One full octave below BEAD tuning

[Danger McLovin]

Today I have been drooling over a 40" scale 4-string Quake bass most of the day.
Then I went on this string tension calculator website.
And it calculates that technically you could use a 40-inch Quake bass and tune one full octave below regular B standard BEAD tuning.

B (-1), string 0.236, 40lbs tension
E0, string 0.176, 40lbs tension
A0, string 0.130, 40lbs tension
D1, string 0.100, 40lbs tension

My question is: Has anyone done anything like this before ? ?
Or can anyone share any audio samples (songs) of this tuning with me ? ?

 

[HaphAsSard]

Today I have been drooling over a 40" scale 4-string Quake bass most of the day.
Then I went on this string tension calculator website.
And it calculates that technically you could use a 40-inch Quake bass and tune one full octave below regular B standard BEAD tuning.

B (-1), string 0.236, 40lbs tension
E0, string 0.176, 40lbs tension
A0, string 0.130, 40lbs tension
D1, string 0.100, 40lbs tension

My question is: Has anyone done anything like this before ? ?
Or can anyone share any audio samples (songs) of this tuning with me ? ?


View attachment 4848614

Look into (former TBer Jauqo III-X's project) "The Low C# Theory". That's still a full step above what you're envisioning, but close. Or talk to Kalium themselves, ask for whatever relevant audio they're willing to share.

 

[johnh89]

Interesting idea . But why ? 15Hz is inaudible to all except the great whales . And you won't be getting any fundamental from speakers . Not sure an amp is going to work well at that sort of frequency . Just because something can be done , doesn't mean that it should be done .
Be nice to see what you come up with ,

 

[Danger McLovin]

Interesting idea . But why ? 15Hz is inaudible to all except the great whales . And you won't be getting any fundamental from speakers . Not sure an amp is going to work well at that sort of frequency . Just because something can be done , doesn't mean that it should be done .
Be nice to see what you come up with ,

You are 100% correct in everything that you have said.
But, that doesn't mean that someone else has not already tried it and can now share from their knowledge & experience . . . . .

 

[definenredefine]

The guys in Torche may have come close. I'm not sure. I just know that when they hit the low string, you can't even discern a pitch. It's just a rumble.

(This doesn't appear to be one of the songs where they are tuned as such, but I've seen them do it, I tells ya!)

 

[el murdoque]

Just out of curiosity, since I have a soft spot for crazy ideas like that - how do you plan to amplify that instrument?
A very good subwoofer will struggle with the root note of your D string - and we're already talking double 18".

 

[johnh89]

You are 100% correct in everything that you have said.
But, that doesn't mean that someone else has not already tried it and can now share from their knowledge & experience . . . . .

Fair point , well made .

 

[Danger McLovin]

Just out of curiosity, since I have a soft spot for crazy ideas like that - how do you plan to amplify that instrument?
A very good subwoofer will struggle with the root note of your D string - and we're already talking double 18".

Fair point, but one problem at a time.
I put this out there to see if anyone else has already tried it and can now share from their knowledge & experience . . . . .

 

[Danger McLovin]

Just out of curiosity, since I have a soft spot for crazy ideas like that - how do you plan to amplify that instrument?
A very good subwoofer will struggle with the root note of your D string - and we're already talking double 18".

What would you recommend ? ?

 

[el murdoque]

Since 99% of the human ears will not be able to perceive 15 Hz, one could of course explore other means to transport the note instead of traditional loudspeakers. Maybe vibrate them into the floor with a V8 engine. Or TNT.

 

[HaphAsSard]

- Did you write that?
- Uh... Did you like it?

[...]

- Do you know what that means?
- Uhm... Wh- What do you think?
- It means he's cured.
- That's what I said.

 

[Nev375]

I've gone down to low F# on a 6 string bass because I love to experiment with ideas such as this.

The result wasn't great. On the bass I had it was difficult to get the action HIGH enough to accomodate the heavier gauge strings and their wide vibrational swing.

It's not a very solid "musical" sound. It was difficult to play notes smoothly in that register and the tone was just ...different.

Someone who is very creative with percussive playing styles might be able to get something cool out of it, but in my opinion there's better avenues of experimentation.


But if you are THAT curious you should definitely try it and see for yourself what I'm struggling to articulate.

Be sure to mod a cheap bass for this. You are going to need to mod the saddles and nut to do this proper and those will need to be replaced when you come to the same conclusion I did.

I know I should say *IF*. But having been halfway to where you intend to go I'm pretty confident in saying *when*.

 

[el murdoque]

MARIANA 24SR 24" SUBWOOFER

 

[johnh89]

Rotary woofer . (look it up ) and and amp of a few kW . I'm getting interested now

 

[knumbskull]

Yep, Low C# Theory are pretty cool. The extra low bass has a nice character of its own.

Your idea is even more bonkers but could be fun. I suspect the cost/benefit ratio won’t be favourable though!

As with any thread about low tunings, I would say that you won’t need much fundamental at all (if any) on those low notes. I doubt most people are utilizing a lot of 40hz and under even on stardard tunings.

 

[Bassinthemudd]

I have no first hand experience with these, and don't know if they'd function properly in an your application (it's a home audio product,) but is very intriguing.
Eminent Technology: home

 

[johnh89]

I have no first hand experience with these, and don't know if they'd function properly in an your application (it's a home audio product,) but is very intriguing.
Eminent Technology: home

Will only need a 100W amp but may cost you in the region of $22k

 

[2112]

Interesting idea, but definitely would need a different setting on my HPF lolol.

 

[Smooth_bass88]

Yeah, you could summon whales and other interesting sea creatures playing notes that low.

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

Today I have been drooling over a 40" scale 4-string Quake bass most of the day.
Then I went on this string tension calculator website.
And it calculates that technically you could use a 40-inch Quake bass and tune one full octave below regular B standard BEAD tuning.

B (-1), string 0.236, 40lbs tension
E0, string 0.176, 40lbs tension
A0, string 0.130, 40lbs tension
D1, string 0.100, 40lbs tension

My question is: Has anyone done anything like this before ? ?
Or can anyone share any audio samples (songs) of this tuning with me ? ?


View attachment 4848614

You wouldn't hear much