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5 String Bass-HELP!

  • 10-09-2009 10:29am
    #1
    basshead56
    Closed Accounts Posts: 23 ✭


    Hi guys,
    Just got a Gibson Thunderbird Studio V. It´s my first 5 string and I´m not sure of the tuning on it.
    I´ve been playing four string Fender basses since day one, for the guts of 9 years now.
    I figured if I was gonna break my taboo of more than 4 strings, I may as well break the non-Fender Taboo aswell!lol!
    Anyways, I got the bass (traded a Jap Precision against it). Lovely bass, serious thick punchy tone.
    My only problem is, I dont like the Low B tuning on it- bit strong for the bands Im playing with at the mo (my metal days are well behind me)
    I have read that an alternate tuning of eadgc is possible (c being the highest string), I think this would suit much better. Before I go attempting to mess it up(or bust strings), is this possible as-is already, or do I need to adjust the bridge or anything?
    Cheers


Comments

  • #2
    Quillo
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 357 ✭✭Quillo


    Buy a set of strings for a 6-string (BEADGC) and use the top 5.
    Tensions should be fine I'd imagine (though I'm strictly a 4 string man myself)
    Nut might need a little adjusting though.

    I wouldn't try tuning to EADGC with BEADG strings !


  • #3
    Dord
    Closed Accounts Posts: 10,817 ✭✭✭✭Dord


    Quillo wrote: »
    Buy a set of strings for a 6-string (BEADGC) and use the top 5.
    Tensions should be fine I'd imagine (though I'm strictly a 4 string man myself)
    Nut might need a little adjusting though.

    I wouldn't try tuning to EADGC with BEADG strings !

    I was just about to say the same thing. You're bang on there with your advice. :)


  • #4
    Eoin Madsen
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,117 ✭✭✭Eoin Madsen


    The tension will be quite different after, so it's going to need to be re-intonated etc. with the new strings and tuning. But you can probably get away with it for a while as you try it out.


  • #5
    Parsley
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,144 ✭✭✭Parsley


    Eoin Madsen wrote: »
    The tension will be quite different after, so it's going to need to be re-intonated etc. with the new strings and tuning. But you can probably get away with it for a while as you try it out.

    Shouldn't be too different, little tweak of the truss rod would sort it out i'd say.


  • #6
    basshead56
    Closed Accounts Posts: 23 ✭basshead56


    Cheers lads, very much appreciated.
    Off to the shops for a set of D´Addario EXL-6´s and I´ll reset and intonate the bridge after.
    Thanks again


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  • #7
    Dord
    Closed Accounts Posts: 10,817 ✭✭✭✭Dord


    Tension and intonation are two very different things. It will need to be intonated. You might need to make a small adjustment to the truss rod but it's best to wait a day or so after it has been restrung and tuned up to pitch.


  • #8
    eoin5
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,141 ✭✭✭eoin5


    Quillo wrote: »
    Buy a set of strings for a 6-string (BEADGC) and use the top 5.
    Tensions should be fine I'd imagine (though I'm strictly a 4 string man myself)
    Nut might need a little adjusting though.

    I wouldn't try tuning to EADGC with BEADG strings !

    I'd imagine it works out cheaper to get a standard set and a high C seperate in most cases.


  • #9
    Malice
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,065 ✭✭✭✭Malice


    basshead56 wrote: »
    Hi guys,
    Just got a Gibson Thunderbird Studio V. It´s my first 5 string and I´m not sure of the tuning on it.
    I´ve been playing four string Fender basses since day one, for the guts of 9 years now.
    I figured if I was gonna break my taboo of more than 4 strings, I may as well break the non-Fender Taboo aswell!lol!
    Anyways, I got the bass (traded a Jap Precision against it). Lovely bass, serious thick punchy tone.
    My only problem is, I dont like the Low B tuning on it- bit strong for the bands Im playing with at the mo (my metal days are well behind me)
    I have read that an alternate tuning of eadgc is possible (c being the highest string), I think this would suit much better. Before I go attempting to mess it up(or bust strings), is this possible as-is already, or do I need to adjust the bridge or anything?
    Cheers
    Quillo's post was pretty much spot on. I am just curious why you equate the low B string as a bad thing? Surely you knew what you were getting into before you bought it? I think I'm the opposite to you, I absolutely love the feel and tone of the low B when playing bass. It's also not a metal thing, it's about having the ability to have the available notes that you can play span a greater range. While the notes at the first fret on the B string and the third fret of the A string are the same, they offer quite different tonal possibilities.

    Basically I would try to get used to the low B before dismissing it. Play around with your eq if you find it too strong maybe?


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