Choosing Strings For Chords on Solo Bass.

[FunkQueen]

I want to put E-A-D-G-B on my 5 string Cort Gb-75 bass
instead of B-E-A-D-G. I want to make my 5 string bass, a solo instrument in order to play chords-arpeggios and sing without a band.

1)Is it possible to put a high B instead of low B? and E string
instead of low B?
Do I have to make a change on the nut of the bass???
I hope I dont have to repair the bass in order to put a high string on the nut?

2) What brands, gauges are the most guitar-like, easiest and smoothest to play for chords-slaps-riffs like Billy Sheenan or Jeff Schmidt?

3)What are piccolo strings? And which brand makes them?
DO I need piccolo strings? Is it a good idea to RETUNE my bass
an ocate higher as well?

[FunkQueen]

I want to put E-A-D-G-B on my 5 string Cort Gb-75 bass
instead of B-E-A-D-G. I want to make my 5 string bass, a solo instrument in order to play chords-arpeggios and sing without a band.

1)Is it possible to put a high B instead of low B? and E string
instead of low B?
Do I have to make a change on the nut of the bass???
I hope I dont have to repair the bass in order to put a high string on the nut?

2) What brands, gauges are the most guitar-like, easiest and smoothest to play for chords-slaps-riffs like Billy Sheenan or Jeff Schmidt?

3)What are piccolo strings? And which brand makes them?
DO I need piccolo strings? Is it a good idea to RETUNE my bass
an octave higher as well?

[FunkQueen]

Sorry for two of the same thread I hit the Post button two times by mistake.

[Alun]

There shouldn't be a problem restringing EADGB ( there are plenty of players using EADGC, including Janek Gwidala who has his own forum in the Ask The Pro section) but you may find you need to adjust/change the nut and possibly adjust the action and truss rod slightly to accomodate the change. One thing I would say is that it's worth getting an experienced person to do this unless you're 100% certain you know what you're doing.

String gauges are really personal preference - Billy Sheehan uses fairly "normal" bass gauges ( and standard tuning generally), I think Jeff may use lighter strings as he does use quite a few alternate tunings.

Piccolo strings are light gauge strings that will allow you to tune an octave higher.Whether it's a good idea is really up to what you want to acheive, and whether you're happy to have one bass set up solely for solo work and another for regular bass gigs ( or keep changing strings, set up, etc)

Cheers,
Alun

[jeff schmidt]

I've spent a lot of time (and money) experimenting with string gauges.

On the piccolo thing - maybe I'm just a tard - but I've never been able to tune a standard piccolo set .50 or .52 low string to an E one octave above on a 34 or 35 scale bass. It's always too tight.

As Alun said - I use lots of different tunings - some loose - some tight so I rarely play piccolo in 4ths tuning. But when I do - I almost always use "tenor" tuning - A,D,G,C,F (on my 5 string)

I spent enough time with all this stuff where I've created "custom" sets of strings for myself (by buying strings individually)

On my main piccolo it goes low to high - 80, 52, 40, 28, 18

I've also created a "SUB PICCOLO" set on one of my fretless basses - which is really a fancy way of saying "ultra light" it goes:

85 70 52 35 25

I've used this set up for BOTH standard bass playing and solo stuff. Sounds nice if you don't need thundering low end. I've used it to accompany acoustic guitars - like on Andy Mckee's new record.

word

[FunkQueen]

It is incredibly exciting to have all this help from great musicians. Thank you so much. This forum is absolutely perfect ! I feel very

Where I live, it is hard to find ultra light and piccolo stuff...
I will have to order from Amazon.com. (one of the VERY few sites that sends to where I live)

I will always play solo , I also got my MM Fender 4 string for fuller band stuff anyway.

So what exact brands and gauges do you suggest me?
I would like to get the (ultra) Lightest set and if possible tune it an octave higher. (For chords and slap and tapping techniques..) Tenor tuning seems like a great idea although I would feel safer with a traditional low E So E-A-D-G-C seems cool at the moment. (I also play guitar)

Will I have to make a big change on the nut for this purpose?
When the luthier makes this change, will it be impossible to go back to low B as before?
I mean should it be a strict decision?

Ps: I have to get Andy Mckee album cause I liked it a lot on myspace.
I heard it before and it sounds great.

my site is : http://www.myspace.com/edorsay

My Very very very old album from 2001.
There is no bass playing from my part but there is me singing and playing guitar on
my own songs and lyrics

[Alun]

Hi. The change to the nut would be to accomodate the thinner strings - at the moment the nut would be cut for low B -G so you may find that the low E -C strings sit too low in the groove and buzz or frets out in the open and lower positions.

You may be OK using an EADGC nut for BEADG strings depending on the gauges you use - a lightish B may sit OK. Best bet would be to explain to the luthier what you're after and see if they can shape it to a compromise that will work OK for both.

Cheers,
Alun

[FunkQueen]

I straightly went to my music room and restringed my 5 string by taking off the low B and putting the low E instead. And I used my new ultra light G string as high C.
I got a E-A-D-G-C stringed bass now and I cant take my hands off it !!!!! it opened up new horizons and gave me loads of inspiration for my solo songwriting.

The strings seem a little tight and high though, especially the low ones.

Now the big question of mine: The tenor tuning scares me
as I also play guitar and I got my MM fender standard tuned
bass. I will also sing while playing chords so to switch between
differently tuned guitars scares me a little Ok I ll see.

Does Oteil Burbridge uses standard tuning on his 6 string mostly? Does he use a higher string than C? Like F?
Just curious.

Sometimes I am tempted to buy a 6 string bass but it is quite expensive around here and I hate to have a bass without a pickguard (Dont laugh but I can only use the pop technique with a fender style pickguarded bass)

Is it possible to tune the 6 string
from low to high: A-D-G-C-F-B ??

Sorry for many Qs I am quite excited about my late discovery

[FunkQueen]

Sticking to my 5 string seems like the best choice...
The high C seemed great enough for me.
6 strings are heavy like a tree am I right? :-D

"so I rarely play piccolo in 4ths tuning. But when I do - I almost always use "tenor" tuning - A,D,G,C,F (on my 5 string) " -Jeff Schmidt-

The tenor tuning is mostly used on the small piccolo bass? Is it rarely used on the normal bass guitar?
You use it on the small bass guitar called piccolo, I got it right?

I am new to this subject so sorry for many Qs.

[JimmyM]

1. Shouldn't have to change the nut, but you might need to adjust the truss rod and action. Or maybe not, depending on how well it plays. You'll definitely to adjust your intonation, though.

2. Roundwounds, probably the .040-.095 set with maybe a .030 B would be most guitarlike and still give you some bass resistance. Any brand will do.

3. Piccolo strings are tuned up an octave higher than regular bass (regular guitar tuning). If you play guitar already, I wouldn't bother.

[Kalyptic]

well stanley clarke used a normal bass in tenor tuneing, as does wooten. But i have to say ive never seen a tenor piccolo bass.

[jeff schmidt]

Originally Posted by FunkQueen

Sticking to my 5 string seems like the best choice...
The high C seemed great enough for me.
6 strings are heavy like a tree am I right? :-D

"so I rarely play piccolo in 4ths tuning. But when I do - I almost always use "tenor" tuning - A,D,G,C,F (on my 5 string) " -Jeff Schmidt-

The tenor tuning is mostly used on the small piccolo bass? Is it rarely used on the normal bass guitar?
You use it on the small bass guitar called piccolo, I got it right?

I am new to this subject so sorry for many Qs.

I use piccolo GUAGE strings on my regular 35 scale basses.

[FunkQueen]

Thank you. Today, I went to the luthier and he made the truss rod adjustment and intonation.
The only trouble is : The strings tuned to E-A-D-G-C seemed
still quite tight compared to my usual 4 string Fender bass.
He made the strings a little higher but still...tight.....
The space between the strings also became very large =((( Which is bad for me.

I like bending, popping, playing chords etc...

It seems hard to find a Fender style 6 string =((
Even impossible around here...

Maybe I should have a custom 6 string built for me
which will be around 2000 USD and it seems scary not to know
how it is gonna come out....

There are some cheap 6 strings like Washburn but the strings
are crowded (too close to each other) or Warwick RockBass.
But I hate those MODERN shapes.

I wish I could find a 6 stringed Fender type bass with
enough comfort to play chords and slap as well.

[FunkQueen]

So I want a 6 string bass that I can put (from lowE to high F) EADGCF and the strings would still not be tight but very smooth and easily bending.

[coolrunner989]

check out rondo music online. They have fender-ish shapes in six strings I believe and the quality is usually very good, especially for the price (about 200-300 bucks, depending on which model you want).

[FunkQueen]

thank you so much for the link.
Still Couldnt find any pickguarded 6 string.
I may put a pickguard later??

I still wonder : Is it just me??? or when we tune higher
like I did the tension gets tight???

I can easily bend and pop on my 4 string.
And I used to do it easily on my 5 string when it was tuned BEADG.
Now its damnnnnnn hard and I am depressed =(

Should I change the bridge?
Any easy suggestion...=(( Please save me from despair...
I found a low end 6 string Washburn around 500 USD
Should I buy that one and sell my Cort Gb-75???
(not many 6 string around here very few and most web sites
dont ship to Turkey where I live so I should buy what I can find and touch)

[Joe P]

Originally Posted by FunkQueen

...Is it just me??? or when we tune higher like I did the tension gets tight???...

That's funny. You didn't know that when you tighten a string, the pitch gets higher? What do you THINK you're doing when you turn those knobs up there on your guitar's headstock?

Joe

[FunkQueen]

Ok sorry I guess I couldnt explain myself well enough.
I meant : I dont tune higher I just did put E instead of B
A instead of E. Thats what I actually meant.

[Joe P]

Originally Posted by FunkQueen

...I dont tune higher, I just put E instead of B; A instead of E.

Hmm: I dunno -- you say you're replacing the B for a skinnier E, and the E for an A... No - you have to change'em all, I'd think (or move'em all up, and just actually replace the highest one)!

Hey when it comes to smooth and soft - once I tried TI Jazz Flats, I was hooked! ..And they're NOT muddy; I love them.

I'm working on a solo show too. I've been tempted to go up-a-notch in pitch - EADGC - but I'm sure I'd miss being able to easily grab a real bass note over there on the B! I've been really working on my tapping lately - That is SUCH a powerful technique! I think I maybe need a SIXer. And I LIKE the strings close together; sheesh - maybe I'll end-up with a Warr or Megatar or something... I even managed to get a little slap technique down (you're right, though: slap/pop really gets difficult with close-spacing!).

Joe

[FunkQueen]

I found a Ibanez BTB and Yamaha RBX Myung serie.
Myung is only 700 USD used.
Ibanez 800 USD.
Didnt try them yet.
But they are both heavy basses =(((
Should I get on with my Cort GB75...
I like that it has a pickguard.
But once I changed the tuning, the strings becamse tight so a 6er might be nice.
I wish I could find a 6er made especially for EADGCF tuning so that the strings wouldnt be too tight.