New strings for my Guild B30

[blinddog]

I'm not really a bass player, more of a guitar player, but wanted an acoustic bass so I bought this 1998 Guild B30. The seller wasn't sure how old the strings were so I'm going to put some new ones on. There are what look like typical round wound strings on it now. Any recommendations? I've heard of tape and flat wounds but have no idea what they are and what the benefits are.

 

[The Guilds of Grot]

IIMHO if you plan on playing it acoustically I would put these on it!

Although you really only need Medium Scale but they don't seem to make them.

If you plan to play with it plugged into a amp you can go with the taped or flat wounds.

 

[blinddog]

Definitely plan to play it acoustically 99% of the time. I will plug it in (direct) to record from time to time. So, there is no issue with using long scale strings for a medium scale neck?

 

[The Guilds of Grot]

Definitely plan to play it acoustically 99% of the time. I will plug it in (direct) to record from time to time. So, there is no issue with using long scale strings for a medium scale neck?

To be honest I'm not sure. I think they might have tapered ends so you might have to have medium scale to get the strings in the tuner holes!

 

[fronobulax]

I'm using phosphor bronze but they might have been on the bass for almost a decade.

If you want to sound like a guitar only lower that is the way to go. People who want to sound like an upright bass head for tapewounds. I don't recall seeing flatwounds specifically for acoustic bass so I suggest that might be a niche option.

Scale length matters. The problems with a too short string are obvious. Putting a long scale string on a medium or short scale electric damages the string winding and core. A long time ago I saw a few strings that had the winding unraveled and the string became useless. No idea how true that is today. On an electric if the thread wrapped on the one end is what is on the tuning peg (instead of unwrapped string) I figure things fit.

This might be helpful.

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I have never used JustStrings but other LTGers speak well of them. The lazy thing to do would be ask them which strings, of the type you are interested in, will fit.

Since you are a guitar player, be prepared for sticker shock. I figure garden variety bass strings are $20-$30 a set and have seen specialty strings at $89 for a set.

 

[blinddog]

I've confirmed this bass uses short scale, not medium scale strings. That makes it a little easier as the short scale strings seem to be available. Tapes or phos bronze wound?

 

[fronobulax]

I've confirmed this bass uses short scale, not medium scale strings. That makes it a little easier as the short scale strings seem to be available. Tapes or phos bronze wound?

Be careful. Most of the Guild electrics are "short scale" but there are many stories of short scale strings that are too short. There is no universally definition of short scale and long scale (or medium) and sometimes headstock and bridge geometry effect.

I'd look for measurements on the package and a return policy that allowed me to return them if they were too short.

Do you want to sound like a guitar or an upright bass? phos bronze for the former, tape wound for the latter.

 

[blinddog]

Be careful. Most of the Guild electrics are "short scale" but there are many stories of short scale strings that are too short. There is no universally definition of short scale and long scale (or medium) and sometimes headstock and bridge geometry effect.

I'd look for measurements on the package and a return policy that allowed me to return them if they were too short.

Do you want to sound like a guitar or an upright bass? phos bronze for the former, tape wound for the latter.

Boy that's great info. So, I just measured the 4th string from the bridge pin to the tuning key and it's 36". So, that string at least would need to be probably 38".

 

[Nuuska]

My B30 fretless is about 31 bridge-nut - then there's about 1/2-1 inch used by bridge - first tuning post @ 3 inches from nut.

So anything with 32-34 inches of "fat" string should work.

 

[hearth_man]

I'm mainly a guitar player as well. I like heavy tapes on my fretless B30. Gives me something like an upright bass sound.

 

[Gorgar]

I've run rounds, flats and tapes on my B-30E, and vastly prefer the tapes. Flats are nice but too quiet, and I don't like the clank or brashness of the rounds. Tapes let me play pretty hard and at least have some top end.