Another, boring, string thread (aka: which strings for a medium scale)?

[matbard]

Hello family,


I'm going to change the strings on my new(old) Series I 32". There are regular long scale strings (Rotos?) on it and the tapered portion is all on the string post on the E and G, so I would like to try "proper" medium scale strings... And then tragedy occurs: not many brands are offering medium scale strings nowadays, so I have to ask the mighty community here.


So, which brand and gauge would you recommend in both round and flatwound flavours?


(I was after the "contact core strings" that La Bella, Rotosound and GHS offer today, but unfortunately they only come in long scale..)

Thank you all,


- Matteo

[StephenR]

I have Pyramid Gold flatwounds on my five-string medium scale Series bass and 35” scale G Gould five-string. I like the sound of the Pyramid strings but one of the best thing about ordering from them is that they will make custom length or gauge strings for you at no extra cost. I have never found, or tried medium scale, strings on my Series bass but if I could find them I kind of doubt they would fit well. The Alembic necks are fairly long from tailpiece to nut. The stock long scale Pyramid strings I tried on the Alembic had some of the silks sitting on the nut, same thing with the stock long scale on the G. Gould. I sent Max at Pyramid exact measurements of the distance between the tailpiece and the bridge and bridge to nut on the two basses and also sent pictures of where the silks were sitting on the nut. I included the distance from the nut to the various tuner posts for each bass. The strings they made me fit perfectly. I haven’t tried the Pyramid rounds but I am sure they will make custom length for those, too. 

One of the big issues with getting strings that fit on my medium scale Alembic is the fan headstock. The B-string sits really close to the nut, the windings on the B-string wrap around the post and break with almost every long-scale set I have put on it. String stays in tune but it is certainly not ideal so glad to finally have a solution.

Good luck. Will be interesting to hear from others about their experiences/search for medium scale strings.

[Quasar1]

Hey there Matteo,

I'm down to one bass now 

I string my fretless with Ernie Ball Cobalt, 45, 65, 85, 105

Folks have complained about rust, I (personally) have never had any issues with these strings!

I sold my late 90's Fender "Marcus Miller" model Jazz, and my 1980 Rick 4001 a few years ago

I only used RotoSound SwingBass on those, 40, 60, 80, 100 were the last two sets I bought

[adriaan]

When I still had my 32“ Spoiler, regular long scale DR worked fine (and no silks). Only thing was the fat part of the E string got wound up on the post some - but not really a problem.

Not sure if "contact core strings“ would work out with the fixed radius of the bridge.

[edwardofhuncote]

Matteo, not sure what is most available/easily accessible in Italia, but on all of my medium-scale Alembics, I have always used regular long-scale Thomastik-Infeld Jazz Flats or Rounds. (344 or 345 sets) The afterlength (length of string between the bridge and tailpiece) makes up the difference in total string length enough that it doesn't matter. It may be different for other brands, but when I tried Pyramid Gold and D'Addario Flats, they also worked fine on the medium-scale.


Some manufacturers post overall string lengths for their strings... you may be able to compare these online. 


Good Luck!

[hdfixer]

I run LaBella Deep Talkin' flats on 77-623 and GHS Boomers on 77-624, both SI MSB and it's cool to have the contrast - 77-624 has maple facings so it's the right bass to run the roundwounds, on 77-624 the flats have a wonderful thonk when played near the bridge.  I also run GHS Boomers on my 6-string MSB SII with the unusual Phil Lesh guages and they are great.

[matbard]

Just a quick follow up:

I tried La Bella Deep Talkin' flats 760FS-M medium scale and definitely they are too short for a medium scale Alembic, as the winding portion ends just on the beginning of the nut. I measured the aftermath and arrived at the conclusion that the ideal string set must have between 35" and 36" winding lenght measured from the ball end to the beginning to the silk. I tried some long scale strings sets I have at home and all af them (including Thomastik JF344) start winding the E-string on the post. I'm going to order a JF324 set and a La Bella 760 standard long scale set to do more tests.

[gearhed289]

I've always used regular long scale DR Hi Beams (stainless steel round wound, round core) on my 32'' Alembics with no issues. I can't speak for flats.

[matbard]

I can confirm that Thomastik JF324 flats set has the perfect length for the E post omn medium scale Alembics, as then winding portion ends about an inch after the nut.

[edwardofhuncote]

Seems like I remember the 324 set is a slightly larger gauge... I use these on my Starfire bass. Not that it would matter. TI gauges seem random but feel well-balanced. Good to know this set will work on an Alembic medium-scale.