Author Topic: (x) Can't find ultra light strings for my Elan 6 (Read 375 times)

gtrguy · « **on:** November 16, 2005, 11:03:42 AM »

I bought a 6 string Elan last year and want to replace the strings on it with ones the same size it has. The ones on it are not original and are ultra light. They seem to be a set and have brass ends and red fuzz where they go into the tuners. My micrometer shows them to be: .023 .036 .053 .069 .088 .106

My problem is that I can not find a set like this anywhere. Any ideas?

Fender has a set for their old six string bass that has ones similar to the two little ones, but are way too small for the rest, but that is the the best I have come up with.

Thanks,
Dave

David Houck · « **Reply #1 on:** November 17, 2005, 05:57:38 AM »

My first suggestion, if you haven't already, is to go through all the sets at Juststrings. If you can't find them, then my second suggestion is that perhaps they were not a complete set. It could be a 5 string high C set with a single F string added from the same manufacturer and string type; or a 4 string set with the C and F added.

gtrguy · « **Reply #2 on:** November 17, 2005, 11:43:27 AM »

You may well be right. I went through all the Musicians Friends strings online without a match.

keith_h · « **Reply #3 on:** November 17, 2005, 12:15:33 PM »

Juststrings also sells singles. To get the gauges and tension right on my 5 string I need to buy singles. I've found the cost isn't that much different than buying a set (in my case at least).

Keith

beelee · « **Reply #4 on:** November 17, 2005, 03:39:58 PM »

Red Fuzz by tuners and brass ends.......they could be a custom gauge set from GHS strings, I use to get custom gauges for a Yamaha 5 string bass I use to have from a Luthier that use to do setups and such for me, he got them from GHS.

Bruce

kmh364 · « **Reply #5 on:** November 17, 2005, 04:01:19 PM »

David,

Try my Luthier:

Steven Hayes over at

Steve's Studio
91 Jordan Rd.
Colonia
NJ
07067
908-382-3557

He has custom sets for guitars and I think he may have custom sets for bass. They are also GHS or equivalent specs (he is very anal about everything, LOL!). Even if he doesn't have 'em, he can probably point you to a source.

Cheers,

Kevin

edwin · « **Reply #6 on:** November 17, 2005, 04:42:45 PM »

I am a DR endorser and in my experience, they seem to have pretty much every gauge of string you could imagine. I bet if you contacted them through their website, they could work something out through a local dealer.

How are you tuning this bass?

Let us know what happens!
Edwin

David Houck · « **Reply #7 on:** November 17, 2005, 05:31:16 PM »

Looks to me like he's going low E to high F.

gtrguy · « **Reply #8 on:** November 18, 2005, 10:35:45 AM »

Actually, no. It's low B on up like many six stringers (the second big string is tuned at E). The Elan has such clear paino-like tone and my SWR setup with the Alembic preamp in the stack can pull such lows that it works for me. These are the string that were on it when I bought it and I love the size of them. But they are pretty old and dead now. I also have a concern about how much tension I can put on the new strings, if I find them. Can I tune them higher then they are designed for and break them?

Thanks for all the help!
Dave

gtrguy · « **Reply #9 on:** November 18, 2005, 10:39:55 AM »

Jeez, I really can't spell. Or again, maybe I just don't like keys!

David Houck · « **Reply #10 on:** November 18, 2005, 12:24:59 PM »

I just looked again and in every six string set with a .106, the .106 was the E. Are you tuned down to a low B or up to a high B. If you are tuned like most six string basses, then you are tuned down, and the .106 should feel like it has very little tension. Just to see what it was like, I just tuned my E down to a B and was surprised to find that it works quite well.

gtrguy · « **Reply #11 on:** November 21, 2005, 08:50:36 AM »

The Alembic came this way when I bought it used and it feels good to me. Also, I am a guitar player from way back, so that also factors into the feel for me on the six string. My four stringers have normal size strings and so does my Yamaha TRB-6P fretless.
Thanks for the help and good advice.