Janek Gwizdala, the E-C setup and custom necks

[AngelCrusher]

When most people think of 5 strings, it’s a low B setup. But with guitars and synths already going lower and lower, I think it really expands the instruments range in a good way.

A lot more usable notes, cleaner chords and solos. If you are a traditionalist, you may feel the urge to rage post, but no one cares, It’s just another option for artists.

So Janek has made a signature bass with RKM. I find it very interesting because he says his neck is made for the high C, which means it plays slimmer and faster than a wider neck meant for a B.

A lot of people who do the E-C setup just buy a new nut and change the setup of their 5 string. But I’m curious if anyone has played a bass with a neck actually meant for the E-C tuning. To me that sounds pretty cool.

Janek also uses a D tuner which I think can drop 3 semitones so he can get down to C# if he wants. That’s incredible range.

Anyway here is a link to his page discussing the bass. It’s very innovative while not being too much, imo. Double P, active, E-C.

Anyone else doing something like this? It’s a pretty cool time to play the instrument and see how it will evolve in the next 10-20 years.

TWO New Basses Have Arrived!

The NAMM Show Was VERY Kind This Year

janekgwizdala.substack.com

 

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

I recently set up my EBMM BFR Crescendo this way . No need for a new nut, just a new set of strings. Plays like butter and sings like a choir of angels . Chords chime with clarity and the E strings is full and rich.

 

[nonohmic]

When most people think of 5 strings, it’s a low B setup. But with guitars and synths already going lower and lower, I think it really expands the instruments range in a good way.

A lot more usable notes, cleaner chords and solos. If you are a traditionalist, you may feel the urge to rage post, but no one cares, It’s just another option for artists.

So Janek has made a signature bass with RKM. I find it very interesting because he says his neck is made for the high C, which means it plays slimmer and faster than a wider neck meant for a B.

A lot of people who do the E-C setup just buy a new nut and change the setup of their 5 string. But I’m curious if anyone has played a bass with a neck actually meant for the E-C tuning. To me that sounds pretty cool.

Janek also uses a D tuner which I think can drop 3 semitones so he can get down to C# if he wants. That’s incredible range.

Anyway here is a link to his page discussing the bass. It’s very innovative while not being too much, imo. Double P, active, E-C.

Anyone else doing something like this? It’s a pretty cool time to play the instrument and see how it will evolve in the next 10-20 years.

TWO New Basses Have Arrived!

The NAMM Show Was VERY Kind This Year

janekgwizdala.substack.com

Like how, like it’s a compound radius to flat or something? Plenty of basses with a low B have compound radius to flat or nearly flat.

I’d be interested what they mean by profiled for chordal playing.

My initial response is it’s just marketing, but I’m sure there’s a rationale somewhere.

 

[nonohmic]

That hollow body Mattisson sounds incredible though. I count Janek as probably my biggest contemporary influence and so I had a little buyers remorse that I didn’t go E-C with my recent custom build. But tbh finding different voicings etc on a 4 string has been a good challenge, and can sound beautiful. Think I’ll be alright on a 4.

 

[shojii]

I recently set up my EBMM BFR Crescendo this way . No need for a new nut, just a new set of strings. Plays like butter and sings like a choir of angels . Chords chime with clarity and the E strings is full and rich.

Wow, you have one of these... Aren't numbers of these seriously limited?

 

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

Wow, you have one of these... Aren't numbers of these seriously limited?

I have quite a few limited run BFR models. They made 80 of these. There is one on reverb if you are looking . Mine is a keeper .

 

[who]

I had this made about a year ago with E-C tuning in mind. 43mm nut, 20" radius, 19.5mm thickness at the first fret to 21.5mm at twelfth, 16.5mm string spacing, 32" scale length.

 

[Dave Siff]

I changed my Roscoe fretless 5 from B-G to E-C tuning without having to tweak the nut or the neck. E and A strings needed slight bridge adjustment. I put a Hipshot on the low string so I’ve got D-C range.

 

[AngelCrusher]

I recently set up my EBMM BFR Crescendo this way . No need for a new nut, just a new set of strings. Plays like butter and sings like a choir of angels . Chords chime with clarity and the E strings is full and rich.

That’s a great neck for that setup since EBs have pretty thin spacing.

 

[AngelCrusher]

I’d be interested what they mean by profiled for chordal playing.

Where did you see that? I think it’s just the radius changes the higher you go. Which actually feels pretty great.

 

[konaaayukeeenee]

I had this made about a year ago with E-C tuning in mind. 43mm nut, 20" radius, 19.5mm thickness at the first fret to 21.5mm at twelfth, 16.5mm string spacing, 32" scale length.

Ooh that's nice - who made that?

 

[PrimitiveMan]

I enjoyed DGCFBb setup for awhile, was a little bit more my style

Can still go quite high and low

Generally you don't need a new nut when going to higher gauge, as long as the change isn't too drastic. Just bridge and neck adjustment sufficed

 

[nonohmic]

Where did you see that? I think it’s just the radius changes the higher you go. Which actually feels pretty great.

Well OP said a neck made for E-C, which I assume also means for chordal playing. So I'm trying to figure out what's different between that and all the other compound radius necks out there.

 

[monsterthompson]

I'm always curious about no non-standard tuning and approaches. I tried E -C once but it wasn't for me. I didn't see a need to modify the nut. It was a pretty easy test to just get a set of strings. I'm curious how different things would be with the dedicated neck design.

 

[AngelCrusher]

Well OP said a neck made for E-C, which I assume also means for chordal playing. So I'm trying to figure out what's different between that and all the other compound radius necks out there.

Uh no. I am simply saying the neck on the Gwiz bass is thinner than a 5 string built for a low B. According to him.

 

[jasper383]

The Ibanez BTB33, known as the Vola, was designed to be strung E to C.

BTB33

The BTB33 is a five string BTB series solid body electric bass model introduced by Ibanez for 2015. It was produced in Indonesia as part of the Ibanez Bass Workshop line and was succeeded by the BTB845V in 2018. The BTB33 is the first shorter, mid-scale addition to the Ibanez Bass Workshop range...

ibanez.fandom.com

 

[nonohmic]

Uh no. I am simply saying the neck on the Gwiz bass is thinner than a 5 string built for a low B. According to him.

Plenty of thin necks out there too. But I could see that.

 

[superiorpine]

Changed the tuning from B-G to E-C on a new to me Alien Audio three years ago, and didn't have to change a thing. I was a little shocked, but no change at nut or bridge and no truss rod tweak necessary. 35 scale D shaped neck clearly meant for B-G, but it worked out great for me.

 

[Lackey]

I have my 32" Bordwell 6 strung E - F

 

[groooooove]

this seems somewhat gimmicky to me?

a nice neck is a nice neck. if you like one spacing, scale length, or profile, you'll likely enjoy it no matter the tuning.

perhaps janek has a taste for these different setups, but i don't think it's of great importance to the average player