Tuning Regular to SOlo Tuning

[davidsbass]

Is it bad to tune up my strings to solo tuning for just one performance?

[JtheJazzMan]

Probably, and even if the strings can take the extra tension, theres no guarantee that the bass will.

And if all goes well the tension may still choke the sound of the bass.

What strings do you have?

[davidsbass]

I have corelli's but Im switching to spirocores (even though I spend most of my time playing classical solo stuff)

[tstone]

String tension varies with the square of the open string frequency. In plain English, that means it takes a big change in tension to achieve a small change in pitch. Specifically, to raise the open string pitch a whole tone, the string tension needs to go up by 26 percent.

So if your total string tension in standard tuning was, say, 240 lbs, it would have to go up to 302 lbs to get up to solo tuning. Even if that doesn't cause anything to break, it will probably bow your bass's neck forward significantly.

[davidsbass]

lol forget it
what do soloists do who also play jazz and orchestral stuff that requires regular tuning

[Eric Hochberg]

Originally Posted by davidsbass

lol forget it
what do soloists do who also play jazz and orchestral stuff that requires regular tuning

Try a set of Velvet Compas 180 Suit. They are made for both tunings. I liked them at orchestra pitch, never tuned them up though.

[Matt Weiner]

http://www.jargar-strings.com/

Correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't Jargar Dolce strings made to work in either solo or orchestra tuning as well? Pretty handy if you only have one bass.

[Francois Blais]

Originally Posted by Matt Weiner

http://www.jargar-strings.com/

Correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't Jargar Dolce strings made to work in either solo or orchestra tuning as well? Pretty handy if you only have one bass.

Exact!
However the Jargars may not be his cup of tea. (but that's another story!)