3 Strings Or Less Club

[Prodigus Filius]

Thanks for the video. Sure it can be done but what’s the point of playing songs that were originally played on 4 or 5 string on a 3 string? You are only making it harder for yourself then it is. Although it’s good practice and you probably get more views.

All good. What ever floats ya boat I say

 

[Les Fret]

All good. What ever floats ya boat I say

sure thing. I think an open or fifths tuning would work the best for a 3 string and also would make it more its own thing…

 

[Prodigus Filius]

sure thing. I think an open or fifths tuning would work the best for a 3 string and also would make it more its own thing…

Definetly an approach for sure. All part of the discovery journey. If you do do it, can you post your experience, that would be great.

I've seen Hotwire mentioned in relation to 3 stringers. Build quality looks impressive. But haven't seen prices Three String Bass — Hot Wire Bass
Does anyone own a Hotwire 3 stringer?

 

[Les Fret]

Definetly an approach for sure. All part of the discovery journey. If you do do it, can you post your experience, that would be great.

I've seen Hotwire mentioned in relation to 3 stringers. Build quality looks impressive. But haven't seen prices Three String Bass — Hot Wire Bass
Does anyone own a Hotwire 3 stringer?

Although it’s not the same you could remove the E and D string from your 5 string. Just to see if you like it enough.

Gonna remove my A string on my four string and move that to the G string slot and use Gimri tuning and play some of those grooves as an experiment today. Just for fun.

 

[Prodigus Filius]

Although it’s not the same you could remove the E and D string from your 5 string. Just to see if you like it enough.

Gonna remove my A string on my four string and move that to the G string slot and use Gimri tuning and play some of those grooves as an experiment today. Just for fun.

Interesting.
This TB link is the most recent thread on 3 stringers I think. I was going to put the link in this thread as well as some more 3 string topic links.. I make an appearance in the last post he he. I went ahead with the mod I mentioned as my first post in this club thread shows. I definetly want to try the 'take two strings off a 5iver' approach and do BEA or DGC. Might even try CGD. No nut or bridge mod required. I don't own a 5, but might order an Ibanez pronto. The necks at the 22 fret are a bit narrower and keep the spacing a little less wide https://www.talkbass.com/threads/three-string-bass.1640640/

Bassist Mike Rivard showcasing the 3 string Sintir/Guembri

 

[Les Fret]

Interesting.
Bassist Mike Rivard showcasing the 3 string Sintir/Guembri

yes i know that video. The Gimbri is actially an octave higher than I thought. So now i have D D (octave, I used a c string) G on my bass.Some also do CCG. Let's see where that takes me.

 

[crobasster]

Less than 4 string, fugly !

 

[Watchootognbout]

How about three strings tuned in fifths?

 

[DownRound]

@DownRound
Awesome cbb's. How are they tuned?
You know there was a launch of a cbb club on TB a decade ago but it fizzled out https://www.talkbass.com/threads/official-cigar-box-bass-club.1049033/
Not to worry, if it has.... yep! you guessed it, 3 strings or less, than posting here is more than welcome.

Tuned EAD and EA.
Thanks for the post above on tunings.
I was wondering what others like.
Just started work on a P bass no-name parts build.
Well, no-name other than the Artec pickup, which is kind of name.

(edit: I just caught the Sintir/Guembri clip - replied to your earlier one before strolling down. Wow. I'm a huge fan of Moroccan music, that is nice to see.)

 

[eddybuzzard]

Regarding 5ths, Mark Sandman reportedly used a regular D and G string and tuned the G up to A for many songs
https://www.talkbass.com/threads/nbd-mark-sandman-influenced-two-stringer.1549211/

When I jam along with Buena, on my standard tuned 4 or 5, I just detune the D string down to C,
and only use those top two, C and G.
It sounds like that is what he used on Buena.
Plus, it's fairly easy to strum on just those two top strings, and stay clear/ignore the other strings.
I'm really not so sure about that DA tuning that many folks mention.

 

[DownRound]

Kind of a tangent here.
But nice use of Sintir, Brazilian take on Colin Walcott, a good example of the possibilities.
Probably already familiar to some here.

 

[HaphAsSard]

When I jam along with Buena, on my standard tuned 4 or 5, I just detune the D string down to C,
and only use those top two, C and G.
It sounds like that is what he used on Buena.
Plus, it's fairly easy to strum on just those two top strings, and stay clear/ignore the other strings.
I'm really not so sure about that DA tuning that many folks mention.

According to this Sandman-centred page, with links to a number of transcription of slide bass parts in Morphine songs, Mark used both DA and CG, and occasionally others:
Mobiusbandwidth.com Morphine tablature transcriptions

 

[eddybuzzard]

According to this Sandman-centred page, with links to a number of transcription of slide bass parts in Morphine songs, Mark used both DA and CG, and occasionally others:
Mobiusbandwidth.com Morphine tablature transcriptions

Thanks!
Good to know he used several other tunings, looks like mostly in fifths.
You can probably tell how far into their catalogue I've ventured

 

[HaphAsSard]

Thanks!
Good to know he used several other tunings, looks like mostly in fifths.
You can probably tell how far into their catalogue I've ventured

You and me both! I've only dabbled with "Buena" and "Cure for Pain" years ago, for an acoustic bass guitar + female voice duo: I'd just detune the D or uptune the G for those, respectively, without moving them up one slot (I needed the other strings for other songs). Morphine has been in my to-hear list for ages, and this needs to change.

 

[Prodigus Filius]

Fantastic to see interest being shown in the club. Less is more folks and tell ya friends he he.

They say only the good die young, and Mark Sandman is one of those. He could have expressed himself in so many ways on bass with a 4 stringer or more, but he is mostly remembered as expressing himself via his iconic two string, modded thrift shop purchased, Waterstone Premier scroll bass. But he didn't play it exclusively. I've read speculation that the bass strung with 3 strings in this pic is a 60's Italian Eko make of some kind. Body shape is like an Eko Cobra

 

[Prodigus Filius]

Tuned EAD and EA.
Thanks for the post above on tunings.
I was wondering what others like.
Just started work on a P bass no-name parts build.
Well, no-name other than the Artec pickup, which is kind of name.

(edit: I just caught the Sintir/Guembri clip - replied to your earlier one before strolling down. Wow. I'm a huge fan of Moroccan music, that is nice to see.)

Mark Rivard, played bass in a pre-Morphine days project of Mark Sandmans called Hypnosonics. Mark played guitar. Newly Released Recordings Of Mark Sandman's 'Secret Band' Show Another Side Of Morphine's Frontman

Rivard went on to get into Moroccan sounds via Club D'Elf

 

[___]

this is my pusa inspired basstar, it's some cheap tele kit that a buddy built and sent to me, the neck has a bit of a twist and it wasn't really any good as a 6 stringer but it's great like this! tuned c# g#, of course

 

[Prodigus Filius]

this is my pusa inspired basstar, it's some cheap tele kit that a buddy built and sent to me, the neck has a bit of a twist and it wasn't really any good as a 6 stringer but it's great like this! tuned c# g#, of course
View attachment 5411192

Lookin good. Love how you left out the 'redundant' tuning pegs.

 

[Prodigus Filius]

Adding some links scattered across TB over the years with 3 stringers as the subject

Making a 3 stringer from a 5 stringer

https://www.talkbass.com/threads/turning-a-5-string-bass-into-a-3-string-bass.1626020/

TV Jones Thunder Blades for a 4 string to 3 string mod

https://www.talkbass.com/threads/building-a-frankenstein-3-string-bass.1618235/

Little Crow 3 string bass
https://www.talkbass.com/threads/nbd-little-crow-3-string-bass.1556812/

Neck width suggestions for a 3 stringer

https://www.talkbass.com/threads/3-string-bass-neck-width-suggestions.1555698/

Some more pickup recommendstions for 3 stringer
https://www.talkbass.com/threads/pickup-string-alignment-question-3-string.1150885/

Wants the right bass to mod to use Funk fingers
https://www.talkbass.com/threads/modding-up-a-3-string.1147751/

Trade of a rare Rosco 3 stringer . Post number #15 and the 1 string gas tank tub. Classic!
https://www.talkbass.com/threads/rare-roscoe-3-string.1118626/

Scepticism that a 3 string Roscoe was legit
https://www.talkbass.com/threads/is-this-real-or-just-well-photoshopped-3-string-bass.1077049/

https://www.talkbass.com/threads/3-string-mystery-bass.852619/

3 stringers in connection with Aden Brubeck
https://www.talkbass.com/threads/3-string-sighting-have-you-seen-my-old-bass.780357/

This article mentions Aden. Quote: "He explained to me that the one-octave spread makes him think horizontally rather than vertically, and the added string spacing changes his approach to the bass as well." Couldn't have said it better myself. I think of the influence John Schofield had on me in the guitar scene and horizontal playing. Get horizontal he he

The Essence of Simplicity

3 string build, but the images have gone. Wonder what it looked like. Thread contains a dead link to Brian Ritchie playing an Atlantsia one stringer. Haven't seen a live link of him playing one. Anyone seen it? Note comment #2. Answer. There doesn't have to be a point he he
https://www.talkbass.com/threads/making-a-3-string-bass.522101/

Wondering if pulling the G string off a pbass requires neck adjustment. Yeh you might have to back the truss rod off some. But no, contrary to post #3 speculation, the neck won't warp

https://www.talkbass.com/threads/3-string-mm-bass.497469/

On Levin's 3 string Music Man. Classic pic of the charred body of the bass in post #6
https://www.talkbass.com/threads/3-string-bass.491189/
And post #4 in this thread
https://www.talkbass.com/threads/3-string-plywood-bass.477688/

3 string Plywood bass.
Wonder if the dude ever made it. Thread contains a link to banjoesque 3 string plywood bass.
Thread also has a pic of a Russian contrabass, a humungus balalaika tuned typically as per 3 bottom strings on 4 stringer ie E1A1D2
https://www.talkbass.com/threads/3-string-bass.408409/

Oleg Bernov from 'Red Elvises' with one

I like #11 . Nice work around

https://www.talkbass.com/threads/anyone-here-play-a-3-string.383722/

Post #2 representing the peanut gallery offers resistance to the world of 3 or less. But it's futile. Music, like water, will find it's way no matter what it originates from

https://www.talkbass.com/threads/3-string-george.326388/

Speculation on George Porter dabbling in 3 strings due to a broken G. Possible reference to it in a Govt Mule song called '3 String George'. If anyone could confirm this please post.

https://www.talkbass.com/threads/3-string-bass.171849/

Post #18 If your still out there tomd03 ..... Sounds like a candidate for the club
https://www.talkbass.com/threads/3-string-bass.58751/

Desirous of a 'pure chording bass' via the ADG strings.

https://www.talkbass.com/threads/turning-a-5-string-bass-into-a-3-string-bass.1626020/

Enough pre breakfast sensory overload for now he he

 

[Prodigus Filius]

Ok. One post before toast