 string U Basses.

Unfortunately, Owen has been slow to respond via email and I'm impatient to start this project before summer is over. Owen is probably busy, and I'm probably a real nuisance, asking for custom strings and everything, so I totally understand.

So I'm looking around for alternatives. Aquila doesn't seem to do custom sets, Weedwacker strings are only for upright, and I've only started to looking into polyurethane cord suppliers (scary!) ... any suggestions?

Thanks!

- Dan

p.s. - owen's website is here: Pahoehoe Bass Ukulele Polyurethane Strings
 
#5
lz4005 said:
Why not use nylon string guitar strings for the higher ones?
Click to expand...
That's the plan currently: I'm going to get a set of pahoehoe 5-string, and add 3 nylon guitar strings on top. I'm trying to figure out which guitar strings are best suited for my target notes (C, F, Bb) at a 23" scale length. In addition, having a similar feel to the polyurethane pahoehoe strings would be ideal. Any suggestions would be awesome!
 
#6
Hey Dan, got your PM. My first suggestion was going to be Owen at Road Toad. I also like the Kala round wound nylon core U-bass strings, which might be a good starting point to match up with guitar strings. There have been posts that LaBella has been making round wound short bass strings that are being used by Luna.

You might want to make direct contact with Mimmo at Aquila. He's a member of TB and not long ago when I complained about how sticky Thunderguts are, he offered to send me an evaluation copy of their newly formulated Thunderguts, which are smoother than before and I'm going to use them, but still not as smooth as the Pahoehoe.

I actually tried the weed whacker strings being sold for bass, way way too stiff for 23" scale. Otherwise I have no other sources, but so far I only use stock strings, nothing custom.
 
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#7
KohanMike said:
Hey Dan, got your PM. My first suggestion was going to be Owen at Road Toad. I also like the Kala round wound nylon core U-bass strings, which might be a good starting point to match up with guitar strings. There have been posts that LaBella has been making round wound short bass strings that are being used by Luna.

You might want to make direct contact with Mimmo at Aquila. He's a member of TB and not long ago when I complained about how sticky Thunderguts are, he offered to send me an evaluation copy of their newly formulated Thunderguts, which are smoother than before and I'm going to use them, but still not as smooth as the Pahoehoe.

I actually tried the weed whacker strings being sold for bass, way way too stiff for 23" scale. Otherwise I have no other sources, but so far I only use stock strings, nothing custom.
Click to expand...

Thanks for chiming in! I got in contact with Mimmo and we'll see what he says. Those Kala round wound nylon cores are really nice, I could see them transitioning really well up to guitar strings.

The way I see it, I could either stick with traditional pahoehoe (or similar) and nylon guitar strings, or go with kala metal round wound nylon core and similar guitar strings. Basically nylons/polyurethane or steel.
 
#9
Sorry for bringing up an old topic, has anyone ordered strings via bassuke.com? What was your experience? This seems to be the only place where I can purchase u-bass strings (shipping them from thomann costs a LOT)
 

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