Strings and Tuning

[mica]

The windings shouldn't go through the post. We used to use Pyramid Golds when we first started making basses. Back then, it was the G string that reliably broke, in fact, we usually supplied an extra G string with each bass. But it wasn't crazy - Jack Casady and Phil Lesh were among the fans of teh Pyramid Golds. They would use a fresh set for every song when recording.

[Joey Wilson (bigredbass)]

JazzyVee:
 
Greetings to You in the UK !
 
Please don't get long scale strings and cut them off short to fit your bass.  Buy the right length strings to fit your short scale ALEMBIC.
 
To cut long scale strings to a length to fit a short scale instrument will require you to cut into the 'speaking' part of the string.  This will make the string very unstable as now the separate windings are free to move against each other.
 
If you look at your strings between the nut and the tuners, you will see where each winding stops and tapers to a smaller diameter to go thru the  
tuner's post.  In this area, the windings are locked to each other and the string core by the way the windings are terminated.
 
I did this once in an emergency on a gig.  I chased the tuning around the rest of the night, and utterly wasted the money I paid for the set I butchered, and promptly shelled out the money for ANOTHER set of strings the next day.  Maybe my expensive mistake will save you this money !
 
Best Regards,
 
Joey Wilson  

[Manfred de Rooy (mdrdvp)]

Hi Joey,
 
Makes sense. I've heard that before. It also has something to do with the tension. But, do you or anybody else knows shortscale strings that last longer like the D'addario EXP coated or Elixer strings. Roundwound and 0.40 - 0.95? I'm a real string killer. If I'm in the mood, one or two gigs and they are gone. The Elixers also have the right tension for me. When I'm going home, I got to have the feeling that I've worked hard. The Elixer strings seem to like it.
 
If you have any suggestions, please....
 
Best,
Manfred

[Jazzy Vee (jazzyvee)]

OOPS, I read your reply too late Joey. I have a gig tomorrow and needed to get a set of strings so I have got a couple of sets of rotosounds of standard length cos no shops in my area have short scale length strings.. :-(
 
I will try to see if I can get a refund and find some place I can order the short scale length.
Seems like I have an expensive mistake too.

[Paul Lindemans (palembic)]

Hey Jazzy,
 
If I wre you I went back to the store where you bought them and immediately put an order for the shortscales. Rotosound is -even over here- relatively quick in delivery. So they have the strings back and immediately an order for other ones.
I hope it will work out!
Have fun tomorrow!
 
Paul