6 string bass help needed!

K.C HADE · #1 10-12-2006, 10:21 AM

Hey guys and gals I just ordered a new Spector 6 string bass and I want to tune it like a guitar is normally tune E,A,D,G,B,E can some one please tell me what guage of string I should use especially for the B and high E. Thanx

**Mark Wilson** · #2 10-12-2006, 10:41 AM

I think this would be better in the strings forum, but I don't see why you can't use a regular set of 6-string strings.

-Mark

EBMatt · #3 10-12-2006, 10:49 AM

I would go with an extra-light 6-string set.

ehque · #4 10-12-2006, 10:53 AM

would that even work... 6 string sets are meant to be tuned BEADGC and tuning it up 5 semitones (even with light guages) is quite mad.

for the high B/E i believe you might need to get custom sets. you could use a C string as your B, but i wouldnt tune that same string up to E.

K.C HADE · #5 10-12-2006, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ehque

would that even work... 6 string sets are meant to be tuned BEADGC and tuning it up 5 semitones (even with light guages) is quite mad.

for the high B/E i believe you might need to get custom sets. you could use a C string as your B, but i wouldnt tune that same string up to E.

I ordered a 18 plain for the high E and a 35 for the B as for the E A D G I think i will just use a regular set of 105's do you think those will work?

ehque · #6 10-12-2006, 11:08 AM

sounds ballpark. you might want to wait for someone more knowledgeable, i play BEADGC exclusively.

Angus · #7 10-12-2006, 11:25 AM

.018-.022 for the E/F, .025-.032 for the B/C is a good place to start.

I do the same thing with one of my basses, and I just order sets of individual strings instead of sets, because a) E-F tuned sets are hard to find unless you buy 7 string sets, and b) once you find a packaged set you have no control of gauging. I've also yet to find someone who makes a really well balanced light gauge set, either.

Mine is currently strung- .016-.020-.038-.055-.075-.090.
I also have a piccolo E-E strung .007-.011-.018-.025-.040-.055.

Ordering everything as single strings is probably your best bet. I get most of them from juststrings.com, who I've used for probably 6+ years without a single problem.

Piccolo strings are from Conklin. Good people!

**embellisher** · #8 10-12-2006, 05:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by K.C HADE

I ordered a 18 plain for the high E and a 35 for the B as for the E A D G I think i will just use a regular set of 105's do you think those will work?

That will get you pretty close to where you want. You might have to experiment with gauges a bit.

Or you could buy a 7 string set, and throw out the low B string, as others have suggested.

Moved to Strings.