[NickCormier]

Over the past 3-4 months I've been trying to think of a concept that would combine the low range of Bass with the higher range of guitar, without making a crazy like 10-string huge ass neck instrument..

So I was wondering, Does anyone know if its even possible to do a instrument that can go from B1 (Or at least E2) to at least E5 (highstring) in pitchs?

Here is what I am trying to keep in terms of features :

Keeping it in 4ths tuning hopefully (trying not to venture into 5ths just yet)
Nothing past 30" Scale hopefully
No double necks
Trying to keep it in less than 9 strings.. The neck width about or less than like.. 4 inchs

I plan on doing it fretless, so fanned frets aren't applicible.

All you ERG people, can you give me abit of insight?

[distressed_romeo]

You could do something like Charlie Hunter's eight-string tuning...

E1 (bottom string on a four-string bass) A1 D2 A2 D3 G3 B3 E4

You could think of it as being a guitar in Drop D extended down in fourths, or the bottom three strings of a bass with the top five of a guitar.

Unless you're gonna go for fifths tuning or the like I can't really see any way you could get the sort of range your asking for without a large number of strings, although you could take off the top string and have a three octave fretboard instead.

[NickCormier]

Yea I was thinking of using that kinda idea, where the two octaves per string, rather than overlapping the octaves (like how the 12 fret past, isnt the same as the first 12 frets on the next string) .. Hmm.

You can do fanned fretless.

You can add bass strings on the side of the neck or the back

You can do it with 9 string if you string it like this B-E-A-E-A-D-G-B-E.

Or By using more frets so that you go B-E-A-D-F#-B-E-A-D And 32 frets.

Just some crazy thoughts

[NickCormier]

yea.. I was thinking of the 3 bass strings then normal 6 string, but I dont wanna leave a mega gap in pitch between the two strings.. Hmm also doing walking bass lines, usually uses the E, A and D strings on basses.. so id need 4 bass strings (including the low B)

I might have to go for 5th tunings haha =[

Originally Posted by distressed_romeo

You could do something like Charlie Hunter's eight-string tuning...

E1 (bottom string on a four-string bass) A1 D2 A2 D3 G3 B3 E4

You could think of it as being a guitar in Drop D extended down in fourths, or the bottom three strings of a bass with the top five of a guitar.

Unless you're gonna go for fifths tuning or the like I can't really see any way you could get the sort of range your asking for without a large number of strings, although you could take off the top string and have a three octave fretboard instead.

Ohhh one thing tho.. Im not sure if im correct, as im just using Guitar pro's tuning system and then checking it with my bass.. but isnt bottom 4 string bass = E2?? Where as the bottom B string on a bass is B1. Therefor, a tuning that went

E2 A2 D3 A3 G4 B4 E5 = would get the high E5 (high guitar string in standard) while still having the E string from a bass..

Then I noticed people who play 8 strings, tune to F#2, which is just a wholestep above the E2 from a 4 string bass.. soo. Maybe using an 8 string, with a low B1, going to the E2, then normal 7 or 6 string tuning.. (B2 etc) might work.?

[EverDream]

Originally Posted by NickCormier

Ohhh one thing tho.. Im not sure if im correct, as im just using Guitar pro's tuning system and then checking it with my bass.. but isnt bottom 4 string bass = E2?? Where as the bottom B string on a bass is B1.

Guitar pro doesn't use the standard tuning system. Standard tuning system works likes this: Each octave starts with C, and A4=440hz so therefore E1 is a 4 string bass bottom string, and B0 is the 5 string bottom string.

[NickCormier]

Still workin on this haha

So starting with a B0 (bottom on a 5 string), maybe going to E, A with bass strings. Then you up a 4th again to a D string, which is the starting of 6-string tuning down a wholestep. Continue that up like normal, with 27 frets giving you the high E of a standard 6 string.

So

(bass) B E A (guitar) D G C F A D

Using a smaller neck and closer string spacing for the guitar side, hoping to keep it around the same width of a standard 8 string. Think such would work? I want my finger to be able to at least play the low B with some comfort, wrapping around the neck.

I wish I had some way to try these tunings. hm

Might work in some 5th tunings too, on certain strings, like the middle strings of the guitar, maybe find a way to make it an 8 string by removing one, yet still keeping all the possible range, having no tonal gaps.

[Scarpie]

a low B at 30" scale? if it's even possible, it will more than likely sound pretty horrific. compromising a crapload of clarity. which defeats the purpose of tuning so low.


BUT i'll eat my words without hesitation if you get it to work. hahaha

[yevetz]

[NickCormier]

What is that company.. Songbird or Birdsong, they make 5 strings with a low B on a 30" scale and apparently they sound great. so It can be done.

Maybe I would bump it up to 32" or so. I just want some comfort, and im a guitarist.

^^ and that video looks really neat. Any more info on it?