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6 string tuning options

FishDub

FishDub

Stuck in the 80s and happy about it
Supporting Member
Jun 12, 2011
2,405
3,432
Charlotte, NC
#1
I'm new to the 6 world.. I love love love my trbjp but really hate the c string.. I don't use it at all so any ideas on this? I may even remove the c but it may look stupid..
Thanks
 
#4
I wanted to get a sixer so that I could add a low F#, not a C. Don't worry about the C string tension (or lack thereof). Actually, the higher strings are the tighter ones in most normal sets.

I run a Circle-K .150 balanced set on my fiver, and would love to add a .182 (or whatever their balanced version is) to a six string for the F#.

Raz
 
#12
casotti1 said:
I'm new to the 6 world.. I love love love my trbjp but really hate the c string.. I don't use it at all so any ideas on this? I may even remove the c but it may look stupid..
Thanks
Click to expand...

Well you are "new" to the 6 string world so why WOULD you be using your C string? If you want a 5 string then sell the bass and buy a 5 string.

Yes, I'm being a bit harsh here, but only because I feel your pain. In my case I bought a Conklin 7 string bass and soon after scored a deal on a Bass Mods 7 string bass. And I feel like you. I've got LOTS of 6 string basses both fretted and fretless. And I know JUST what to do with that C string. But what in the world does one DO with that stupid F string? I feel I don't have a clue! No I'm not going to say I "hate" it and rip it off the bass. That would be stupid. The whole REASON I bought a 7 string bass(es) was to LEARN just what to DO with that F string! The SAME reason I bought my 6 string basses!

So what the hell? You and I are both in "noob" mode. You for a C string and me for an F string. It's all about LEARNING and not about trying to stay where we are "comfortable". Learning means NEW things. Simple as that.

If after learning what that string is for and THEN once you know what to do with it, if you say, "oh, that particular thing isn't for me". Then THAT is different.
 
#13
bassbenj said:
...words...
Click to expand...

That's an interesting perspective.

How many strings is just right? 1 string fewer than too many, 1 string more than too few. And you probably should try "too many" and "too few" a bit before deciding on "just right". Kinda like Goldilocks.

If you really can't deal with the C, then as mentioned above, F# might be your cup of tea. If that doesn't work out either, then you're probably more of a 5 string person. None of the alternate tunings for 6 string work for me. YMMV on that.
 
#15
There are two more basses that I want - a six and a four. The four for drop-D songs we play that can only be played with a drop-tuned bass, and a six string with a low F# for those times that I end a song on an A and want to hit a low A, or a low G, or whatever. Or maybe play a low B further up on the neck, as my "money note" section is often times up around the 7-9 fret range.

Regarding the nut, when I first got my current bass my slots (brass nut) were not cut deep enough so I brought it to a good tech in town to have them filed down and get a set-up, etc. This was with a set of .135 ProSteels.

When I got my .150 set, I thought I was going to have to bring it back for more widening - but all the strings fit in perfectly, even the .112 E! If the low B slot was widened for a .182, a "normal" B will still sit in there fine at the bottom of the slot. Sure, it may have a little space visible on either side but not enough to cause a problem. My Dingwall never had an issue, and it had a zero fret with string guides behind it - and there was lots of space for that B to move around, but it never did.

Go low and enjoy...
 

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