Strings for a 4-string converted Guitarron acoustic bass

[littlebun]

For those wanting a user friendly guitarron for jobs that plays like a 4-string... I have a converted guitarron made into a 4-string. Learning the legit technique and playing octaves on a bass tuned A to A is too involved for me. The conversion only requires a new nut cut for 4-string spacing. For strings you can use an existing guitarron set. Install only the lower 4 strings of a typical guitarron set spacing the strings in the bridge holes as best you can, tune the low A string down to E, the D string down to A, the G string down to D, and the guitarron nylon C string tunes down to G, and then cut the new nut for these strings. The reason you can use a regular guitarron set is because a typical set has pretty high tension compared to electric bass. Regular electric bass strings sound like a## on a guitarron. My converted guitarron sounds great and I use it professionally for recording and Latin/Mariachi/Ranchera projects. Still sounds closely like a guitarron, and not one complaint about sounding authentic or the visual. I've had custom guitarron low E strings made for my bass but found I didn't really need to do that because 'bumping' a typical guitarron set works and plays just as well. Just buy a set of La Bella guitarron strings and convert your bass if you need to.

 

[mikeoso]

Interesting...very! What kind of volume are you getting unplugged? Would a nut from an acoustic bass guitar work? How would tapewounds do?

 

[littlebun]

Interesting...very! What kind of volume are you getting unplugged? Would a nut from an acoustic bass guitar work? How would tapewounds do?

I can get a respectable volume when playing with a regular acoustic band that doesn't have instruments sharing the bass range with me. Banjo would bury a guitarron. A custom nut that fits the end of your fingerboard is what is needed, but could be an acoustic blank if long and tall enough for your bass as the string spread on the nut is wider when only using 4 strings. I use a Heil pr35 mic, live into a single JBL Eon One. For sessions I use what the engineer puts up. Regular bass strings don't have the volume needed and don't work for a usable sound. Proper guitarron strings are a unique design and involve a loop end. You have to play strongly in order to project.

 

[mikeoso]

I can get a respectable volume when playing with a regular acoustic band that doesn't have instruments sharing the bass range with me. Banjo would bury a guitarron. A custom nut that fits the end of your fingerboard is what is needed, but could be an acoustic blank if long and tall enough for your bass as the string spread on the nut is wider when only using 4 strings. I use a Heil pr35 mic, live into a single JBL Eon One. For sessions I use what the engineer puts up. Regular bass strings don't have the volume needed and don't work for a usable sound. Proper guitarron strings are a unique design and involve a loop end. You have to play strongly in order to project.

I see. Here's what I use...built for Portuguese fado. Not quite as big as a guitarron, but built to take bass strings and setup, and respectably loud.