I always used to say I didn’t know what to do with a high C string …
… and I still don’t
however: after a year and a half of performing and recording on bass vi and baritone guitar, and just as long learning flamenco guitar, I definitely know a few things I can do on an instrument tuned BEADF#B—but applying many right hand flamenco techniques on a bass vi isn’t one of them. As it turns out, I need more space between strings this size to do much of any of that. Upon that realization, I found myself seriously considering a full-size six-string bass for the first time in more than 30 years.
These 25th Anniversary Ibanez BTB models caught my eye when they came out a couple years ago, and while they remain readily available, I didn’t have one locally to try in this tuning with these techniques. I went to my local Guitar Center in hopes that they would have something at least similar enough to get an idea of whether I ought to finally make the leap to a 35” scale six-string bass. Fortunately they had a Schecter SC-6, which has the same nut width and string spacing as the Ibanez BTB I had in mind. Once I detuned the two skinniest strings, I found that a big six-string finally felt natural for me. I resolved to make that leap!
I had hoped to trade in a pile of gear toward a 25th Anniversary BTB from another Guitar Center location, but Musician’s Friend had a returned unit on sale on Reverb and was even taking offers, so I leapt at that one and got an essentially new instrument at a substantial discount
it arrived today and you can see how happy I am.
One of the rare 33” scale BTB six-strings came up at the last minute, and if that one had the same pickups or an especially striking top I might have gone for it, but I really liked the unique finish and (at least from what I’d heard in videos) the Nordstrand Big Single pickups of the 25th Anniversary BTB. I’m glad I went with this one, even if it makes for some big stretches in the lower positions, because the Big Singles definitely deliver. I also like how the proportions on the 35” scale six-string BTB models look about right for someone very accustomed to the look of 34” scale four-string basses such as myself.
I will change strings as soon as the SIT Fusion Wound Nickel custom light six-string set recommended by my pal @Isaac_James arrived, though; the D’Addario NYXLs feel great but don’t sound angry enough for my purposes, and the low B already sounds very thud-y. I suspect this one probably got played a bit around the Musician’s Friend facility once the previous buyer returned it. Hopefully some relatively smooth strings under relatively low tension will help me preserve my precious flamenco claws while I’m strumming away on this monstrosity!
… and I still don’t
however: after a year and a half of performing and recording on bass vi and baritone guitar, and just as long learning flamenco guitar, I definitely know a few things I can do on an instrument tuned BEADF#B—but applying many right hand flamenco techniques on a bass vi isn’t one of them. As it turns out, I need more space between strings this size to do much of any of that. Upon that realization, I found myself seriously considering a full-size six-string bass for the first time in more than 30 years.These 25th Anniversary Ibanez BTB models caught my eye when they came out a couple years ago, and while they remain readily available, I didn’t have one locally to try in this tuning with these techniques. I went to my local Guitar Center in hopes that they would have something at least similar enough to get an idea of whether I ought to finally make the leap to a 35” scale six-string bass. Fortunately they had a Schecter SC-6, which has the same nut width and string spacing as the Ibanez BTB I had in mind. Once I detuned the two skinniest strings, I found that a big six-string finally felt natural for me. I resolved to make that leap!
I had hoped to trade in a pile of gear toward a 25th Anniversary BTB from another Guitar Center location, but Musician’s Friend had a returned unit on sale on Reverb and was even taking offers, so I leapt at that one and got an essentially new instrument at a substantial discount
it arrived today and you can see how happy I am.One of the rare 33” scale BTB six-strings came up at the last minute, and if that one had the same pickups or an especially striking top I might have gone for it, but I really liked the unique finish and (at least from what I’d heard in videos) the Nordstrand Big Single pickups of the 25th Anniversary BTB. I’m glad I went with this one, even if it makes for some big stretches in the lower positions, because the Big Singles definitely deliver. I also like how the proportions on the 35” scale six-string BTB models look about right for someone very accustomed to the look of 34” scale four-string basses such as myself.
I will change strings as soon as the SIT Fusion Wound Nickel custom light six-string set recommended by my pal @Isaac_James arrived, though; the D’Addario NYXLs feel great but don’t sound angry enough for my purposes, and the low B already sounds very thud-y. I suspect this one probably got played a bit around the Musician’s Friend facility once the previous buyer returned it. Hopefully some relatively smooth strings under relatively low tension will help me preserve my precious flamenco claws while I’m strumming away on this monstrosity!
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Perhaps tune your bass up to C (C1-F1-A#1-D#2-G3-C3) like Matt Pike's guitar? Al Cisneros of Sleep (AKA Matt Pike's other band) also tunes to C Standard (C1-F1-A#1-D#2).
