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String Suggestions for a 70s MusicMaster?

J

Just Wrong

Mar 30, 2023
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2,317
#1
I bought a '78 Fender MusicMaster, and I'm looking for string suggestions. I'm looking for a warm, vintage tone, but given that it's a short scale with a guitar pickup, I'm wondering if there are things I should avoid. For example, I love La Bella Deep Talkin' flats, but should I go the the light gauge I'm used to on long-scale basses or will that be too floppy? Would the standard gauge overpower the guitar pickup?

I've also looked at D'Addario's tape wounds, but I'm worried that the bass might be too noisy given the single coil and that the strings might be too floppy at .105.

I've also heard great things about GHS's Balanced Nickels, which seem pretty mellow on their scale, but will they be too bright for what I'm looking for?

Thanks!
 
#2
I really like the Chromes short scale on my Broncos. When they break in they do the 'old school Fender with flats' sound as good as my Ps. The tension feels medium. I have tried several other strings and types but keep coming back to these. I gig with these basses frequently.
 
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#3
Bodeeni said:
I really like the Chromes short scale on my Broncos. When they break in they do the 'old school Fender with flats' sound as good as my Ps. The tension feels medium. I have tried several other strings and types but keep coming back to these. I gig with these basses frequently.
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Have you tried the La Bellas as well? If so, how did they compare to the Chromes?

Thanks!
 
#5
michael_t said:
One of my favorite flats is the Ernie Ball Stainless Steel (not Cobalt) flatwound. More traditional in their tonal character than the Cobalt Flats, but not as "thumpy and thuddy" like some traditional flats.

They do come in two short-scale sets - 45-105 & 50-110.


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Those sound very interesting! I did not like the cobalt flats, but a warmer, more vintage version might be interesting. Thanks!
 
#6
I have La Bella DTF's on my Musicmaster and I think they suit the bass very well. Admittedly, I haven't tried them with the stock pickup, but the SD Cool Rails I have on there now is not too different from the original.

I didn't like DTF's on my Nordstrand Acinonyx for some reason, but on the Musicmaster they sound great. Getting closer to broken in and the sustain is still very good for being flatwounds. The general character is "mellow" but not "thuddy" IMO. Very clean low end just enough mid/tops to make them pretty versatile. Sounds really "classic" and "woody" if that makes any sense. Warm and vintage is the same I guess.

Edit: I have the 45-105 short scale set (760FS-S) and the length is perfect. I did thread the strings through one old ball end each to get some more margin for the end windings at the bridge saddles, but it will work without it too. Tension is perfect for my taste. Roughly like a 40-100 set on 34" basses. A bit of needed resistance but nowhere near "heavy".
 
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