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Strings for Contra-bass 4-string classical guitar

#21
Seems to be just about a 1/4 size upright bass scale length, which would open up a wide range of string options, though upright strings are comparatively expensive, and I'm not sure if the string mounting on your guitar would permit the afterlength for the comparatively long silks on the ball end. You might need to fabricate a tailpiece/trapeze for that. But many plastic-core options are available.

Other than your objection to steel core, nylon tapewound "electric" bass guitar strings have gotten good reviews among some who have tried them on ABGs, and some can be had in extra long scale lengths that might fit your axe.

With regards to the detuning, I guess you could either keep the set you have and go BEAD, or what (I believe) was being suggested was to discard the E, source a C, and detune to EADG with E on the "A" string and G on the "C" string as sourced.
 
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#22
T_Bone_TL said:
Seems to be just about a 1/4 size upright bass scale length, which would open up a wide range of string options, though upright strings are comparatively expensive, and I'm not sure if the string mounting on your guitar would permit the afterlength for the comparatively long silks on the ball end. You might need to fabricate a tailpiece/trapeze for that. But many plastic-core options are available.

Other than your objection to steel core, nylon tapewound "electric" bass guitar strings have gotten good reviews among some who have tried them on ABGs, and some can be had in extra long scale lengths that might fit your axe.

With regards to the detuning, I guess you could either keep the set you have and go BEAD, or what (I believe) was being suggested was to discard the E, source a C, and detune to EADG with E on the "A" string and G on the "C" string as sourced.
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Thanks T_Bone. I will look into this. Yes the standard classical guitar tie block can be problematic with the string size. Best regards.
 
#23
LenLaviolette said:
With your idea for the Savarez shifting of strings I gather that I would be tuned to BEAD then?
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See below:
T_Bone_TL said:
With regards to the detuning, I guess you could either keep the set you have and go BEAD, or what (I believe) was being suggested was to discard the E, source a C, and detune to EADG with E on the "A" string and G on the "C" string as sourced.
Click to expand...
^ Yes, thank you. The extra treble string to procure would be labelled B, coming from a 6-string contrabass guitar (octave-down Spanish tuning) set but yeah, you got what I meant.
Same plan the OP has for the La Bella CB60,* except for the fact that the latter already come with a B to be tuned down to G.


* Again, make sure someone confirms the length of the CB60. Strings by Mail, and La Bella themselves, say they're for 85 cm, but I've read disgruntled reports by buyers who found them too short for the advertised scale. Having an SbM employee take a quick look at the lowest string to check the length would be peachy.

Anyway, the thread @bholder may have had in mind could be this one. From post #10 on it got resuscitated by @ContraGuitar, owner of a 900mm scale 6-string contrabass guitar:
Classical bass guitar
 
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#24
HaphAsSard said:
Anyway, the thread @bholder may have had in mind could be this one. From post #10 on it got resuscitated by @ContraGuitar, owner of a 900mm scale 6-string contrabass guitar:
Classical bass guitar
Click to expand...
Thanks, yes, that's the thread, and the bass for sure! And to correct myself here, my classical contrabasses are both 30" scale, not 34", I'd forgotten that. Fingering must be a real challenge on @ContraGuitar's 35.5" scale behemoth!
 
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#25
HaphAsSard said:
See below:

^ Yes, thank you. The extra treble string to procure would be labelled B, coming from a 6-string contrabass guitar (octave-down Spanish tuning) set but yeah, you got what I meant.
Same plan the OP has for the La Bella CB60,* except for the fact that the latter already come with a B to be tuned down to G.


* Again, make sure someone confirms the length of the CB60. Strings by Mail, and La Bella themselves, say they're for 85 cm, but I've read disgruntled reports by buyers who found them too short for the advertised scale. Having an SbM employee take a quick look at the lowest string to check the length would be peachy.

Anyway, the thread @bholder may have had in mind could be this one. From post #10 on it got resuscitated by @ContraGuitar, owner of a 900mm scale 6-string contrabass guitar:
Classical bass guitar
Click to expand...
Than
bholder said:
Thanks, yes, that's the thread, and the bass for sure! And to correct myself here, my classical contrabasses are both 30" scale, not 34", I'd forgotten that. Fingering must be a real challenge on @ContraGuitar's 35.5" scale behemoth!
Click to expand...
 
#26
Fingering seems to not be much of a problem for me because I am inexperienced with the bass guitar. Plus the parts I play in the ensemble are quite simple. I am a lousy guitarist to begin with. For decades I have built and played only classical guitars. I find the bass to be so much more fun. I do not feel the need to try to dazzle with technical expertise like so many guitarists. I am allowed to make a statement with this instrument that I am unable to do with a regular classical guitar in an ensemble. It is a f'ing blast man!
 
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#27
LenLaviolette said:
Fingering seems to not be much of a problem for me because I am inexperienced with the bass guitar. Plus the parts I play in the ensemble are quite simple. I am a lousy guitarist to begin with. For decades I have built and played only classical guitars. I find the bass to be so much more fun. I do not feel the need to try to dazzle with technical expertise like so many guitarists. I am allowed to make a statement with this instrument that I am unable to do with a regular classical guitar in an ensemble. It is a f'ing blast man!
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The fingering gets tricky when I try to play it like a regular guitar. Regular bass lines aren't such a problem. But yeah, it's a blast! :thumbsup::D
 
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#28
as an instrument builder dealing with odd scales and tension/mass issues myself, it really is essential to research the string options out there before proceeding -unless you want to purchase string winding equipment or have custom strings made all of the time, especially with basses i find. figuring out the primary and secondary warps lengths is often better done by purchasing a pile of strings and doing some trial and error because the mfg data isn't always reliable. for example, we recently purchased some Ibanez Mikro strings that are supposedly what these things are shipped with -although in 10+ years of messing around with Mikro's i've never seen them on a Mikro. their secondary wrap length terminates between the first fret and the nut making them most unusable yet they are advertised as an "exact fit" and factory spec.

i have considered string winding but the attention to the metallurgical and qa issues plus the shear cost and real estate is just too much of a distraction from building guitars.

then there's the cases :)
 
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#29
Thanks Arie. Yes and yes. My technological aptitude regarding string physics is pretty much nil. I have been so very satisfied over the decades with the common classical guitar string manufacturers. I am thinking that I will just abandon the search for contra-bass classical guitar strings since the reality is that I am pretty satisfied with the Hannabach, 841MT4S.90. Now "CASES" $&(&^*R$$. NOOO. I went so far as to build new molds and forms for the guitar just to accomodate a one half inch decrease in the lower bout. I was prepared to gut any new case and build my own interior padding. My first one gave me fits because no matter which cello case I ordered it was always a hair too small. I finally was able to "make do" with a Tavelite cello case but I do not have the desire to do that again. By the time I was finished I had so much money and time invested that is was not worth it. For this new one I have ordered a custom case from Artur Bendykt in Poland. The last thing I wanted was to add a ton of money into the cost of this thing, (and that is what it will be-a ton of money) but at this point I decided to bite the bullet and do it. I built both of these guitars for myself. Mesa College music department bought the first one #141. Thus the new one #152 is without a case until the Bendykt case arrives in July, I am not sure what to do if somebody decides he wants to try it out.
 
#33
No I did not know Ben Tortorici. I try to keep my ear to the ground but i missed out on him.
Beej said:
I'm guessing you've tried contacting these folks? Link Removed

They have so many varieties of strings, you'd hope they might have something that would work... :)
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Yes I have checked with them. Thanks for your input.
 
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#34
LenLaviolette said:
Thank you for your contribution. You have given me some avenues to explore. It seems the wound nylon for contrabass strings last a lot longer than the wound nylon core basses for classical. In that regard I am thankful. With your idea for the Savarez shifting of strings I gather that I would be tuned to BEAD then? I did investigate the LaBella CB60. I am considering it. I would have to trash the #1 and the #6 leaving me with very similar guage thickness to the Hannabach. Might be a possibility. I am going to investigate the other manufacturers that you mentioned. I appreciate your input very much.
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Savarez
4CB640R or
4CB640RL
4 String Contrabass Classical Strings to the rescue. They made those strings a little thinner to allow for standard EADG Tuning.
 
#37
Wow some really beautiful builds and unusual content!

I also build acoustic bass guitars of unusual scale lengths. I live in Italy but had custom strings made in the UK (Newtone Strings). They weren't that much more expensive than standard length strings, and I was able to choose things like the distance from the ball to the end of the wrap, as well as the exact diameter and length.

Newtone only do steel strings (AFAIK) so not directly relevant to your builds, but I guess I'm strongly recommending you contact a custom string winder. They'll be able to wind the strings exactly the way you want them. Looking at the link posted by someone above, Guadalupe strings look like they could easily do exactly what you are after.

Oh, and if you are building another one PLEASE PLEASE do a build diary here on Talkbass. We get virtually no acoustic builds and it would be great to be able to follow along.

EDIT for missing that this is a zombie thread. Well I hope he still comes back some day and does a build diary......
 
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#39
if you look at my profile pic, you will see on the right, a LaBella brand 4 string contrabass guitar. I had it for 3 or 4 years. In many ways it was pretty cool, but it was in the end a bit too limited in what it could do with me operating it!
I think now I would prefer to have a 6 string contrabass with EADGBE tuning.
As for strings, the LaBella brand contrabass came with LaBella brand contrabass strings. If I recall correctly, the Bass was built sometime around 2005.
There is a music store called Reverie Guitars, David Conti was the salesperson I dealt with. They sell current production models manufactured by Esteve. They might be a good resource for strings for contrabass guitars.
 
#40
bholder said:
I have two contrabass classicals, a 4 and a 6 string, but they're both 34" (860mm) scale. Someone on here has one with much longer scale, that thread might have some useful string info, I'll search and see if I can find it again.
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I know this thread is moribund, but I’m about to purchase a classical 6 string, 34”, and have few ideas on how to string it. I really don’t like Hannabach, their strings are not durable at all, they fray, and break on instruments sitting unplayed. Savarez makes a four string set, but I don’t know how to find the trebles, which I prefer to string E-F. Any insight you could share would be greatly appreciated
 

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