double bass strings on bass guitar

jazzzmonky · #1 11-27-2006, 04:44 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

TroyK · #2 11-27-2006, 05:12 PM

I think it's a pretty crazy idea. You'd need to find a really thin gauge and even then they would almost definitely be too floppy. The scale is just too different. If you were bent on doing this, order some strings for a 1/2 sized bass, but I still think it's a bad idea.

If you really want to try, your next question is going to be "O.K., which strings?" We've been arguing about that for years and can't agree, they are all different and who knows which ones match the sound in your head, assuming that they would even work on your EBG.

Search flatwound treads on the electric bass side, that's really what you want. TI's and LaBellas are popular, but there are about a dozen to choose from. The most expensive flatwould bass guitar strings are going to be 1/2 the price of the cheapest doublebass strings anyway. Not worth the experiment.

Randy Ward · #3 11-27-2006, 05:52 PM

JAZZZMONKEY

Did you see this thread?

In search of alternative strings...

**Francois Blais** · #4 11-27-2006, 05:58 PM

Thanks for the link, univac jr.

Let me suggest black-nylon tape strings for fretless BG, in order to get more UB tone.
There are several brands, like Carvin, LaBella, Roto-Sound, etc.

DB strings are not an option for the short scale of a BG, and are not designed for that kind of instrument anyway.
And way more expensive an experiment, as TroyK said.

jazzzmonky · #5 11-27-2006, 07:13 PM

wow, thanks for all of you input. I was really just curious. In the other thread that was linked 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.

bassist1962 · #6 11-28-2006, 03:28 AM

I did this back in high school. The ball ends were extremely huge, the silk wrap wwent 2/3 - 3/4 over the body, and I ended up getting just a plain set of flatwounds anyway. It was a fun experimentation though.