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Who makes a 30" shortscale flatwound low B?

K

Krucial

May 25, 2010
113
7
Netherlands
#1
Hi there,

Right now I play 34" 4 string, mostly tuned DCGF.
I'm thinking about buying a Mensinger Cazpar 5 string (a 30" shortscale) and tuning it like a "normal" fiver BEADG.
The one thing holding me back is the fact that I can't find a shortscale flatwound B.
Anyone know a company that makes them?
 
#2
A 30" bass with a low B most likely wont be very nice to play, the lack of tension will make the string very floppy. You maybe able to make it slightly better by getting a very heavy gauge set. You probably already knew that, just thought I would say anyway :).

Try circle K strings
 
#5
I'm aware off the tension issues. But I happen to like both thick strings and low tension. This is one of the reasons I mostly tune DGCF on my 34". (The others are the fact that I sometimes need to go below the E, and the fact that I have small hands and some wrist ploblems)
A thing to realise is that with some playing style the low tension is an absolute no go; like slapping, playing with a pick or aggressive playing, but in some styles, like light touch fingerstyle, it can be very pleasant (especially when playing flats, because to me they allways feel a litlle bit stiffer than rounds)

On my main bass, I now have the Chromes 0.50-1.05 and the strings does't feel floppy at all. On a 30" tuned EADG using the same gauge the tensions would be similar. However the shortscale Chromes come in the gauges 0.45-1.00 and GHS makes shortscale flats with even a lighter gauge (0.45-0.95)!?!

I would be very please if one of them would make a 1.30 or 1.35 30"low B, wich I think would fit with the rest of the set. But, too bad, they don't.

Thanx for the input so far, but (so far I know) Circle K doesn't make shortscale or flatwounds (besides they are allmost impossible to buy over here in the Netherlands).
I searched for Indie strings, but I only found a shortscale 4 string set (0.45-1.05).

Still hoping that there is one brave manufacturer for my low B.

Another option could be to try to put the 34" 1.32 Chrome on the 30" bass, WITHOUT breaking the string in the headstock.
Anyone ever succeded is this?
 
#6
Before I could find readily available flats for a couple of my 4 string 30" scale basses I would use 34" scale strings and crimp a lug several inches above the ball end on the E and A strings and then cut off the excess between the lug and the ball end to shorten them.

The lug became the new string anchor at the bridge and the tuner post end of the string was still intact. It seems to work well enough, I still have a couple strung with those modded strings for several years.
 
#8
Roadkill said:
Exactly what "lug" did you use? I've seen this mentioned before but wouldn't think a soft copper electrical lug would hold?
Click to expand...

What I used looks like this:

20056151545476180636_insulated_lugs.jpg


But I removed the plastic insulation.
 
#13
I could easily be wrong, but I thought Circle K would make you most gauges and lengths of strings. Maybe an email would be worth a go for you.

quote: On my main bass, I now have the Chromes 0.50-1.05 and the strings does't feel floppy at all. On a 30" tuned EADG using the same gauge the tensions would be similar.

:confused: not sure I get what you mean there.
 
#14
Meatrus said:
A 30" bass with a low B most likely wont be very nice to play, the lack of tension will make the string very floppy. You maybe able to make it slightly better by getting a very heavy gauge set. You probably already knew that, just thought I would say anyway :).

Try circle K strings
Click to expand...

I think owners of Rob Allen basses or Owen Biddle and his custom Callowhill would suggest otherwise.


Try LaBella Strings or Rob's custom sets:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
 
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#16
Meatrus said:
I could easily be wrong, but I thought Circle K would make you most gauges and lengths of strings. Maybe an email would be worth a go for you.

quote: On my main bass, I now have the Chromes 0.50-1.05 and the strings does't feel floppy at all. On a 30" tuned EADG using the same gauge the tensions would be similar.

:confused: not sure I get what you mean there.
Click to expand...

You're right, I'll send an email, but as far as I know they still don't make flatwounds.

What I ment with the confusing tension story is: with the 34" bass, tuned DGCF the second fret is EADG and is about 30" from the bridge.
 
#17
Krucial said:
What I ment with the confusing tension story is: with the 34" bass, tuned DGCF the second fret is EADG and is about 30" from the bridge.
Click to expand...

Exactly, I used that to good advantage recovering from an arm injury many years ago by detuning a whole step and using a capo at the second fret. That worked fine until I could afford to get a shortscale.
 
#18
Krucial said:
You're right, I'll send an email, but as far as I know they still don't make flatwounds.

What I ment with the confusing tension story is: with the 34" bass, tuned DGCF the second fret is EADG and is about 30" from the bridge.
Click to expand...

Ah, I get you...I wasnt sure what you meant before

OrionManMatt said:
I think owners of Rob Allen basses or Owen Biddle and his custom Callowhill would suggest otherwise.


Try LaBella Strings or Rob's custom sets:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Click to expand...

If they bought the bass, I'm sure they would ;). As they would be expecting the lack of tension (which will be present) I just thought a warning might be necessary.
 
#19
mongo2 said:
Exactly, I used that to good advantage recovering from an arm injury many years ago by detuning a whole step and using a capo at the second fret. That worked fine until I could afford to get a shortscale.
Click to expand...

Yep, I had a wrist injury and 'shortened' my bass the same way. I then found out that the lower tension, suited my sound better (more thump) and started tuning DGCF. The low D also saved me from having to go to a fiver (wich I now want to start on a recreational basis).
 

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