Piccolo tuning on a 6 string?

[RJjr.]

I play an Ibanez SRX590 4 string which is a nice instrument, but I've recently been fingering some 6 strings and I've pretty much decided that the Ibanez BTB776 is the one for me, price wise and how it feels. I have very large hands with long fingers and its difficult for me to place my thumb properly on the SRX590, no problem on any 6 string.

I am into jazz and fusion so I don't feel I need the low B and would rather set up the bass with a high C and F. Can I take the B off and move the other five strings down one and then buy 1 string for the high F or do I have to buy a new set of strings. Also, are there any problems with tension limits on this bass? What about the nut with this string setup? Any other problems? I'd ask the guys at Guitar Center and Sam Ash but they've given me wrong information before and I don't trust them anymore.

Thanks much for taking the time and effort to answer. I appreciate it.

[ByF]

The string tension shouldn't be a problem. The neck on a sixer should be able to take anything you put on there, but of course you'll need to do a set-up after you've changed strings.

I would suggest you try it with the nut as is; if you get a lot of rattle because the slots are too wide, you can get a new nut installed. But some of us here on TB have gone from BEAD to EADG to a four string, without changing the nut. It doesn't cost anything extra to try it.

Juststrings.com sells individual strings.

Ed

[RJjr.]

Thanks Ed. Just what I needed to hear.