String Help

[alembic1989]

I currently use a 6 string bass with round wound strings, the thinnest being around  .020". The bass has a 34" scale. ..andctuned E-E. The problem I'm having is there is a very marked difference in tone on the 2 thinnest strings....they sound very scratchy , and noticeably different tonally to the other 4.

I'm thinking of trying a low tension set of flats, but have no idea of what gauges to use. I'm thinking that the top E would be around .020...most 6 strung flatwound sets I've seen have a whopping low B..that I dont want.

Any suggestions for make/ string gauges etc would be most welcome...I'm tryingbto eliminate the horrible tone of my fingers on very thin rounwounds...any helps or tops would be very welcome.

[naxos10]

Hi alembic1989, you may be better posting this question in the 'Accessories and Miscellaneous' thread.

[BigRedX]

There are two things working against you. Firstly the scale length. Unfortunately long scale basses have difficulty getting a decent tone out of the lighter gauge strings. Most 6 string basses tuned E-E are 30" scale and the tonal benefit is noticeable. I had a go with tuning E-C on one of my 5-string 34" scale basses and couldn't get a decent sound out of the high C - it always sounded to me like bad jazz guitar, and was eventually abandoned in favour of a more conventional B-G tuning.

 

The other factor is that you string gauges appear to be quite light. On my 30" scale basses tuned E-E to the high E is either 24 or 30 and again the benefits from the heavier gauge strings is very noticeable. Can you get a decent tone for the notes you would normally play on the highest two string from the D and G played further up the neck?

 

You haven't said what you bass is or what sort of a neck joints has. This can also be a factor, and it might simply be that your particular bass simply doesn't lend itself to getting a decent tone out of the highest strings.

Edited October 4, 2022 by BigRedX

[fretmeister]

Just compress the fosters out of it.

 

[/running for cover]

[alembic1989]

7 hours ago, BigRedX said:

There are two things working against you. Firstly the scale length. Unfortunately long scale basses have difficulty getting a decent tone out of the lighter gauge strings. Most 6 string basses tuned E-E are 30" scale and the tonal benefit is noticeable. I had a go with tuning E-C on one of my 5-string 34" scale basses and couldn't get a decent sound out of the high C - it always sounded to me like bad jazz guitar, and was eventually abandoned in favour of a more conventional B-G tuning.

 

The other factor is that you string gauges appear to be quite light. On my 30" scale basses tuned E-E to the high E is either 24 or 30 and again the benefits from the heavier gauge strings is very noticeable. Can you get a decent tone for the notes you would normally play on the highest two string from the D and G played further up the neck?

 

You haven't said what you bass is or what sort of a neck joints has. This can also be a factor, and it might simply be that your particular bass simply doesn't lend itself to getting a decent tone out of the highest strings.

Thanks.

Theres a lot I hadn't considered. 

[mikel]

Try D'Addario short scale. I only use them after much trial and error. Very consistent. 

[alembic1989]

13 hours ago, naxos10 said:

Hi alembic1989, you may be better posting this question in the 'Accessories and Miscellaneous' thread.

Ok..I'll remember..thanks.

[StickyDBRmf]

Nice mug!