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Tapered roundwound for medium scale 5-string bass?
- Thread starter sumeursault
- Start date
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- Tags
- 5-string roundwound tapered
B and E
Good question. I’ll have to measure and get back to you. But it’s not string-thru-body, so I’m assuming it’s shorter than the typical 36-37” winding length.
So, you do need medium scale with 34"-34.5" winding length (ball end to taper). Tapered B and E? That's a tough one.
You might have to check into companies who do custom sets, such as Newtone.
I've done some digging and found out there are a few companies who offer "medium scale" 5-string sets but none with tapered B or E.
Having recently priced 5-string sets of flatwounds, $60 doesn't sound that bad.
It's a lot of money for strings, but when you're looking for unusual and unpopular configurations, that's the penalty.
Just place a bulk order of tapered low B and E strings with them, and get your A-D-G strings from an affordable set of your choice.
Or do what the maker of your bass should have done in the first place, and (have a luthier) add a string-through-body loading option.
The thru-body option would allow "long scale" strings to be used on a "medium scale" bass, but the drawback is the taper at the ball end would end up being too short, wouldn't it? If the OP wants tapered B and E, they would have to be top-loaded to work.
SIT Power Wound has tapered B & E 5 string sets, but they only have 4 string sets designated as medium scale. The tapered/recessed strings can be bought as singles.
I’ve been looking for tapered sets recently and this is the closest thing I’ve seen to OP request. I know it’s not quite what has been requested.
I’ve been looking for tapered sets recently and this is the closest thing I’ve seen to OP request. I know it’s not quite what has been requested.
Occasionally, I read reports of very long tapers on some tapered string models: depending on exactly how long, the OP could be accommodated by those.
And, the OP's additional requirement aside, the above still doesn't excuse the manufacturer from not having planned ahead.
The only one I’ve found was Kalium, who will make tapered strings of the right diameter, but as GUITAR length (for my 30” scale 5 string). They had guitar ball ends, but I was able to slip a bass ball end all the way over the string to allow it to grab on the bridge. However the last time I tried to order a few, I never got them after a couple months and asked for a refund. I asked again a couple months ago if they had a projected lead time and never got an answer. Ordering Newtone in bulk B and E might be your best bet.
You're right... The length of the taper on the Long Necks 2.75", which is specifically designed for the thru-body application. The winding length (ball end to taper) is 37.75", including the low B.
Eh... It may turn out to be very close but no cigar.
The OP has 35" between back-of-bridge and tuning post, so they'd need extra, thru-body 2.75 inches for the strings to taper ahead of the post...which would then eat up the tapered section: the latter would end right at the back of the bridge, not yet the saddle. :/
Conversely, having a shorter thru-body canal (with deeper ferrules) would make the tapered section useful, at the cost of having the full diameter of the low-B string being wound at the post.
I was just confirming the specs on the Long Necks. It wasn't a recommendation for the OP; in fact, I was hinting at the idea the winding length of 37.75" would be too long even with the hypothetical thru-body option.
Gotcha. Hm, probably better for *added* string-through-body, behind toploading bridges (as opposed to double-option bridges, with the canals drilled under the plate.
