The Short Scale Bass Appreciation Society!

[martthebass]

EB Hybrid Slinky shortscale rounds for me, 45-105.  I don't like the sound of new strings but these seem to bed in quickly and retain decent tone. 

[scrumpymike]

1 hour ago, AlexDelores said:

It’s been done to death I know… 

 

But, talk to me about strings.

What are we all using that’s relatively hard wearing and retains its goodness even after lots of use? 

Always LaBella 760FS-S for me. They're 045-105 stainless-steel flats. Not what I'd call bright but bright enough for me through my LFSys Monaco FRFR cab. Never had to change a set but then again I tend to change basses instead of strings 🙂 

Edited Thursday at 10:35 by scrumpymike

[Obrienp]

1 hour ago, AlexDelores said:

It’s been done to death I know… 

 

But, talk to me about strings.

What are we all using that’s relatively hard wearing and retains its goodness even after lots of use? 
 

I currently use cheap Fender rounds on my Gretsch which gets gigged heavily in the hot (sweaty) summer months and I change strings every month or so. I have pretty decent care routine (wipe all down after every show etc) But, although I’d say I probably prefer the worn in sound, I hate the feel of old rounds…. 
 

So, thinking of trying flats. I’d like a ‘brighter’ flat that can take a bit of abuse… initial thoughts are D’addario Chromes, are these a relatively ‘bright’ flat or would i better looking at something like cobalts? I’m not adverse to trying a more hard wearing round if anyone can recommend something that last a bit longer.

 

In honesty, I’ve always just bought cheap strings and then changed them but it’s getting quite expensive now as they don’t appear to be lasting 😅
 

 

Hard to go wrong with D’Addarios IMO. The nickel rounds seem to last for ages, are relatively cheap and are available in SS, MS, LS. I like their chrome flats as well and even their black nylon tapes, which I have on my Sire U5 fretless. The chromes are quite bright for flats, nothing like as dull as LaBella and half the price. Rotosound flats are really bright to my ears and not too expensive if you shop around.

 

I went into a bit of a panic when Trump was threatening tariffs over Greenland and people were organising a boycott of US goods. What would I use instead of D’Addarios?

[ped]

1 minute ago, Obrienp said:

I went into a bit of a panic when Trump was threatening tariffs over Greenland and people were organising a boycott of US goods. What would I use instead of D’Addarios?

 

All sorted - I gave him a call and explained

[eude]

14 minutes ago, Obrienp said:

I went into a bit of a panic when Trump was threatening tariffs over Greenland and people were organising a boycott of US goods. What would I use instead of D’Addarios?

Assuming they go back on @ped's agreement, and to be fair, they have form, you can't go wrong with Newtone strings, made in the UK

Edited Thursday at 11:24 by eude

[AlexDelores]

9 minutes ago, eude said:

Assuming they go back on @ped's agreement, and to be fair, they have form, you can't go wrong with Newtone strings, made in the UK

This is a good shout. But, am i correct in thinking they only make Roundwound? 

 

Thank you 

[eude]

19 minutes ago, AlexDelores said:

This is a good shout. But, am i correct in thinking they only make Roundwound? 

 

Thank you 

Ah yes, roundwound only.

If you look to Europe, there's Galli and Tomastik who both make decent flats.

[eude]

Status Graphite sell short scale flats, darned good price too.

I think they're made by Picato for them, could be wrong.

[Obrienp]

1 hour ago, eude said:

Assuming they go back on @ped's agreement, and to be fair, they have form, you can't go wrong with Newtone strings, made in the UK

I’ve used their guitar and resonator strings but never bass. Might check them out.

[eude]

Just now, Obrienp said:

I’ve used their guitar and resonator strings but never bass. Might check them out.

They're my favourite string.

I used to use DR nickels, I loved the warmer tone of SunBeams, but also the feel and bite of the Nickel LoRiders, Newtone, at least the hex nickel ones seem to sit firmly between the two sonically to my ear, and they last a long ol' time.

[casapete]

I’ve used D’addario EXL 170s on my Dano Longhorn for eons, and never had a duff one or any other problems. I’ve got used to the sound of them so much I’d find it hard to change now I think. They last a long time for me, but I do have quite dry hands and can make strings last a long time. 

[Paul S]

Not that I have many left now but for the past few years I have fitted Thomastik TI Jazz flats on all my basses.  They are very bright, as flats go - by no means the dull thud of many.  I love the feel of them.  Quite low tension, which puts off a lot of folks.  Expensive but last forever.  The short scale ones are actually medium scale but that isn't a problem.

[msb]

Most of my 34 in basses have TI flats except for a Ray I keep fresh round Slinkies on , and an old Pbass with ancient rounds. Most short scales have LaBella flats , my Longhorn still has the factory rounds. It was also gigged a lot. They still intonate , and it thumps. I have some short scale Gibson rounds if I wish to change anything. They came on my DC LP Jr and I really liked them , bought several packs , the Jr has LaBellas at the moment , might return the rounds on that.

I find I can leave flats on for years before I have any urge to change them. I’m mostly aiming for a classic old school thump. They deliver that. 

[RichT]

8 hours ago, ezbass said:

Ernie Ball Cobalts for me, I just chopped down standard length sets.

 

Cobalts do come in short scale sets of either 45-105 or 50-110. Not exactly cheap but I like them on my MM pickup basses. 

 

I also have other basses variously wearing EB Slinky rounds, Elixirs and Thomastik Jazz flats. I like a bit of choice! 

 

Edited Thursday at 18:15 by RichT

[ezbass]

1 hour ago, RichT said:

 

Cobalts do come in short scale sets of either 45-105 or 50-110. Not exactly cheap but I like them on my MM pickup basses. 

 

I also have other basses variously wearing EB Slinky rounds, Elixirs and Thomastik Jazz flats. I like a bit of choice! 

 

They do indeed, but not for through body Mustangs. To be fair, the ones I fitted were not new, but also prior to EB offering shorties. I have chopped down full length ones for top loaders too.

[Stub Mandrel]

11 hours ago, Obrienp said:

Hard to go wrong with D’Addarios IMO. The nickel rounds seem to last for ages, are relatively cheap and are available in SS, MS, LS.

 

These are essentially the same as the fender ones in different packaging - D'addario make Fender's strings for them; so yes that';s my experience of these strings too (in Fender guise).

 

I also have two identical Daphne blue tuners - one branded Fender and one branded D'addario.

[eude]

9 hours ago, Stub Mandrel said:

 

These are essentially the same as the fender ones in different packaging - D'addario make Fender's strings for them; so yes that';s my experience of these strings too (in Fender guise).

 

I also have two identical Daphne blue tuners - one branded Fender and one branded D'addario.

Interesting. Do D'addario make Fender's flatwounds too?

I had a set on a 5 string a while back and I was super impressed with them, they were fairly inexpensive too.

I wonder what set they were based on...

[Stub Mandrel]

1 hour ago, eude said:

Interesting. Do D'addario make Fender's flatwounds too?

I had a set on a 5 string a while back and I was super impressed with them, they were fairly inexpensive too.

I wonder what set they were based on...

 

I would assume so.

[dmckee]

Just spotted this, if anyone’s in the market: https://www.bassdirect.co.uk/product/sandberg-california-ii-vs4-greenline-30-highgloss-tobacco-sunburst-49347/

 

I’m very happy with my shell pink one - they really are terrific basses - but I think I might have preferred a sunburst. Ah well! 

[jezzaboy]

1 hour ago, dmckee said:

Just spotted this, if anyone’s in the market: https://www.bassdirect.co.uk/product/sandberg-california-ii-vs4-greenline-30-highgloss-tobacco-sunburst-49347/

 

I’m very happy with my shell pink one - they really are terrific basses - but I think I might have preferred a sunburst. Ah well! 

I saw that one earlier this week, stunning looking bass but I have bought too much recently.

[Count Bassie]

EBCFs are really nice strings with a pretty full voice, and they last a long time. 

You might also try a set of tapewounds. LaBella makes white tapes that are said to be nice and bright. 

I had D'Addario black tapes, which are a roundwound steel wrapped with a nylon tape, and they're a nice woody sound with some smack to them. 

But for a lively flat, my finger finds its way back to pointing at the Cobalt Flats...

Edited 17 hours ago by Count Bassie

[MoonBassAlpha]

On 22/01/2026 at 11:57, eude said:

Status Graphite sell short scale flats, darned good price too.

I think they're made by Picato for them, could be wrong.

Yup, last really well too, like flats

[AlexDelores]

Thanks for everyone’s feedback on this. 

 

I’m leaning towards some D’addario chromes i think. But, like with everything bass related (or life related) I won’t really know until i try myself. 

 

I think my plan is to see if i can pick up some used short flats off this very forum when they appear and give them a whirl to decide if i like them on that bass before i chuck a sizeable chunk at some new ones! (I’m being a StringCheapSkate, i know. But the prices are ludicrous for a smaller string)

 

Up until very recently I’d come to terms with just not being able to get on with flats but since putting some cheap ones on my Jaguar, it’s transformed the bass so I’m wondering if its just a case of finding the right strings for the right instrument… go figure 😅

[Obrienp]

1 hour ago, AlexDelores said:

(I’m being a StringCheapSkate, i know. But the prices are ludicrous for a smaller string)

I hate to promote Bezos but D’Addario prices on Amazon are normally pretty competitive. Thomann also.

[AlexDelores]

On 23/01/2026 at 18:05, Obrienp said:

I hate to promote Bezos but D’Addario prices on Amazon are normally pretty competitive. Thomann also.

You’re correct in this. I couldn’t wait so grabbed a set of Chromes off Amazon. Hopefully I’ll love them, if not there will be a set for sale very soon 😅