maxr

I'm a UK/Irish/Euro folk band fiddler learning bass. I've posted this question on a big US bass forum, but some of you here in UK might know more about the music I play - so apologies if you've already seen the other. I have cheap but workable fretted and fretless 32" acoustic 4s, tuned EADG. I find I prefer fretless and don't find the intonation too difficult. Next step is a cheap but workable solid 5 or 6 string like e.g. a Harvey Benton 550 or 650. Why? Sometimes I need to practice quietly with phones. I'd like to be able to play conventional bass lines in the 4 string frequencies, or 2/3 note chords up the neck on higher strings. Also, I'd like to be able to play folk tunes I know 'across the neck' on higher strings rather than up and down it as I find neccessary on a 4. Most of these tunes are in C F D G A or related keys and modes. So, my plan is to get a 5 or 6 stringer, move them all down one, and add another on top, so I end up with e.g. E A D G C (5) and maybe F (6), low to high. I've checked F strings are available for bass. I prefer fretless, but that depends on just how hard it is to chord in tune on say the top 3 strings of a fretless bass. Questions that occur to me are: * Fretted or fretless? * 5 or 6 string? * B string or an extra high one? * Any other suggestions? Thanks!

The Warwick Alien has a big body, and some like mine have a ply top. It's quite bassy for an acoustic, to the extent that the fretted sound is fine, it's just sqeaky when you shift. It came used with tapewounds, and by comparison with round PBs they sounded really dead and quiet acoustically. Maybe I'll just try the iron alloy GHS Pressurewounds and see how they work.

Thanks guys - it's odd that guitarguitar look like GHS distributors, but they don't appear to list GHS bass strings on their website. The new highly praised (on the forums) Aquila Flat Spirals aren't yet available in 32" scale. GHS nickel/iron Pressurewounds are available, but I'm not sure how they'd work on an acoustic (anyone tried them?). One review of the Elixir bronzes says 'not as squeak free as I thought they'd be - drat. The Alien is quite loud and bassy for an acoustic, but even then the squeakery is my only issue with the Warwick Reds.

I've had good service from Andertons, and also bought from GAK (Brighton) successfully. They'll sometimes chuck some stuff in with the deal if you're buying a guitar or amp.

I'm after a 4 string set of GHS Pressurewound Bronze for my fretted acoustic Warwick Alien in UK I strung it with the OE Warwick Red roundwounds. They work OK for such inexpensive strings, except the usual roundwound problem on this acoustic - string noise. Trouble is, I can't find the Bronze version of GHS Pressurewounds for sale in UK. Any ideas, or do the nickel version of these strings work OK on an acoustic bass? Thanks, Max

I just bought a 10 year old Warwick Alien Basic fretted 4 string ABG - all laminates, Fishman pickup. I'm told these come with Warwick Red roundwound strings on, but a previous owner put flatwounds on this one. The acoustic sound is muffled and they feel quite stiff. I suspect these strings don't suit it too well, and they might be choking the sound with higher tension than it's designed for (no signs of body/neck/bridge strain though). What strings do you find give a good general amplified sound and acceptable acoustic volume on a large body fretted ABG, without too much string noise? Thanks, Max

I've had no problems with Thomann themselves, either in buying or returns. But as posted above, their returns system via DHL is slow and can be lumpy. If you need to return something guitar-sized, you may come up against your local DHL agent being unwilling to take so large a parcel. Some of them are local grocery stores and fuel stations with groceries attached, and I've had counter staff tell me they just haven't got room. If you're in a big city or near a DHL depot this shouldn't be a problem. In both cases I hit this, it was enough to say " If you're a DHL depot you're supposed to take this" and they then asked their manager and said "OK", so that got sorted fairly quickly. Resist them suggesting you take it somewhere else, because in both cases the local agent first sent me somewhere that was no longer a DHL agent (or maybe had never been), with the words "....they'll take it" - they didn't.

Can anyone suggest strings for a Crafter fretless AB400 acoustic 4 string bass, 32" scale or similar? I think the OEMs were something like 40-95 round wound, but I don't know what make or tension. I hope to get something towards a smooth fretless amplified sound with some mwah, acoustic sound's less important. Thanks, Max

I used to play in Scottish dance bands (the tartan jacket and bow tie variety), in 'handshake' bands - get there on time, shake hands, sight read the music, get the dosh, shake hands, go home and don't see the others till next time. Everybody but the bandleader was replaceable and on the same fixed fee, 'cos he (mostly) had the van, the PA and the address book. All this was fair enough, after all the rest of us just had to turn up and sight read. On the other hand, I've played in original bands where there's no money and everyone's putting a lot of themself in - different situation, like any 'work'. I'd suggest you have to decide why you're doing it, and that usually comes down to some combination of fun and money, in varying degrees. Next thing is, what am I getting out of this and how does it compare with why I joined? Overall though, if you're not happy with it over a period, this is often a sign of 'musical differences' - which means, who gives a toss why this is happening and whose fault it is, I'm not happy and I'm walking!

I used to play Cello, tuned C G D A low to high in 5ths. 4/4 cello has a scale length of about 27.4", Mini to Short scale bass territory. It's long enough to get some bass. and short enough to play (some) fiddle tunes. Recently I bought a Guild Jumbo Junior mini acoustic bass, with a scale length of 23 3/4", similar to the Taylor GS Mini bass, and it's lots of fun. The Guild comes as standard in 4ths like a 4 string bass guitar, E A D G low to high. Then my eyes lit on a book I never put into practice (due to lack of a DB): 'Playing the Double bass Tuned in Fifths'. Ha! I thought. C G D A 5ths tuning could give the range of a 5 string in 4 strings, possibly better coordinated string harmonics leading to more 'in tune' sounds, easier toon playing (if that's your thing), the whole cello repertoire, and several other advantages, at the expense of having to relearn all the fingerings unless you already play cello. It at first seems unlikely a Mini ABG could be successfully tuned as low as C G D A (i.e. C two whole tones lower than standard). But hey, there are folks here who'll try anything, and we mostly thought Ashbory size basses couldn't work till somebody made one. So: 1) Have any of you tried this, if so how did it go, and what did you use for strings? 2) If C G D A starting 2 tones down is just too low to work in practice, has anyone tried other pitch 5ths tunings on Mini or short scale bass, and how did it go? Thanks, Max

Hi: I'd welcome suggestions for a good basic bass method book I can work through on acoustic bass guitar. I play other instruments (fiddle etc), used to play bass a bit but haven't for a long time. I get on best with books (with either a CD or online tracks) rather than online resources, and I bought an acoustic bass guitar so I can practice and noodle quietly at home. I'm looking for something that will initially teach me how to busk along with bar sessions etc. by chord progression rather than a book of bass chops. I used to be an OK bass clef reader back when I played cello, so a tutor that works from the dots would be fine. Techniques like slapping etc. probably won't be very relevant for what I want to do and the bass I have, but chords and fretless style melodic accompaniment could be. Styles I'm most likely to have a chance to play with are European/UK?Irish instrumental folk and well known acoustic singer songwriter material that's not too jazzy. Thanks, Max