Hi All,
I have just purchased a Spector 5 string from ebay and managed to change out the dead strings from one of my old 4 strings.
The only issue I have now is the low B string and I need to change it but don't know what gauge it is.
I know string size is a matter of personal preference, but I've never played a 5 string and don't have time to find out what suits as I need it urgently and don't have time to mess with the nut or bridge.
Does anybody know what string gauge the low B on these came with from the factory so I can easily swap it out? Also, does the 35" scale length mean I need to be careful what strings I get as when I tried to swap out the E string from another bass, the outer winding was going to end up the wrong side of the nut!
Many thanks in advance.
Kol.
Edit - Ok, I couldn't wait....
Local shop only had a Trace Elliot (?) .130" BLX...
The top winding only just comes over the nut and the winding for the stopper at the bridge needed hammering (just a little) then pulled through when tuned to pitch, that is a REALLY tight hole (and I don't normally complain about those).
Also the only part that fits round the peg is a piece of core wire with just a little of the inner winding wire, is that going to hold?!
I found out that it's a really OLD string, here is the blurb from somewhere or other:
Now discontinued, these strings were made for Trace Elliott for many years. They are handwound in a single direction and the core mass of each string is carefully specified to ensure a uniform tension and feel when tuned to pitch. By stepping down the windings over the bridge [b](I think they mean [b]tapered after[/b] the nut)[/b] on the heavier gauges, the sustain and clarity of E and B strings are significantly improved.
Single Ball End, Roundwound, Nickel.
6 String Heavy Gauge; .030, .045, .065, .085, .105, .130.
The .130 doesn't sit perfectly in the nut (so I'm going to guess it originally had a .125 or something) but it's good enough for now.