Owen Posted September 7, 2011 Share Posted September 7, 2011 I have just bought an Arco bass from the for sale forum. It is set up to be a 34" scale but I am messing with it to make it 38" scale which is, I believe, 1/2 size. What is the difference between "full size strings" and "1/2 size strings"? Is it just (obv) length or are there tensions and stuff involved? I am thinking about a set of Honeys cos I like them and need to do the Arco thing (otherwise it would be rockabilly all the way). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daflewis Posted September 7, 2011 Share Posted September 7, 2011 Hi Owen, Thanks for the question; I was going to post an answer, but then realised there would be a certain amount of guess work on my part about the actual makeup of the half size set, so I'll email Tony and get a definitive answer for you.... Cheers, Daf Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owen Posted September 7, 2011 Author Share Posted September 7, 2011 Cool. I watched the vid with you on the 5 string for sale thread and it transpired that we have Billy Thompson in common! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Bassman Posted September 7, 2011 Share Posted September 7, 2011 Hey Owen, I've got a 1/2 scale Honey D you can have if you want to try it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owen Posted September 7, 2011 Author Share Posted September 7, 2011 Mr Bassman, thanks for your kind offer, but the bass in question has bass guitar machine heads and it is making a real mess of whatever I put on at the moment. Have a set of 1/2 size 2nd hand spiros on the way and when I have got a new bridge set and all that I might put my present Honeys on from my DB and try a set of those solo Innovation ones tuned to concert pitch on my DB. I would not want to damage your D. I am thinking heat shrink on the Honeys at the machine head stress end to hold the wraps in, because I will need to snip them cos there is not much room on the machine heads. This would go for any 1/2 size strings as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daflewis Posted September 8, 2011 Share Posted September 8, 2011 (edited) Hi Owen, Right; the half size are different, as you suspected - in order to get the tension right they have to be heavier which means more metal wraps on the string, which in turn means that they are a slightly thicker gauge. They're currently looking into new materials in order to try and bring down the diameter. Hope that helps.... Ah! Billy Thompson.... That vid is about 10 years old - and I haven't seen him in all that time - please say hi for me next time you see him. Cheers, Daf Edited September 8, 2011 by daflewis Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owen Posted September 8, 2011 Author Share Posted September 8, 2011 Thanks Daf. I took the bass up to my luthier (!) who is doing stuff to it and installing the spiros (thanks Gareth). I am no great fan of spiros but they will do for now and I might go for a set of the solo Inno string tuned to concert when I am happy with the setup of the instrument. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
franzbassist Posted September 8, 2011 Share Posted September 8, 2011 [quote name='owen' post='1367111' date='Sep 8 2011, 10:52 PM']Thanks Daf. I took the bass up to my luthier (!) who is doing stuff to it and installing the spiros (thanks Gareth). I am no great fan of spiros but they will do for now and I might go for a set of the solo Inno string tuned to concert when I am happy with the setup of the instrument.[/quote] Where's the thumbs up icon when you need it! Cheers Owen, I hope they do a job for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daflewis Posted September 8, 2011 Share Posted September 8, 2011 Thanks Owen, let me know how you get on... Daf Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scojack Posted September 9, 2011 Share Posted September 9, 2011 (edited) Keep us posted Owen, would love to try Honeys on my 38" EUB myself. IanM Edited September 9, 2011 by scojack Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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