Double Bass Restringing Question

[Francois Blais]

Actually it's the pegs that are in the opposite position than usual.

 

[pickups]

Actually it's the pegs that are in the opposite position than usual.

Thanks! Pegs ... sorry my couldn't find the right word.

 

[Eli Brockway]

Some folks are convinced that doing it that way, with less break angle on the lower strings, leads to better tuning stability and less strain on the pegbox.

The biggest thing I can really think of is that you're less likely to wind so much of the actual string windings on that way, which can be a little bit nicer for the longevity of the string, but strings breaking because you've got the winding on the peg is more of a bass guitar thing to worry about anyways.

I think the guys at Upton have a video or two about it, because they have the strings going GEDA from closest to the nut to farthest back in the pegbox as their standard, like on drurb's picture, rather than the usual EGAD like is traditional.

 

[pickups]

Some folks are convinced that doing it that way, with less break angle on the lower strings, leads to better tuning stability and less strain on the pegbox.

The biggest thing I can really think of is that you're less likely to wind so much of the actual string windings on that way, which can be a little bit nicer for the longevity of the string, but strings breaking because you've got the winding on the peg is more of a bass guitar thing to worry about anyways.

I think the guys at Upton have a video or two about it, because they have the strings going GEDA from closest to the nut to farthest back in the pegbox as their standard, like on drurb's picture, rather than the usual EGAD like is traditional.

Never thought about the tuning and strain on the pegbox. I guess, that makes sense. One of the luthiers I used to work with said the E string sounds better when its not on the first peg, but who knows. Watched two videos with Patitucci and he had one bass with E on the first peg and the other on a higher peg. Thanks, again.

 

[the_Ryan]

It’s also historically a French (I think Mirecourt) thing, not just an Upton thing.

I dunno if there’s any tangible benefit since I’ve never played two basses with the same string length with different peg orientations, but on my (modern) French bass it has the fringe benefit of not needing an extension E string to go on the A peg.

 

[Eli Brockway]

Eugh, Französisch. Warum müssen die Franzosen so seltsam sein?

 

[LouisF]

Immer -- leider!

 

[lurk]

For about a decade I strung my bass unconventionally - E on the longest, farthest peg, etc. - because someone convinced me it would help my sound. When I changed it to the normal way there was no perceptible difference. I must say did enjoy guys sitting in on my bass, adjusting the tuning by twisting a different string than the one they were playing, and seeming satisfied with the result.

 

[pickups]

For about a decade I strung my bass unconventionally - E on the longest, farthest peg, etc. - because someone convinced me it would help my sound. When I changed it to the normal way there was no perceptible difference. I must say did enjoy guys sitting in on my bass, adjusting the tuning by twisting a different string than the one they were playing, and seeming satisfied with the result.

I had my bass restrung with the E and A being switched. I really don't know if I can hear a difference because I replaced with different strings(Perpetuals). I did have a few instances where I thought I was tuning the A string but was actually turning the E tuner

 

[the_Ryan]

I had my bass restrung with the E and A being switched. I really don't know if I can hear a difference because I replaced with different strings(Perpetuals). I did have a few instances where I thought I was tuning the A string but was actually turning the E tuner

It’s not uncommon for people who have a bass with an extension (and the normal tuning peg configuration) and one without to swap the E and A string pegs to keep things consistent.