Why Can't I use short-scale on a '67 Fender Coronado

[ejaggers]

here's my issue. i have a 67 fender coronado bass that has a trapeze bridge with tailpiece. i use labella FL strings.

try short scale, and they're too short. so i get medium scale and they all work EXCEPT the G string is too short (doesn't even go around the peg once).

So can i have the 3 lower strings be medium scale and have the G string be a long scale? or is that bad?

any suggestions?

Mark, I remember when you had your ’67 Coronado II, and I tried with no luck, to talk you out of selling.
Mine knows too many secrets to be trusted in someone else’s hands, so I’ll never sell.

Anyway, she’s only worn flats and long-scale at that,
because I didn’t know the difference between LS and SS when I was a kid.
But long/short, seems like short-scale will fit so I’m confused about your question from a different post.

I have not tried to install these yet, I just measured.
Measurement using D’Addario ENR71S short-scale half rounds:
· Tailpiece to the nut: 32.5”
· Tailpiece to G tuner: 40”
· Tailpiece to E tuner: 35”
· Total length of 45E: 48”
· Total length of 100G: 48”

Measurement using LaBella760FMUS short-scale flats:
· Total length of 43E: 49”
· Total length of 104G: 49”

@iiipopes and @michael_t,
I'd like to hear your take on this as well.
I realize winding length is the issue but I don't think I understand this completely.

057912

 

[michael_t]

Measurement using D’Addario ENR71S short-scale half rounds:
· Tailpiece to the nut: 32.5”
· Tailpiece to G tuner: 40”
· Tailpiece to E tuner: 35”

Most "short scale" strings are 32"-32.75 in winding length (ball end to taper/silk), although some are longer.

In order for the strings to fit properly on a given bass, their "winding length" needs to be at least long enough to go past the nut. According to your measurement they need to at least 32.5". There are "short scale" strings that are longer than 32.5", but some are a bit too short.

Ideally, the winding length shouldn't be so long that too much of the full winding would end up wrapping around the tuner post. So, in your case, they should be less than 35".

Here are some of the ones what would work according to different manufacturers' specs:

Medium Scale by D'Addario, Dunlop, La Bella, Rotosound = 34"- 34.5" winding = OK.
Short Scale by GHS = 32.75" winding = OK.
Short Scale by DR = 33" (for E) and 33.75" (for A-G) = OK.

Medium Scale by GHS = 35.5" winding = a bit too long.
Short Scale by TI = 35.5" winding = a bit too long.

We should always think in terms of "winding length" (actual length of the full winding from ball end to taper according to each manufacturer's specs) instead of "scale length", which is not the most reliable way of determining what would fit on any given bass.

 

[ejaggers]

Most "short scale" strings are 32"-32.75 in winding length (ball end to taper/silk), although some are longer.

In order for the strings to fit properly on a given bass, their "winding length" needs to be at least long enough to go past the nut. According to your measurement they need to at least 32.5". There are "short scale" strings that are longer than 32.5", but some are a bit too short.

Ideally, the winding length shouldn't be so long that too much of the full winding would end up wrapping around the tuner post. So, in your case, they should be less than 35".

Here are some of the ones what would work according to different manufacturers' specs:

Medium Scale by D'Addario, Dunlop, La Bella, Rotosound = 34"- 34.5" winding = OK.
Short Scale by GHS = 32.75" winding = OK.
Short Scale by DR = 33" (for E) and 33.75" (for A-G) = OK.

Medium Scale by GHS = 35.5" winding = a bit too long.
Short Scale by TI = 35.5" winding = a bit too long.

We should always think in terms of "winding length" (actual length of the full winding from ball end to taper according to each manufacturer's specs) instead of "scale length", which is not the most reliable way of determining what would fit on any given bass.

What about strings that don't have silk, like the D’Addario ENR71S?

The length from ball to the G tuner = 40", and the total string length = 48".
There's no winding length info on the packing.

EDIT: "Short Scale by TI = 35.5" winding = a bit too long."
That's weird that SS TI's are too long (not that I would use TI's anyway).

 

[michael_t]

What about strings that don't have silk, like the D’Addario ENR71S?

The length from ball to the G tuner = 40", and the total string length = 48".
There's no winding length info on the packing.

Those without silk would still have a taper at the tuner end, where the full winding ends and the string gets thinner. That said, most G strings only have a single layer of winding over the core wire, so they don't have "taper" as such. So, the actual "winding length" doesn't matter on thinner strings with only one layer of winding.

Unfortunately, most manufacturers don't include the info on the actual winding lengths of their strings on the package, so it does take a bit of research work on your part of find the info on their websites, etc.

 

[ejaggers]

@michael_t ,
Thanks for the education, I'm paying more attention to strings now than I used to.

I read in a post that a thru-body bridge SS bass needs to use medium-scale strings.
I found that this is not necessarily true,
because I took strings off my thru-body Musicmaster and put them on my Mustang.

Roto RS66S fit fine on the MM but were too short for the Mustang.
So basically that experiment is what prompted this post....057912

 

[michael_t]

@michael_t ,
Thanks for the education, I'm paying more attention to strings now than I used to.

I read in a post that a thru-body bridge SS bass needs to use medium-scale strings.
I found that this is not necessarily true,
because I took strings off my thru-body Musicmaster and put them on my Mustang.

Roto RS66S fit fine on the MM but were too short for the Mustang.
So basically that experiment is what prompted this post....057912

The whole point of this discussion is to always ask the question, "what winding length (not scale length) does this particular bass need for a proper fit?" And go from there...

 

[ejaggers]

The whole point of this discussion is to always ask the question, "what winding length (not scale length) does this particular bass need for a proper fit?" And go from there...

My Coronado II evidently has never had proper fitting strings except when it was new.
Since it's always had flats, string changes were far and in between.

It currently wears 11-year-old LS Chromes but I'm gonna shake it up a bit next time around.
@iiipopes speaks highly of GHS Balanced Nickels which I'm strongly considering.

I've done a lot of TB searches to see if anyone uses rounds on a CII,
so maybe I'll be the first kid on the block to do so.
You stated the Short Scale by GHS = 32.75" winding = OK....057912

 

[michael_t]

You stated the Short Scale by GHS = 32.75" winding = OK....057912

The "short scale" winding length of 32.75" published by GHS includes the ball end itself, measured from the very end of the ball end. So, keep that in mind.

 

[gazzatriumph]

I use Newtone custom made strings, good price and quality, send them the measurements and they'll do the rest.

 

[ejaggers]

I use Newtone custom made strings, good price and quality, send them the measurements and they'll do the rest.

What do you pay for a set?
With 12 basses I like sticking to off-the-shelf priced stuff.
057912

 

[iiipopes]

Let us all repeat the mantra:
1) measure from the ball anchor to the tuner side of the nut;
2) measure from the ball anchor to the center of the tuner post of the lowest string (in this case, the E string)
3) purchase strings which the winding or speaking length of the string is between these two measurements.

 

[Liam Wald]

I really don't have an answer to your string question.
But holy hell... that is such a cool bass.
Who did Leo pay to design that?
How many did they make/import and where can I get one?

 

[ejaggers]

I really don't have an answer to your string question.
But holy hell... that is such a cool bass.
Who did Leo pay to design that?
How many did they make/import and where can I get one?

These were made in 1967- 1968, but there was a reissue I think in 2014 -2015 but it was slightly different.

As for the original, I doubt if you want one this bad:

 

[gazzatriumph]

What do you pay for a set?
With 12 basses I like sticking to off-the-shelf priced stuff.
057912

Around £30 to £35, have a look on their website.

 

[Dabndug]

I really don't have an answer to your string question.
But holy hell... that is such a cool bass.
Who did Leo pay to design that?
How many did they make/import and where can I get one?

From memory, Roger Rossmeisl, famed designer for Rickenbacker. He also had a hand in a number of Fender acoustics and in the production process for the Telecaster thinline.

 

[cuth]

I have Labella medium scale flats on mine and they fit well. You need the extra length due to the bridge / trapeze set up they have. I have a Coronado up for sale in the classifieds if anyone is looking for one.