Japhet Posted June 14, 2022 Share Posted June 14, 2022 Anyone got any opinions on strings for short scale basses. I'm using an Ibanez Talman (probably has stock strings on it), but finding them a bit floppy. Any suggestions greatly appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The fasting showman Posted June 14, 2022 Share Posted June 14, 2022 (edited) Hi, I've just recently bought a G&L Fallout Tribute bass as Guitar Guitar were selling them at a price that a fool like me couldn't resist. After initially thinking this is novel but have I made a mistake, I took the D'addarios that are stock off and I've replaced them with standard long scale Legacy 45-105 (Legacy are an OEM brand James How / Rotosound make, you probably know) in nickel. I've left more windings on the tuners than I normally would as the Tribute models have tuners I'm not crazy about; they sit high on the headstock face compared to the tuners on my USA G&L 5 string, I suppose I've helped the break angle at the nut. Anyway, the bass feels much better to me now, I'm well aware I've gone off piste from the usual small bass/ thin strings approach but things feel much more resonant and positive. Nothing against D'addario strings as I know they are good and well liked, there's something in the mids about them that doesn't suit me, I prefer cheaper nickels like Legacy and some of the Fenders (OEM from D'addario!) but change them every couple of months. It's turning into a great little bass, hopefully I'll gig it over the next 3 weekends. Edited June 14, 2022 by The fasting showman Layout 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeftyJ Posted June 14, 2022 Share Posted June 14, 2022 Here's a recent thread about acquiring the right length strings for short scale basses. Further down, the subject changes to gauge. Might be of use to you too 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed_S Posted June 14, 2022 Share Posted June 14, 2022 I put D'Addario EXL160S medium nickel rounds on my Talman 30 and thought it felt and sounded loads better for it. It had previously got D'Addario ECB81S regular-light chromes on it, which were alright for tension but just a bit uninspiring in the sound department. I installed a set of Seymour Duncan quarter-pounders too, which helped it to sound even more assertive when the heavier rounds went on. It's basically got the picking/plucking-hand feel and overall sound of a standard scale P/J but the novelty and/or utility of being a 30". 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted June 14, 2022 Share Posted June 14, 2022 Newtone. The first time I fitted a set of Newtone strings to my short-scale Burns Sonic Bass it was a complete revelation. For the first time I was able to get a proper sounding note out of the E string, before that I had avoided using it because it sounded rubbish. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dmc79 Posted June 14, 2022 Share Posted June 14, 2022 4 hours ago, Ed_S said: I put D'Addario EXL160S medium nickel rounds on my Talman 30 and thought it felt and sounded loads better for it. It had previously got D'Addario ECB81S regular-light chromes on it, which were alright for tension but just a bit uninspiring in the sound department. I installed a set of Seymour Duncan quarter-pounders too, which helped it to sound even more assertive when the heavier rounds went on. It's basically got the picking/plucking-hand feel and overall sound of a standard scale P/J but the novelty and/or utility of being a 30". Also put the D'Addario XL Nickel Wounds in Medium gauge (50-105) on my short scale Squier VM Jaguar. Look out for the packet with 'EXL160S', orange circle and blue strip along top. Most said of this bass that going to a heavier gauge than stock (40-95) improved the string tension and took any floppiness out of especially the E string. Seemed a lot better in this regard after the change for me. 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Japhet Posted June 15, 2022 Author Share Posted June 15, 2022 14 hours ago, dmc79 said: Also put the D'Addario XL Nickel Wounds in Medium gauge (50-105) on my short scale Squier VM Jaguar. Look out for the packet with 'EXL160S', orange circle and blue strip along top. Most said of this bass that going to a heavier gauge than stock (40-95) improved the string tension and took any floppiness out of especially the E string. Seemed a lot better in this regard after the change for me. I've pulled the trigger on a set of them (EXL160S). Sounds like they'll hopefully do the trick. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
binky_bass Posted June 17, 2022 Share Posted June 17, 2022 On 14/06/2022 at 16:15, BigRedX said: Newtone. The first time I fitted a set of Newtone strings to my short-scale Burns Sonic Bass it was a complete revelation. For the first time I was able to get a proper sounding note out of the E string, before that I had avoided using it because it sounded rubbish. This. 100% Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crazycloud Posted June 18, 2022 Share Posted June 18, 2022 Kalium. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
binky_bass Posted June 18, 2022 Share Posted June 18, 2022 32 minutes ago, crazycloud said: Kalium. Kalium are great, but with them being in the US they can be a little pricey. Newtone are UK based as just as good (I've used both a good few times). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crazycloud Posted June 18, 2022 Share Posted June 18, 2022 That's fine, I merely offered an alternative. It's up to the punter whether a particular brand has value for them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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