Today’s Tech Tip comes from our friends at GHS Strings: One size does not fit all! Bass string lengths vary because of their heavy diameters. Bass strings can’t just be cut to length without potential harm. They can be carefully cut on the “silk” area for minor shortening. Heavier gauge strings are especially critical as they may break at the tuning post if the thick winding is wrapped too far around the post.
GHS makes five different lengths to fit most basses. “Winding length” is the distance from the ball end of the string to the “silk,” whereas the scale of the bass is the distance from the saddle to the nut.
GHS bass string winding lengths:
- Extra long scale: fits 35″, 36″ scale.
- Long scale plus: fits 34″, 35″, and 36″ scale.
- Standard long scale: fits 34″ scale
- Medium scale: fits 32″ – 33″ scale.
- Short scale: fits 30″ – 31″ scale.