EADGBE, what strings?

[lowselfesteem]

I plan on tuning a 6-string bass to EADGBE. Does anybody have any suggestions on where I can get the appropriate strings?

[BryanM]

Are you planning on doing E0 to E2 or E1 to E3 so the range would extend as low as a 4 string and up?

[lowselfesteem]

I don't know exactly what that means. I plan on tuning the bottom 4 like a normal bass and the two higher ones B and E.

[jebmd]

Originally Posted by lowselfesteem

I don't know exactly what that means. I plan on tuning the bottom 4 like a normal bass and the two higher ones B and E.

I think he's looking for what gauges to use. Sounds like he wants to use standard guitar tuning just an octave lower.

[fu22ba55]

Circle K Strings can get you pretty much anything you need, and all kinds of stuff you'll never need:

http://circlekstrings.com/store/index.html

And their owner is here on TB a lot. He can probably help you troubleshoot which gauges will work best for you.

Juststrings.com will also sell single strings, bulk strings, etc... but you'll need to know what gauges you need, or spend a bit of money experimenting.

Have fun.

[electracoyote]

Originally Posted by lowselfesteem

I don't know exactly what that means. I plan on tuning the bottom 4 like a normal bass and the two higher ones B and E.

That's a Bass VI tuning, unison with standard bass tuning adding the B and E (2nd and 1st) strings like a guitar.

You probably need something like this (short scale)
http://www.juststrings.com/dad-xl156.html

What make/model Bass VI do you have, and what is its scale length?

(Scale is measured from nut to saddles)

[ixlramp]

If it's a 34" or 35" scale, look for '6 String Balanced Standard' sets from from Circle K:

6 String Set - Balanced Standard 100
.100 .076 .055 .040 .029 .020p

... then detune the top 2 strings by a semitone.

[OOZMAN]

What ixl said

[OOZMAN]

I just strung my 5er D# G# C# F# B (one step down from yours). I used .105 .85 .65 .40 and for the highest string I tried a guitar .28 and .38 (that's all my local muso shop had ). The .38 was a bit tight and the .28 a bit loose, but other than that it was spot on. .32-.35 would be ideal IMO.

Going off that, for you I suggest .100 .80 .60 .40 .30 .20-25

[lowselfesteem]

Thanks for all the suggestions. My 6-string, which should arrive tomorrow is a WOB 826 from Rondo. It's a 34" scale. I'm thinking gauge-wise right around what OOZMAN says. My issue is where to find the top one or two. I'll look into this Circle K and the single strings from juststrings.

[ixlramp]

Conklin Guitars sell plain .018 and wound .020, .022 bass strings for the high F / E HERE.

Thin wounds have thin cores and may be prone to breakage. A plain steel top E will be very strong, some plain guitar strings are long enough (Rotosound, D'Aquisto) just thread an old bass ball-end onto it.

Circle K also sell singles.

[lunarpollen]

Standard gauges for short-scale basses tuned that way: .095 .075 .055 .045 .035 .025
I have one strung .105 .085 .065 .050 .040 .030

D'Addario makes long scale strings down to .028
http://store.daddario.com/category/1..._Scale_Singles

[ixlramp]

I advise against a wound .025 for top E on a 34" scale though. I've tried it myself and it felt very tight and close to snapping, it will have more tension than a .100 low E. Most .025s are designed for 6 string bass C, the cores may be thin and may not take the tension at E.

I would recommend a wound .022 or plain steel .018-.016 depending on your taste in tension. A wound .022 has a thin core and therefore is delicate, and has a small pitch response to string bending. A plain steel string is stronger and has a large pitch response to string bending