Three String Bass

[Jazzdogg]

We have been on South Padre Island, TX, for a few weeks. When I saw this bassist playing a 3-string electric bass with a local band, it reminded me of the buskers I saw playing three-string double basses the last time we were in Europe; he even holds his bass in a mostly vertical position.

I didn't get a chance to talk to him. But, I'm curious about his bass, his playing style, and the decisions that brought him here.

 

[ineedaclutch]

That's Patrick Lee Garza. Great cat to jam with. He's played like that for as long as I can remember. I don't remember why, but I'll ask the next time I see him.

 

[bassist4dalord]

Judging by the single control knob and one pickup, I'm going to guess it's something to do with "simplicity for simplicity's sake".

 

[MrAB4003]

He reminds me of those bassists who break their thinnest string mid show and just continue on like nothing is wromg.

 

[claudel]

I'd rock an Atlansia Trister if I could find one...

 

[Prodigus Filius]

Interesting. Wouldn't mind doing three string mod of a 4 string bass with wide spacing to cover the frerboard realestate. I've seen it done with a 5 string and the strings go on the B peg A peg and G peg ie the E peg and D peg are not used or removed if that grabbed your fancy and if you want BEA you restring E to the A post, and A to the G post https://www.talkbass.com/threads/3-string-p-bass-whats-the-story.1268146/page-2#post-23353739

On a 4 string BEAD ( or any tuning for that matter) I'd put a new slot dead centre on the nut, and remove the two inner saddles. Drilling string hole dead centre on the rear of the bridge plate. Would have to drill a new hole for intonation screw too and put a saddle there. No drama. B string will stay where it is. A will be moved to where D was resulting in BEA.. Widen the slot for the A gauge. Done.
You could do it the other way by leaving spacing the same on a 4 by putting additional slots between the E and A slots and D and G. And of course you'd have to drill the holes at the bridge for strings and intonation screws, but it kind of looks out of proportion with the fretboard. If you use a 5 and want to keep same spacing, you just take off the B and G strings for EAD, or you could do some nut work and have BEA, or whatever tuning and appropriate gauges grabs ya fancy. But like with a 4, trying to maintaining the same spacing of the original 5 string, looks out of proportion me thinks