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Bass - how many strings

Preparing for first build and it will be a bass. My son wants to build a 1 string fretless bass, but I think I'd like at least 2, maybe 3. No sure if I want to build a 4 string. Queston is of the 1, 2, or 3 string configuration, which would give me the most results? Is 3 strings all that much better than 2?

Would I be using the diatonic scale? chromatic? I just want to finger pick, maybe tap a little. I play uke and a tiny bit of guitar.

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Permalink Reply by PhilUSAFRet on December 24, 2011 at 11:47am

thanks. If I ever do a 4 string, I plan on building a cigar box version of the Kala U-Bass

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Permalink Reply by Mark Bliss on December 24, 2011 at 8:40pm

I'd add that the answer on the number of strings may depend on the style of music you desire to play. And that as a less experienced player you are likely to start simple, and 2 strings may work fine.

Start playing lead runs, jazzy or reggae styles however, you might want a few more strings........

On the other hand, if you want to just make some psychedelic funky buzzing cool noises. Go with one string and go for it!

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Permalink Reply by Seaman Jay on December 25, 2011 at 2:58am

You nailed it, Mark!

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Permalink Reply by eK on December 26, 2011 at 7:19am

I'm a bass player by trade.

I'd suggest three strings tuned in ascending 4ths just like on a standard bass. That way, if you're just starting out, you can play the root note on the middle string, and know that the 4th is on the same fret of the string above it (to the right), and the 5th is on the same fret of the string below (to the left) it.

With I-IV-V easy to find, 80% of the notes you'll absolutely need in any given song are super easy to play. Once you've got those found, the rest is cake. Some bass players have made very successful careers for themselves with little more 'theory' than what I've just told you.

And while you can make do with two strings - or one - it doesn't make it any easier since all the up & down offsets any reduction in complexity having fewer strings would provide. If anything, fewer strings makes it harder from a physical perspective.

Luck! :-)

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Permalink Reply by PhilUSAFRet on February 8, 2012 at 8:18am

What tuning do you recommend? A, E, etc. for each of the 3 strings? May eventually use a 12" bass combo amp

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Permalink Reply by PhilUSAFRet on December 26, 2011 at 8:54am

Ahaaaaaa, wonderful ratonale......thank your very, very much. I think I'll have to go with 3. What a great site.

Kind of like UkuleleUnderground for cigar box instruments....super!

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Permalink Reply by Keni Lee Burgess on December 26, 2011 at 11:45am

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Permalink Reply by PhilUSAFRet on December 27, 2011 at 3:10pm

So we are talking about a standard bass guitar scale?

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Permalink Reply by Seaman Jay on January 3, 2012 at 4:28am

It depends, you can actually start with scales as short as 26"-29" (guitarron scale length)... But it's still one of the rare cases where size does matter.

PhilUSAFRet said:

So we are talking about a standard bass guitar scale?

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Permalink Reply by Paul Monaco ( Whittling Guy) on January 10, 2012 at 2:01pm

I made a Bass out of a Riunite Wine Box and it has 2 strings on it. I used weedwacker for strings and tuned it to E and A. If you want to make a Bass you are going to need a fairly big box and a strong neck. I used a piezo pick up on the neck inside the box. I also used a hot glue gun to glue down the wires from the jack and the volume pot (Bass guitars have a lot of low vibrations)

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Permalink Reply by Lee Cooper on January 13, 2012 at 2:11am

This is my prototype BAZZUKA (#1)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8W9Hopp1O1I&feature=youtube_gdat...

4 strings,
Since the video I have adjusted the intonation and action by adjusting the nut and bridge, I also fitted a ' sound post' inside bracing the front soundboard to the rear board, this makes it louder, also stops the boards bowing under tension of the strings, it was something I saw on tv over Xmas here in the UK there was a program about a scrapyard orchestra .. A guy was building a violin..
It now tunes EADG as a standard bass.
Oh .its standard cheap Metal Harke bass strings cut down to fit.
I have a set of Pahoehoe rubber string ( like on a Kala UBASS) and will try them on my next project
But they are way to fat to fit standard (even re-milled) tuners or fit through the standard bridge.. So it's a possibly amuch more complicated build... Also not sue how those strings will cope with frets or this very short scale 14" ?..