6-string bass - tuned like a guitar

DeeCup · #1 03-05-2010, 04:52 PM

I am a guitarist for 20 years, now playing bass. I would absolutely kill for a high B and E string when playing bass.

Are there any quality (800 to 1500$) basses out that which can deliver such a configuration? EADGBE is my desire, with the standard 4 and two freebies up top.

And if I must buy a 'normal' 6-string bass and tune it up - any recommendations on strings? The low E on a standard guitar is way too short for the bass neck.

Thanks!

NicJimBass · #2 03-05-2010, 08:05 PM

You can buy single strings separately, so start with a normal 4 string set, and add two higher strings. You can tune like this on any bass, although it'll require a new setup and a new nut, more than likely.

Surprise Panda! · #3 03-05-2010, 09:11 PM

I've always thought that was an interesting idea, but yeah what NicJimBass ^^^

Showdown · #4 03-05-2010, 09:53 PM

There are many basses tuned that way. The best known is the Fender Bass VI, but others have been made by Danelectro, Schecter, Guild, Jerry Jones, Burns, etc. They have guitar string spacing, 30" scale, tuned an octave below guitar.

There is a club here for those style basses:

http://talkbass.com/forum/showthread...391343&page=50

The Short-Scale Six-String Club Part 2- for the original six-string basses!

bassbenj · #5 03-06-2010, 01:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeeCup

I am a guitarist for 20 years, now playing bass. I would absolutely kill for a high B and E string when playing bass.

Are there any quality (800 to 1500$) basses out that which can deliver such a configuration? EADGBE is my desire, with the standard 4 and two freebies up top.

And if I must buy a 'normal' 6-string bass and tune it up - any recommendations on strings? The low E on a standard guitar is way too short for the bass neck.

Thanks!

There are quite a few players who tune this way. The tradeoff is that a long time guitarist (such as yourself) can use their knowledge of chords on the upper strings rather than learning a whole new set of chords based on standard bass tuning. What you give up is the simplicity of across-the-neck scale patterns that can start at any note on the neck.

The guitar tuning is also common on the baritone basses which are short scale usually like the Fender VI.

I've never tuned like this so I can't say much about strings. As others have said start with the 4 string set. For the B string I'm guessing that it's close enough in pitch to a C string that you could buy one of those and tune down to a B. For the high E string you'd just have to figure out the diameter and order them as singles I presume. What is the high string on a 7 string bass? F? That might work tuned down to E. So that sort of hints that a 7 string bass set might work if you just don't use the B string.

You'll doubtless need a new nut cut as others have said.

Showdown · #6 03-06-2010, 01:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassbenj

The guitar tuning is also common on the baritone basses which are short scale usually like the Fender VI.

The Fender Bass VI isn't a baritone, it is a 6 string bass. Baritones are tuned either A-a or B-b, and are usually shorter than 30" scale. 6 string basses are tuned E-e.

DeeCup · #7 03-13-2010, 06:41 AM

very useful responses, thanks!

So no company offers a quality E-A-D-G-B-E solution? thanks!

Jason P Bass · #8 03-13-2010, 07:39 AM

I have tuned a 5 string bass B-E-A-C#-F# (the same intervals as A-D-G-b-e on a six string guitar) and it's pretty sweet.

What you give up in scale patterns (pretty sure I don't even agree with that) you gain in lead guitar fingerings.

I also have a 6 string baritone that I tune A-a, but it's a completely different instrument. I'm very interested in finding a 30" or 32" 6 string bass to tune E-A-D-G-b-e.

I have never looked for such a string set. My best guess would be to get a set of light bass guitar string, and use the A and D strings from a baritone set. (D'Addario electric baritone string sets are about $7 or $8).

iamthebassman · #9 03-13-2010, 07:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Showdown

The Fender Bass VI isn't a baritone, it is a 6 string bass. Baritones are tuned either A-a or B-b, and are usually shorter than 30" scale. 6 string basses are tuned E-e.

Everyone knows that, right?

**smperry** · #10 03-13-2010, 08:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeeCup

very useful responses, thanks!

So no company offers a quality E-A-D-G-B-E solution? thanks!

See Showdown's previous post -

Quote:

Originally Posted by Showdown

There are many basses tuned that way. The best known is the Fender Bass VI, but others have been made by Danelectro, Schecter, Guild, Jerry Jones, Burns, etc. They have guitar string spacing, 30" scale, tuned an octave below guitar.

There is a club here for those style basses:

http://talkbass.com/forum/showthread...391343&page=50

The Short-Scale Six-String Club Part 2- for the original six-string basses!

You can tune a "normal" 6 string bass EADGBE too. I've played seven strings like this (BEADGBE) too.

Showdown · #11 03-13-2010, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeeCup

very useful responses, thanks!

So no company offers a quality E-A-D-G-B-E solution? thanks!

Did you read the threads I posted? There are a number of companies that make them.

DJJazzV · #12 03-14-2010, 07:33 PM

I actually had a 1994 or 1995 Ibanez Soundgear 6 string bass strung up like a guitar. It was lots of fun, and sounded great. I just had to buy the 2 additional stings to add to a 4 string set. No big deal.

Feel free to make fun, but I just found an old video of my band in 1995, posted on youtube, and I'm playing that bass. Look at the bass, not my Reebok Pump sneakers.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MpAzC2ASNC0

ehque · #13 03-14-2010, 11:22 PM

If you get a 6 string "high" set from circle k strings (www.circlekstrings.com), it should tune up nicely to E-e on a standard 34" bass.

6 String Set - Balanced Standard 100
CKS-100S6B
.100 .076 .058 .043 .031 .023

6 String Set - Balanced Standard 106
CKS-106S6B
.106 .080 .061 .046 .033 .025
$38.00

Simo98 · #14 03-15-2010, 02:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeeCup

So no company offers a quality E-A-D-G-B-E solution? thanks!

Fender Bass VI, Danelectro make something.

Also there was once a beast named the Gibson EB-6, if you can find one of them youll be a lucky man.

lunarpollen · #15 03-15-2010, 04:17 PM

Both my Burns Barracuda and Schecter Hellcat VI are tuned that way and are designed to be tuned that way. 30" scale. Very fun instruments.

DopplerShift · #16 03-15-2010, 04:23 PM

A possible alternative....
I play a five string tuned eadgb, and you can use any 5 string bass out there to tune like this. I do this with a 4 string set and a single 35 gauge string. 6 string basses, to me, are too cumbersome to play, and a 5 string tune like so gets you close to a guitar feel.

Bagusys · #17 03-05-2013, 12:18 PM

The very first ever made 6 string bass was made this way, but it didn't take, then the lower string (stupid and useless) was made and that sold, I think wiki got me that years ago when I was looking for a 6 string.

I got a cheap Galveston 6 string bass and got a 4 set and bought 2 higher strings, the highest being not wound, sounded AMAZING, eventually just got a 7 string set and toss the low B string on my Joybass. My tuning is CGCFAD and both of my six strings are like that, never had to replace the nut, I play a Washburn XB and the Galveston