Need help choosing the right flatwound strings

I

ig6

Apr 12, 2020
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1
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#1
Hello,

I've just purchased a Squier Classic Vibe 60s Mustang Bass and I need a little help to choose the right flatwound strings for it.

Here's a reference track in terms of playing style and sound;


I've been looking at Pyramid Flatwounds which sounds similar to me, but I don't know if they have the right length for the Squier bass - given it's a short scale.


Here's a link to the bass if you need to see the specs;
Squier Classic Vibe 60s Mustang Bass LRL, Olympic White at Gear4music

My main instrument is guitar so I don't have much knowledge in terms of bass and bass strings etc. I hope you can help me find the right strings :-)
 
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#2
ig6 said:
Hello,

I've just purchased a Squier Classic Vibe 60s Mustang Bass and I need a little help to choose the right flatwound strings for it.

I've been looking at Pyramid Flatwounds which sounds similar to me, but I don't know if they have the right length for the Squier bass - given it's a short scale.
Click to expand...

A question... Does your bass have options for both top-loading and thru-body stringing?

For top-loading, you need "short scale" with 32" - 32.75" winding length (ball end to silk).
For thru-body, you need "medium scale" with 34" winding length (ball end to silk).

La Bella does offer a special thru-body version of Mustang flats.
Pyramid Pure Nickel Flats do come in "short scale".
 
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#3
You need to know the distance from the end of the bridge (where the ball end of the string is) to the nut, and to the closest tuner (usually the E string). The wound length of the strings you buy has to be between those two numbers - for the E string. The other strings (g, D and A), in general, just have to be wound longer than the distance to the nut, as they're small enough that it's OK if they get wound around the tuner.
 
#4
michael_t said:
A question... Does your bass have options for both top-loading and thru-body stringing?

For top-loading, you need "short scale" with 32" - 32.75" winding length (ball end to silk).
For thru-body, you need "medium scale" with 34" winding length (ball end to silk).

La Bella does offer a special thru-body version of Mustang flats.
Pyramid Pure Nickel Flats do come in both "medium scale" and "short scale".
Click to expand...

Thanks for your reply!

To be honest, I don’t know. I haven’t received the bass yet. This is my first bass guitar so I don’t know a lot about it. Do you think there’s anyway I can find out online? I would like to order the strings as quickly as possible (after I’ve found the right ones, of course) so I can have them when the bass arrives.
 
#5
micguy said:
You need to know the distance from the end of the bridge (where the ball end of the string is) to the nut, and to the closest tuner (usually the E string). The wound length of the strings you buy has to be between those two numbers - for the E string. The other strings (g, D and A), in general, just have to be wound longer than the distance to the nut, as they're small enough that it's OK if they get wound around the tuner.
Click to expand...

Thanks for your reply!

I can’t seem to find this information on the gear4music link in my first post - is there any way I can find out without having the bass in hand? All I got is that the scale length is 30”.

I’m sorry if this is silly questions, I just haven’t done this before. Appreciate your help!
 
#6
I would also be very happy if anyone have string suggestions sound wise, compared to the reference song in my first post :-) I think that the Pyramid strings sounds similar - but that was also using a more expensive bass than the one I’ve purchased.
 
#7
ig6 said:
To be honest, I don’t know. I haven’t received the bass yet. This is my first bass guitar so I don’t know a lot about it. Do you think there’s anyway I can find out online? I would like to order the strings as quickly as possible (after I’ve found the right ones, of course) so I can have them when the bass arrives.
Click to expand...

I know for a fact it DOES come with the thru-body bridge. My question is whether it also has the top-loading option, which would give you more choices in strings, or thru-body only.
 
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#9
ig6 said:
To be honest, I don’t know. I haven’t received the bass yet. This is my first bass guitar so I don’t know a lot about it. Do you think there’s anyway I can find out online? I would like to order the strings as quickly as possible (after I’ve found the right ones, of course) so I can have them when the bass arrives.
Click to expand...

You might want to check out this thread: New Squier Classic Vibe Mustang Bass
 
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#10
ig6 said:
Thanks for your reply!

I can’t seem to find this information on the gear4music link in my first post - is there any way I can find out without having the bass in hand? All I got is that the scale length is 30”.

I’m sorry if this is silly questions, I just haven’t done this before. Appreciate your help!
Click to expand...

I've never seen that info posted as a spec on a bass - I've always had to measure it. If the thing has string through provision on the bridge, it's a bit tougher to measure, but still not that tough - actually this method works for any bridge style. Take a G string, put it on the bass in the E position, and pull the thing reasonably tight. Make a mark on the string at the nut and where it reaches the tuner. Then pull the string of the bass, and measure the distances from the ball end to the marks. One other thing to note - a string, when wound to pitch will stretch - usually a bit less than a quarter inch. Sometimes that little bit is significant.
 
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#11
ig6 said:
I've been looking at Pyramid Flatwounds which sounds similar to me, but I don't know if they have the right length for the Squier bass - given it's a short scale.
Click to expand...
The bridge of your bass appears to be the classic Mustang bass with the sole string-through-body loading option. Based on the fact that La Bella's dedicated 760MUS set has a 33" winding ball-end to silk (some sources say 33.25"),* it would seem that, while the shortest short-scale strings (32"~32.5" long) would indeed be too short, medium-scale strings (usually 34" long, though some are a bit longer) would work but not be strictly necessary: Pyramid Gold "short-scale" flats are ~33.5" long and would fit perfectly.

* EDIT: the official product page (which I can't seem to access directly today) says 34". So I'd like to amend the last sentence to "Pyramid (...) are ~33.5" long and may still fit perfectly: by all means measure first, but despair not, all is not lost."
 
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#12
Wow, thank you guys for all the help. I must admit I'm still quite confused, but I'm learning.

So if I've understood correctly, I'll just have to wait for the bass to arrive before I could know what string length I need?

I don't know if this would be of any help but I looked up what strings it comes with from the store, and it appears to be Fender 7250M roundwound strings. It also says "long scale".
https://www.thomann.de/gb/fender_7250m.htm

I'm so confused right now, but I really appreciate all the help.
 
#14
iiipopes said:
If you want the flatwound tone, then at least start with the dedicated La Bella 760F-MUS set. La Bella flatwound have the reputation of highest quality, consistency, neutral tone that is not too boomy or thumpy, and are great for a variety of genres.
Click to expand...
^^THIS^^ Although it is a very nice little bass, it's also a bass that limits it's string choices. Don't feel bad, though; lots of other basses do that, too... Since it is "string thru" only, putting flats on it that weren't made for it can be kind of dicey. La Bella,in addition to Mustang-specific strings, does make flats that are intended for string-thru basses; you can spot them by the "TB" (through body) suffix. There are people here (and they'll be along soon, I'm sure) who will tell you that they've been putting flats on string-thru basses for decades. I don't doubt them for a minute, but that doesn't alter the fact that the people who make those flats, don't recommend it - at all. It can do bad things where the strings break over the bridge; bad enough to break them. Do it if you want, but... know, going in, what might happen if you do. Round wound strings, on the other hand, don't have that problem... That said, there are other flats that would probably work. The "short scale" Thomastik-Infeld Jazz Flats, for one. "Short scale" Pyramids, might work too. They are really "medium" scale length strings; very flexible; but...very expensive, too. A lot of money to take a chance on... As for the stock strings? I'm pretty sure Fender uses those strings, because; a) they're rounds, and rounds have no problems with string-thru bridges; and b) I don't think Fender carries any strings that are the "correct" length for a Mustang bass. Their long scale rounds work well enough; and, like you, most new owners get rid of them right away anyhow; so...:whistle:
 
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#16
GIBrat51 said:
There are people here (and they'll be along soon, I'm sure) who will tell you that they've been putting flats on string-thru basses for decades. I don't doubt them for a minute, but that doesn't alter the fact that the people who make those flats, don't recommend it - at all.
Click to expand...
Do you have any evidence of this? Apart from La Bella, I have never heard of a manufacturer making such a recommendation.
 
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#17
I'm sure you realize as a guitarist that the bassist in the Numb video is using a pick (as I'm assuming you will) and might be using a palm muting technique to get that sound. Although I would guess that he or she is using flats, who knows -- you might be hearing older, deader rounds.

I recommend waiting until you've played your new bass before investing in flats, which tend to be expensive. See what you can do with the combination of bass settings, amp settings, and technique to produce the sound you're after with the stock strings. It won't be the same as flats, especially since you'll get string squeak, but what's your hurry? Take your time and let both bass and strings break in. See what the bass can do and what you can do with the bass. If you're not satisfied by June or July, get the flats and see what happens. Good luck with your new bass.
 
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#18
BobDeRosa has it right. If I play a bass, you play the same bass, and the original artist plays the same bass, we will all sound totally different. You should get the bass in your hands and refine it to work to your playing style and taste after you are familiar with how it interacts with your style and equipment. Trying to have 'that sound' out of the box will likely end in disappointment. Once you know where you are at with the bass, you will have a better idea how to correct any shortcomings you may have in the setup. You may need nothing more than mutes on the bridge and roll off the tone knob to achieve what you want.
 
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