Stringing in fifths? What gauges would you use?

[Oscar South]

I play mandolin decently as well as bass, I was thinking of stringing one of my old basses in fifths (GDAE, same as mandolin) to see if I could do any interesting soloey stuff with it (If it works really well I'll string my main CGDAE but I suspect it'll be terrible for ensemble playing, it works on mandolin and violin because you can comfortably fit 5-7 frets in one position).

Anyway, the point of this thread is this:
What gauges of string would you use to string a 34" bass in tuning listed above? I'll be buying them individually obviously, so don't worry about picking a certain brand or set or anything, just suggest what gauges you reckon would work for each of those notes to keep the tension even across the neck.

Cheers.

[knuckle_head]

I will run with the assumption that your G would be a step-and-a-half higher than the low E on a standard 4.

G - .090
D - .060
A - .040
E - .028/.030

[Darkstrike]

Sweet, I ws thinking of this as well! Couldnt figure out the strings either.

[DavePlaysBass]

I agree except I might go with a D at 0.065".

The G with a 90 is in the ball park of a standard set of 85 for A and 105 for E. This will mean a typical setup (relief and saddle height) should be sufficient for the G. Given that, I would do the D with a 65. IME a 60 tuned to D will buzz without a lot of relief or high saddle height. Even though the 0.065" D is higher tension that the others, I think it will allow for a more uniform setup. And the D is higher tension in most standard sets anyway.

Dave

[EADG mx]

I'd go CGDA personally

That way you still have (almost) the full range of a bass in standard. With GDAE you do not.


edit: If you're going for higher range, disregard that

[DavePlaysBass]

Or D A E B

[Oscar South]

I already know mandolin/violin tuning well and I have boatloads of work from my uni course right now, having to learn and practice 3 different tunings isn't really an option. Plus I'm only planning to use this bass for solo work and experimenting on and its a 34" which didn't cost too much in the first place.. a C string would likely be floppy and weak.

If I like it I'll do it to my main bass which is a five string, so that'd basically be mandolin tuning with a low C added.

[greenboy]

I don't see why going between two different Fifths tunings should present any difficulties - the fretboard relationships remain the same.

[Oscar South]

Originally Posted by greenboy

I don't see why going between two different Fifths tunings should present any difficulties - the fretboard relationships remain the same.

I play a lot with other people so its important that I play in the correct key, having to transpose everything just to have extra low range that I don't want or need on this bass is pointless and just hinders my playing. Also since I play mandolin already I don't want to have to practice a new tuning when I'm already comfortable in GDAE.

[EADG mx]

Originally Posted by Oscar South

I already know mandolin/violin tuning well and I have boatloads of work from my uni course right now, having to learn and practice 3 different tunings isn't really an option. Plus I'm only planning to use this bass for solo work and experimenting on and its a 34" which didn't cost too much in the first place.. a C string would likely be floppy and weak.

If I like it I'll do it to my main bass which is a five string, so that'd basically be mandolin tuning with a low C added.

There are plenty of 5 and 6 string basses with 34" scale

if C string is too floppy use a heavier string, problem solved

[PilbaraBass]

Originally Posted by EADG mx

I'd go CGDA personally

That way you still have (almost) the full range of a bass in standard. With GDAE you do not.


edit: If you're going for higher range, disregard that

If you tune E B F# C#, you'll actually have a GREATER range than a 4-string...in fact, it will 1 note greater range than that of a 5-string tuned EADGC

tuning depends on where you want the extra notes to be...as one poster suggested D A E B is also a great choice...

[EADG mx]

Originally Posted by PilbaraBass

If you tune E B F# C#, you'll actually have a GREATER range than a 4-string...in fact, it will 1 note greater range than that of a 5-string tuned EADGC

tuning depends on where you want the extra notes to be...as one poster suggested D A E B is also a great choice...

Sorry my bad, what I think I meant to say is that you'd still have the same range as a 4 string, but your lowest note would be C instead of E.

[Oscar South]

I can't really reply to anything here without repeating something I've already said.

[knuckle_head]

You have your notion, and suggestions on how to execute.

Go forward - then report back. I want to hear how it works for you.

[Oscar South]

Will do, I lent the bass out to a friend though and I won't have a chance to get it back until late December so I'll have to put it on hiatus for a while.

[ffutterman]

Bumping this thread since I'm interested in doing this too, for pretty much the same mandolin-related reason.

Any additional suggestions for strings, scale lengths, etc. for tuning a 4-string in GDAE?

[knuckle_head]

I have recently delivered 5ths sets - and keep threatening to make them an option on the Circle K site. This is what I've recommended in the past for C tuning;

.124 .084 .055 .035 .022

Just drop the low string and you're golden.

EDIT; singles are an option now.

[ixlramp]

I've been experimenting with fifths tunings for 15 years. Knuckle_head has the correct approach to gauges, the tensions will be even across the set.

The rough rule is:

For two strings of equal scale and tension, tuned a fifth apart, the gauge ratio will be roughly 3:2.

See knuckle_head's Circle K Strings website:

http://circlekstrings.com/store/