Turning a 5 string bass into a 3 string bass

[3stringr]

I was wondering if it was a good idea to turn one of my 5 strings into a 3 string bass and make that my new trade mark.
Is it a bad idea?

Thanks

 

[Yahboy]

Interesting move!

BEA or EAD or ADG ? Scale ?

If i do that, i will go with C#F#B on 21 fret neck. 35 scale , Max. 21mm string spacing.

Overwater SD J neck are good reference for 3 string mod.

SD J Series - Overwater Basses

 

[bholder]

get yerself some Funk Fingers and be like Tony!

 

[thmsjordan]

Many Upright basses were three stringers back in the day... there is historical precedent.

 

[3stringr]

Interesting move!

BEA or EAD or ADG ? Scale ?

If i do that, i will go with C#F#B on 21 fret neck. 35 scale , Max. 21mm string spacing.

Overwater SD J neck are good reference for 3 string mod.

SD J Series - Overwater Basses

Thank you for the advice

 

[3stringr]

Interesting move!

BEA or EAD or ADG ? Scale ?

If i do that, i will go with C#F#B on 21 fret neck. 35 scale , Max. 21mm string spacing.

Overwater SD J neck are good reference for 3 string mod.

SD J Series - Overwater Basses

It would be EAD

 

[Gravedigger Dav]

Many Upright basses were three stringers back in the day... there is historical precedent.

Yeah, but the quit doing that... might be a reason for that.

 

[Watchootognbout]

Do it.
But tune it in fifths.
AEB or EBF#

 

[thmsjordan]

Yeah, but the quit doing that... might be a reason for that.

Yep, as with so many other things in life, there were changes in string technology, composed music etc. and the bass changed with them. Still, a three string doublebass sounds and plays wonderfully. I love the feel and simplicity of a three string with the bow. They still work wonderfully well as solo tuned instruments. Here is a fine example by the master himself the late Rinat Ibragimov:

 

[Killing Floor]

Your bass.

But doesn’t it already have 3 strings?

 

[Les Fret]

Do it.
But tune it in fifths.
AEB or EBF#

Or BAG for extra challenge! Just remove the E and D strings.

 

[MrAB4003]

Or BAG for extra challenge! Just remove the E and D strings.

Minor sevenths tuning?! That sounds crazy!

 

[Les Fret]

Minor sevenths tuning?! That sounds crazy!

Indeed. But why not? You have your sixths, octaves and minor and major sevenths and seconds and thirds at hand. Might lead to some original fusionesque bass lines!

 

[3stringr]

Your bass.

But doesn’t it already have 3 strings?

It's a five string right now

 

[ixlramp2]

As an experiment i once strung a 5 string bass with 3 strings tuned in fifths, located in string positions 1, 3, 5. The intention was to take advantage of the huge amount of string bending space this creates between the strings. I used ultra low tension strings to be able to easily pull (or push, for the top string) the strings across the spaces, and played it like a sitar, pulling bends of many semitones.

 

[HaphAsSard]

As an experiment i once strung a 5 string bass with 3 strings tuned in fifths, located in string positions 1, 3, 5. The intention was to take advantage of the huge amount of string bending space this creates between the strings. I used ultra low tension strings to be able to easily pull (or push, for the top string) the strings across the spaces, and played it like a sitar, pulling bends of many semitones.

Welcome back, sir! You've been sorely missed.