Tuning my 12 string bass in BEAD

[DarrenD]

I want to tune my 12 string bass in BEAD. I'm assuming no sets are made, so I will probably buy a regular EADG set and buy the other separately. Anybody have suggestions?

[Steve Haynie]

You can order single strings in just about any gauge from your local music store. Mine have been ordered from GHS. The low B is going to require cutting a nut slot wider. How the octave string gauges are determined may take sending a question to the factory.

[DarrenD]

Thanks. The bass is a 30.2" currently being custom built and almost finished. I'm assuming a typical 7 string guitar B gauge will work for the octaves? I will have to buy two of them and the low B. I've been checking out GHS. Elixir also has single string options.

[Hamer Bass Head]

Thanks. The bass is a 30.2" currently being custom built and almost finished. I'm assuming a typical 7 string guitar B gauge will work for the octaves? I will have to buy two of them and the low B. I've been checking out GHS. Elixir also has single string options.

you can try it, but I suspect (especially with the short scale) trhe strings are going to be extremely

floppy, and that coupled with the strings thicknesses and the how they will vibrate You're going to find the neck just isn't wide enough and there's going to be a lot of string on string buzz that will keep them from speaking correctly and also kill the sustain.

But by all means give it a try if you really feel it will work for you.

[blackfbiv]

I want to tune my 12 string bass in BEAD. I'm assuming no sets are made, so I will probably buy a regular EADG set and buy the other separately. Anybody have suggestions?

Well I, for one, am particularily interested in the outcome of your experiment. Please do keep us posted!!!

[DarrenD]

I'll definitely keep you guys posted. I'm talking to my luthier to get things situated. I tune my 4 string to BEAD all the time. It makes wider necks really easy to play - I never use the G. Just have to make sure the gauges work well. I was playing another 12 at a gig and really wanted that low B because my band plays songs that can make use of it. It really isn't a new concept, but because it is a 12ver it will make things interesting. I'm thinking of buying Curt Mangan short scale 30.5 12 string set and picking up custom B gauges from GHS or Elixir.

[DarrenD]

Another option I found was to just buy a 5 string set and two 7 string guitar set. I can't find many short scale bass sets. If I buy a 34" bass set will it really make much of a difference?

[blackfbiv]

Any luck?