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Alembic Club » Miscellaneous » Archive: 2005 » Archive through June 03, 2005 » 2003 Archive » Archive through June 27, 2003 » Low F# string on bass? « Previous Next »

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bigbass
Junior
Username: bigbass

Post Number: 13
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Wednesday, June 04, 2003 - 7:38 pm:   Edit Post

Does ANYONE have any experience with low (contra) F# Strings on a bass? Who is making them? What do they cost? What kind of speakers are you pluged into to reproduce the sound? Are you actually hearing a "Pitch" with tone or is it just a sensation and rumble? Thanx in advance!! ~ David
bigredbass
Intermediate Member
Username: bigredbass

Post Number: 118
Registered: 9-2002
Posted on Friday, June 06, 2003 - 11:19 am:   Edit Post

While I've never seen or heard one, the SoCal-based luthier James Tyler (www.tylerguitars.com) offered a bolt on six-string tuned F# thru G. Possibly you could contact him for more info. I'm sure there must be others. Mica could fill in if ALEMBIC ever built or considered one. Tyler could tell you where he got strings for it.

Tyler makes very sophisticated bolt-ons favored by big gun session guys like Stubenhaus and Abe Laobriel. They're not to my taste but are probably among the most innovative bolt-ons I've ever seen. Several Nashville guys use them here in town on record dates as well.

The fundamental of that low F# would be in the mid-20hz range. I guess it would all depend how much of it you want to hear, as typically we percieve the fattest, bassiest tone from the first several harmonics building on the fundamental. I doubt you'd hear much of it through a Super Redhead or Metro. It's gonna take a lot of power and drivers if not reinforced thru the house system. A LOT of cabinets quote response into the 20's, but this would really be a 'put up or shut up' test !

I'd imagine if you'd REALLY want to get as much of it as you can, you better get up with BagEnd (www.bagend.com) and invest in some of Ron's ELF technology. This is an ingenious, 'outside the box' technology that truly renders deep bass in a remarkable, clear, and musical fashion. No doubt that with ELF it would be as usable tone . . but VERY low.
the_schwartz
Junior
Username: the_schwartz

Post Number: 28
Registered: 1-2003
Posted on Tuesday, June 10, 2003 - 3:46 pm:   Edit Post

FYI:
Low F# (minor third below A0, lowest key on a piano) = 23.13 Hz

Wavelength = speed of sound ÷ frequency = 1130 ft/s ÷ 23.13 Hz = 48 ft 10 1/4 in per cycle

Good luck finding a speaker physically capable of reproducing that, or an ear that can perceive the tone (especially at low to moderate sound pressure levels).
thebass
Junior
Username: thebass

Post Number: 35
Registered: 3-2003
Posted on Wednesday, June 11, 2003 - 3:10 am:   Edit Post

Hi David,

I guess before making alle the investments mentioned above you want to test the loooow F# generated with a good Octaver or a V-Bass and mix it to your basssound. After that be aware that a Bassstring for this loooow frequencies must have a remarkable diameter of more than 4mm (0.16 inches) ...

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