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Tuning an electric bass down to Octobass levels

Discussion in 'Basses [BG]' started by hall1k, Jul 24, 2009.

  1. Jul 24, 2009 #1
    hall1k

    hall1k

    Jun 14, 2009
    I was just curious, is there any way one could make a standard 4-string bass produce notes as low as the Octobass, whose lowest open string is tuned to C (~16hz i believe)? This is assuming a 35" scale length and 24 frets. If not, what is the lowest possible note you can get from a bass guitar?
     
  2. Jul 24, 2009 #2
    N.F.A.

    N.F.A.

    Jun 25, 2009
    In a blue funk
    Get a Boss OC2 and don't worry about tuning down...
     
  3. Jul 24, 2009 #3
    hall1k

    hall1k

    Jun 14, 2009
    My question was just posed out of curiousity, because of course 16hz cannot even be heard by humans.
     
  4. Jul 24, 2009 #4
    CrispyDelicious

    CrispyDelicious

    Oct 21, 2008
    Toronto, Ontario, Canada
  5. Jul 24, 2009 #5
    lousybassplayer

    lousybassplayer

    Jan 30, 2009
    J-Actionville, NC
    IF you strung it with high tension wire, probably.
     
  6. Jul 24, 2009 #6
    Din Of Win

    Din Of Win

    Feb 24, 2009
    Frederick, Maryland
  7. Jul 24, 2009 #7
    lousybassplayer

    lousybassplayer

    Jan 30, 2009
    J-Actionville, NC
    not many TBers can claim to have actually invented an instrument. that thing is cool.
     
  8. Jul 24, 2009 #8
    Bryan R. Tyler

    Bryan R. Tyler TalkBass: Usurping My Practice Time Since 2002 Staff Member Administrator Supporting Member

    May 3, 2002
    Connecticut
    Reviewer: Bass Player Magazine
    An OC-2 will warble out way before you get to a C0. Even the polyphonic octavers like the POGs won't represent it well.
     
  9. Jul 24, 2009 #9
    Din Of Win

    Din Of Win

    Feb 24, 2009
    Frederick, Maryland
    Yeah... i figgured as much... maybe a magic non-warbling-low-end-tracking-and-retaining-OC-2 huh?

    I also FULLY understand this hypothetical scenerio of mine is completly rediculous :smug:

    Still though... when you get THAT low you just gotta think about getting even lower...
     
  10. Jul 24, 2009 #10
    lousybassplayer

    lousybassplayer

    Jan 30, 2009
    J-Actionville, NC
    at some point we need to start talkingabout negative hertz, perhpas a bass so low it causes the earth spin backward for a second or so.
     
  11. Jul 24, 2009 #11
    Din Of Win

    Din Of Win

    Feb 24, 2009
    Frederick, Maryland
    Or at least one that hits the "brown note"
     
  12. Jul 24, 2009 #12
    lousybassplayer

    lousybassplayer

    Jan 30, 2009
    J-Actionville, NC
    doh! I was gonna wait two more posts and make my own brown note joke. you are the Din of Win (whatever that means).