Short scale, low tuning, advice wanted!

roryohara · Newbie Alert Joined: 18 Oct 2007 Posts: 2

Hello all,

I play a '73 Fender Mustang bass and a '70-something-else Fender Musicmaster as backup, both of which are short-scale. The songwriter in the band decided to write songs in C# and so I have ended up playing in a very low tuning - C# G# C# F# (it's basically 'drop D' a semitone down). As you might expect, I have trouble with string slackness (mostly on the bottom E - C# for me) and intonation. I play with the heaviest gauge I can find in short scale strings and have in fact today bought full scale 50-105's and chopped them down a little for the Mustang.

I wondered if there were any luthiers/techs/knowledgable people on here that could offer any suggestions or advice on what modifications (I am open to the idea of a new bridge/tuners etc.) or tips might help me fare better with it? Would I be better not using heavy gauge strings since the neck isn't long enough to stretch them enough? I do remember borrowing a Mustang with lighter strings on and it staying in tune much better than I find with my own.

Any help would be much appreciated.

Check out the band at myspace - /grammatics
Thanks for your time!

Rory

rexherring · Posted: Mon Oct 29, 2007 12:07 pm Post subject:

I don't see how it will work on a short scale bass. I get floppy low B on a 34 inch scale. It's not a problem but 35 inch scale is better. The only suggestion would be to try some octave pedals with standard tuning. They drop one or two octaves. I haven't heard any that sound real good but haven't tried many either.

Fenderplayer13 · Tadpole Joined: 09 Sep 2006 Posts: 15

I play a '71 Fender Musicmaster. It's nice to meet a brother in the short scale world. But on with your problem I use Light guage strings my favorite are Rotosound that are 30-90 and i have played downtuned quite a bit and not really had a problem with intonation and the strings are not near as floppy as with heavy guage strings.

P.S. I have problems getting a lot of volume out of my bass any recommendations.

roryohara · Newbie Alert Joined: 18 Oct 2007 Posts: 2

I know what you mean about the Musicmaster output. It's way higher on the Mustang - see if you can pick one up. The Musicmasters were made with Stratocaster 6 string pickups which I'm sure must affect the output you would expect from a bass.

Pilgrim · Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2008 9:30 am Post subject:

Based on much discussion that I've heard about floppy strings on a short scale when tuned down, I think you'd probably be ahead to keep standard tuning and just play it up. There's nothing wrong with playing with your base as a C# on the A string.

oogie boogie · Little Guppy Joined: 27 Oct 2008 Posts: 38

Personally, I'd just do it the way that most folks do. Get at lease a 34" 5-string bass. And please oh please don't whine about small hands, because I see small folks with small hands, women especially playing upright basses as well as full size electrics, and shredding. You can do it, and it really does sound better. There's even at least one guy doing it with only one hand, and he's ripping. Try it. You might like it. Good luck.

O

timmyG · Growing Guppy Joined: 08 Oct 2008 Posts: 43

That or you can always deal with the low tension and pay the price with strings. I've actually got a short scale that is currently tuned C-G-D-A...