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Permalink Reply by Korrigan on September 16, 2018 at 2:38pm

I'm curious why you are going a couple octaves above a regular bass. I did a three string bass at 25.5", EAD using bass strings (and bass tuners) with no problem. It's just a matter of finding the right gauges for your scale length, desired tension and desired pitch. 

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Permalink Reply by Gordon Read on September 17, 2018 at 2:27am

I have no particular reason for going higher octave.  I made an assumption that a smaller instrument would have better sound at a high pitch.  I think (I don't know) that trying to get a 'bass' sound out of a smaller chamber will be very very quiet, or will have no resonance.  I could absolutely be wrong.  This is only my second instrument. :)

Oh, and I don't have any bass tuners. :(  Though I suppose that is a little less important as long as the strings will work with the ones I have.

How do I find the right gauges for my scale?  Is there a tool out there?  Or is it all experience?

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Permalink Reply by Korrigan on September 17, 2018 at 5:13am

This is the best tool I've found. Just fill in the blanks and it will tell you what diameter strings to use. The tension I was going for was 15lbs. You might prefer more, probably not less. 

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Permalink Reply by Gordon Read on September 17, 2018 at 7:51am

That's great.  Thank you.  I will definitely check it out.

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