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Your favourite short scale strings in 2025? (flats and rounds)

project_c

project_c

May 8, 2008
1,594
1,873
London, UK
#1
I know this has been discussed before, but I'm wondering what's currently out there in the world of strings now there's so many new short scales on the market. Here's what I know so far:

I'm currently using Chromes, Dunlop flats, and Atelier Z's own set of short scale rounds. In the past I've tried D'Addario tapes and DR HiBeams on my short scales, both of which were too thin sounding, and pretty floppy to play, so they didn't stick around for long (even though I love both of their long scale equivalents). I've just ordered a set of GHS Balanced Nickel rounds, the 044-106 set, and a set of D'Addario EXL160S 50-105's. Really curious about both of these.

The Chromes were great for a long time (despite the weird overtones when brand new), and they're still ok but they have started to sound a little uninspiring. Pretty good for recording, not so great live through an amp any more. Might replace them with a new set if I can't find anything better.

The Dunlop flats were nice to begin with, and they feel nice tension-wise, but in terms of tone, they are dead to the point of being barely audible. I was hoping they would reach that nice dead tone that flats get after a while, but short scale Dunlops seem to just lose all their tone once they die. I don't think I'll be buying these again, wondering if Labella's will be nicer in the long run.

Atelier Z stainless steel short scale rounds are great - not sure if anyone knows about these, but they are really nice and have a much beefier tone than other short scale rounds. They are 47-66-88-108, so a little chunkier than the usual short scale strings. Very bright and a little grippy at the start, but to me they have a similar vibe to long scale Rotosounds. They stay useable for quite a while too. Possibly a little hard to get hold of depending on where you live, I ordered 10 sets a while back directly from Japan.
 
#3
Only GHS Balanced Nickels* on the Nordy Cat bass since the bass stork dropped it four years ago. The semi-hollowbody Chowny CHB-1 wears custom length Pyramid Gold flats, and they stay right where they are.



* did try a set of white DR Neons for four months. No complaints, but went back to the familiar Balanced Nickels. The white DR Neons look totally badazz on that bass. Thinking I may just buy another set of white short scale Neons for when the mood hits (so long as there are more Balanced Nickels in the string larder).
 
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#4
GwenOnBass said:
Only GHS Balanced Nickels* on the Nordy Cat bass since the bass stork dropped it four years ago. The semi-hollowbody Chowny CHB-1 wears custom length Pyramid Gold flats, and they stay right where they are.



* did try a set of white DR Neons for four months. No complaints, but went back to the familiar Balanced Nickels. The white DR Neons look totally badazz on that bass. Thinking I may just buy another set of white short scale Neons for when the mood hits (so long as there are more Balanced Nickels in the string larder).
Click to expand...
I put those white neons on a short scale Guid JSII and they looked and sounded great. They're very similar to sunbeams in tone but feel a bit different.

IMG_6363 2.jpeg
 
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#7
GwenOnBass said:
Yeah they look killer on the Cat bass. I dig them.

Click to expand...
That looks great! I saw one of these basses the other night for the first time. The band that played after us at a gig Saturday night bass player had one with multicolored neon strings. He was a great player and the bass sounded fantastic!!
 
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#14
I have made my own set of Chromes: 45-60-80-110. I also bought a 105 but the 110 seemed to work better - but again, Chromes are a bit weird when new. I tried a lot of other strings, and on a short scale the only other flatwound strings I'd get are probably TI flats, Pyramid Gold (with a hex core E string, custom order) or extra light LaBella DTFs. I hated all the other strings I tried (but sounded good if tuned one step higher).

Roundwounds, any will work for me. There isn't much variability with rounds as there is with flats, to me rounds are either nickel, steel or Rotosound (which do have their own tone).
 
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#18
I have Ernie Ball Cobalt flats on my Mustang that play well and sound great new or broken-in. Chromes are also good for a while but eventually get a little too dead. I found you can use a long scale set of either on a Mustang due to the string-through-body configuration, but the E string winding will go part way around the tuning post. I haven't broken a string with EB Cobalts flats or Chromes, but don't try it with Labella's. Labella makes a set for the Mustang, but the DTF 760 long scale will break if any of the outer winding starts around the tuner post.
 
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#20
Ken Smith short scale stainless. this is my fav stainless set by far and is the least thin sounding.

I have a set of Curt Mangans which im going to try out once im back from holiday which ive heard good things about

Where did you order the Atelier strings from? I love me a set of higher gauge short scale strings
 
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