Mustang Bass Strings

jim93 · Post by **jim93** » Tue Jul 12, 2011 3:34 am

Does anyone have any recommendations?
Anyone used these
Rotosound RS77S?

Is it ok to use the long scale versions?

robroe · Post by **robroe** » Tue Jul 12, 2011 3:36 am

my mustang bass works fine. but i have it strung with these.

80 65 40 32

i got baby strings on it so i can play the thing more like a guitar

jim93 · Post by **jim93** » Tue Jul 12, 2011 3:39 am

It doesnt matter if the strings are shortscale or longscale?

Billy3000 · Post by **Billy3000** » Tue Jul 12, 2011 3:42 am

jim93 wrote:It doesnt matter if the strings are shortscale or longscale?

No it doesn't matter, you'd cut off the extra length on a set of strings normally anyway, so putting normal strings on a short scale, you'll just be cutting off more of the extra length.

Ankhanu · Post by **Ankhanu** » Tue Jul 12, 2011 3:57 am

It only matters if you're wanting to use a string with a taper behind the nut. If you're ok with full diameter wraps on the tuning pegs, any string that's long enough will do the job.

Rox · Post by **Rox** » Tue Jul 12, 2011 4:28 am

I use D'Addario Flatwound 100s standard sized cut short . Works for me .

honeyiscool · Post by **honeyiscool** » Tue Jul 12, 2011 5:57 am

I use RS77M. You want medium scale for Mustang Bass because it's a string through.

RS77 are quite loose even at EADG tuning and forget about Drop D. That said, they sound fantastic. Absolutely fantastic. As in I didn't even like the Mustang Bass before I installed these strings and now I love it. If you've never tried flats before, the E string will baffle you with how crazy hollow it sounds.

If strings have fabric wraps at the end, I do not recommend cutting long scale strings. Use 32" scale strings like you're supposed to.

I just recorded a quick demo of my Mustang Bass with RS77 strings. I have an Aero Mustang 4 Type 1 pickup in mine, which IMO is a nice upgrade over the Duncan Designed stock pickup, but it should give you a basic idea of what it sounds like. Finger style first, picked second, thumb third.

http://www.fileden.com/files/2007/10/15 ... _RS77M.mp3

brambleperro · Post by **brambleperro** » Tue Jul 12, 2011 11:11 am

I believe that I once heard a story of someone here buying a set of short-scale bass strings with the fabric wraps on the end and them not being long enough, so beware. I personally use the D'addario's with a 105 on the E. I think that the extra girth makes up well for the tension that you lose on with a short-scale bass.

Shaguar · Post by **Shaguar** » Tue Jul 12, 2011 1:54 pm

That was me. I bought a set of regular scale d'addarios for my Bronco bass and the bottom strings were too long, so I had to cut them but they started unraveling. I found a pack of EXL170S short scale strings that worked perfectly.

One thing though, the Bronco bass is not a string through, so maybe the 2-3 inches that the string through bridge uses on the Mustang would allow you to make regular scale bass strings work alright.

honeyiscool · Post by **honeyiscool** » Tue Jul 12, 2011 5:05 pm

I've tried out a bunch of strings for both the Bronco and the Mustang. You want 30" scale (short) strings for the Bronco, 32" scale (medium) strings for the Mustang. Some brands like La Bella don't recommend using their flats for Mustang Basses because of the string break angle at the bridge, but it's probably OK, it's just do you really want to ruin a $45 set of strings?

Cutting long-scale strings only works for string brands like D'Addario with no fabric wraps, and even then, it's a bad idea for extremely high gauge strings.

Ankhanu · Post by **Ankhanu** » Tue Jul 12, 2011 5:20 pm

honeyiscool wrote:Cutting long-scale strings only works for string brands like D'Addario with no fabric wraps, and even then, it's a bad idea for extremely high gauge strings.

Not sure why a fabric wrap would be an issue... I've always had to cut my wrapped strings on my long scale basses. It causes the fabric to fray, but it's only decorative.
Why would it be different for a shortscale?

honeyiscool · Post by **honeyiscool** » Tue Jul 12, 2011 6:06 pm

Strings with wraps are meant to have the wraps around the pegs and might break otherwise when stretched. I ruined a set of RS77 strings like that, actually. Also, at the peg end, wrapped strings generally taper out so that it can be wrapped around the pegs easier and also so that they're more flexible, and then to have a fat part of the string go around the peg, which might happen with strings you're cutting 4" shorter than you're supposed to, that can easily weaken the string, especially flatwounds, which don't seem to like having sharp break angles.

Ankhanu · Post by **Ankhanu** » Tue Jul 12, 2011 6:21 pm

*shrug* I've never had problems with fat winds on my basses in the past 15 years. The thickness of the wraps isn't much of an issue with a standard, Fender style, bass tuning peg; many strings are not made with a taper, and if it is, if you end up wrapping before the taper, you're still ok. If you're breaking strings at the tuning peg, you're doing something super wrong or buying some pretty crap strings. If you're stuck using a string without a taper, or have to cut a long string before it tapers, make sure you have at least 1 full wrap around the peg, you shouldn't have any issues with sharp break angles, slippage or what have you.

honeyiscool · Post by **honeyiscool** » Tue Jul 12, 2011 6:39 pm

I wouldn't consider Rotosound strings to be crap strings, since they do cost $40+ a pack, and they say plainly on the packaging that failure to wrap around the blue fabric part can result in string breaking. It really depends on which strings you're using. But really, is it so hard to buy proper scale strings and to use them for what they were intended for?

Here are my suggestions for Mustang Bass strings:

La Bella Round Wound strings (in multiple gauges):

http://www.juststrings.com/labellaelect ... edium.html

GHS Pressurewound strings:

http://www.juststrings.com/ghs-7500.html

RotoSound Monel flats:

http://www.juststrings.com/rts-rs77m.html

D'Addario Chromes:

http://www.juststrings.com/dad-ecb81m.html

I have not tried these La Bella Mustang Bass strings but I hope they do come back in stock because I love these strings on everything else:

http://www.elderly.com/accessories/items/760FL-MUS.htm

rodvonbon · Post by **rodvonbon** » Tue Jul 12, 2011 6:52 pm

I've bought the Fender brand bass strings that are packaged as "short scale". The problem is though, the fabric that wraps the taper at the tuners extends past the nut about an 8th inch. I'm not sure how much it really effects anything and doubt I'd notice a difference in sound if they didn't. Personally I like having the strings tapered at the tuners instead of cutting down a full scale set, you get more winds around the tuner post.

Ankhanu · Post by **Ankhanu** » Tue Jul 12, 2011 6:54 pm

honeyiscool wrote:I wouldn't consider Rotosound strings to be crap strings, since they do cost $40+ a pack...

$40/pk isn't a big deal with bass strings, at least in Canada. You can get cheaper, but I generally don't care for the strings below the $35 range that I've tried.
That said, yeah, Rotosound makes a solid string; I use Tru Bass 88s on my fretless.

But, even with a tight break angle, if you wrap properly on the peg, you can minimize the wear&tear on the string core where it bends around the peg slot/hole. Having a full wrap reduces the amount of slippage and strain around the peg (too many wraps can cause issues with tuning stability though, there's a sweet middle ground), reducing the small changes in tension at the anchor point. Spending some time/care installing the string will greatly reduce your worries and keep your strings healthy. They should last even if the break angle is so great that the windings separate.

Ankhanu · Post by **Ankhanu** » Tue Jul 12, 2011 6:58 pm

rodvonbon wrote:Personally I like having the strings tapered at the tuners instead of cutting down a full scale set, you get more winds around the tuner post.

Yeah, a taper is preferable, and gives you better stability and more precise tuning accuracy, it takes more turning to change the pitch small amounts.

Billy3000 · Post by **Billy3000** » Tue Jul 12, 2011 7:11 pm

honeyiscool wrote:I use RS77M. You want medium scale for Mustang Bass because it's a string through.

RS77 are quite loose even at EADG tuning and forget about Drop D. That said, they sound fantastic. Absolutely fantastic. As in I didn't even like the Mustang Bass before I installed these strings and now I love it. If you've never tried flats before, the E string will baffle you with how crazy hollow it sounds.

The reason you can't do drop tunings is because you're using such crazy light gauge strings. Try heavier strings and you'll be fine. I always use .045 - .105 strings and my musicmaster handles dropped tunings fine.

honeyiscool · Post by **honeyiscool** » Tue Jul 12, 2011 8:22 pm

Yeah, I was talking about that string set specifically. I am kind of planning on changing to 760FL Mustang strings if they become available, and I'd be able to downtune on that.

jim93 · Post by **jim93** » Tue Jul 12, 2011 10:57 pm

I went with RS77M because I am okay with looser strings and just do EADGBE.