Upright strings on electric bass?`

[Guimdonatron]

Would it be possible to use strings with the thickness of upright strings on an electric bass? If so, any ideas on what tone would be produced?

I imagine it would be a real fat thumpy tone, but I could be totally wrong. This could potentially be a stupid question, but I just had the thought and wanted to ask.

Thanks, mates!

 

[Solarmist]

Why would you want to?

 

[basskidd]

Why would you want to?

Why not? It sounds like an interesting idea

 

[Solarmist]

^ Let us know how it works out.

 

[FourBanger]

You see, somebody posts something like this on April 2nd and we dutifully answer. Same type of question asked on April 1st and I'm the idiot for answering.

TB, sometimes you are a joke on yourself

 

[Guimdonatron]

It a serious question actually, haha. I wonder if anyone makes custom strings to fit this.

 

[JoeWPgh]

It's all about the gauge of the string. They vary. As I recall from my upright days, the Thomastic soloist strings were a very similar gauge to an average bass guitar string.

 

[giacomini]

There's a subforum called "strings", ya know...

 

[phangtonpower]

It's all about the gauge of the string. They vary. As I recall from my upright days, the Thomastic soloist strings were a very similar gauge to an average bass guitar string.

If upright strings can be the same gauge as electric bass strings why not just use flats? If it where heavier gauge strings, I'm sure you wold have neck issues. Maybe try a heavy gauge electric 5 string flatwound set and tune the low B to an E and report back. I'm sure the scale length of an upright would also have big issues using them on an electric.

 

[JimmyM]

If you want to spend 10x what bass guitar strings cost on an experiment that will likely fail, it's a free country...sort of

 

[elgecko]

If you look at gauges of upright bass strings, you'll see they're essentially the same as medium to heavy gauge electric bass strings. Also, gut and rope-core upright bass strings won't work unless your bass has a piezo pickup.

Invalid Link Removed

 

[JoeWPgh]

Giving this a little more thought, it might be interesting. What you would essentially have is a heavy gauge string that plays as soft as a light gauge, due to the shorter scale length. But it wouldn't be a cheap experiment.

If upright strings can be the same gauge as electric bass strings why not just use flats? If it where heavier gauge strings, I'm sure you wold have neck issues. Maybe try a heavy gauge electric 5 string flatwound set and tune the low B to an E and report back. I'm sure the scale length of an upright would also have big issues using them on an electric.

 

[elgecko]

Giving this a little more thought, it might be interesting. What you would essentially have is a heavy gauge string that plays as soft as a light gauge, due to the shorter scale length. But it wouldn't be a cheap experiment.

Upright bass strings are the same gauge essentially so there wouldn't be a change in tension.

 

[KISSbestfan]

Some early bassist in Poland putted cello strings on an electric guitar, to make it sound like bass. Havent heard it in all my life, but why not give a try ?

 

[Solarmist]

Also, bass guitar strings are made to a set scale length(s) so the strings taper down as to fit into the tuning posts. You'd have to cut DB strings down, and strip them back to make them fit.

 

[Gaolee]

I suggest weedwackers on your Jazz. It's awesome, dude.

 

[RJHall]

There are about 100,000 posts about flatwound strings that will get you close enough tone and even feel-wise. Dead LaBella Jamerson's come to mind. Please /thread.

 

[FrednBass]

Tapewound Black Nylon strings.