Baritone string gauge?

Mshiple4

New member
Not sure If im posting this in the right spot, but i got a 30 inch scale squire bass vi that I will be stringing up with baritone strings tuned A - a and I’m not sure what gauge of strings to go with. I’m pretty sure I’m going to be buying kalium strings but I’m not sure how light or heavy to go. I’m thinking 16-61...any thoughts?
 
Re: Baritone string gauge?

Your baritone BASS VI (30") has a longer scale than mine (PRS 277 : 27"7) but just as a reference :

With the 27"7 scale the 14-68 string set (D'addario) is perfect. This is made for B but works nice in A# as well.
The third string is wounded.

I prefer a wounded second string for the sound but it is a lttle harder to bend (then lube oil really helps).

I suppose these strings would work well in A with a 30" scale, but this is just speculation.
 
Re: Baritone string gauge?

i dont know if you can use baritone guitar strings on your 30" scale bass. the strings may not be physically long enough. youd probably have to make a custom set of bass strings in smaller gauges to get the length you need and the tuning at reasonable tension you want. i use a 14-68 or 70 set on my 27" tuned a to a. that same tuning will have a lot more tension on your 30" scale
 
Re: Baritone string gauge?

^ in the ERG forums, a lot of people gripe about standard strings not being long enough, or having tapers that don’t go past the nut. That’s typically on really heavy strings, like well over .070”, but that’s a good warning.

At that scale length (and anything over 26.5” to my ears), your tone is going to be way more bass than guitar or even baritone. Trying to get a string gauge with adequate tension that still sounded like a guitar on a 27” 8 or 7 string ultimately proved to be a failure to me. I’m much happier with 25.5” guitars tuned down, proper intonation all the way up the low string be damned.

That said, embrace that it isn’t gonna sound very guitary and it should be a fun instrument.
 
Last edited:
Re: Baritone string gauge?

Wounded string?? Ya'll are so silly :bigeyes:
Hey JB, I've been thinking about 7 strings tuned to A. Seems like an easier approach to my keyboard theory trained self than standard tuned 6???

I have no idea what I'm talkin bout. Under the influence of Justin Johnson. Man will play with anything.

Oopsie. Again. Here to learn.
 
Last edited:
Re: Baritone string gauge?

My 7 string is tuned in A. But that's because all of my 6 strings are tuned in D.

Sent from my Alcatel_5044C using Tapatalk
 
Re: Baritone string gauge?

Wounded string?? Ya'll are so silly :bigeyes:
Hey JB, I've been thinking about 7 strings tuned to A. Seems like an easier approach to my keyboard theory trained self than standard tuned 6???

I have no idea what I'm talkin bout. Under the influence of Justin Johnson. Man will play with anything.

Oopsie. Again. Here to learn.

7s are fun. Alternate tunings are fun. I say go nuts.

I love Justin Johnson's videos. My favorite is the skateboard lap steel.
 
Re: Baritone string gauge?

Hey thank you for all the reply’s, think I’m going to grab a set of kalium 18-76, kalium makes strings long enough for the 30 inch scale, hopefully those aren’t to heavy.
 
Re: Baritone string gauge?

youre going to have a hard time getting those strings up to pitch a to a on a 30" scale
 
Re: Baritone string gauge?

I’d say that’s too heavy. An .018” on a 30” scale tuned to A would be about the same as a .014” on a 25.5” scale tuned to E. It’s about 32lbs. Bear in mind most people think .011” in standard with 19lbs is pretty stiff.

I’d start with something like .013”-.060” and see what needs tweaked.
 
Back
Top