A bass that NEVER needs tuning?

[TechJunky]

Where I live, the temperature will certainly fluctuate, but it stays relatively constant in my apartment most of the time. With that said, my basses don't go horribly out of tune very often at all. Are they completely in tune all the time? Absolutely not. But they're in tune to themselves pretty close, and enough that I can pick it up and play for practice and boredom without needing to use the tuner each time. It's typically pretty close, though not 100% dead on. If I actually need it in tune, then of course I'll tune it up, but it's not too often that it needs tuned for my use. I'd say I probably do a "proper" tuning (for lack of better words) once every 2-3 weeks at most, often times longer, assuming they tuning pegs don't get knocked out of tune.

 

[mndean]

Those who have a bass (or guitar, or any other stringed instrument) that never needs tuning or doesn't need tuning more often than every six months must be in one of the following circumstances; 1. The instrument is in an environment where the temperature never changes a single degree, 2. you own strings that defy the laws of physics (what brand are those?), 3. you play out of tune a lot more than you realize.....

Regardless of what material your instrument is made from, strings will expand or contract and change pitch / tension as they change temperature. If anybody has some that don't change pitch / tension with temperature change, I want some, and you may want to get in touch with the military industrial complex or NASA, because you could make some real money on those strings....

I don't rely on my ears. The tuner doesn't show change is all I say. Perhaps the neck and strings don't expand/contract enough to register on the tuner. The indoor climate moderates things to some degree, but my house is not climate controlled.

 

[SteveC]

Tuning is part of being a musician. I mean, it's nice if your bass holds tune well, but don't you check before every set?

 

[Jefenator]

Some folks used to claim that Steinbergers didn't need tuning between string changes but that was never my experience. Mine was certainly more stable than most wood basses and almost impossible to accidentally knock out of tune. So that's groovy. But it still went out a cent or so, here & there.

(The most stable axe I've ever had would be my old Kay upright w/ Spirocores - now that rig is scary stable.)


Back on topic: IME for some guitars, staying in tune is indeed a big headache and if this ever-tune system really works, it could be a genuine solution for some. Apparently you set the pitch at the saddle with a little allen key - you wouldn't want to be misplacing that!

 

[Yakob]

A better idea for an instrument that "never needs tuning" would be more akin to a synthaxe, wherein the instrument has "strings" but the actual notes are triggered based on finger placement and the motion of the strings, as opposed to the actual frequency at which the strings are resonating.

Using that system, one could easily have an instrument that never needs tuning and can easily be put into alternate tunings, though it would sound more like a synthesizer than an actual guitar or bass.



EDIT: The Casio DG series of instruments is a good demonstrator of the concept. Click the picture to see a demo video...

 

[lakin757]

That would probably require climate control too. On outside gigs where you're in the direct sun, or the daytime temp drops 20 degrees as the sun goes down, tuning will always be required.

this is a great point! +1

 

[joeyl]

The only time I have to tune is if the bass was carried around in my old gig bag, apart from that, almost never

 

[mtaffonso]

The bass that you will not play. Otherwise, must tune it on string replacement and check it before playing.

 

[BlackMetalAkaz]

Sounds great, I'm always for modernization of the guitar/bass. Would definitely buy one when affordable.