Flat Wound String Change - Does It Work?

Flat Wound String Change Does It Work?
With flat wound strings being so rare for mini bass and bass ukuleles I decided to see if a regular set of bass guitar flat wound strings could be cut down to fit. I'd worked out that I probably needed a heavy gauge set of strings and would need to cut the length of the strings BUT does it work?
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Flat Wound String Change Does It Work?:
00:00 Introduction to changing the strings to flat wound.
01:43 Cutting the length of string
03:25 Making the string thin enough to fit the tuning heads
06:12 Does the string now fit and is the lenght correct?
07:30 String does fit but................
08:07 The verdict - does it work?
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[@julesV1223]

Even the plans of the ukulele personality of the year can be stymied, but thank you for sharing your heroic efforts!

[@UkuleleWales]

I do try Jules, but you know sometimes even ukulele personalities fail! 😉

[@Rwjudy48]

Thanks for the attempt. If I change to flat wounds on my Kala SB, I’ll probably opt for the now available Kala strings. You just saved me the trial and error time and effort 😊

[@UkuleleWales]

Glad to have helped Robert. Yes I’m definitely going to get a fretless and put flat wounds on it. Unfortunately shipping is silly prices for strings from Kala so I’ll have to wait and order a second set when the fretless basses are available again. Let me know of you get them and how they are. 😎

[@alanm8431]

Thinner strings, change the one tuner, file the slot would be my first idea. Maybe cutting any of the pretty purple binding off would destabilize the winding. Nice try though and probably saved a few folks from doing the same. Keepin' it real.....

[@UkuleleWales]

Thanks for the tips Alan, I will consider doing some of them at some point but I didn’t really want to start altering the actual instrument whilst it’s still quite new. One day…… 👍

[@ukeplayalongs]

Rachel, thanks for sharing this video-it’s okay to see that not all things work out; and I know you’ll post a video when or if you find a solution. What are you using for audio recording?

[@UkuleleWales]

Thanks Chris. Really wasn’t sure how this one would turn out, I’ll keep investigating though. The mic is a DJI Mic - it’s great for when you are moving about. 👍

[@bazzrik5426]

Hi Rachael, what I’ve tried is cutting the strings from the ball ends and then using 1/4” copper tubing crimped and soldered. I found the suggestion on a short scale bass forum a little while ago. Check it out and you’ll see how the person did it. Good luck!

[@UkuleleWales]

That's a great idea! Thanks, I may well try it at some point. 👍

[@snorrevonflake]

I was wondering that too and afraid it won't work . Well that makes those "shorter than shortscale" basses unusable with flats. Unless you can find a peg that fits the whole thick part of the string. Also those flatwound sets are usually from 50 €, too expensive to ruin them like that.

[@UkuleleWales]

I know there are plans for a couple of the companies to start making Flatwounds (Kala have already started selling them) and I think because the mini basses are still relatively new it might be a case of waiting a while. Dougal strings are already making them too but they are quite pricey - I thought this *migt* be an option. Unfortunately not.

[@terrygrimley9945]

Having been unsuccessful in obtaining any flatwounds for my Kala Solid Body Ubass I decided to modify a set of La Bella flats. I had not seen your video at the time. My attempt was successful and I have been playing them now for over a month. My method was to measure to the unwrapping point, glue about an inch of the string with very low viscocity superglue and wrap with cotton/silk thread and superglue over that. This particular glue works by capillary action and seeps into the windings and through the thread. I then cut the string to length and did a finish wrap over the cut winding. I did consider soldering but I think the glue seeps in better than solder would and certainly seems to have done the job, I also did the same process on the A string.

[@UkuleleWales]

Great info there Terry, thanks. Will definitely look this up again if I decide to try cutting strings in the future.

[@suzannealexander9681]

I really want to put flat wound on my Ibanez miKro bass, but at the moment I'm too chicken to attempt it. 😂 I watched a video where a guy said La Bella 760FM-P strings would be suitable, and they've been sat in my Thomann basket for a month now. Just got to pluck up the courage 😬

[@darpope2752]

❤The Ibanez MiKro has a scale length of about 28.5 inches. La Bella makes short scale strings, the 760FS-S Deep Talkin' Bass strings that, I believe, are the same .045 .065 .085 and .105 gauge that comes on the MiKro. Here in the US, they cost less than $50. My Flight Pathfinder Bass has a scale length of just over 23 inches. I had to buy Dogal Tiny Boy Bass Strings JC106 TB, with string gauges of .045 .065 .085 and .105 for more than twice as much as the La Bellas.

[@UkuleleWales]

We’ve just bought a couple of the Ibanez Mikros for school, great basses. WIll be interested to hear if you manage to get them sorted. 👍

[@UkuleleWales]

Yes, I have been very tempted by the Dogal TBB strings, just so expensive but still……

[@suzannealexander9681]

@@UkuleleWales I fitted the La Bella strings with no problems. They are slightly thicker, so have taken a bit of getting used to. I'm not sure if I prefer them to round wound or not though. The miKro is a beauty...metallic purple ❤️

[@UkuleleWales]

@@suzannealexander9681 Good to hear, Thanks Suzanne. Yes, we got a purple one and I have to admit, I'm tempted to get one for myself.

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

Magma makes good ones they also make microflatwound ukulele strings for all 4 sizes of Ukulele

[@UkuleleWales]

Thanks, will looking into them. 👍

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

@@UkuleleWales Add bridge beads & they can become Ball End Ukulele strings

[@frankkiethebassplayer]

Rachel, you need to slightly file down the wall of the tuning peg. A little at a time until your desired string will fit. The other option is to buy mini bass tuners from gotoh. There about 70 USD but I can put full size strings on my flight.

[@UkuleleWales]

Hi Shannon, yep I didn’t want to start straight off with the bass. I’ve just had some Kala flat wounds so will look to see if they fit. 🤞

[@Hornyderp]

Yeah! Thats one thing i don't like on bases is the roundwound, I get shivers down my spine evey time i run my fingers along the string

[@UkuleleWales]

I can love with round wounds but do MUCH prefer flat wounds. 👍

[@arcahchong4017]

You could try a set of flatwounds u-bass strings, 23" scale by Gallistring. Gauges 60 - 130. Model - KA-BASS-4FW-23inch. I have seen these on 'Strings by Mail' website Good luck!

[@arcahchong4017]

These steel strings are wound on a synthetic core so I don't know if there's enough mass to work with magnetic pick ups. I had the 20" scale version on my Kala Journeyman, which was a bust as I really had to wind up the strings to get it in tune & they would hardly vibrate for the Piezo p/u to work, in the end it weakened the head stock to where it eventually broke by the tuner. I am looking at the Kala 5 string solid body bass, what are your thoughts on them?

[@UkuleleWales]

I have looked at these but I have a feeling they have a nylon core which wouldn’t be suitable for the magnetic pickup *I think*. Definitely not giving up.

[@steveatthews3472]

I was going to do exactly the same as you. And I’m sure I would got the same result. Thanks for saving me from trashing a set of strings

[@UkuleleWales]

Glad I could help, hopefully we will find a solution. 🤞

[@steveatthews3472]

@@UkuleleWalesI have a solution that seems to work fine. It involves buying some steel collets to slide onto the string before fitting. They need to be sized as close as possible to the string. I used 3, 2.5*2, and 1.5mm for a 50 to 110 string set. Fit the string as normal at the neck, leaving loads of excess string at the bridge end, then slide the collets ( I used 2 to be on the safe side) snug to the bridge and tighten the grub screws up tightly. Now bring the string to pitch and it should hold tuning. When I was convinced it wasn’t going to slip I cut off the excess string length. The collets make a new ball end and hold the windings in place.. the collets cost be £1.50 for a set of 4 and this isn’t permanent until the strings are cut so it’s worth a go. It will probably work with a single collet but I had more than I needed and using 2 is quite secure and I had taken enough risks already so decided not to push my luck. I really like the sound of the flat wound strings and think they match the tiny bass well

[@kansasref]

I also failed in a similar attempt to restring my Fanner PeeWee. I looked at Kala's web site. The flat wounds listed there have nylon cores, and are meant to be used on acoustic-electric U-basses. The LaBella flat wounds are designed for the Gold Tone Micro ME which has a piezo pickup. I fear they won't work on a pure electric with magnetic pickups. I'm giving up on flatwounds and have ordered a set of strings made for the Ibanez Mikro bass. It has a 28.6 inch (72.6 cm) scale length, so those may still be too long. Just in case, I had a friend from the UK ship me a set of Carry-On strings which were made specifically for the Black Star mini bass. They're unavailable so far in the US. Will keep looking. With the proliferation of 23-inch scale basses, sooner or later some string manufacturer has to fill the niche.

[@UkuleleWales]

Kala have just brought out Flat Wounds for their new solid body bass with magnetic pick you so they should work and Flight are going to be releasing round wound strings for their basses very soon too so hopefully we’ll get it all sorted.

[@MariUSukulele]

Very interesting, Rachel. DANKE för your efforts!

[@UkuleleWales]

Not a success but definitely learnt a few things doing this. Thanks Marius 😎

[@darpope2752]

Darn!!!! I was holding out a lot of hope for you!!!! God bless you, and thanks for trying!

[@UkuleleWales]

Worth a try, maybe a bit of soldering. We’ll see??

[@otm205]

Interesting project you've got there. I doubt that any kind of heat shrink is going to do the job. I would simply change the tuning pegs to ones with a wider slot. Or if these ones got enough meat on them, just file the slot a little bit wider.

[@snorrevonflake]

Not sure if such a thing exists, even when you use a short scale flatwound string the part that goes through the pegs will be the thinned ends from the factory. But i don't have experience. Was wondering the same though, how to find flatwounds for these "shorter than shortscale" basses, i think i once had the problem with a normal 30" Hofner Bass Copy and Pyramid flatwounds that were just a little too long. (and thus too thick for the peg)

[@PetrHosek]

@@snorrevonflakeIt exists, bass ukulele tuners designed for rubber strings have much bigger string slots as the rubber strings are thicker (and the same thickness all the way through). I've measured a 5.2 mm (0.2 inch) slot on my U bass E string tuner. Quite paradoxically, these gave me a hard time whet I was putting thin flat wound nylon core strings as they kept coming out of the pegs..

[@UkuleleWales]

Yes, really had no idea what would happen and without soldering the shrink tubing isn’t enough to hold it. I may well look at the tuners in the future. 👍

[@eyeball226]

Ahh, as soon as I saw you were going to unwind the outside I knew you were playing with fire. The outer winds on flatwounds go loose really easily. It's why they always have silks at both ends.

[@UkuleleWales]

Something I have now learnt. Will keep looking and maybe some more experimenting.

[@ianmackenzie686]

Precisely why despite my strong desire to have flats or tapes on my kala bass uke i just make due with the stock rounds. I foresaw the hassle. While watching your video i was telepathically reaching out "don't do it Rachel!" 😂😂 I admire your handiness with tools and technique! Bravo!

[@UkuleleWales]

Thanks Ian and yep, you live and learn. Kala have now started selling flatwounds so we’ll get there in the end. 👍

[@Giorgos166]

Hello, I would suggest you try MBLS LaBella/Goldtone Flat Wound strings, I got a Greg Bennett Mini Bass (scale 24.6") and I use them for more than 2 years without problems, they are made specifically for sub short scale bass guitars like these.

[@arcahchong4017]

I did check these out before, unfortunately these are only recommend for fretless basses. I am waiting for the 5 string version of the solid body basses, which should be out later this winter. I just saw them on the Kala website a couple of days ago.

[@UkuleleWales]

Hi, Thanks for the suggestion. In fact I think it is La Bella that are making the flat wounds for Kala. Te ones you mention, do they work with magnetic pick ups?

[@Giorgos166]

​@@UkuleleWales As I said I got a Greg Bennett samick Mini Bass (scale 24.6") which is a P bass and they definately do work. Now your blackstar mini bass has a scale about an inch shorter but you may get away. I can measure the exact length of strings or send you a pic if you are interesting buying them.

[@UkuleleWales]

@@Giorgos166 Hi, I am definitely looking into these. A picture would be really useful Thank You. My email is [e-mail]

[@billyaitken7461]

Have you tried narrowing the string on either side with a Dremel / angle grinder? Alternatively grind out the tuner slot slightly bigger 🤔🤔🤔🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🎸🤘❗️

[@UkuleleWales]

Interesting thought Billy, maybe worth trying but I suspect the unending issue may occur. I may well try altering matching heads in the future but didn’t want to do it so soon, plus I think I’d probably need to solder a little to stop the trying unwinding by itself.

[@kevinmcgill3445]

Congratulations on your big win at the Ukies. Well deserved.

[@UkuleleWales]

Thank you so much Kevin 😊

[@arcahchong4017]

Kala now has flat wounds for solid body u basses with magnetic pick ups on their website.

[@UkuleleWales]

Thanks and now put on. I ordered the fretless and had Kala put flatwounds on it and also had another set shipped which are now on my fretted ubass. 👍

[@arcahchong4017]

How do the flatwound sound? I just received my 5 string, I find it a little too twangy for me. I am hoping they make a set of flatwounds for a 5 string.👍

[@UkuleleWales]

@@arcahchong4017 The Flatwounds sound awesome, I think there will be 5 string flatwound sets available in the future.

[@MatthiasHoffmann-gn9wq]

I made a similar experiment with flat wounds of regular length on the Harley Benton UkeBass OPNT. Like you I started on the E string and failed with the outer layer unwinding and rattling. I guess it is not supossed to be. There are 23" flat wounds from Dogal that they make for Tiny Boy basses. But they are expensive...

[@UkuleleWales]

Hi Matthias, yes I have seen the Dogal strings and agree very expensive. Kala have just released some flat wounds for their solid body u-bass but that is magnetic pickup so I’m guessing those strings won’t work so well on the HB OPNT with a piezo pickup. Let me know if you fins a solution.

[@jburtonca]

Try again with the A string but this time solder the string beyond the nut for about 1/2 inch before you start to remove the winding. That may help to prevent the rest of the string from unraveling.

[@UkuleleWales]

Yes, something we may well try. 😊 Thanks

[@arolallen]

I’ve wondered if this could be done. Thanks for sharing.

[@UkuleleWales]

Worth a try. 👍

[@judih.8754]

Might you have shortened them at the bridge end?

[@UkuleleWales]

I suppose it might me possible but I’m not sure how easy it would be to reattach the ball end?

[@anorak211]

You cant have the heat shrink in the nut slot....surely?

[@UkuleleWales]

No, I just wanted to see at the end what it would have looked like had the string cut been a success. 👍

[@cosmiconion87]

Take it to a Luther

[@UkuleleWales]

I would if I thought they could actually do the job but I suspect I’d end up paying so much I’d be better paying the expensive price for the Dogals from Italy.

[@9-volt247]

Shoot...where is the comment that I made? It's gone! Pure gone! Did you delete it?

[@9-volt_fan142]

*(sigh)* 9-Volt...maybe either KZbin or Rachel doesn't like your comment. Don't get too upset.

[@9-volt247]

@@9-volt_fan142 But...but...my comment is nice! Why on earth did someone delete my reply or comment? That's mean!

[@9-volt_fan142]

@@9-volt247 What was your comment before someone deleted it?

[@9-volt247]

@@9-volt_fan142 Now, someone deleted it again after I posted it! I don't know...😭😭😭

[@9-volt_fan142]

@@9-volt247 Uh, oh...