I want to put ss p-flats on my mikrobass. beef up the tone. make it warm and low sounding. the ghs p-flats don't fit. about an inch or so too long so the first and fourth string break. is there a string out there anyone can suggest that will work for me? thanks in advance!
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
You're talking about the Ibanez Mikro, right? To my knowledge there aren't any off-the-shelf flats wound to the required length it has, which I seem to remember is 31.5" ball-end to first tuning post, or a skosh longer [EDIT - I remembered wrong, see ZenG's post below]: speaking of which, since you have one at hand, could you measure the distance between the bridge back-lip and the outer posts, and report back? Thanks!
Did the G string break too? That's actually surprising to hear.
Anyway, if I were you I'd look into drilling through-body canals, or add something similar to the so-called "mod bar" (usually added to Gibson/Epiphone three-point bridges to keep the rough-wound and/or silk-wrapped part of the string off the saddles) for the sole purpose of having the string taper at the other end, before winding at the post.
Last edited:
They have 32" full winding minimum and are meant to fit 30"-scale basses with a top-loading bridge. The Mikro is a top-loader, but has a 28.6" scale: carelessly throwing a normal set without measuring first may end up with the lowest strings having their full wrapping on the post, which is risky, particularly with strings stiff as flats tend to be. We know from the OP that GHS flats (I assume @mel_s put the short scale version, or he'd have had way more than an extra inch past the tuner) don't fit; I've used a Roto flat low E and it tapered at about 32.5; would La Bellas or D'Addarios fit? I don't know.
Last edited:
Just about any D'addario shorty string will fit a Mikro.
I've used D'ad Black tapes and D'ad rounds on mine no problem. I think Chrome shorts will fit too. Although Chromes are way too stiff on a shorty for my tastes.
Some LaBella shorty flats will fit. That's what's on mine right now. (purple silk)
Labell White Copper tapes will fit and sound nice and warm.
I used GHS Boomer shorty rounds with the yellow silk on it too. Those sounded very good.
You might get a tiny bit of overwrap on the E. The GHS Boomer rounds had this problem. You just have to be careful when you put them on.
I've never had any of these strings break on me.
I would guess the D'ad black tapes or the Labella White Copper tapes will be what you want soundwise.
The Labella White Copper tapes play very nicely.
D'ads have a winding length of 32".
Many short scale strings by other makers are nowhere near this length and are too long.
Measure from the ball end of the bridge to the E tuning post. This length is most important
for fitting a string because you need a string with a winding length that fits within that measurement.
On my Mikro that distance is about 32 and 3/4 inches. So D'ad strings with a winding length of 32 " will fit. So do some Labellas.
BassStrings online posts winding length of many strings.
I've used D'ad Black tapes and D'ad rounds on mine no problem. I think Chrome shorts will fit too. Although Chromes are way too stiff on a shorty for my tastes.
Some LaBella shorty flats will fit. That's what's on mine right now. (purple silk)
Labell White Copper tapes will fit and sound nice and warm.
I used GHS Boomer shorty rounds with the yellow silk on it too. Those sounded very good.
You might get a tiny bit of overwrap on the E. The GHS Boomer rounds had this problem. You just have to be careful when you put them on.
I've never had any of these strings break on me.
I would guess the D'ad black tapes or the Labella White Copper tapes will be what you want soundwise.
The Labella White Copper tapes play very nicely.
D'ads have a winding length of 32".
Many short scale strings by other makers are nowhere near this length and are too long.
Measure from the ball end of the bridge to the E tuning post. This length is most important
for fitting a string because you need a string with a winding length that fits within that measurement.
On my Mikro that distance is about 32 and 3/4 inches. So D'ad strings with a winding length of 32 " will fit. So do some Labellas.
BassStrings online posts winding length of many strings.
Last edited:
thanks for your imput everyone! I ordered a set of labella 'copper' white twounds.
I have had success installing E and A bass strings on a standard electric guitar. I do this by unwrapping the outer winding of the string so that it can fit through the machine head. I then put a 1 inch length of heat shrink to keep the outer wrap in place. Works fine.
Be aware that you may have to widen up the nut slots a tad to get those to fit properly. I had to on mine.
Is OP referring to the Ibanez Mikro? If so....
Yes BassStringsOnline.com does. "Short Scale" flats with a 32" winding will fit the Mikro. However, GHS precision flats were recently made a little longer than the standard 32" short scale winding length. I also had some DR Coated Short Scale strings made specifically with Short Scale and Ibanez Mikro basses in mind. Even though the Mikro is 28.5" scale they fit 32" winding short scale strings.
Sub-ShortScale basses with 26" and other crazy short windings will not accept these strings.
Yes BassStringsOnline.com does. "Short Scale" flats with a 32" winding will fit the Mikro. However, GHS precision flats were recently made a little longer than the standard 32" short scale winding length. I also had some DR Coated Short Scale strings made specifically with Short Scale and Ibanez Mikro basses in mind. Even though the Mikro is 28.5" scale they fit 32" winding short scale strings.
Sub-ShortScale basses with 26" and other crazy short windings will not accept these strings.
Oh, interesting. Mystery solved. How longer, if you have the info at hand? Thanks!
EDIT. Decided to RTFM and check their string guide - I'm aware they always link to the most updated version, March 2017 as of now - and sure enough there it was:
" 32.75” "
(Under "By Available Sets" section for a given string type, and "Short Scale" if there.)
Last edited:
Rotosound 77 short scale Jazz flatwound. Perfect fit, perfect sound, inexpensive. Only nut slots need to be filed deeper and wider.
Last edited:
Rotosound 77 Jazz flatwound shortscale. Inexpensive, perfect fit for Ibanez Mikro, deep beefy vintage sound. Silky smooth, easiest strings I ever used, play like rubber bends. You'll love it.
Latest posts
-
-
-
Truss rod extremely tight will not loosen - ideas?- Latest: dannylectro
-
-
