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6 string set up with E-A - E-A-D-G ~~ could it work?

Flux Jetson

Flux Jetson

Guest
May 3, 2012
2,084
99
Colorado River Basin, Arizona
#1
Hello. As part of my quest to design a dual-setup bass, before I can get started I need to decide between two basic ideas.

1.) A headless doubleneck. One neck setup for the more pristine sound, cleaner tone, standard string guages, deep-tight tones with no rock-bass tones. The other neck set up more like many 70s rock basses were with low action, a bit lighter strings and a bit of fret buzz. Headless to keep the weight to a minimum.

~OR~

2.) A 5 or 6 string strung with a "standard guage" E and A string with a bit higher action for the cleaner/deeper/tighter tones, and the remaining strings to be set up like the rock bass neck of the doubleneck. So if it were a 6-string it would be strung something like this:

E105-A85 - E85-A65-D45-G32 (if 5 string is chosen delete the E85).

Almost as if it were two separate necks. The two lowest/fattest strings are for low groovin' and longer tighter sustain, the remaining four strings set up for a bit of fret buzz, shorter note duration, and thinner more "riffy" strings

Obviously the single necked 6 string standard-headed bass would be lighter and less costly than a doubleneck headless rig. So if at all possible it would be my 1st choice.

My Point:

The question here is can that double-setup 5 or 6 string idea work without odd stresses on the neck or perhaps other pitfalls I haven't thought of? I plan on using Warmoth to supply the neck and body. I would suppose the nut would have to be properly filed to make that work as well. I've been planning on using a brass nut (my Cort A4 has a brass nut and I've grown to like it).

In either case, this will be a 2-channel output design, no onboard preamp (other than simple volume controls) to be used with a custom foot sweepable pickup selection system. My foot will perform the exact same function as a pickup mix knob does, allowing me to select pickup mix with a foot controller rather than a mix or blending knob on the bass itself. This system is already 95% constructed....

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f36/experimental-fully-modular-bass-rig-902681/

Once I get the filters worked out, that system will be reduced in size and housed in two rack adaptors and placed in a rack for bass use rather than the oversized cabs I've constructed (see thread linked above). But I'm ready to begin testing now.

I plan on using EMG systems throughout for their ease of connection and high number of optional things they offer to fit in their connection system.

Thanks. :)
 
#5
Why? I was pretty clear about that in my opening post. Uh .. VERY clear. But at the risk of being .. well .. redundant ... I'll restate it:

A few strings for clean low grooving, and a few strings for agressive rock bass sounds. I thought I made that pretty clear. The same reason for having a doublenecked bass .. two different setups, two different purposes, two different sounds. What is so hard to understand about that?

What's "redundant" about it?
 
#7
I don't see the point of it.. I remember that the Ibanez Ashula bass was tuned E-A-D-G-D-G, but that was because the last 2 D and G strings were fretless, while the other 4 were fretted. But that was something else of course. I do understand the idea of the double neck bass, that can work out pretty well for you :) I think you should try that :) (Maybe one fretted and the other one fretless? :p)
 
#10
I think I understood your point and respect your innovative idea, though I would personally prefer the use of two different basses for that purpose.

As for the neck tension part, one of my local fellows has strung his fender with 105-105-85-65 tuned EADG, alleging to gain more "vintage punch". It's been several months and so far so good. I think it will work similarly fine if you string a 6er with eaeadg, just FYI.
 
#11
Flux Jetson said:
Why? I was pretty clear about that in my opening post. Uh .. VERY clear. But at the risk of being .. well .. redundant ... I'll restate it:

A few strings for clean low grooving, and a few strings for agressive rock bass sounds. I thought I made that pretty clear. The same reason for having a doublenecked bass .. two different setups, two different purposes, two different sounds. What is so hard to understand about that?

What's "redundant" about it?
Click to expand...

Two E's and 2 A's in the same octave, completely redundant, very clear...
 
#12
I'm not sure I understand what it is you're trying to achieve, and to be honest, even with your two explanations, the end result still seems redundant, to me, too.

However, if you are convinced that that's the road you wish to take, go for it, and let us know how it works out. Who knows, you might be into a whole new grove.
 
#13
frankieC said:
I'm not sure I understand what it is you're trying to achieve, and to be honest, even with your two explanations, the end result still seems redundant, to me, too.

However, if you are convinced that that's the road you wish to take, go for it, and let us know how it works out. Who knows, you might be into a whole new grove.
Click to expand...

I can understand it. Given the large difference in tone between my identical SX basses one with flats and one with rounds I can see that it's not redundant. Also somebody does sell a bass with half the finger board fretted and the other half fretless for the same idea.

But I"m thinking that learning to jump over two strings to access the "different" two lower strings might take some practice! It's an interesting idea, though. Sort of like a "reduced" double neck compressed onto one neck. And a 6 string neck (or even a 7) shouldn't be too wide to play conventionally .

But it seems to me that this sort of thing is going to take a LOT of experimentation until an optimum arrangement is found. But someone has to start somewhere. Go for it.
 
#18
Yeah, this is a similar concept to the Ibanez Ashula, but a bit different. I'd look into obtaining one of those and modifying it to your desires (it'd need a refret and new nut, but its a similar idea... or you could just use it as is)
 
#19
I am head over heels in love with all those synthesizers.com modules :) Though personally if I was building a custom doubleneck one neck would be fretless. I wish I could add more but that's what I've got. Good luck though, sounds like a ton of fun!
 

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