Double Bass Using an old cheap cello, as an EUB?

[Michael Eisenman]

Those strings look great, albeit expensive. It doesn't say whether they're in the same octave as the upright bass. Do you know?

My guess is that they're in the cello range. Contact D'Addario, who appear to be quite helpful.

 

[CTForde]

i described this here somewhere previously, but i have had good success playing upright bass on my cello with regular upright bass strings (Thomastics) as follows:
move Cello's C string to former cello d string position (now tuned to D)
move cello's G string to cello's a string position still tuned to G
add a upright E string on the bottom and an upright A string next - yes the tension is much lower than on the 40+ inch scale upright but seems to compliment the cello strings nicely. (in my case i made only minor bridge and saddle adjustments for the new bottom strings).

 

[DoubleMIDI]

Tuning a string a whole tone higher than intended for the instrument is not a good idea. Tension will rise a lot.
Maybe with a very low tension (light) C string this might work. Think about the higher pressure on the top!
If the bass E and A strings work, why not using a D string too?

 

[CTForde]

doubleMidi,

yes i used a 'lower tension' C string to do this - and a whole note up not that much more tension.
the upright D didn't feel right. the C string i happened to have did. (as a D).

the "cellow" has not lived with these strings for over two years and is very stable, stays in tune...
no issues with neck or body.

 

[pnchad]

the great Ray Brown used to do this. if i'm not mistaken, i believe that Kay actually made him a signature cello that he used to tune like a bass. i heard that he used electric bass flatwound strings on it and i'm pretty sure that there is a really good version of him playing Baubles, Bangles and Beads on The Ultimate Ray Brown CD, where he is just going off! killer tone!

Yes Ray and others had the 'Jazz Cello' made by Kay in the '60s. I got one about 2 yrs ago on evilBay. They
didn't make many of them. The difference is only in the tuners - instead of normal cello style friction pegs, these cellos have down-sized tuning machines like mini Fenders

I don't know if they used EB strings back then but what is available are cello strings for fifths tuning - EADG - I think D'Adarrio

it definitely works and you can adapt quickly - but, it doesn't sound like a bass - sounds like a cello tuned as a bass

 

[CTForde]

pnchad - could you post a picture of the tuners on your kay jazz cello?
i have been thinking about doing this on my converted 'cellow'...

and for my ears - the amplified tone via a David Gage under the bridge sounds rather convincingly like bass to most people's ears outside of bassists and cellists i find.

 

[euraquilo]

Here's a couple clips using my cellobass...

These are just some fun songs I've been doing with my sons.

 

[CTForde]

euraquilo,

did u replace the original cello tuners? and what strings do you use?

 

[chuck norriss]

Hi I have a 3/4 cello--1965 Suzuki strad copy--for sale or trade in the tb ebg classifieds.

 

[euraquilo]

euraquilo,

did u replace the original cello tuners? and what strings do you use?

I did replace the friction-peg tuners, yes. They were difficult to tune with the thicker strings. I found a place right in town that sold violin parts and bought a set of upright bass tuning gears. They are the separate gear style, and they work great. Because of the clearance for the wood, I had to install them in an odd way (see pics)...

The strings are Fender 9050L's. Flatwound. They feel very nice.

 

[Mr Ralph]

I have a set of the Helicore 4ths tuning cello strings. I used them a few times. I too thought about making a baby bass out of a full size cello. I took them off and put regular cello strings on. The cello is tuned in fifths and once you play one it makes sense that way. I found it akward and not intuitive to play it in the bass tuning. I have a full size Glaesel cello that I rebuilt. I play it now only as cello and quite enjoy it.
If you are interested in buying the 4th tuning strings let me know.

 

[Hallic]

i played on a electric cello where i had strings custom ordered from Invalid Link Removed
so i could tune it in 4ths with a low B(semi tone lower than the normal C).

 

[rmg7]

i described this here somewhere previously, but i have had good success playing upright bass on my cello with regular upright bass strings (Thomastics) as follows:
move Cello's C string to former cello d string position (now tuned to D)
move cello's G string to cello's a string position still tuned to G
add a upright E string on the bottom and an upright A string next - yes the tension is much lower than on the 40+ inch scale upright but seems to compliment the cello strings nicely. (in my case i made only minor bridge and saddle adjustments for the new bottom strings).

I assume you converted a 4/4 cello. What would you suggest for a 3/4 cello in terms of strings and bridge/nut mods? Thanks.

 

[Bass Man Kirk]

i am thinking of doing this myself so i do not have to kill my back any more since i have injured it some years back

 

[Lazurus]

My teacher has a cello bass called Chase. he uses fender EUB strings and I fitted some bass guitar tuners, works a treat and he is very pleased with the sound

 

[Hagdorm]

I'm considering making this same modification myself, as I've always wanted an upright bass but never had the money or space for one. I recently received an old cello, but it's an old Kay, from 1941 near as I can tell. It's in quite rough cosmetic shape but playable, however I'm hesitant to mess with it, as I know Kay is a good vintage brand.

 

[Steven Ayres]

I recently received an old cello, but it's an old Kay, from 1941 near as I can tell. It's in quite rough cosmetic shape but playable, however I'm hesitant to mess with it, as I know Kay is a good vintage brand.

Kay cellos are in much lower demand than the basses, I wouldn't worry much about their antique value. I think I'd rather see it doing some sort of musical duty than sitting in a case, or worse:

 

[Hagdorm]

Ouch, that lamp is painful to look at! I hate seeing instruments turned into furniture. Knowing it's not super valuable makes me feel better about modifying it, though. The neck has fret lines marked by a previous owner - if I do modify it, would they still line up under the new tuning, just with different notes? I come from a guitar background so fret lines are nice for me, but I'd like to know ahead of time if the existing markings will still be useful in the new tuning or just throw me off.

 

[Steven Ayres]

The neck has fret lines marked by a previous owner - if I do modify it, would they still line up under the new tuning, just with different notes?

Assuming you don't move the bridge relative to the nut, the lines will be as accurate as they ever were.

Are you aware of the "Jazz cello" idea?

 

[Hagdorm]

Somewhat - I've seen that a few cellos were made with tuning gears rather than friction pegs (which seems like a fine idea to me, those pegs are positively archaic), but I'm unclear about tuning. Do they use CDGA, EADG, or something different?