Left handed neck on right handed bass for low note stability

[warnergt]

The latest Bass Player magazine (Feb. 2008) relates a story of Rick Burch getting some modifications from the Fender Custom Shop on his P Bass. Apparently, Rick has his low string tuned to C# and has had troubles with note stability on that loose and low string. He says playing the note creates tension and pulls the note sharp.

The Fender guy tells him that more tension will make it more stable and proceeds to install a left-handed neck on a right-handed bass to make the E string (actually C# in this case) the longest string from peg to bridge.

Personally, I can't see how this increases tension in any way. I just don't buy the logic. Because the length from nut to bridge is not changed, the tension will have to be same to reproduce a given note.

The way I see it, the only way the length of the string from nut to peg could make any difference is if the string is slipping through the nut when it is played. So I considered that scenario and that doesn't work in this case, either.

If there is more string from nut to peg, that would allow the string to be stretchier as there is more string to give a little. That would create less tension; not more.

So what are these guys talking about? Am I missing something? Or are they blowing it out their shorts? Or do they have a solution that works with a misconception on how it works?

[southshoreconor]

i've heard this also, Tim Commerford from RATM did this to his jazz basses that were tuned BEAD. i'm not sure if i buy it.

[meev992]

Even if it worked, I don't like the idea of my tuning pegs on the bottom, rather than the top. I have my bass BEAD, and it feels just fine to me.

[202dy]

Physics, as it occurs on this planet, does not allow for an increase in tension due to increased string length while speaking length remains constant. For an in depth discussion and the math that explains the mechanics of string tension refer to Stedtale's Comment here on TB. Anecdotal evidence from revered players aside, it just ain't so.

[EADG mx]

Originally Posted by 202dy

Physics, as it occurs on this planet, does not allow for an increase in tension due to increased string length while speaking length remains constant. For an in depth discussion and the math that explains the mechanics of string tension refer to Stedtale's Comment here on TB. Anecdotal evidence from revered players aside, it just ain't so.

+1

if this was true, wouldn't the G have the highest tension in standard tuning? But the D does. Why do people assume it's a different case just because it's on the E side? If you want more tension, get a fanned fretboard or a high gauge string