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6 string bass tuning

Discussion in 'Hardware, Setup & Repair [BG]' started by floydbass, Jul 9, 2003.

  1. Jul 9, 2003 #1
    floydbass

    floydbass

    Jun 6, 2003
    The Dark Side of the Moon
    can a six string bas be tuned to (F# B E A D G) do you have a bass like this or do they even make strings like that????
     
  2. Jul 9, 2003 #2
    Ben Mishler

    Ben Mishler

    Jan 22, 2003
    San Jose
    A six string can be tuned like that. Probably if you can't find a set tuned like that, you could get a five string set and then find a single string for the low F#.
     
  3. Jul 9, 2003 #3
    Stephen S

    Stephen S Member

    Apr 10, 2002
    San Bernardino, CA
    Its seems like going any lower then B would just be pitchless bass.
     
  4. Jul 9, 2003 #4
    Zon Bass

    Zon Bass

    Jan 20, 2002
    Dallas, TX
    The biggest problem with this tuning is not finding an F# string but finding speakers that are able to handle such low frequencies without sounding like mud. Notes that low also take a ton of power to create.
     
  5. Jul 11, 2003 #5
    Bernie Connors

    Bernie Connors Supporting Member

    Apr 2, 2002
    Indiana, USA
    Get an El Whappo and all your problems will be solved. :D
     
  6. Jul 11, 2003 #6
    Bruce Lindfield

    Bruce Lindfield Unprofessional TalkBass Contributor Gold Supporting Member In Memoriam

    Dec 13, 1999
    Brighton, England, UK, Europe
    You might also find problem with the nut and bridge. So you are going to have thicker strings than these were designed for in each case - so you can file the nut - but it may be the case, with a thick B next to an even-thicker F# - you will run out of room and one slot will go into the next or make it so thin on the top side that the nut breaks.

    Similarly with the bridge - if it is the type where the string goes through a hole - you can file it - but you will be weakening the structure and it might end up breaking - you wouldn't be able to get an F# through the body as well, unless the bass had been designed with this in mind.