Best extra/ultra light flatwound short-scale strings?

[Bexuga]

Hey guys,

I recently bought a short-scale bass and wanted to change the strings for some better ones. I'm looking for the best extra/ultra light flatwound short-scale strings. Any advice?
Also, it helps if they are cheap as well, if it's not asking too much.

Cheers

 

[GIBrat51]

The best - and lightest - short scale flat wounds I know of are the made-for-a Danelectro-Longhorn La Bella 760FD flats. They're .042-.079 gauge; which is about as light as you can get with bass strings. But, if you're new to flats? They're generally a little more expensive than round wound bass strings (and, sometimes, a whole lot more). However, if you take reasonable care of them, their price/longevity ratio is very favorable (they last a long time ). The 760FD's generally go for around $40/set; reasonable for a set of strings that may last for several years - not weeks/months; years - before you need to replace them. And, you may find that you - and your short scale bass - really prefer heavier strings. Some people (like me) find that really light gauge strings are a little...rubbery feeling. But a lot of people don't, so... Try them for yourself and see. Have fun....

 

[HaphAsSard]

Hey guys,

I recently bought a short-scale bass and wanted to change the strings for some better ones. I'm looking for the best extra/ultra light flatwound short-scale strings. Any advice?
Also, it helps if they are cheap as well, if it's not asking too much.

Cheers

The best - and lightest - short scale flat wounds I know of are the made-for-a Danelectro-Longhorn La Bella 760FD flats. They're .042-.079 gauge; which is about as light as you can get with bass strings. But, if you're new to flats? They're generally a little more expensive than round wound bass strings (and, sometimes, a whole lot more). However, if you take reasonable care of them, their price/longevity ratio is very favorable (they last a long time ). The 760FD's generally go for around $40/set; reasonable for a set of strings that may last for several years - not weeks/months; years - before you need to replace them. And, you may find that you - and your short scale bass - really prefer heavier strings. Some people (like me) find that really light gauge strings are a little...rubbery feeling. But a lot of people don't, so... Try them for yourself and see. Have fun....

Came here to post about the same set. As in, to mention the lightest prepackaged flatwound set I'm aware of, not to recommend it since I've never tried it myself. Speaking of which, how do you like it, Mr. '51? (Not comfortable addressing you as "brat"...) You've actually answered most of my doubts but I was wondering about how wobbly the pitch (sharp to flat to correct) is when the string is attacked with anything more than cottoncandy-soft pluck/pickage. At times I've had less than stellar results on this front with thin flats on a short-scale, myself. I chalked it up to the string (the specific product I was using those times, that is) being too inherently stiff to perform acceptably with that gauge when tuned standard on a short-scale bass with my average attack.
By the way, while the .042" .053" .06" .079" version of the La Bella 760-FD set is still found in some online stores
La Bella Electric Bass Guitar Danelectro .042 - .079, 760FD
the most recent one has "beefier" gauges of all but the G, i.e. .042" .056" .065" .083":
La Bella Danelectro Longhorn Flat Wound Bass String Set

Bexuga - I haven't tried this one either, but as far as well-regarded and inexpensive [EDIT - and light-gauge, which was the point], the GHS 3020 set immediately comes to mind:
GHS Precision Flats Stainless Steel Flatwound Electric Bass Strings Short Scale Set 4-String 45-095 3020

 

[Rich Fiscus]

Bexuga - I haven't tried this one either, but as far as well-regarded and inexpensive, the GHS 3020 set immediately comes to mind:
GHS Precision Flats Stainless Steel Flatwound Electric Bass Strings Short Scal

I can confirm that. i put them on my daughter's short scale SX P bass and instantly transformed it into an old school thump machine.

 

[Bexuga]

The best - and lightest - short scale flat wounds I know of are the made-for-a Danelectro-Longhorn La Bella 760FD flats. They're .042-.079 gauge; which is about as light as you can get with bass strings. But, if you're new to flats? They're generally a little more expensive than round wound bass strings (and, sometimes, a whole lot more). However, if you take reasonable care of them, their price/longevity ratio is very favorable (they last a long time ). The 760FD's generally go for around $40/set; reasonable for a set of strings that may last for several years - not weeks/months; years - before you need to replace them. And, you may find that you - and your short scale bass - really prefer heavier strings. Some people (like me) find that really light gauge strings are a little...rubbery feeling. But a lot of people don't, so... Try them for yourself and see. Have fun....

I'm not really new to flats, just to the short-scale thing. I have flats on my Stingray, light gauge d'addario. I don't think I'll ever buy roundwounds, except for my long scale Precision, ever again.
While I was researching I came across those La Bella, but also these:

https://www.thomann.de/pt/hoefner_hct1133b_bass_strings.htm

Do you think I could use these on a Precision or Jaguar short-scale?

 

[Root 5]

Hey guys,

I recently bought a short-scale bass and wanted to change the strings for some better ones. I'm looking for the best extra/ultra light flatwound short-scale strings. Any advice?
Also, it helps if they are cheap as well, if it's not asking too much.

Cheers

If you want the best, I'd go with La Bella 760FX-S short scale flats ( 39-96 gauge ). Less expensive but excellent is GHS Precision Flats in short scale, set # 3020 ( 45-95 scale ). Both feel very smooth and have more of a vintage, old school tone which many of us dig. The Hofner strings you're interested in may not be suitable for your Jag because the tuner end of the string might be too thin; they're designed specifically for Hofner tuning machines and will break. Maybe someone else here can confirm.

If you desire a brighter flats tone, I'd look at D'Addario Chromes and maybe Rotosound RS77s ( I've heard the short scale Rotos have a different feel/sound than long scale versions, which are quite bright ).

 

[Bexuga]

If you want the best, I'd go with La Bella 760FX-S short scale flats ( 39-96 gauge ). Less expensive but excellent is GHS Precision Flats in short scale, set # 3020 ( 45-95 scale ). Both feel very smooth and have more of a vintage, old school tone which many of us dig. The Hofner strings you're interested in may not be suitable for your Jag because the tuner end of the string might be too thin; they're designed specifically for Hofner tuning machines and will break. Maybe someone else here can confirm.

If you desire a brighter flats tone, I'd look at D'Addario Chromes and maybe Rotosound RS77s ( I've heard the short scale Rotos have a different feel/sound than long scale versions, which are quite bright ).

Thanks, mate! I didn't think the Hofner strings would work, but I wanted to make sure anyway.
I think I'll try the Rotosound, they seem nice.

 

[HaphAsSard]

While I was researching I came across those La Bella, but also these:

https://www.thomann.de/pt/hoefner_hct1133b_bass_strings.htm

Do you think I could use these on a Precision or Jaguar short-scale?

The Hofner strings you're interested in may not be suitable for your Jag because the tuner end of the string might be too thin; they're designed specifically for Hofner tuning machines and will break. Maybe someone else here can confirm.

I'd be more concerned about the extra length of full wrapping the Höfner and Pyramid Gold flatwounds (which are said to be identical to Höfner-branded flats) have right before those thin ends (the Pyramids at least have 33.5" total, measured from the other end, vs. the 32"-odd that most short-scale strings have and most s-s basses need), and which may cause breaking if wound on the tuning post. Now, they may fit anyway if the total distance, ball-anchoring to first tuner, is >33.5" (which can only be verified on the specific instrument, by measuring), and they may not break even if not, provided the string is flexible enough (which can only be verified by trying, and praying).
EDIT - OK, the Höfner set has an 860mm winding, says right there in the description, which I hadn't read... That's not 33.5" but 33.86". The above considerations still apply.

If you desire a brighter flats tone, I'd look at D'Addario Chromes and maybe Rotosound RS77s ( I've heard the short scale Rotos have a different feel/sound than long scale versions, which are quite bright ).

I think I'll try the Rotosound, they seem nice.

I've posted a number of times about the two Rotosound .09" low E strings I tried (so keep in mind it's mostly the same guy discussing them!), and I for one cannot recommend that string at least.
As Root said, it's much smoother than how its long-scale counterpart is described as being, which in turn I have no direct experience of (it was noted by others too and corroborated with pics; comments also pointed out the "rough" strings in Roto l-s flatwound sets are the lowest ones: the G and D are smoother). Timbre-wise it's not at all bright-sounding, even when new, unlike the long-scale are usually reported to be. My main gripe with it was that it behaved exactly as I described above: it had very unstable pitch on the attack, which I attributed to it being at the same time loose, as a .09 low E at 30" scale will be, and stiff, which was easily confirmed in comparison to another flat - in my case Pyramid, Fender, Thomastik-Infeld - at replacement, with both uninstalled: the Roto was perceptibly less pliable (it was more resistant to coiling).

So here's my humble report on the Roto short-scale low E. Your mileage may vary of course.


A Euro link of the GHS set I mentioned above, just in case:
GHS 3020 L Light Precision Flatwound (Short Scale 30", 31") jetzt online kaufen bei SchneiderMusik.de
FYI the La Bella set for Danelectro basses (old version) can be found here:
La Bella 760FD Flatwound Stainless Steel Bass Electric Danelectro

 

[shoulderpet]

I'd be more concerned about the extra length of full wrapping the Höfner and Pyramid Gold flatwounds (which are said to be identical to Höfner-branded flats) have right before those thin ends (the Pyramids at least have 33.5" total, measured from the other end, vs. the 32"-odd that most short-scale strings have and most s-s basses need), and which may cause breaking if wound on the tuning post. Now, they may fit anyway if the total distance, ball-anchoring to first tuner, is >33.5" (which can only be verified on the specific instrument, by measuring), and they may not break even if not, provided the string is flexible enough (which can only be verified by trying, and praying).



I've posted a number of times about the two Rotosound .09" low E strings I tried (so keep in mind it's mostly the same guy discussing them!), and I for one cannot recommend that string at least.
As Root said, it's much smoother than how its long-scale counterpart is described as being, which in turn I have no direct experience of (it was noted by others too and corroborated with pics; comments also pointed out the "rough" strings in Roto flatwound sets are the lowest ones: the G and D are smoother). Timbre-wise it's not at all bright-sounding, even when new, unlike the long-scale are usually reported to be. My main gripe with it was that it behaved exactly as I described above: it had very unstable pitch on the attack, which I attributed to it being at the same time loose, as a .09 low E at 30" scale will be, and stiff, which was easily confirmed in comparison to another flat - in my case Pyramid, Fender, Thomastik-Infeld - at replacement, with both uninstalled: the Roto was perceptibly less pliable (it was more resistant to coiling).

So here's my humble report on the Roto short-scale low E. Your mileage may vary of course.


A Euro link of the GHS set I mentioned above, just in case:
GHS 3020 L Light Precision Flatwound (Short Scale 30", 31") jetzt online kaufen bei SchneiderMusik.de

The Roto .090 is stiffer than the Pyramid E? That is a little alarming, i found Pyramids short scale set to be surprisingly stiff for the light gauge and short scale

 

[HaphAsSard]

The Roto .090 is stiffer than the Pyramid E? That is a little alarming, i found Pyramids short scale set to be surprisingly stiff for the light gauge and short scale

Yep, I directly compared the Roto .09 and a Pyramid .095 and the latter coiled more, and had way less of that attack wobble. For full disclosure, the Pyramid started out dark-sounding and ended up dead as disco (might be my acidic sweat reacting badly with its specific nickel alloy though), while the Rotosound stayed darkish without going pitch black. About one year not-daily use in both cases.
EDIT - More to the point, the Roto's low tension did trump its stiffness playability-wise: I didn't find it to be uncomfortable in the least for either hand. It's just that boiiiing of the initial note that I found super-annoying and hard to work with.
EDIT2 - For the same reason, it's also hard to intonate: you need enough saddle travel backwards. I remember simply giving up and sticking to the "money frets".

 

[GIBrat51]

I'm not really new to flats, just to the short-scale thing. I have flats on my Stingray, light gauge d'addario. I don't think I'll ever buy roundwounds, except for my long scale Precision, ever again.
While I was researching I came across those La Bella, but also these:

https://www.thomann.de/pt/hoefner_hct1133b_bass_strings.htm

Do you think I could use these on a Precision or Jaguar short-scale?

As others have said - they're probably too long. 860mm from ball to silk is what's considered Medium scale now; those strings are that long to accommodate the distance back behind a Hofner's bridge to the trapeze tailpiece. Very common with basses with floating bridges /trapeze tailpieces; I have a few. Including one that actually needs Long scale strings... Best way to know for sure, is to measure the distance from the bridge's anchor point to the nut; then consult the string length guides in the Sticky section at the top of this forum.

 

[beate_r]

they're designed specifically for Hofner tuning machines and will break.

I'd guess they are a bit longer than the usual flatwounds. But AFAIK, the Höfner strings are actually made by Pyramid, and Pyramid produces decent flatwounds on their own.

It might be worthwhile to have a look at the materials: some (e.g LaBella) are made of steel, others are made of Nickel. Which leads to a different sound. Not a matter of quality, but a matter of taste.

From my experience on a bass VI i would not use an E thinner than, say, .090" on a shortscale. On the Bass VI i am using LaBella flats (E=0.095 or so) and like their aggressive and punchy tone.

If you are not fully committed to real flatwounds, the GHS Brite Flats (powerful punchy and aggressive tone) and the GHS pressurewound (95 gauge) are really fine on a shortscale. As are LaBella White Tapes.

 

[Bexuga]

I'd guess they are a bit longer than the usual flatwounds. But AFAIK, the Höfner strings are actually made by Pyramid, and Pyramid produces decent flatwounds on their own.

It might be worthwhile to have a look at the materials: some (e.g LaBella) are made of steel, others are made of Nickel. Which leads to a different sound. Not a matter of quality, but a matter of taste.

From my experience on a bass VI i would not use an E thinner than, say, .090" on a shortscale. On the Bass VI i am using LaBella flats (E=0.095 or so) and like their aggressive and punchy tone.

If you are not fully committed to real flatwounds, the GHS Brite Flats (powerful punchy and aggressive tone) and the GHS pressurewound (95 gauge) are really fine on a shortscale. As are LaBella White Tapes.

Thanks for the advice, I hadn't considered the materials that much. I will check out the different types and see which ones are better suited for the sound I want.

 

[Root 5]

I'd guess they are a bit longer than the usual flatwounds. But AFAIK, the Höfner strings are actually made by Pyramid, and Pyramid produces decent flatwounds on their own.

It might be worthwhile to have a look at the materials: some (e.g LaBella) are made of steel, others are made of Nickel. Which leads to a different sound. Not a matter of quality, but a matter of taste.

From my experience on a bass VI i would not use an E thinner than, say, .090" on a shortscale. On the Bass VI i am using LaBella flats (E=0.095 or so) and like their aggressive and punchy tone.

If you are not fully committed to real flatwounds, the GHS Brite Flats (powerful punchy and aggressive tone) and the GHS pressurewound (95 gauge) are really fine on a shortscale. As are LaBella White Tapes.

From what I gather, it's not the length making them unsuitable but the thin ends breaking on Fender style tuning machines.

 

[beate_r]

Which might happen with all strings due to the sometimes sharp edges.