Craziest string setup/Tunings

Bsuding · #1 12-19-2011, 05:23 PM

I recently started experimenting with an e-brake cable from a 1970's Chevy Suburban. It's on a short scale, and I moved my EA&D down, lost the A, and tuned to BEAD. makes a great sub-dub style sound, think I'm gonna nuke my practice amp tho.

FunkMetalBass · #2 12-19-2011, 08:05 PM

An e-brake cable? That is certainly strange. I think you just won your own thread. Haha

I am going to tune one of my basses BADG (skipping the E) and another DADG (octave below), but that's as crazy as I'm going.

Although I'm super interested to try augmented fourths tuning on one of my 6-stringers.

chrism2sych · #3 12-19-2011, 08:39 PM

Played in d-b-a-g liked having b under the a. Played it like 2 weeks but really get off on saying I'm tuned to d-bag......usually worth a laugh or 2

klokker · #4 12-20-2011, 07:04 AM

I tune all my strings to the same pitch and then hit them with a hammer. Great slap tone!

**cfsporn** · #5 12-20-2011, 09:51 AM

One one of my Squiers with terribly high action, the only way I could make it playable was to tune it CGDA with a set of 45-105s. Sounded cool, and as a former cellist, allowed easy translation, but I damn near blew out my practice amp (a Roland Cube 15 watt guitar amp with a subwoofer speaker put in place of its previous 6.5 inch speaker.)

caeman · #6 02-22-2012, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cfsporn

One one of my Squiers with terribly high action, the only way I could make it playable was to tune it CGDA with a set of 45-105s. Sounded cool, and as a former cellist, allowed easy translation, but I damn near blew out my practice amp (a Roland Cube 15 watt guitar amp with a subwoofer speaker put in place of its previous 6.5 inch speaker.)

I was curious what an electric bass would sound like with cello tuning, as I have recently begun learning to play cello.

Did you use the B, A, D and G strings from a 5-string set?

ixlramp · #7 02-22-2012, 08:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by caeman

I was curious what an electric bass would sound like with cello tuning, as I have recently begun learning to play cello.

Did you use the B, A, D and G strings from a 5-string set?

It's best to build a custom set from single strings to get an even tension across the set. I can help you with gauges if you want as i've been tuning my basses in fifths since 1996.

caeman · #8 02-22-2012, 08:19 PM

I have a spare bass not serving any other purpose, so I think I would like to try the experiment. It is a normal scale fretless with p and j pups.

Geroi Asfalta · #9 02-22-2012, 11:38 PM

Never did any odd tunings, but I did one use an eighth-inch thick piece of solid steel wire for an E-string once...

IAmTheWalrus · #10 02-23-2012, 12:06 AM

For a while I tuned C#-G-C-F and then once I got a new set of strings I started tuning D#-A-D-G. I don't necessarily think it's strange but I've never seen anyone else tune like that, that I know of anyway

ixlramp · #11 02-23-2012, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by caeman

I have a spare bass not serving any other purpose, so I think I would like to try the experiment. It is a normal scale fretless with p and j pups.

Okay

what are your favourite gauges for EADG? I'll then suggest some gauges based on that

caeman · #12 02-23-2012, 07:36 PM

I generally play medium flats on all my basses.

ixlramp · #13 02-23-2012, 11:23 PM

I deleted a post because i'm not feeling confident about the suggestion

Another way is to figure it out as you suggested, working from your favourite B A D G strings ...

C: I understand there isn't much gauge choice for flatwound B strings, so a B string tuned up to C ... Bs are usually loose so this improves the tone.
D: The D string is unchanged so your favourite gauge for that.
I used 'long scale Chromes' tension chart here http://www.daddario.com/upload/tension_chart_13934.pdf to figure out that a drop in gauge of .005 compensates for a standard G tuned up to A. Similarly an increase in gauge of .010 compensates for a standard A detuned to G.
G: Your favourite gauge for standard A + .010
A: Your favourite gauge for standard G - .005
Example DR legend flats medium BEADG 125 105 85 65 45 -> CGDA 125 95 65 40

But my preference and recommendation is an equal tension set to make fifths more comfortable to play, since there will be more stretching and shifting. For a medium-light/light example: 132 85 55 35.

caeman · #14 03-01-2012, 04:59 PM

Thanks for the string recommends. If i can swing it this pay day, i will pick up the string.