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The Fifths Tuning Club

#561
Lackey said:
Subbed. I want to restring my trusty four string fretless in fifths, DAEB. My five string fretless already covers the low B side, I'd like some higher range, and I'd rather not recut the nut.

Typically I would use 105 80 60 45 tuned EADG, so thinking around 118, 80, 52, 35?
Click to expand...
Sounds about right, but at regular scale you should be okay all the way down to 110 on that D. I find that you really gotta make your best guess and be willing to buy some strings and experiment to get the right setup. Everybody's bass, setup, technique, preferences, etc. being different and all that.
 
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#562
Now with 5ths Tuning you can also tune a 5 String Bass in Fifths by using a Set of Pirastro Obligato 5ths Tuning Strings plus an Obligato (or Passione) High E Solo String. 5ths Tuning is also great for playing repertoire that was originally not written for Double Bass such as Cello pieces down an Octave (Bach Cello Suites are the easiest ones), as well as Violin & Viola Pieces down 2 Octaves (I think Paganini's Violin Concertos would sound fantastic in this tuning)
 
#565
lucas303 said:
I think it'll definitely work fine, but if you like bowstring tension you'll need a thicker string. After all you're only going one full step down from B. Certainly on the 35" scale you'd be good to go.
Click to expand...
I've already tuned my BTB's first three strings to AEB and that seems fine.
Raising the A string to B seems a bit tight.

I do have some thinner gauge strings for the other three coming.
 
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#566
Watchootognbout said:
I'm about to embark on my journey of a fifths tuning six stringer.
AEBF#C#G#
Not sure whether it will be 34" or 35" scale.

An aside question will a .135 B string be sufficient for drop A,or should I get a thicker string?
Click to expand...

The Kallium string calculator is down at the moment. That is where I usually go. I would say you need bigger. The stringjoy.com tension calculator only goes up to .135 for biggest string and at 34 scale is 32.9 lbs. That is floppy. Bump up to a 35 scale and you can get to 34.8. I still think that is a little spongy. I like my tension about 36-38.
upload_2020-12-10_15-39-25.png


My Dingwall Combustion has a 37" scale length on the "B" string with .135 and I have a drop tuner down to Ab0. It is floppy there.

I only dabble in 5ths tuning, I haven't committed. I have a bass with 5ths tuning. A Frankenfender Jazz/Precision fretless. I keep it in 5ths to play with.

I got my strings from Kallium.

I used their tension chart. (when it worked) Shooting for 37 lbs, I ordered a set:

C .124 36.9 lbs
G .082 37.2 lbs
D .055 37.7 lbs
A .035 36.1 lbs

For a close to 40 lb tension, I could have ordered:
C .130 40.4 lbs
G .086 40.7 lbs
D .057 40.4 lbs
A .037 40 lbs
 
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#567
kirkdickinson said:
The Kallium string calculator is down at the moment. That is where I usually go. I would say you need bigger. The stringjoy.com tension calculator only goes up to .135 for biggest string and at 34 scale is 32.9 lbs. That is floppy. Bump up to a 35 scale and you can get to 34.8. I still think that is a little spongy. I like my tension about 36-38.
View attachment 4084419

My Dingwall Combustion has a 37" scale length on the "B" string with .135 and I have a drop tuner down to Ab0. It is floppy there.

I only dabble in 5ths tuning, I haven't committed. I have a bass with 5ths tuning. A Frankenfender Jazz/Precision fretless. I keep it in 5ths to play with.

I got my strings from Kallium.

I used their tension chart. (when it worked) Shooting for 37 lbs, I ordered a set:

C .124 36.9 lbs
G .082 37.2 lbs
D .055 37.7 lbs
A .035 36.1 lbs

For a close to 40 lb tension, I could have ordered:
C .130 40.4 lbs
G .086 40.7 lbs
D .057 40.4 lbs
A .037 40 lbs
Click to expand...
Thanks!
I'll have to take the time to really study that.
 
#568
Watchootognbout said:
I've already tuned my BTB's first three strings to AEB and that seems fine.
Raising the A string to B seems a bit tight.

I do have some thinner gauge strings for the other three coming.
Click to expand...

Here is another string calculator that I found:
String Tension Calculator
upload_2020-12-10_15-43-23.png


and for 35 scale
upload_2020-12-10_15-44-57.png
 

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#571
lucas303 said:
@gebass6 If you've already tried it on your BTB and are happy with the feel then there's no need to get a different size string, right?
Click to expand...
I've only tuned the first three strings.

Dropped the B string to A.Keep E at E.Raise A string to B.
The D,G and C strings are still in fourths.
Not F#,C#and G#
 
#574
Watchootognbout said:
I was planning on using a set of S.I.T. PS 18135 7 string set as a starter.
Then adjust from there.
View attachment 4084430

Also eyeballing Octave4plus strings
Click to expand...

I have tried several sets of Kallium strings on both special tunings and standard BEADGC. I have also tried SIT strings. My personal preference is for Kallium. Also with Kallium you can order exactly the strings sizes you need instead of trying to make a set work from a different tuning.
 
#576
kirkdickinson said:
I have tried several sets of Kallium strings on both special tunings and standard BEADGC. I have also tried SIT strings. My personal preference is for Kallium. Also with Kallium you can order exactly the strings sizes you need instead of trying to make a set work from a different tuning.
Click to expand...
OK.
I know about Kallium.
I've also heard about some problems with orders.
 

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