which strings for Kay bass?

[Creston]

I'm having a hard time finding strings for a Kay bass guitar I'm restoring - the scale length appears to be about 30-3/4". The length from tailpiece to E tuner is 36-1/8". The same measurement for the the G string is 40-3/8".

The D'Addario 30" set (ECB81S) is too short, and the long-scale strings I've tried are too long.

I'm unsure of the model, but it's a single-cutaway with a speedbump pickup and a gumby headstock. It's been through the wringer, but it's now ready to play if I can only find some [flatwound!] strings.

Help!

[ghoti]

Longscale strings plus a pair of wire clippers = any scale you want :D

[Creston]

The full girth of the low strings is too chubby for the holes in the Kluson-[guitar]-type tuners. I need the skinny leading end of a properly-scaled string.

[musicofanatic5]

I know exactly the situation. I play a fifties Kay hollowbody bass (the "Howlin' Wolf/Sheryl Crow" model) and the scale length looks to be 31", and about 35 7/8th" from E-string tuner to tailpiece. I got it with an old set of black, nylon wrapped strings that are still in use. I'll cry if I break one, but I'd probably look first at Juststrings.com. I also recall from my days in retail that Rotosound used to catalog a wide variety of different scale length flat- and tape-wound strings. I reckon I should be looking for some replacements my own self!

[nickelwound]

Try medium scale strings, I know D'Addario and others make them but they are hard to find. I use them on a Fender Mustang, which is short scale but the strings go through the body creating a need for that length of string. The half-rounds are nice.

[One Drop]

My friend uses Pyramid flats on his Howlin' Wolf Kays ( he has about 4 or 5). They sound incredible on it.

You might contact Pyramid and ask which scale to use- the regular long scales might work because of the style of bridge if it's similar to the HW ones.