Is it time for a 3rd Bass?

[dalahorse]

If you don't want a five, you can always tune your second bass down to something like B-E-A-D. That'd cover all of the low tunings and stay on four strings. There's no need to tune up to play songs in a higher tuning. Just play a bit higher on the neck. A capo can help if you really need the open strings on certain notes for certain songs.

There's also a bass whammy pedal that transposes notes up or down so that you don't have to retune. I've not used one and therefore cannot say how well it works. But it seems like it was designed to address the exact issue you've described.

My opinion - Let the guitarists do whatever they're gonna do with their instruments. You don't have to follow their lead on retuning instruments.

 

[Coolhandjjl]

Q: What's a bassists favorite bass?
A: The next one!

 

[GBBSbassist]

I say just get two more basses now so you don't have to make the thread a year from now about it possibly being time for a 4th bass.

 

[Heyturnup]

I think I would tune B-E-A-D until my new fiver showed-up. It's easier to justify a third bass than a thirteenth bass.

 

[micguy]

What a silly question. This is Talkbass. If you have one bass, well, first off, you're probably not on Talkbass, but either way, it's not yet time for a 3rd bass - it's time for a 2nd. If you have 2 basses, duh! - it's time for a third. However for most of us here, it's not time for a 3rd bass,, as we already have 3 (or more).

Simple concept: add up how many basses you have. Call that....n. Time for your (n+1)th bass.

 

[Tom Henry]

I don't see why you have to limit yourself to three basses... i say go for 4 or 5, unless you want more. 27 basses? why not?!?! Its almost 2019, don't put artificial limits on yourself!

 

[MasterG]

Go for a five or get a third. Retuning during a gig sucks butt.

 

[pappabass]

OK, let the 3rd bass be a 5 string!!

 

[Gaolee]

Dog math: n+1

You always need one more.

 

[el murdoque]

Is it time for a 3rd bass? Hell yes it is!
As suggested many times, make it a 5 or 6 string bass, so you don't have to switch at all.

It's easy to justify three basses. The fourth could be another 5er as a backup bass.
So the true question is: Do you need five basses?

 

[jeff62]

A third bass?!!!

This thread needs a poll, sir. I reckon the issue is not about a third bass but the fact that you are at least 3-4 basses behind most TB’ers. Let’s vote instead on pulling your TB man card.

 

[S-Bigbottom]

Yes, get a Five String.

THE NOTES DO NOT MOVE.

A key change is moving your fingers up or down two or so frets. No more trying to remember what that note is on the third fret, it will always be the same as well as the strings tension.

 

[madbass6]

My Cover band plays songs in 3 tunings + drop variation. I Currently have two 4 string basses. One to cover E Standard/DropD, Eb Standard/Drop C# material. The second bass covers material from C Standard/DropB/A. We currently play sets for 1h30min-3hs which is built around the tunings.

I am currently thinking about purchasing a 3rd bass to play the Eb material. Realistically I don't mind tuning down the half step, but when I drop the Eb to C# its a major neck relief difference then when using the same strings in E standard and assuming its going to make my tuning stability/neck relief unstable and maybe long turn damage to the neck constantly changing it. So "realistically" would it be better for my bass neck for relief stability/tuning stability/intonation/string life to buy a third bass?

I am also in the market for a new Bass head "Mesa Wd-800" current is a Acoustic B200h with a SVT410He cab.. I want to spend my $ wisely as i'm not rich but don't mind spending cash on my rig if its a need/justifiable want. I also play guitar and drums so I have a lot of equipment but it is my passion.

Damm By the time I finished reading all your tuning variations I got a migraine!

hey Sure if a 3rd bass will work for you, go for it ! good luck on your search! Happy New Year to all!!!

 

[Ric5]

My Cover band plays songs in 3 tunings + drop variation. I Currently have two 4 string basses. One to cover E Standard/DropD, Eb Standard/Drop C# material. The second bass covers material from C Standard/DropB/A. We currently play sets for 1h30min-3hs which is built around the tunings.

I am currently thinking about purchasing a 3rd bass to play the Eb material. Realistically I don't mind tuning down the half step, but when I drop the Eb to C# its a major neck relief difference then when using the same strings in E standard and assuming its going to make my tuning stability/neck relief unstable and maybe long turn damage to the neck constantly changing it. So "realistically" would it be better for my bass neck for relief stability/tuning stability/intonation/string life to buy a third bass?

I am also in the market for a new Bass head "Mesa Wd-800" current is a Acoustic B200h with a SVT410He cab.. I want to spend my $ wisely as i'm not rich but don't mind spending cash on my rig if its a need/justifiable want. I also play guitar and drums so I have a lot of equipment but it is my passion.

I used to carry 3 basses

1 - a Rickenbacker 4001 tuned EADG
2 - a p-bass tuned to Eb
3 - a jazz bass tuned to DGCF

Then I got a 5 string tuned BEADG and it worked for all of the songs my band played.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

I don't like 5 string basses myself, but it does sound like at least a partial solution to the "problem" in this case...

Pretty much solved similar issue for me. There are just too many mental gymnastic dealing with alternative tunings for this brain.

 

[wizard65]

Yes you need a 3rd bass.
Yes you need a WD 800.
Glad i could help.

 

[Revolver]

 

[Bryan R. Tyler]

View attachment 3266720

You just beat me to it

 

[lokikallas]

It's silly to have a set with 3 (technically 6 if you count drop) tunings. The E songs need to become E flat songs, call it a day, get a couple of hipshots and play another song in the time you save changing up. Now you need a backup for each tuning right? lol. More stuff to haul, more trips, more stuff to get stolen etc... less is more. No one cares if you play STP in E flat.

 

[nice_hat]

Throwing in another for getting a third bass, and making it a 5 string.

The logistics of gigging with multiple basses that need to each cover multiple tunings... compared to playing all the parts on a single 5er, maybe taking a backup 5er that can stay in the case unless something happens, seems like intentional masochism (not knocking it if that's your thing )

... I make the assumption you will be diagnosed with BHPD, as several of us are, and will get a backup 4th 5er to above mentioned 5er 3rd