(there is also green silk windings on the ball ends for about 0.5″). 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. We uses cookies to improve user experience. Hi, thanks for the informative piece. What options are there for a fairly versatile set of strings for a 5 string bass that fit on a 35 inch scale length? . From $39.99. 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. Yes really sorry about that. Hi Rafael, Hi, love the article! I wonder if you have any knowledge of this instrument in regard to the ball-end to nut distance ? Rated 4.5/5 Stars (3) In Stock Compare. Controls. Vote. All Rights Reserved. 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). So am I to purchase Short Scale Strings or Medium length ? Thanks All D’Addario and Jim Dunlop short scale sets measure this length. For one thing, short-scale bass guitars sometimes use a slightly heavier string gauge than their long-scale brothers, which imparts a thicker tone. Warwick black labels strings are the only definite strings that fit. Lee, ok. Thank you, Thanks Jonathan. With its powerful punchy sound, the added flexibility of additional pickups and a comfortably contoured body the StingRay5 satisfies even the most demanding of players. Allparts 24 3/4" Scale Length Angled Paddle Head Neck. Find a great collection of Electric Bass at Ibanez. Working with Joe Veillette, I intentionally designed this bass to play fast and sound like nothing you have in your collection currently. Everly Bass Strings: Long Scale = 37.75" Ball to Taper; Fender Bass Strings: Short Scale = 32" Ball to Taper; Medium Scale = 34" Ball to Taper; Long Scale = 36.5" Ball to Taper; Fodera Bass Strings: Long Scale = 37.5" Ball to Taper; Extra Long Scale = 39.25" Ball to Taper; GHS Bass Strings CURRENT SPECS: Short Scale: 32.75" Ball to Taper (or Silk) Medium Scale: 35.5" Ball to Taper (or Silk) Finding the correct string length for your Electric Bass is not always as easy as matching up the "Scale Length" of your bass to the "Scale Length" or "Winding Length" of the pack of strings. How to use: Select your foundation 4 or 5-string set. Great bit of info. You end up with higher tension on the low strings and lower tension on the higher strings. My only recommendation would be to contact somebody like Newtone Strings in Derbyshire who may be able to make you a custom set to the specifications you need. Hi Dan, Enjoy the lowest prices and best selection of Ibanez 5 String Electric Bass at Guitar Center. Thanks in advance. In any case, we would recommend taking the measurements yourself. While the EpiphoneEB-0 Electric Bass Guitar may not describe itself as a short scale bass guitar, the scale length of this instrument is 30.5-inches. One question however, does it matter that the silk on the bridge side rests on the saddles, or doesn’t that matter as much as silk resting on the nut? Medium Scale – 32-34” Scale Length Get the best price on Short Scale Basses at Guitar Center. SGR-6B "Case Sold Separately" Reviews. Any suggestion on string length would be much appreciated! LONG SCALE TOO LONG.short scale too short.. Rotosounds. I love the feel and tone but they are all but silent unless it’s plugged in. If the shorts are a little too short, the medium scale set measures may be more suited to your needs as these measure 34″ and the long scale set measures 36 3/4″. This is particularly significant for flatwound sets. It’s a Kid’s style P bass. Very interesting article. If you need any further guidance, just let us know. Strangely enough, another reader asked a similar question a few days ago. This bass is strung with Medium Scale D'Addario Chromes which have a 34" winding length from Ball End to Silk. The bass guitar above, a Schecter Stiletto Studio-5 bass, has a 35-inch scale length instead of 34-inch, and that 1-inch difference in scale length may be just the thing you’re looking for to cure that flappy B issue – especially if you don’t feel like messing around with crafting a … Compare Specs. As with all things strings and musical instruments, there’s often some idiosyncrasies that throw curve balls into the mix so we’re here to help clear things up and guide you as you navigate your way through the (sometimes) murky waters of scale lengths. Bass is in good playing condition, has average nicks and dings but looks great overall. Ibanez basses typically have narrow necks. Look forward to hearing from you soon. While the EpiphoneEB-0 Electric Bass Guitar may not describe itself as a short scale bass guitar, the scale length of this instrument is 30.5-inches. All Rights Reserved. I have tried a set of Rotosound 77 flats and they had the silk on the saddles. If for example you normally play light gauge acoustic guitar strings e.g. The 5-String Acoustic Bass Guitar Plans give you detailed plans of this great sounding bass that is based on acoustic guitar principles. Scale length is the distance (usually measured in inches) from the bridge saddles of your bass up to the nut. Mk3. Usually, extended-range basses are tuned in fourths. If you measure from the ball end of your string up to where it crosses the top nut, this would be ideal and give us a true representation of whether these would fit your basses or not. Thanks. I’d like at least some unplugged tone but i do NOT like the almost echoing ring acoustic bass strings produce. Ibanez offers electric guitars, bass guitars, acoustic guitars, effect and pedals, amps, plus guitar accessories like tuners, straps and picks. I made the guitar myself and I slanted the frets hoping that my hands won’t cramp up as easily. This will give you the "Maximum Winding Length" for your instrument. If you do need any guidance with this in future, please don’t hesitate to get in touch, Wow, 58 years playing bass, never had a scooby about this, explains how I broke a new E on an EBO in ‘66, Hi Brian, thanks for the feedback and glad you got some good info from the article . What brands do you suggest that are for tapered long scale that might work? Hi Peter, unfortunately we don’t have any direct experience of that particular model bass. The length of the D’addario 045-130 standard is the same of your chart (36 inches)? The scale length represents the length of the guitar string that can vibrate between the nut and the saddle. 45-100 LONG SCALE, PHOSPHOR BRONZE . © 2021 Strings Direct. Even though your instrument is a certain "Scale Length" it may require a longer scale of strings. Many bass strings are sold in specific lengths to match the scale length of your bass guitar. 5-string Bass Guitars | Sweetwater Here you go. I am looking to put a set of flatwound strings on my acoustic bass. I do hv still a Yamaha 414 and a Gregg Benett 34 in. I have an acoustic 5 string bass. Ideally i’d like to use the RS665LD strings if they can acomodate both guitars to save confusing things. Knowing this measurement will always stand you in good stead for getting the right length of bass strings. The treble strings are not only easier to bend than on a 25-1/2" scale, but also have a warmer, and fuller tone. Does … The 4-string version features our classic symmetrical headstock shape, and the 5-string headstock features our off-set design. To help us expand our database of instruments and their required winding lengths please email us your specs through our. Squier Classic Vibe '70s Jazz Bass V - Natural with Maple Fingerboard $479.99. For good intonation, the guitar's saddle will be placed so a little extra string length is added. There is an added dimension to choosing bass strings, because you will need to match the string length to your instrument's scale (i.e. Ibanez acoustic bass. On face value, this is a logical question, and yes this can work for some people. Measuring with a digital caliper (but get slightly different readings on different parts of the string, so I’ve averaged multiple readings) are : Most Short Scale Basses are eligible for free shipping. One of our staff members has a Fender Mustang. I have an Ampeg Fretless Bass guitar ( model AUB-1 ). Scale Length: 34" Neck Wood: Maple: Neck Shape: GG5: Neck Depth At The Nut: 25.5/32" Width of Fretboard at the Body: 2 31/32" Width of Fretboard at the Nut: 1 23/32" Fretboard Wood: Maple or Rosewood: Fretboard Inlay : Birds: Hardware; Bridge: PRS 5-String Bass Bridge: Tuners: Bass Tuners: Hardware Type: Nickel: Electronics; Treble Pickup: GG5 Bass Pickup: GG5 Controls: PRS/Grainger … Hello – I have an Epiphone Vintage Pro Thunderbird and that means a 1960s claw tailpiece and a very big headstock – so the issue is getting enough winds around the G-String peg. Thanks. Comment. Ernie Ball artist and YouTube extraordinaire Ryan “Fluff” Bruce has shared an incredibly helpful guide to help you determine which string gauge is right for you. That being said, string manufacturers will create their sets specifically for certain scale length basses and often the gauges they select are carefully chosen to help give optimum performance and playability. It’s also worth noting that when a set of bass strings has been created solely for a specific scale length, often the thicker gauge strings will taper at a certain point so that they can be threaded through the holes in the machineheads. Furthermore, shorter strings require lower string tension for proper intonation, which gives both a looser, more “floppy” feel to … The first bass designed by Ernie Ball Music Man, the Stingray 5 was unveiled in 1987 and has been an industry standard for extended range basses ever since. Bass 5 Slinky Super Long Scale Electric Bass Strings - 45-130 Gauge. Sweetwater let’s you sort by scale length. The J-style pickups deliver massive slabs of classic tone and are tweaked via 2 volume and 2 tone controls. The most common scale for an electric bass is 34”. Finding the correct string length for your electric bass. I will need to order the strings seperately, as I think the La Bella 0760M-S 4-String Original 1954 Fender Style Short Scale Flatwound Bass Strings seem like a good choice, but are not offered by most guitar shops. The bass strings on a 25" scale are fuller sounding than some 24-3/4" instruments, which can sometimes sound muddy. I’ll go for the medium scale set next – thanks for the fast reply and for the very clear and informative article! On some Electric Bass instruments like this Fender Coronado II (pictured below) the "Scale Length" is 30" but the distance from Ball End to Saddle is a longer distance than on most instruments. 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 . So long as you are careful putting them on, this shouldn’t be too much of an issue. Yup, you’re correct about that ~1 inch short of -part. Monday, 14 January 2019. Sunbeam bass strings are nickel plated, round wound on a round core in gauge ranges from extra light to medium. If you want to benefit from this improved service, please opt-in. How does the "Scale Length" differ from the required "Winding Length" on your instrument? Does anyone make strings to these specs? Thanks for your comment. The previous owner thought they were Rotosound TruBass black nylon wound flatwound strings. I’m after some flat wounds and am unsure of the size I need , can you suggest any please ? 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. $338. String length is 53" with a taper at 38 and 1/4". I totally forgot scale length was a thing, so I bought a set of ernie ball roundwounds, realized they were too short, and scrapped them. 49 ($50.98/100 g) SPHM-A $175.00 * * Allparts 25 1/2" Scale Length Angled Paddle Head Neck. Spector's Performer Series 5-String Bass with classic Spector style at a price that is well within the reach of beginning bassists. With regards to the measurements you have kindly given us, are these measurements that you have taken yourself, or have you got these from the manufacturer’s website directly. I’m trying to setup a 30″ scale length Bass IV to low C-standard. Thanks for your time. This is called ‘long scale’. Extra long scale is longer than 34”. Thanks for your question, yes if you send me an email to lee@stringsdirect.co.uk, I’d be happy to help here. Or $42.00/month § for 36 months i. Demo available for $1,349.10 . The speaking length is 34 inches. YOUR “FEEL” STARTS HERE. A website by Bruce Johnson, xstrange.com specializing in Ampeg Basses, recommends : “40 1/4″ from the ball end to the end of the outer winding (the beginning of the silk threads). the speaking legnth is 35 1/2 inches while the scale length is 34 inches. 5 String ($1,799.00) 5 String - HH ($1,899.00) ... Watch the StingRay 5 Bass Demo for Sweetwater Sound Watch Angel Dust Guitars' Stingray 5 Bass Demo Specifications, Schematics & More. 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. Each set has the ‘Ball end to silk’ measurement listed in there but you can use the filter down the left hand side… just scroll down for the left-hand side and locate the ‘Ball End to Silk’ filter. There is no standard for "Winding Lengths" of strings between companies. 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 have a Warwick $$ Corvette 5 string and I always struggle to get the b to fit the neck – manufactures states long scale yet on buying various long scale brands I end up trimming way to fat into the B and it hardly sits in the neck. Multiscale guitars offer a different solution. Bass Scale Patterns. If you do need to do this, before removing the string be sure to make a mark on the string with a permanent marker just behind the nut so you know where to measure up to. Bought it back in 1984, it has a 25.5 scale length. 4; 5; Scale Length Long; Set Type. If you have a bass where you cannot see the ball end i.e. Thanks. This classic short scale makes it easier to comfortably reach the lower frets while maintaining Fender's punchy bass sound. The shortest strings we supply are made by D’Addario and Jim Dunlop which measure 32″ from the ball end to the start of the silk winding. Yes there are dedicated Acoustic Bass strings but there’s nothing stopping you using standard bass strings, you just may not get the bright resonant tone you’ll get from Acoustic Bronze strings. Antipicks. name. This site uses cookies to provide and improve your shopping experience. I have Rotosound 77s on my 4 string acoustic. That is my stopping point; they beat all other strings I've used. Do you sell something appropriate for that basis in Flatwound or Tapewound ? Most orders are eligible for free shipping! Thin ‘C’ ... Ernie Ball 5 String Super Long #2850 (.045-.130) Case. In 1956 Danelectro introduced their six-string bass (tuned EADGBE, an octave below a six-string guitar). Even though this is a "Short Scale" instrument, "Short Scale" strings would have been too short due to the tail piece construction. Hi Sam, VAT no. This iconic bass is described as a 30” short scale bass (bridge saddles to nut). email. I have an Ozark Professional 3385 Acoustic bass. Did you get in touch with us any other way…di this get sorted? 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. If you could measure the bass as per the directions in the blog above, I’ll be able to tell you exactly. Both are short scale bass. 0. Scale length is the measurement from the bridge saddles (or ferrules on string-through basses) to the nut at the end of the fretboard. 53, 77, 95, 115. what are the standard scale lengths of the 5 strings on a five string bass? Höfner Ignition Series Violin Bass. Sleek Body Design. Another top notch short scale 5 string bass guitar is the Ibanez GSRM25 Mikro 3/4 Size Electric Bass Guitar – 5 Strings. This extra length is called "compensation," and it means the actual string length is longer than its 24-3/4" scale measurement. can you suggest an affordable set of strings? I HATE the bronze strings it came with. It is good to know the actual winding length your instrument requires. Other than poor carpentry. The ball ends to the start of the headstock end green silk windings is pretty much on 34″. Sounds like you’ve just got a standard ‘Long Scale’ bass there. Scale length refers to the length of the vibrating bit of the string (from the nut down to the bridge). Below we’ve listed these 4 scale lengths along with some corresponding measurements: Short Scale – 30-32” Scale length I have another 5 String bass that the strings will fit-otherwise I’ll have to donate them to a worthy 4 String Player. GHS Strings 5M-DYB 5-String Bass Boomers, Nickel-Plated Electric Bass Strings, Long Scale, Medium (.045-.130) 4.7 out of 5 stars 103 $25.49 $ 25 . Thanks Now adjust the distance of the second-string saddle back from the first saddle, using the gauge of the second string as a measurement. If your 1930's Gibson L-OO, for example, measures 12-3/8" at the 12th fret, then your guitar's scale length is twice that—a 24-3/4" scale. I’m learning this the hard way. Scale length dictates string length. Logically, you would assume that this bass would therefore need a ‘Short Scale’ set of strings. Patterns show where the notes fall on the bass neck in relation to each other. Without seeing the bass itself, it’s difficult to say which one of these things need addressing but I hope this has given you some ideas. Scale Length What is this? I did a rough measurement and and get around 32.5″ scale length and 33.5″ speaking length So I guess I am looking for Medium Length strings. If the silk does start before or on the nut, it is a big no, no (see the image below). Will Penny, Thanks for your comment. String tension and length operate together to determine harmonic content, as well as feel. It explains what scale length, why it s important, how to measure scale length, and FAQ. If you need any more help just send me an email at lee@stringsdirect.co.uk. Hi really interesting post so thank you but I think I still need help. Also there’s a Lot mote tension with the flats versus the acoustic strings. I thought it would matter to the sound and took them off. 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. We hope this helps. Notice how the lengths can also vary slightly from manufacturer to manufacturer. Hi, Then measure from the back of the ball end to the middle of the tuning post. In the framework of guitars, bass guitars and any other string instruments, the scale length refers to the distance between the bridge and the nut, essentially the entire vibrating length of the strings as opposed to the length of the neck or fingerboard. Well this distance will be the minimum length your strings need to be before any silk wrap or tapering should start. What a difference in tone. While it may seem insignificant, subtracting four inches from a bass string’s vibrating length has a profound impact on timbre and feel. Each bass string is manufactured with the finest and freshest raw materials in the beautiful Coachella Valley of Southern California. a thru-body bass, you will have to do this exercise once the string has been removed. It’s a fairly standard adjustment, however, if you are at all unsure about adjusting this, we’d highly recommend getting these things looked at by your local music shop where a guitar repairer could advise you on the best way to proceed. First measure from the back of the ball end to the tuning post side of the nut. You may have heard scale length referred to as “speaking length” at some point. Scale. Here’s a small table showing how their lengths compare to standard ‘Scale Length’ measurements. “If bass players run the risk of selecting a set of strings that are ‘too short’, what’s stopping me buying a longer set and just trimming them down to the length that I need? A beginner bass player and just bought myself the fender mustang short scale. Will the Hofner violin bass strings fit? Thanks. This guitar is reportedly developed as a special edition, just for Guitar Central. From $77.40. I have an Ibanex SRMS805 fan fretted bass. Based on this, anything below 25.5” would be considered a short scale guitar, and anything over 25.5 inches would be referred to as a long scale guitar (unless a bass guitar) in the majority of cases. 30"-SCALE NECK WITH 9.5” FINGERBOARD RADIUS. Hope this helps. 5-String Light, Long Scale.045.065.085.105.130: 14782: 5-String Light/Medium, Long Scale.045.065.085 .105.0135: Electric Bass Stainless Steel 5th String Singles with NANOWEB Coating. i see the low b string is often 37 inches. Next time I say something mean this is paying it forward? Thanks Guys for your information provided. If you let us know then we’ll be able to help you out. 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. If you want to warm up a 25.5" scale guitar, you can try tuning down a half step, which thickens up its overtones and makes it sound a little closer to a 24.75" scale guitar.