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Starfire / Short scale Flatwound questions!

Rock-N-Dawg

Rock-N-Dawg

Sep 18, 2010
191
59
Kingman Az
#1
This has probably already been covered, but i just bought a new Guild Starfire and was thinking of replacing the strings with either GHS M3050 Precision Flatwound Stainless or DR SFL-45 Hi Beam Legend Flatwound strings (everyone seems to agree these basses need Flatwounds!) On my other normal long scale basses I use Med tension .045-.105 (sometimes .045-.100) plain old type normal strings. With the shorter scale and going to Flatwounds should I stay with the approx same string diameters or go to using a lighter gauge to get somewhere near the same string tenson? The bass originally comes with D'Addario EXL165 Nickel Wound Bass, Custom Light, (.045-.105 Gauges). What do most of you run on your Starfires to get good thumpy low end bass? Thanks ed
 
#4
To me a Fender is a Fender (A Beautiful work of Art) I always use Flatwounds on my shortscales and my regular scaled Basses. I use mediums only because I like the sound I get. I have been using Flatwounds for almost 20 years.
Rock-N-Dawg said:
This has probably already been covered, but i just bought a new Guild Starfire and was thinking of replacing the strings with either GHS M3050 Precision Flatwound Stainless or DR SFL-45 Hi Beam Legend Flatwound strings (everyone seems to agree these basses need Flatwounds!) On my other normal long scale basses I use Med tension .045-.105 (sometimes .045-.100) plain old type normal strings. With the shorter scale and going to Flatwounds should I stay with the approx same string diameters or go to using a lighter gauge to get somewhere near the same string tenson? The bass originally comes with D'Addario EXL165 Nickel Wound Bass, Custom Light, (.045-.105 Gauges). What do most of you run on your Starfires to get good thumpy low end bass? Thanks ed
Click to expand...
I like the sound I get with Flats, it has a nice rich mellow tone and if you want to thump it you can do everything a round will do. I just feel more comfortable playing with flats. It got a little slippery for me with Roundwounds although I still use those on 2 of my Basses. It's just a richer feel I get using the Flats. I suggest LaBella but if you're a little short in the change pocket D'Addarios will work and Fender Flats are nice also.
 
#5
SLaPiNFuNK said:
Luckily the DR "short scale" flats are actually medium scale (34" winding length) so they fit your Starfire.

Personally running chromes on my Starfire. But the DR flats are a great option as well.
Click to expand...


Years ago I tried DR Highbeam short scale strings on my 69 Guild Starfire II, and they would not fit, had
to sell them on ebay. I don't have a stock bridge (alembic mod as you see in my avatar). The length of the E string
from saddle to nut is 31.75", and G string is 31.25"

I've had good luck with Smith Rock masters SS short scale, what other round wound strings will fit this bass?

Many thanks in advance!

Phil
 
#6
andertone said:
Years ago I tried DR Highbeam short scale strings on my 69 Guild Starfire II, and they would not fit, had
to sell them on ebay. I don't have a stock bridge (alembic mod as you see in my avatar). The length of the E string
from saddle to nut is 31.75", and G string is 31.25"

I've had good luck with Smith Rock masters SS short scale, what other round wound strings will fit this bass?

Many thanks in advance!

Phil
Click to expand...
I use Flats for most of my Basses including my short scale. I have had luck with D'Addarior's and Fenders. I used to use Fenders and D'Addarios for my Musicmaster for years with no length problems. If your a Roundwound guy try those. The rounds were ripping my neck up a bit so I switched to flats for richer tone. Give them a try good luck !:bassist:
 
#10
I am happy to report that you are quite wrong, Pilgrim. Type and brand do intonate differently. I think we all know this. The Roto flats would not intonate on the D String, as there wasn't enough travel for the saddle. It was audibly off, and not just off by what the tuner said (which was 5 clicks) The TI's intonate just fine.
 
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#16
I loved La Bella LTF medium scale on the Starfire. But had trouble intonating the D and G. Couldn't get the saddles back quite enough because of the post.

Pyramid Gold 640 short scale set just work. Barely room to intonate and barely room to keep the silks out of the nut! Whew!

I would also try La Bella 760FX medium scale. A little tenser than the LTF set so should intonate more forward I believe.
 
#18
40A207FF-E04D-49B3-9B56-09FED1534642.jpeg
No votes for Pyramid gold flats?

expensive, but there is pedigree in that Phil Lesh and Jack Casady have used these on their Starfire II basses.
 
#19
Let us all repeat the mantra in unison:
1) Measure from the ball anchor to the tuner side of the nut;
2) Measure from the ball anchor to the middle of the E string tuner post;
3) Choose a string that the winding length/speaking length is between these two measurements.
By doing this, you don't worry about what a manufacturer calls its strings.
 

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