Knowing this measurement will always stand you in good stead for getting the right length of bass strings. This might sound crazy, but we do come across instances where some strings just won’t fit through the machineheads because they’re simply too thick. As mentioned above, Sir Paul is perhaps the musician most identified for sporting a short-scale bass. I am looking to put a set of flatwound strings on my acoustic bass. May be subject to additional charges, see checkout for details. Thanks for your question, would you be able to send me some pictures of the headstock of your bass and I’d be happy to help. Thanks An example of this is the Hofner Violin ‘Beatle’ Bass. All Rights Reserved. Standards fell into place: the dominant long scale established by Fender (34”; rarely, other makers have offered longer scales), the less prevalent short scale (30” and slightly longer) and the much rarer medium scale (around 32”). This is easily demonstrated on any stringed instrument. One of our guys here has a Fender Mustang bass too. Classic short-scale bass players from the 1960s and 1970s include Jack Casady (Jefferson Airplane), Phil Lesh (Grateful Dead), Bill Wyman (The Rolling Stones), and Jack Bruce (Cream). The medium scale set measures 35.25″ from the ball end to the silk so yes this would be the correct scale length to go for. I would like a set of 4 flatwound strings Now I thinking of getting a Fender Mustang. I made the guitar myself and I slanted the frets hoping that my hands won’t cramp up as easily. So sorry for the delay in getting back to you on this. $0. It has the same unmistakable feel, from the tapered modern ‘C’ Maple neck, to the 21 medium jumbo frets and 34” scale length. Length from the ball end of the G-String to the nut is 36.3 inches – from the nut to the centre og the G-String peg is another 8.5 inches. I have an Ibanez fan fret 5 string bass and having a bit of bother trying to find a replacement set. I have an acoustic 5 string bass. If you could measure the bass as per the directions in the blog above, I’ll be able to tell you exactly. can you suggest an affordable set of strings? (there is also green silk windings on the ball ends for about 0.5″). But, short-scale basses aren’t chosen simply for their convenient size. Thanks. The Rotosound RS88S (short scale) Bass set only measures 32.5″ from the ball end to the start of the silk…with this in mind I gather that the set you bought turned out to be about 1″ short of the nut? Hi Sam, Unfortunately, I read on BassTalk forum, he was in poor health and there was no response in his contact options. You’re welcome Sam, if you need anything else, please just give us a call or drop us a message again . The Player series takes things one step further, thanks to freshly-designed alnico single-coil pickups that sound great using either a pick or playing fingerstyle. If the silk does start before or on the nut, it is a big no, no (see the image below). Also if you have any suggestions for topics you’d like us to blog about, let us know and we’ll see what we can do. Short-scale basses possess a super-fat sound, are incredibly comfortable to play, and can inject a matchless character and energy into your playing. This guide covers everything you would want to know about guitar scale length. When the string length changes, the character of those harmonics (and their volumes) change. The Squier Classic Vibe Jaguar Bass falls under this category, as does the Ibanez Mezzo, and the Strandberg Boden Bass. Do you know where the 28.6″ is being measured from please? We have a staff member here that loves Elixir strings and trims them down to fit his short scale Fender Mustang. Mint. If yours is the exact same sizing as his, the distance from the bridge saddles to the top nut is 30.75″ / 78cm, however, because it’s a thru-body bass, the ball end to the nut is 33.5″ / 85cm (which is the important measurement here). Long stretches between notes are far more manageable. Both are short scale bass. In the context of guitars, bass guitars, and other string instruments, scale length refers to the distance between the bridge and the nut, not the length of the neck. If you were to consider the scale length only (bridge saddles to nut) you are potentially neglecting a few extra inches of string that crucially need to be accounted for. It’s worth noting that these measurements are meant as a guide only. Whilst it’s important to be aware of your scale length (short, medium, long etc… ), more importantly, we encourage bassists to know how long they need their strings to be, which will be a slightly longer measurement than basic scale length, aka Speaking Length. So basically you need a set that measures more than 33.5″ from the ball end to the silk or start of the taper to ensure this doesn’t start before the nut. If you have a bass where you cannot see the ball end i.e. If you let us know then we’ll be able to help you out. Don K. Thanks for your question. Thanks again LONG SCALE TOO LONG.short scale too short.. Rotosounds. Here at Strings Direct, we know all too well about the issues players have when selecting the correct length of strings for their bass. Lee. Great article. 60054: Squier Bass VI - made in Indonesia - tracing required same specs as the reissues listed above but slight differences in dimensions & screw locations This page features pickguards for some of Fender's other bass models not covered in our other sections. I suck, yes, I know. We try to specify the ball end to silk length on each set so as long as that exceeds your 35.5″ measurement you should be fine. Cheers, Peter. Over the years, 'short scale' has come to mean any bass with a scale length 31" and under, with the average being 30" or thereabouts. While the pitches are the same, the timbre is different. What we call “long-scale” basses have become more or less the standard scale length for basses, thanks to Leo Fender and the Precision Bass he introduced in 1951. Evolved for today’s musician, the American Professional Jazz Bass V combines modern features and materials with Fender’s craftsmanship and expertise to produce a truly contemporary bass. This is particularly significant for flatwound sets. Talk to any bass player at Sweetwater and they’ll happily chat your ear off about the awesomeness of short-scale basses! While the 34″ scale is now considered the standard, it wasn’t always so. Bass ( Squier Bronco ) and want to replace the strings as part of a complete upgrade of electronics, bridge and P/U etc. Now is the perfect time to get the gear you want with simple, promotional financing. a thru-body bass, you will have to do this exercise once the string has been removed. It’s important that the silk on these sets is wound around the post as opposed to the windings themselves as they can be prone to breaking if the windings become separated and the core is exposed. I have an Ozark Professional 3385 Acoustic bass. You’re aiming for the string to be long enough to pass through your bridge or body (depending on how you restring your bass) and for the wound portion of the string to then pass over the nut before the silk winding starts or the string starts to taper down. That being said, where can I purchase one .125 B string? It always stays right around 24 and three-quarter inches, but it’s gone anywhere from 24 and five-eighths down to 24 and nine-sixteenths, depending on the era you’re talking about: courtesy of StewMac. Measuring with a digital caliper (but get slightly different readings on different parts of the string, so I’ve averaged multiple readings) are : On a Jazz Bass (pictured) the "Scale Length" is measured at 34" roughly. The treble strings are not only easier to bend than on a 25 … No, you weren’t wrong, you ideally need the silk to end before the saddles as this would hinder the tonality and vibration of the string. Happy customers, one piece of gear at a time! A: Metal guitarists tend to prefer longer scale lengths (eg: 26.5? Here’s a small table showing how their lengths compare to standard ‘Scale Length’ measurements. I have an Ibanex SRMS805 fan fretted bass. BYO-CS-LG-Neck $225.00 * … Will the Hofner violin bass strings fit? , The strings themselves measure 32 1/4″ from the ball end to the start of the silk and La Bella always recommend ensuring the silk winding should be wrapped around the tuning post. Hi John, Phone Hours | I have tried a set of Rotosound 77 flats and they had the silk on the saddles. VAT no. Here’s a link to our Acoustic bass set range. Add to Cart. Bass Upheaval. Cheers – I wish I had read this before getting Rotosound RS88S’s on my Fender Mustang… I suppose the Rotosund Medium would be the correct fit for the Mustang, any opinion or fact for this? However, because of its trapeze-style tailpiece, the strings are anchored approximately 3-4 inches further back from the saddles. Fender American Pro Precision Bass V 5-String Specifications. Hi Leon, thanks for the comments. Logically, you would assume that this bass would therefore need a ‘Short Scale’ set of strings. Between the Bronco and Mustang fenders are there any differences in sound since both are short Fender’s Bronco Bass, released in 1967, was another short-scale option, but it never quite achieved the same reputation as the Mustang Bass, and was also discontinued in 1981. * For qualifying in-stock items delivered to the contiguous United States only, on orders processed by 5PM Eastern time. If you need any further guidance, just let us know. Hi guys So, they fill a distinctive tonal space and are a super choice for players on the fence between choosing a short-scale or long-scale option. Fender review / Bass Guitars / Unbiased reviews of guitar equipment, CD and DVD music at Ultimate-Guitar.Com With regards to your strings being too close to the frets, it could be one (or a combination of a few of the following factors). For instance, some tailpieces sit further back from the saddles than others, whilst some basses need to be strung through the back of the body. This makes the Scale Length 35.25”. The previous owner thought they were Rotosound TruBass black nylon wound flatwound strings. $699 + $95 Shipping. You end up with higher tension on the low strings and lower tension on the higher strings. 53, 77, 95, 115. The bass has a 31″ scale length – and the strings on it fit perfectly, with the neon green silk windings starting just after the nut. Thanks, I had a epiphone viola and switched to Fender Bronco. MEDIUM SCALE LOPS OFF ONE FRET AT THE NUT WHILE SHORT SCALES LOP OFF TWO FRETS AT THE NUT - WHEN COMPARED TO THE STANDARD 34" SCALE. Thanks If you want to benefit from this improved service, please opt-in. If you have really small hands or the bass is for a child under 12, you might consider a short scale bass. If you need any more help just send me an email at lee@stringsdirect.co.uk. Hi Sander, In any case, the Rotosound long scale bass strings RS665LD strings measure 37″ from the ball end up to the start of the silk and the extra-long scale set (RS665EL) measures 38″. PRS opted for a scale length of 25", which is also found on Dobro and National guitars. The first and most obvious reason to use a short-scale bass is its physical size. On a short-scale bass the strings are under less tension, so they have a looser, slightly “floppy” feel, which also impacts the instrument’s attack, sustain, and dynamics. To find this out, rather than simply measuring from the bridge to the nut, we insist players measure their current set of strings (if your bass has a set on there) from the ball end of the string to where it crosses the nut. I have an Ibanez Gio GSR 190 4 string bass. Hi, The compact fingerboard is great for speedy, note-filled bass lines. I have another 5 String bass that the strings will fit-otherwise I’ll have to donate them to a worthy 4 String Player. 1. PLEASE DO YOUR RESEARCH AND DO NOT CONFUSE THE ISSUE. How Long is the string from the ball end to the nut? I’m looking the exact set of strings that came on a Kay K-162 bass I just bought. 689983537. This can also be referred to as the "vibrating length" of the string. *For your information; amongst some other brands D’Addario and Rotosound also use speaking lengths to categorise their bass strings. They’re also ideal for guitarists who want to explore the bass, since they feel more like a standard electric guitar than a long-scale bass does, thus making the transition easier. I am guitar player who recently purchased short scale I’d like at least some unplugged tone but i do NOT like the almost echoing ring acoustic bass strings produce. The current Fender and Squier Bass VI models are considered bass guitars, as was the Fender original. ... 1966 Fender Bass V - Five String $5,999 pic hide this posting restore restore this posting. Does anyone make strings to these specs? I have Rotosound 77s on my 4 string acoustic. Thanks. But, even with those strings, a short-scale bass retains its dark tone but with a more focused low-end thump. In fact, Johnsen has partnered with Fender to create the Fender Justin Meldal-Johnsen Road Worn version of his vintage 1967 Mustang Bass, a vibey, tone-packed short-scale that perfectly complements his indie-rock aesthetic. Now I know why my Roto Bass 40-5 B string would not fit in the post-Because I cut it! Watt is notorious for his moving, geometric bass lines and aggressive post-punk style — for which short-scale basses are particularly well-suited. You may have heard scale length referred to as “speaking length” at some point. Great bit of info. Then, play the same note on the 7th fret of the A string. ** For qualifying in-stock items delivered to the contiguous United States only, on orders processed by Noon Eastern time on Wednesday 12/23. A few Fender models such as the Jaguar and Mustang use a scale length of 24 inches (610 mm). Bass guitar scale length – what you need to know, Introducing the D’Addario Auto Lock Guitar Strap. Hello, I have a 5 string bass with inverted headstock and some strings dont fit on the nut correctly because the length of the real measure wrap of the string. Do you sell something appropriate for that basis in Flatwound or Tapewound ? Another notable short-scale player from that period is Mike Watt from Minutemen, Dos, and Firehose. I wonder if you have any knowledge of this instrument in regard to the ball-end to nut distance ? Hope this helps. 45” in overall length. What is the scale length of my 1972 P Bass? This is going to be an easy one for the group, but I just don't know the right answer. Weymouth has said in interviews that short-scale basses helped her to get her confidence up before folding long-scale basses into her repertoire.