Author Topic: String Gauge ? (Read 173 times)

brianm · « **on:** August 03, 2006, 10:45:04 AM »

I'm currently using GHS bass boomers, (round wound) light gauge (40, 55, 75, 95) on a 4 string medium scale bass. I just purchased a used short scale series I (4 string) and I'd like to go with even lighter string gauges. I've wondered about buying a 6 string set and substituting the A string for an E string, D string for the A string, etc. Any one tried this? I was wondering if any one has any suggestions or recommendations?

crgaston · « **Reply #1 on:** August 03, 2006, 10:55:52 AM »

www.juststrings.com sells single strings, which might be cheaper than buying six and throwing away two.

lidon2001 · « **Reply #2 on:** August 03, 2006, 11:12:42 AM »

Check out Rotosound Funkmaster. 30-50-70-90.

T

olieoliver · « **Reply #3 on:** August 03, 2006, 12:18:07 PM »

That light of gauge strings may cause problems with keepimg the neck straight. You may have to adjust the truss rods more often. I like the feel of light gauge strings but the sound of the heavier strings IMHO is much better.

eligilam · « **Reply #4 on:** August 03, 2006, 01:53:20 PM »

I play a Stanley Signature (short scale) with Roto Funkmasters, and have all the joy of that rubber-bandy, chord-strumming thing that goes along with them...no neck problems yet.

I did have piccolo strings on there (from juststrings.com, by the way---great site), but they cut like barbed-wire into my fingers. Also, the mass of those strings was too light for good slapping. (Although, for bad slapping, any gauge will work.)

W.D.

brianm · « **Reply #5 on:** August 03, 2006, 04:31:59 PM »

Thank you every one! I checked out www.juststrings.com and the Rotosound Funkmaster strings are long scale. Since this is my first experience with a short scale, do you think it would cause any problems using long scale strings on a short scale bass other than having the bare metal part of the strings wrap around the tuning pegs?

Thanks for tip on the piccolo strings, I was also considering them for a different bass I own.

crgaston · « **Reply #6 on:** August 03, 2006, 08:56:04 PM »

Well, some will tell you never to cut your strings, but I've never had problems. On the other hand, I've never cut them to fit a short scale, either.

lidon2001 · « **Reply #7 on:** August 03, 2006, 09:19:10 PM »

I trim the cloth covered area a few inches and have had no problems with the metal on the peg since I've had my short scale.

dfung60 · « **Reply #8 on:** August 03, 2006, 10:52:04 PM »

I think you really want to try to look a little more for short scale strings. The problem that you can run into is that you don't want the outer wrapped layer to curl around the tuning head. If you do that, there's a good chance that that winding will unwrap as you come up to pitch, ruining the string. You have to be especially careful about this with the low E and high G since, on a short scale bass, those pegs are closer to the bridge than the nut would be a on a long scale.

Some strings won't have a problem with unraveling, but certainly the stiff ones (like a Fender flatwound) will fail.