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2 string CBG Bass

Ok here is my final design idea for my next build that I mentioned in my other post. It will have a tube truss rod in the neck... The scale is 30" and I still need to choose what to tune it in.

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Permalink Reply by Scott aka Farmer Ted on February 6, 2015 at 12:37am

This project of your will be interesting to see as it evolves. Kudos for creating a set of drawing...which is helpful for others in understanding a much-forgotten step in making a guitar...drawn plans.

The tuning question really has only 3 options (string choice)...E-A, A-D, or D-G. Keeping the string pairs adjacent will make it easier to play, since bass is commonly played by running scale patterns in single notes, not chords. Having the string pairs adjacent means that when you move from one string to the next in a scale run, your hand will remain in that area of the neck.

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Permalink Reply by Corbin on February 6, 2015 at 3:37am

Thanks Farmer Ted, your word mean allot to me. With this build I think that plans are truly needed because it isn't a straight forward build like one with a cigar box. Though even at times that would make it easier to do a simple CBG build. It gives you a chance to sort out some ideas and see what they will look like.

Now about the three choices of string combos. Which do you think will be the most playable and sound the best.
E-A lowest & thickest strings
A-D
D-G thinnest strings

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Permalink Reply by JL on February 6, 2015 at 4:39am

I cast my vote for E-A

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Permalink Reply by Corbin on February 6, 2015 at 5:42am

Any particular reasons why you would choose E-A?

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Permalink Reply by Scott aka Farmer Ted on February 6, 2015 at 7:08am

If I were making one, the lowest (deepest) notes would be more desirable...after all, its a bass. At 30" scale, the other two strings (D-G) might sound closer in tone to a baritone scale guitar(not bad overall) but it all comes to preference.

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Permalink Reply by Corbin on February 6, 2015 at 10:02am

I'm leaning towards E-A, but slightly worried (but not real worried) about it bending the neck with the tension of the thick strings. Maybe the bit of worry is all for nothing with a truss rod.

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Permalink Reply by Gwil Colman on February 6, 2015 at 1:20pm

The four strings of a bass guitar each have roughly the same tension. You can choose any two and the force on the neck will be about the same. A thicker string only exerts more tension if it's pulled up to the same pitch as a thin one.

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Permalink Reply by Primitive Acoustics on February 6, 2015 at 10:25am

I recently built a two string bass with 30" scale and thought that the DG tuning sounded fine but I like the deeper sounds better. Have it tuned AD now and will probably switch to EA and try that. I really love the sounds that Mark Sandman of Morphine got out of his 2 string slide bass. I just put up the pictures it you want to see it.