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I’ve considered doing exactly this, but have yet to acquire any kind of six-string or bass vi. Of course a six-string bass tuned this way won’t play just like a guitar only lower, but it would at least feel intuitive to someone familiar with guitar and facilitate some common chords. I wish bass vi type instruments could take heavier strings, or that 30” scale six-string basses were readily available, but I still have half a mind to try it with a 34” Ibanez SR.
I've thought about doing it a number of times as well as simple EADGBE but I have a Bass VI class instrument, an Ibanez SRC6 and just haven't got around to it.
I don't know how "interesting" it is, but I tune my 6s BEADGB and always have, for nearly 30 years now. For me, that actually allows a better transfer of what I knew from guitar, because there's no F# string in standard guitar tuning. I know what lives on a G string and a B string; I'd be less comfortable with dealing with an F# string, or a C string for that matter, and have never seen any need to deal with them.
Dang! What strings are those? They look so delicate
Is this the 33” scale model? How do you like it for chords?
Same! That G-to-B interval on the guitar always throws me off.
The usual caveats about chords on bass apply: even that major third interval between the 2nd- and 3rd-highest strings would sound a bit muddy on the first four frets. But, in terms of orienting yourself better with a contra-baritone tuning, if specifically that (or, more in general, having a major third there) is what you're used to: yeah, why not?
