D'Addario is working on Cello strings for 4ths tuning. I rented a cello a year ago (11/2010) and started experimenting with 4ths tuning. I found C#,F#,B,E to be pretty decent. I contacted D'Addario in October of 20122 and was excited to hear they are working on a 4ths tuning gauge. They said they'd contact me when they were getting close.... and last week I got the email that they are sending me a set of prototype strings to evaluate. They are designed to be tuned E,A,D,G in the same octave as the electric guitar. Got to say I impressed with D'Addario for not only experimenting in this direction, but also their follow up with me. More on this when I get the strings. I'll be trying them on my Steinberger 5 string cello. I'll keep the low C and drop it to B and then add the other 4 strings.
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Double Bass tuning a cello like a bass- where to find strings?
- Thread starter downunder
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Interesting thread guys, as I was just wondering about this the other day.
It seems that practically speaking, the only tuning would have to be exactly like a bass, E-A-D-G.
Remember, while we as bassists are talking about playing cello in our tuning, there are cellists who want to play bass on cello-if you catch my drift. I'll ask my cello pals if they have come up with a solution and will get back to you. It is much easier for us to play cello, then for cellists to TRY to play bass.
S.A.W. out.
It seems that practically speaking, the only tuning would have to be exactly like a bass, E-A-D-G.
Remember, while we as bassists are talking about playing cello in our tuning, there are cellists who want to play bass on cello-if you catch my drift. I'll ask my cello pals if they have come up with a solution and will get back to you. It is much easier for us to play cello, then for cellists to TRY to play bass.
S.A.W. out.
Hey, Paul! just looked you up on the web. You sound great, and that's a very cool 5string bass. Is there a pickup or something imbedded in the end of the fingerboard?
Nope, it's a fingerboard extension I had my luthier add so I can have a wider choice of tone colors when pizzing. Thanks fer asking.
The D'Addario fourths appear to be available now via Amazon. I haven't tried them yet, and they don't show up on D'Addario's web site yet, other than their Invalid Link Removed.
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I just got the Helicore fourths, haven't even gotten them on my cello yet, but in response to bryanspkr, the tensions are:
G - 37.0 (lbs)
D - 33.0
A - 33.4
E - 33.0
G - 37.0 (lbs)
D - 33.0
A - 33.4
E - 33.0
I use the cellos C (1st string when thinking lowest to highest) as the bass-tuned cellos D (3rd string),
The cellos G (2nd string) as - well the cellow's G (4th string)
Then i added an E and A upright string on the bottom - yes they are 40+ scale strings strung up on a 28 scale cello - but that means there are no needed modifications or risk of injury to the cello.
I did have my cello tuned EADG an octave up from bass tuning with its original strings without any problems - unfortunately the sound i had hoped to achieved octaving that set up was nowhere close to an upright bass - and i think tuning what's intended to sound as C to E a third up likely put more stress on the instrument than my setup now.
The cellos G (2nd string) as - well the cellow's G (4th string)
Then i added an E and A upright string on the bottom - yes they are 40+ scale strings strung up on a 28 scale cello - but that means there are no needed modifications or risk of injury to the cello.
I did have my cello tuned EADG an octave up from bass tuning with its original strings without any problems - unfortunately the sound i had hoped to achieved octaving that set up was nowhere close to an upright bass - and i think tuning what's intended to sound as C to E a third up likely put more stress on the instrument than my setup now.
Actually, if you can get some old 3/4 double Bass D and G strings for your octave up E and A cello strings, tension and diameter will be about the same as C and G. The only problem is the balls fitting in the fine tuners. A set of Pegheads solved the problem for me since fine tuners were no longer needed.
I've been using the helicore 4ths tuning strings for a few months now. I think they are the best option available. Helicores are not my absolute favorite strings but they are certainly good enough. Having even tension and balanced sound across all 4 strings is great.
but i want to be in the bass octave - and re-using the original cello strings C (lowest string) and G (second lowest string) as the new shortscale upright's D (second highest string) and G (highest string) in same octave bass tuning works wonderfully.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/565tj9dqu77tcxg/Winter Song 12.29.12_03.wav
https://www.dropbox.com/s/umr00droai1j7vh/Free Form.wav
Here are links to 2 tunes I recorded on cello using the helicores. I'm also playing bass on the tracks.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/umr00droai1j7vh/Free Form.wav
Here are links to 2 tunes I recorded on cello using the helicores. I'm also playing bass on the tracks.
