Tuning a bass

  • Thread starter Thread starter Michael Jones
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Will he be in tune with the rest of the band?

Now that I have had time to digest the cosmic implications of a 12-string bass, I must expand my question:







Is his bass EVER in tune with itself?

I have owned 3 12-strings over the years, and 2 of them were perversely unwilling to be tuned, and those were g**t*rs, which, everyone knows, are a snap to play compared with bass. I mean, you learn the three "holts" on the neck, and you've got it.

The third one was a 1967 Rickenbacker 366/12, and I strung it with what were heavy gauge strings for an electric 12: .011 (E) - .52W (low E). The only problem arose the first time I restrung it. Following my usual habit, I took all the strings off, only to watch the bridge, tailpiece and nut all fall off on the floor. Did you ever try to string up an axe while you were simultaneously holding the R tailpiece, the bridge, and the nut in position? It is a fortunate thing that I had the strength of character to continue -- a lesser mortal might have chucked the whold catastrophe into the closest rubbish tip [that's for Mr #]. I persevered, and eventually I got 2 strings strung and reasonably tuned, and from there I was able to string it the rest of the way. I swore a mighty oath, scorching the air in my studio, that I would never take off all strings at the same time, and thereafter I didn't. I eventually gave it to my stepson for his birthday, with the admonition "don't do what I have done."

But it was all worth it, when, about a year after this incident, I stopped by the local shop where I bought my Dobro 21 years ago (am I getting old?). The ordinarily mild proprietor was staining the atmosphere a deep shade of blue with his language, and I approached his work bench to find out the cause.

There on the g**t*r rest was a Ric 12, with all the strings off.

"How the $#^$% do you get these things back together?" he inquired. "Gee, I don't know," I replied. "Mine never gave me the least bit of trouble."

For that, and a few other indiscretions, I will surely fry in Hell someday, but the look on his face was worth it.
 
lpdeluxe said:
Now that I have had time to digest the cosmic implications of a 12-string bass, I must expand my question:







Is his bass EVER in tune with itself?

I have owned 3 12-strings over the years, and 2 of them were perversely unwilling to be tuned, and those were g**t*rs, which, everyone knows, are a snap to play compared with bass. I mean, you learn the three "holts" on the neck, and you've got it.

The third one was a 1967 Rickenbacker 366/12, and I strung it with what were heavy gauge strings for an electric 12: .011 (E) - .52W (low E). The only problem arose the first time I restrung it. Following my usual habit, I took all the strings off, only to watch the bridge, tailpiece and nut all fall off on the floor. Did you ever try to string up an axe while you were simultaneously holding the R tailpiece, the bridge, and the nut in position? It is a fortunate thing that I had the strength of character to continue -- a lesser mortal might have chucked the whold catastrophe into the closest rubbish tip [that's for Mr #]. I persevered, and eventually I got 2 strings strung and reasonably tuned, and from there I was able to string it the rest of the way. I swore a mighty oath, scorching the air in my studio, that I would never take off all strings at the same time, and thereafter I didn't. I eventually gave it to my stepson for his birthday, with the admonition "don't do what I have done."

But it was all worth it, when, about a year after this incident, I stopped by the local shop where I bought my Dobro 21 years ago (am I getting old?). The ordinarily mild proprietor was staining the atmosphere a deep shade of blue with his language, and I approached his work bench to find out the cause.

There on the g**t*r rest was a Ric 12, with all the strings off.

"How the $#^$% do you get these things back together?" he inquired. "Gee, I don't know," I replied. "Mine never gave me the least bit of trouble."

For that, and a few other indiscretions, I will surely fry in Hell someday, but the look on his face was worth it.
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Why was he in business if he didn't know? I guess I could ask the same about pimple-face boy who works at GC too, so.... :rolleyes:
But you could have at least gave him a hint! :D
Then again, I could see why you didn't..... :cool:


OK, what was I saying again?
 
Oh yeah, now I remember! :o

Is his bass EVER in tune with itself?
Click to expand...

I would assume he as a guitar tech who keeps it that way, if he likes his job...
 
Actually, the non-fundamental strings are suppose to be slightly out of tune, for a chorus effect. That's the way I was told to tune mine.
 
lbanks said:
Actually, the non-fundamental strings are suppose to be slightly out of tune, for a chorus effect. That's the way I was told to tune mine.
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I want to try one out someday. I bet getting one for me would be hard, since I am a lefty.... :(
 
The only way I know to find them is Ebay. And be aware that their QC seems to be a bit spotty. My 12ver was pretty nice but I've heard reports of otherwise.
 
lbanks said:
The only way I know to find them is Ebay. And be aware that their QC seems to be a bit spotty. My 12ver was pretty nice but I've heard reports of otherwise.
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I'll check it out. I may go back to Dean or ESP, though. I know that Dean makes basses in lefty, but you have to wait for about 3 months for it because it's a custom job that requires all their templates to be changed out. I will check their site for a 12.

What about their quality control is spotty? Do they miss obvious flaws?
 
Fretwork was dicey on mine, but I have large hands and it didn't bother me. Its an active/passive and the active was WAY too active, but the passive was sweet. It did have the feel of being a block of shaped wood. I could deal with that for the sound I got. The fella I sold it to loves it. He sent me a email, detailing a few mods he made and thanked me. I love that! Made my day.
 
lbanks said:
Fretwork was dicey on mine, but I have large hands and it didn't bother me. Its an active/passive and the active was WAY too active, but the passive was sweet. It did have the feel of being a block of shaped wood. I could deal with that for the sound I got. The fella I sold it to loves it. He sent me a email, detailing a few mods he made and thanked me. I love that! Made my day.
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That's cool! I haven't sold anything, but I did swap out amps once or twice. I have been lucky that I've never gotten the raw end of any deal I've made yet! ;)
 
Its rare to hear the good of a deal. I've only done that twice myself. (And both deal involved Alembics... hmmmmm.) Hey Check out my soundclick radio station . I've collected some wild stuff on there. (I like being a radio station manager.) Check for Enoee and YCB! A lot of fancy bass playing going on, there!
 
lbanks said:
Its rare to hear the good of a deal. I've only done that twice myself. (And both deal involved Alembics... hmmmmm.) Hey Check out my soundclick radio station . I've collected some wild stuff on there. (I like being a radio station manager.) Check for Enoee and YCB! A lot of fancy bass playing going on, there!
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I'll look at it when I get home. My new boss doesn't like me to listen to anything like that in the office (because he's always watching fucking movie trailors and it interupts him, prick!), so I will wait...

I know that I won't find any of my songs on anyone's soundclick station... I simplify most of my basslines for my songs anyway...
 
Why was he in business if he didn't know?

He sells and repairs bluegrass instruments. He has done a lot of work on various instruments of mine over the years. Every Saturday the local pickers get together in front of his shop and play.

But we have gotten far afield from our main focus here, which is tuning the bass.
 
lbanks said:
Actually, the non-fundamental strings are suppose to be slightly out of tune...
Click to expand...
I'll bet that's not too hard to do. :D

But since this is about bass tuning, maybe you could say a little on just how far out of tune, and in which direction.
 
I would tune one of the subs to the fundamental, then tune the other to the tuned sub. Then make that string slightly sharp. Just enough to get a slight vibrato. Then I tune the first sub slightly flat.
 
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