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Double Bass EADGC tuning strings

#4
Steel core high C strings are very thin. If you don't have a very low action, it might be hard to press them down onto the fingerboard because the string cuts into your left hand fingers.

One of the problems with high C strings is that they often don't fit tensionwise to the regular set. It would be too expensive for the manufacturers to develop them as far as the G strings. So sometimes you don't want a set of the same strings.
Spirocore Mittel 4/4 work well as a set, but had too much tension on my 110 cm scale instrument, at least before I lowered the action.
Be warned, a lower action might need some planing of the fingerboard.

I once tried a medium Efrano high C gut (which has a rather high tension) with Evah Weich. Some use a Obligato high C with Spirocore Mittel (don't know if 3/4 or 4/4).
A colleague of mine used Evah Pirazzi regular high C with a downtuned Evah Solo set. But I haven't tried that yet.

Personally I use a bit older prototype strings from Innovation for high C, G and E with Innovation Braided A and D, because the prototype strings were too weak on A and D. But I was told these strings have been developed since then.
The original aluminium wound Braided high C is much too weak, a prototype wound with (chrome-)steel that I got was much better but still a bit weak in tension.

Using a naked gut high C and G might be a good idea, since you have two strings of the same kind on top and avoid the thick and problematic naked gut D. For the D you might get a synthetic core string like Obligato or some kind of Evahs, Zyex or Innovation Braided. Feel free to use anything for A and E.

Velvet Compas 180 works well too, but I had problems with manufacturing quality of the high C and this string is extremely expensive. And bowing them is a bit difficult and very different to bowing Spiros.
 
#8
Hi,
It may work as-is, but you may also need nut work if you go up a 4th (thinner strings). And indeed, as has been said, maybe FB work.

I use an Innovation Honey hi c above Spiro weich's, that makes tension-wise for a fair match. The Honey is slightly darker, but above old weichs it works. Both arco & pizz are fine & is a reasonably well balanced set.

Of course Innovation offer a complete set up to high c, but I find the lower ones too dark, and feel the Spiro weichs are a better match to the Honey high c.

I find the Spiro (mittel) high c too penetrating & sharp to my ears. I've had one for years, and I try it from time to time, but it always goes back into its pouch.
Pyramid also have 2 high c strings, but those are solidcores and even sharper.
 
#9
While I feel the "use the search" line gets thrown around a lot on here, I was digging through the strings archives looking for something else and this High C strings?? caught my eye. There is extensive talk about high c's there, the biggest concern being the tension/feel difference between the high c and the rest of the set. I do not have any personal experience so I'm not going to weigh in much more than that, but there is some great info out there.

As far as bass adjustments, you will have to have that talk with a luthier. You might have a current bass guy, but you might also want to consider how comfortable they are with 5 string basses as they are definitely a niche market. Generally speaking, a low B will need more room to move than a low E, so you may have more fingerboard relief than you need in an E-C tuning. If you want to go to lower string height that could be something to address. The nut and bridge notches might need some adjustments, or you might be looking at a shim/new nut. Your soundpost might also need to be adjusted because of the tension difference. All of that is essentially setup adjustments, and if you just purchased the bass then it's worth a once over anyway.
 
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#10
MikeCanada said:
While I feel the "use the search" line gets thrown around a lot on here, I was digging through the strings archives looking for something else and this High C strings?? caught my eye. There is extensive talk about high c's there, the biggest concern being the tension/feel difference between the high c and the rest of the set. I do not have any personal experience so I'm not going to weigh in much more than that, but there is some great info out there.
Click to expand...

Yes that was a great thread that I started with some very good info on high C strings. You are right about the difference in sound and feel of C strings with the rest of the strings. That's the biggest issue. C strings can sound harsh compared to the other strings, especially when using the open string. This makes fast string crossings a bit more tricky sometimes. Also the difference in tension is present. C strings tend to have more tension which makes them a bit harder to bow. I have tried a few C strings and have now settled on a Pirastro Permanent high D string. Very expensive string though. I mostly keep it in D but I can tune back to C with no problems. I have one of my two basses tuned to GDGD (from low to high) for my Indian stuff and I sometimes tune back to ADGC for other stuff. So a kind of tenor tuning hybrid between cello and bass. I have tried a 5-string bass with high C also but I don't like five string basses. As a result I now have two basses; one with regular fourths tuning and one with the tenor tuning.
 
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#11
If an open high C string sounds harsh, put some rubber from a bike inner tube (about 1 mm wide works fine) under the high C at the nut. Simulates a fingered note and does not tune the open string higher but only damps the higher harmonics.

BTW, in most cases high C strings have more tension than the G below (see the Pirastro string tensions but it happens also the Corellis), but some have lower tension like the original Innovation Braided and Honeys (the aluminium wound ones). Some fit the set more or less well like the Spiros (if you can accept the high tension).
 

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