[Search for users] [Overall Top Noters] [List of all Conferences] [Download this site]

Conference napalm::guitar

Title:GUITARnotes - Where Every Note has Emotion
Notice:Discussion of the finer stringed instruments
Moderator:KDX200::COOPER
Created:Thu Aug 14 1986
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:3280
Total number of notes:61432

1591.0. "5 string Bass." by JUPITR::DIETZ () Fri Dec 15 1989 15:28

         A friend of mine just bought a used 5 string (steinberger) style
    Hohner bass guitar. He wanted me to ask a few questions, I told him
    that this notes file that I belong to has been very reliable.
    
      1. How do you tune a 5 string (are there several different tunings)      
      2. Do you have to buy "special strings" because there is no head
         stock?
      3. Does anyone have any information on this guitar or a steinberger
         bass that he would be able to relate to? 
                   
                        BTW,
         I found that this bass guitar played fantastic (plays just as good
    as most Fenders ect. that I had tried) The sound needs a little to be
    desired (he wants to change pickups on it, possibly EMG's) For the
    money he paid he got a "super" playing
    bass.......thanks........................charley d.  
                      
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name
DateLines
1591.1Here's What You Need To KnowAQUA::ROSTEveryone loves those dead presidentsFri Dec 15 1989 16:3522
    
    The usual tuning on a five string is the lowest string is tuned to B,
    the other four are E, A, D, G as usual.
    
    The Hohners need double-ball end strings made for Steinbergers.  A
    couple of companies make them, including Steinberger (actually made for
    them by LaBella) and RotoSound.  As long as you're in a major area,
    you can probably find them easily enough.  Otherwise, mail order them. 
    East Coast Sound in CT (1-800-356-5908) is a Steinberger dealer and
    carries a wide range of 4 and 5 string sets.  Of course, he'll need a
    five string set.
    
    The pickups are EMG Selects which are a budget line of passive pickups
    made by EMG.  A set of the better EMGs will run him about $100-150,
    only few dealers carry the size he'll need....the big market is in
    Fender style replacements.  They can be special ordered.  They use a
    battery, all the wiring (including a battery clip) is provided.
    
    BTW how much did he pay?  The four string ones go brand new for between
    $325-450 depending on where you look.  
    
    							Brian
1591.2VLNVAX::ALECLAIRESun Dec 17 1989 10:561
    Some people tune the top string to b, rather than the bottom.
1591.3Maybe you'll"C"your way clearly !!!!!HAMER::KRONBILL-THE-WONDER-MUTANTMon Dec 18 1989 11:355
 I believe the other tuning is E-A-D-G-C;because it maintains the standard
    fingerboard configuration as the rest of the strings....although
    I can understand tuning to a high B if you intended to play lots
    of chords.........whatever blows your skirt up!!!
    -Bill
1591.4ZYDECO::MCABEEles haricotsMon Dec 18 1989 14:301
Sometimes "top" means "bottom".
1591.5MRVAX::ALECLAIREMon Dec 18 1989 15:375
    Especially if he's left handed
    (BTW I played a couple of Hofner Stien-imitations, one missed a few
    notes, but both were real nice, nice sound. Disn't know they had 5
    string basses, gosh golly!)
    
1591.6thanks to everyone!JUPITR::DIETZThu Dec 21 1989 08:5424
        I Want to thank everyone for their advice. As usual the guitar
    notes file pulled through again! I tried the different tunings
    mentioned in the replies. I found Brian's sugestion to be the way to
    go (low to high B,E,A,D,G) The lowest string is incredibly THICK.
    Lowering it to a "B" seemed really natrual. This Hohner doesn't have
    any problems with buzzing/or dead notes (I guess he just got lucky).
       He paid $295 for the bass. It came with gig bag and two extra sets     
    of strings (which we didn't find out until later). Well gotta go,
    thanks alot...................MERRY CHRISTMAS..........Charley d.
    
                     BTW, when we finally had it tuned up right, my friend
    made a comment when he played the low "B"
    string.......................................he said "Hey, this sort of 
    sounds like a Italian sports car". (a deep growling sound).......bye.
    
    
             
          
    
    
    
    
    
    
1591.7Bottom, top, up, down: relative to pitchDUGGAN::GREENFri Dec 29 1989 12:5713
RE:
              <<< Note 1591.4 by ZYDECO::MCABEE "les haricots" >>>

>Sometimes "top" means "bottom".


	Strings should always be referred to relative to their pitch,
	not physical location. So the bottom string is the one with lowest
	open pitch, not the one closest to the ground.

	This also applies to "up" or down" the neck. This is a particularly
	important point with upright basses.