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I want to use 6 string bass' strings on 4 string.

#42
Leo Thunder said:
Yes, it is possible. You can tune anything down a 4th, I guess.
I tuned my bass down to BEAD once, just for fun.
No, there is no need to be careful about anything. Strings will fall off if you keep tuning down further, though.
But it won't work well. It will be floppy without bringing all the expected sound. Neck relief will need to be adjusted, as lower tension will create a back bow and cause buzzing. The action might also have to be raised, also to avoid buzzing.

For the expected result of 32-80 strings tuned to EADG, you'll need a 45" scale.

View attachment 3237464
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I use gauges 30-75 in EADG tuning (see my earlier post) without any issues, but I *do* have a carbon fiber-reinforced neck on that bass, and I suspect that you are right and a non-reinforced neck would have some issues with this setup.
 
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#43
onosson said:
I use gauges 30-75 in EADG tuning (see my earlier post) without any issues, but I *do* have a carbon fiber-reinforced neck on that bass, and I suspect that you are right and a non-reinforced neck would have some issues with this setup.
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The neck would need loosening to compensate for lower tension. I wouldn't call this an issue, this is a mere adjustment. Reinforcement is there to resist higher tension. Here we have the opposite case in which the truss rod is set to counter the higher tension of a standard set-up.
I think it's worth trying. The resulting tension remains playable and still higher than what we have on guitars.
 
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#46
Negative1 said:
Hello everyone, I am playing in math rock band and we are a duo, I have a sire V7 4 string bass and I wanted to try using the A D G C strings on my 4 string but tune them to E A D G, in order to get more high frequencies. Is it possible? Has anyone tried it? Do I have to careful about anything particular when I try it?
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The OP states quite clearly that they want to use the four highest strings of a six-string set (ADGC), but tune them to EADG. The context makes it clear they want to extend to range of their instrument to higher frequencies.

I would not generally advise tuning up a bass by a perfect fifth, unless it is a short-scale bass. The reason is that wound bass strings only go down to a certain size. For most 6-string sets, that's going to be .030.

In fact, this is exactly why I paid a lot of money for Warwick's custom shop to build me a short-scale (30.75" scale) Corvette Proline, 16 years ago, though I use C2-G2-D3-A4 tuning (cello tuning).

I tried at one point to use D'Addario Chromes guitar strings, which go down to .020w, and they do fit my Warwick, but the .020 would not hold A4. I broke two of them attempting to tune.

So, instead, I now use D'Addario Prelude 4/4 orchestral cello strings, Medium tension.
 
#48
amper said:
Most of the people responding to this thread completely misunderstood the OP.
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i was one of the first responders and, for sure, I misunderstood....I think he just wants a piccolo bass - This will definitely affect the the band's bottom-end if there isnt another instrument supplying that range but, then of course, I have no idea what Math rock is anyway......I did get a B+ in English Grammar Rock, tho
 

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