Hadn't seen this kind of adjustable bridge for an
Acoustic before even know this is on an acoustic bass ukulele
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Guitar Scale Acoustic Basses
- Thread starter SBassman
- Start date
I got an Ibanez PNB14E for the purpose of experimentation. Tried a bunch of different tuning, broke a few strings, and ended up with an instrument tuned like a cello with flatwound strings. It really sings acoustically in this tuning.
I used the D and G strings from a flatwound bass set, and the D and G from a flatwound guitar set. It’s nice, even, high tension tuned CGDA.
I also did the same thing a fifth down tuned FCGD (or a fourth down GDAE or GCGD, also works fine) using the E, D, and G from the same flatwound bass set, and the same D guitar string. This more “bassey” setup also worked great, but I went with the cello guitar setup because it just spoke more to me.
I mainly play a shortscale Supro bass tuned in contracello fifths tuning, so this acoustic is the same thing an octave higher. Like the piccolo acoustic version of my main axe. Good thing to have in the office for a quick practice or noodle. Like a totally different instrument, but everything I learn transfers to my main.
I used the D and G strings from a flatwound bass set, and the D and G from a flatwound guitar set. It’s nice, even, high tension tuned CGDA.
I also did the same thing a fifth down tuned FCGD (or a fourth down GDAE or GCGD, also works fine) using the E, D, and G from the same flatwound bass set, and the same D guitar string. This more “bassey” setup also worked great, but I went with the cello guitar setup because it just spoke more to me.
I mainly play a shortscale Supro bass tuned in contracello fifths tuning, so this acoustic is the same thing an octave higher. Like the piccolo acoustic version of my main axe. Good thing to have in the office for a quick practice or noodle. Like a totally different instrument, but everything I learn transfers to my main.
A 30” acoustic that I could string up with the same flatwound strings I use on my electric would be extraordinary. If affordable I would buy a fretted and a fretless. Fender makes a 32” inch acoustic that is heart-breakingly close to what I’m looking for, but not quite.
I have Chromes on my Guild B-240ef. They are close the same tension as the D'Addario phosphor-bronze strings they ship with. Scale length is 30.75", but it takes Medium scale chromes to fit.
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Argh. GAS is such a stupid thing...
I am very happy with the way my Ibanez AVNB1E plays and sounds. The compact size is a huge plus, and although it has some limitations, they barely impact the type of music I’m playing on it.
But the Guild B240E is louder unplugged, and it would be nice to have better upper fret access. Of course, that would also require better intonation above the 12th fret compared to the AVN, and a tad more string tension. 14 frets clear of the body isn’t quite enough though, so better add a cutaway. It will also need a jumbo body shape to make up for the loss of internal volume from the 14-fret body and the cutaway.
The end result would probably look like a 14-fret cutaway version of the GS Mini, with just a little more scale length. 27 or 28” would be perfect, as it would still play nice with the La Bella CB40 string set. But now we’re getting away from the portability of the parlour basses.
What the heck. Might as well make it a 34” 5-string and ditch the nylon strings, or go all the way and spend the extra $80 per set for Thomastik Acousticores. ...Except his is starting to remind me of the Warwick or my old Epiphone El Capitan, with the long reach to the first fret, the feedback problems, needing a hard shell case to protect it when you’re dragging the fat pig through doorways, etc.
Maybe I should keep the AVN as well, just for loud stages, living room jams, and when I just want to play on the couch?
I am very happy with the way my Ibanez AVNB1E plays and sounds. The compact size is a huge plus, and although it has some limitations, they barely impact the type of music I’m playing on it.
But the Guild B240E is louder unplugged, and it would be nice to have better upper fret access. Of course, that would also require better intonation above the 12th fret compared to the AVN, and a tad more string tension. 14 frets clear of the body isn’t quite enough though, so better add a cutaway. It will also need a jumbo body shape to make up for the loss of internal volume from the 14-fret body and the cutaway.
The end result would probably look like a 14-fret cutaway version of the GS Mini, with just a little more scale length. 27 or 28” would be perfect, as it would still play nice with the La Bella CB40 string set. But now we’re getting away from the portability of the parlour basses.
What the heck. Might as well make it a 34” 5-string and ditch the nylon strings, or go all the way and spend the extra $80 per set for Thomastik Acousticores. ...Except his is starting to remind me of the Warwick or my old Epiphone El Capitan, with the long reach to the first fret, the feedback problems, needing a hard shell case to protect it when you’re dragging the fat pig through doorways, etc.
Maybe I should keep the AVN as well, just for loud stages, living room jams, and when I just want to play on the couch?
The B-240E's neck joins the body at the 17th fret.
With its jumbo body, though, the Guild is about the same overall size as the Breedlove Solo Bass with 34" scale. It's too big to play on the sofa comfortably, but OK on a chair or stool. That's why I'm going to get a fretless 25" scale MicroBass with LaBella flatwounds.
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Interesting! What string do you use as a short-scale low C (and for the rest of the set, since we're at it)?
here are some progressively older (=regressively ordered?) threads, in case buying used is an option and should something suitable come up locally:
Shortscale acoustic electric help
Looking for short scale acoustic bass guitar
Who makes a short scale 30-inch to 31-inch ABG?
Looking for a short scale acoustic for 0 or less-
How come no manufacturers make a 30" scale acoustic bass?
Short scale acoustic bass guitar. First post - please be kind!
short scale acoustic bass?
TL;DR: among current - or not-long discontinued - offerings, the aforementioned Guild B-240E and Stagg AB203CE, the Luna Tribal, the Spector Timbre 4 Jr. the Epiphone Masterbilt De Luxe Classic and some* resonator basses (Ozark, the discontinued Harley Benton) are at or slightly above 30".
* [but not others (the Gold Tone and the Dean are medium scale)
I've got a .125 DR on the C, but I am on the lookout for a .130 short scale string that won't require drilling out my tuning peg (I already filed the nut out). The rest are an extra light La Bella set .096, .056, and .039. The tension is perfect on the high strings, and the low C is quite good, but I want to try to see if I can get a tighter C, particularly because the Supro's pup will pick up the low better if the string has less travel.
Thanks!
Uhm. If I remember correctly, DR "short-scale" strings would be better-described as "medium", in that they're 34" long ball-end to silk (though I think they did do proper short-scale, coated 5-string sets for the Ibanez Mikro, sold through BassStringsOnline).
Does your Huntington also sport flats? If so, and if it indeed can fit a 34"-long (full-winding) string, I think your only alternatives are:
- a La Bella Deep Talkin flatwound .128" from any of their 5-string (-B) medium (-M) sets:
one of the La Bella sets
Labella 760FS-B-M - Best Bass Gear
- a custom-length string ordered from Pyramid or Octave4Plus.
[If rounds are fine, Warwick makes medium-scale strings larger than .125":
one of the La Bella sets
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You could also custom-order from Invalid Link Removed or Kalium as well.
Nylon tapewounds? Zero in on Invalid Link Removed, add "-B-M" to the product codename and look for it on the big G; or try the new Invalid Link Removed.]
Speaking of different tunings, has anyone experimented with A-D-G-C on a guitar-scale acoustic bass? Decent acoustic resonance on a low E is asking a lot of an instrument this size, but maybe moving everything up a fourth would allow for decent acoustic volume...?
Not sure if that's a rhetorical question, but either way, when it comes to acoustic instruments, the answer is (or should be) yes.
This is an interesting article on the issue (from an ukulele perspective): Tuning Below the Resonance
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Jason, formerly or BassStringsOnline, is back in business as Fret Nation, after having shut down the first business while he dealt with some family matters.
He clearly maintained his relationships with the string companies, as he is still offering unusual special-order stuff like the 40" La Bella black nylon tape wounds he recently obtained for my fanned-fret Dingwall.
I imagine he can still get the 5-string sets for Ibanez Micro, and quite possibly custom-length La Bella flats in gauges and lengths other than the ones offered in standard sets.
