Double bass strings on bass guitar

jazzzmonky · #1 11-27-2006, 04:42 PM

I have been playing a conventional 4 string electric bass guitar for about 6 years now and I'm looking to diversify my playing in both style and tone. Thus I decided to go fretless. My question is does it work to put traditional stand up bass strings on a fretless bass guitar? Has any one ever tried it, and does it sound good? Is it going to provide that different, unique, or good of a tone to be worth the cost of double bass strings?

Thanks

The BurgerMeister · #2 11-27-2006, 04:47 PM

i'd say there's generally TONS more tension on double bass strings than on electric bass strings, so i think it's a bad idea.

but look into flatwounds and tapewounds for a sound similar to an upright on a fretless bass guitar.

plus, though flats and tapewounds are generally more expensive than standard roundwounds, they are about 1/8th the price of a set of upright strings.

and welcome to talkbass!

Jazzin' · #3 11-27-2006, 05:30 PM

TI flats are said to sound similar to double bass strings.

Showdown · #4 11-27-2006, 05:46 PM

DB strings would be way too long for an electric bass. Get some traditional sounding flats, like LaBella or Fender, and put some foam under the strings near the bridge as a mute and that will get you close.

jazzzmonky · #5 11-27-2006, 07:15 PM

Thanks for all of you input. I was really just curious. I saw another thread where some one mentioned cello strings. That never occurred to me. My sister plays cello pretty seriously I should ask her about this. Maybe some time if I have some money laying around I'll experiment. I appreciate every thing you guys have to say.

spudmaster34 · #6 11-27-2006, 07:43 PM

unless you have piezo or lightwave pups, I don't think most cello strings would work, I could be wrong though

PurplePurple · #7 11-27-2006, 08:55 PM

I would imagine Cello strings would have made the swich to prodominently steel long ago, am i wrong?

-Sam- · #8 12-02-2006, 08:54 PM

make sure you get metal core strings other wise your magnet pups wont pick up the sound

Kael · #9 12-03-2006, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jazzin'

TI flats are said to sound similar to double bass strings.

Not to my ear. Then again, what DB sound are you talking about? Gut fundamental, metal strings like Spirocores, synthetics, hybrid strings, etc? I have experienced more variation in tone due to string swaps on DB than on slab. I'll grant that flats sound closer to an upright than rounds, but I don't think that TI's mimic a doghouse any better than most other flats (ex: chromesteels).

PS: Double Bass strings on an electric bass is a bad idea. Generally they are WAY thicker (tension city) and longer than electric strings (by about a foot). Cutting most DB strings (ie: trimming to fit your electric bass guitar) is also a pretty durn bad idea. Good way to ruin most strings.