Which string Length?

[stewblack]

How do you work out what length strings you need?

[Frank Blank]

Ascertain the scale length of your bass and then most string manufacturers specify which scale their string lengths are for.

[stewblack]

32 minutes ago, Frank Blank said:

Ascertain the scale length of your bass and then most string manufacturers specify which scale their string lengths are for.

Cool Thanks.

[stewblack]

How do you ascertain the scale length of your bass ?

[Frank Blank]

Measure from the bridge to the nut.

Edited December 22, 2019 by Frank Blank

[Reggaebass]

Theres a bit of info here from strings direct that may be of use 🙂https://www.stringsdirect.co.uk/blog/how-to-measure-bass-scale-length/

[stewblack]

3 minutes ago, Frank Blank said:

Measure from the bridge to the nut.

Cheers Frank. In the past I've only needed the longest ones but since I decided buying basses was cheaper than replacing strings I've now discovered the red silky bit comes over the nut on some of them.

[stewblack]

2 minutes ago, Reggaebass said:

Theres a bit of info here from strings direct that may be of use 🙂https://www.stringsdirect.co.uk/blog/how-to-measure-bass-scale-length/

Thank you.

[Smirfy]

My understanding is that if you measure from the nut to the 12th fret and double it, the result is your scale length. On a related topic, I have read that it is good practice to only have the silk wrapped around the tuning peg and that having the thick part of the string wrapped around the peg can cause the string to break. In the case of fender style headstocks on 34 inch scale basses it seems that most long scale strings are too long, meaning the thick part of the string wraps around the post. Do people use medium scale length strings or are these too short?

Not meaning to hijack, I thought this was relevant here

 

Happy Christmas!!

[Reggaebass]

I really only use labella LTF’s  , so I know the measurement from ball end to silk , but if I’m buying new strings I try to get the string length specs up  to be sure, as I’ve been caught out a few times .

[pete.young]

What you actually want is the speaking length. This will be the same for a fixed BBOT bridge but will be longer than the scale length if you have through-body stringing or a tailpiece. For example my Duesenberg is a short-scale bass which uses medium-scale strings.

[itu]

Very good notice @Smirfy

I only use long scale plus or similar long scale strings as they fit every instrument I have. Longer fits always shorter but not vice versa.

[itu]

As the editing does not seem to work always with Andphone, I add that I have had no issues with the strings if the thicker part reaches the tuning posts. But the measuring from the nut to the 12th fret is spot on.

[Merton]

Follow the advice here and you’ll do a better job than LaBella...:

[TheGreek]

I believe that most full scale 2+2 headstock basses will take medium scale strings. 

I can get away with medium scale Status tapewounds on my 2+2s even though Rob says that I won't.