Madman Strings

[duncumb.fc]

Hi there,

I officially crowned myself mad, when I decided I wanted a short scale bass (30") and also decided to tune it BEAD like Paul Gray.
So I'm basically looking for the thickest strings I can possibly find, the stiffest ones possible so that the strings aren't too floppy. And without looking particularly far, 2 appear.
Flatwound 45-100s (Steel wound)
or Roundwound 50-105s (Nickel wound)
or of course 70-135 Roundwound (Steel wound) (by using the bass 4 strings of a 5 string set, although I'm a cheapskate, so this isn't ideal)
Which one seems like the better option in your opinion? I'm mainly going to be playing heavy rock on it, Slipknot and the like (Hence the tuning).

Fraser

 

[stubhead]

It's not going to work very well, there are laws of physics involved having to do with the vibration of cylinders and metallurgical composition. There are reasons people have gone to 35" scales for five-strings...If the short-scale is an irreplaceable spec, I would personally try to get that sounding as good as possible then get a good octave or pitch-shifting box and the biggest amp you can. With the right speakers, some of these 1000 and 1200-watt amps can liquify internal organs even with normal tuning (and what more could anyone possibly want? :toothy12

 

[duncumb.fc]

It's not going to work very well, there are laws of physics involved having to do with the vibration of cylinders and metallurgical composition. There are reasons people have gone to 35" scales for five-strings...If the short-scale is an irreplaceable spec, I would personally try to get that sounding as good as possible then get a good octave or pitch-shifting box and the biggest amp you can. With the right speakers, some of these 1000 and 1200-watt amps can liquify internal organs even with normal tuning (and what more could anyone possibly want? :toothy12

Well fair point, but I'm a cheapskate on a student budget, so I need to keep it cheap!
I've done a few calculations, and it seems possible... I just need very stiff strings, the sort of string that would destroy a neck at 34" EADG...
Admittedly the tone would be crap for jazz or anything where tone is particularly important, but with a heavy rock band, as long as the note plays and blows people's heads off, it's gonna be just fine  :headbang1:

Fraser

 

[BassmanAK]

Try here:
http://circlekstrings.com/store/
I ordered a set this week and am eagerly awaiting to try these.
I have heard MANY good things about 'em....
Check out these links:
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/search.php?searchid=3791998
:evil4:

 

[Malta]

If money is an issue, try either Ernie Ball Power Slinkys (55-110) or GHS Heavy Bass Boomers (50-115) which run under $20 a set each. That 30" scale is going to kill you though.