Tenor Bass: Clever Idea or Oxymoron?

[jeff schmidt]

What does eveyone think about 5 string tenor basses (Tuned EADGC rather than BEADG)?

Both my 5 stringers - 1 fretted and 1 fretless are strung this way.

I also have a 5 string strung A,D,G,C,F

I never liked the low B string.

 

[slugworth]

I don't see why you can't tune it any way you like and still
call it a bass! If I was to ever get in to 5 stringers, I'd probably go with the high C rather than the low B too.

Cheers,
Slug

 

[therealting]

I always refer to mine as a bass (which is what it is) strung with tenor tuning (which is also what it is).

My bass would still be a bass if I strung it with electrical wire, or industrial suspension-bridge cable. It might be tuned differently, but it's still a bass.

 

[geshel]

Actually I calculated it a long while back in a thread where they were bashing extended range basses. Must have been at least a year ago.

In any case I calculated that JT's 7s (or anyone elses actually) have more range than a 88 key piano.

Um . . . 24-fret 7-string tuned in fourths = 6x5 + 24 or 54 notes.

36-fret 8-string tuned in fourths = 7x5 + 36 or 81 notes. Still 7 shy of an 88-key piano.

 

[Nickthebassist]

What's the difference between a tenor bass, and a baritone guitar? I know one has less strings, but a baritone is tune A D G C E A. And also, what is the point of the piccolo bass? A guitar is tuned an octave up from a bass. Is it jsut a matter of string spacing, internal wiring, scale length etc. that seperates the two?

 

[dlloyd]

What's the difference between a tenor bass, and a baritone guitar? I know one has less strings, but a baritone is tune A D G C E A. And also, what is the point of the piccolo bass? A guitar is tuned an octave up from a bass. Is it jsut a matter of string spacing, internal wiring, scale length etc. that seperates the two?

None of these terms are standardised.

A piccolo bass is usually a bass tuned up an octave, maybe with a shorter scale.

A tenor bass is usually a bass that is tuned up a fourth, ADGC. So it's like the top four strings of a regular six string bass.

A baritone guitar can be one of several things. They're usually longer-scale guitars that are tuned down a fourth or fifth to BEADF#B or ADGCEA, although I've seen guitars that are tuned EADGBE, an octave down from usual, like the Fender Bass VI, called baritone guitars.

Mostly, you'll find that these are around 30" scale (correct me if I'm wrong.)

More confusion? How about googling for "tenor guitars"