Single ABG high C strings...

[RobbieK]

Hi all. I'm thinking of tuning a 5-string acoustic bass guitar EADGC.

I'd really rather not buy 6-string sets and just ditch the low B.

Does anyone know a source of single phosphor bronze (or similar) ABG strings around .030 guage?


Cheers.

 

[michael_t]

Does anyone know a source of single phosphor bronze (or similar) ABG strings around .030 guage?

Are you in the US? If so, I would suggest you get in touch with Jason at Fret Nation ([email protected]). He can special order just about any single strings, even the ones not listed on his website.

 

[HaphAsSard]

Hi all. I'm thinking of tuning a 5-string acoustic bass guitar EADGC.

I'd really rather not buy 6-string sets and just ditch the low B.

Does anyone know a source of single phosphor bronze (or similar) ABG strings around .030 guage?


Cheers.

I would be remiss if I did not mention that a bronze 030 for 6-string acoustic guitar would serve you just as well, and be long enough for the purpose. Just thread it into a bass ball end so that the latter stops the string where it needs to.

 

[RobbieK]

I would be remiss if I did not mention that a bronze 030 for 6-string acoustic guitar would serve you just as well, and be long enough for the purpose. Just thread it into a bass ball end so that the latter stops the string where it needs to.

I have thought of this, but are you sure? It would be a D string, and this is made to go to the far end of the headstock, and the high C is right near the nut on an ABG, but it would need to be 39" long.

I was looking at an Ibanez ABG that was only 32" scale for this exact reason, actually. But it didn't really sound as good as the 34" scale instruments I've played (and own).

 

[HaphAsSard]

I have thought of this, but are you sure? It would be a D string, and this is made to go to the far end of the headstock, and the high C is right near the nut on an ABG, but it would need to be 39" long.

39" sounds a bit too long. If you don't already own the fiver, how long is the G-string path on your 4-string 34" ABGs? A number of string manufacturers wind their guitar strings - all of them, regardless of where they go on the guitar - up to 38" (GHS, for example, and I believe D'Addario does too). I guess you could get a bunch of bronze 030s by different makers and check, ahead of the experiment.

 

[RobbieK]

Well that's 34", +1" behind the saddle, +2" nut to G string post, and +2" for windings. There's about an inch just to feed the string into the post, so 39" may be still too short.

Maybe I will just go and buy some singles of various brands from my local shop...

 

[HaphAsSard]

and +2" for windings.

Ah, therein lies the fork: IME, one can do with a lot less winding at the post. (YMMV, of course.)
But yeah, just try a bunch of guitar strings. Failing that, we'll take a look of what's out there for bronze bass singles in online stores that don't ask an arm and a leg for trans-Pacific postage.