mirrored fourths tuning

[lactose]

I think that is what this is called. My melody strings are straight fourths, almost like a guitar, but the bass side is reversed, with low string in the middle, tuned to fourths.

I switched my 2x4 to this tuning and am liking it. It is more comfortable to not have to reach all the way across for the bass notes I use the most. It is a bit less intuitive though.

[rpmartino]

Hi lactose,

I absolutely love this tuning, all my music uses it.

What pitches are you using for the bass strings?

[lactose]

My 2x4 currently has 4 bass strings from the megatar set tuned to standard bass guitar, EADG. The other six are standard guitar strings tuned to almost normal guitar tuning,EADGCF (straight fourths). Tension is a little wacky since the instrument is strat scale (25.5 inches).

I might try 5ths on the bass side, since this is so popular but fourths seem to work nicely for walking bass parts. Seems like it would be more work with 5ths.

This has me wondering how I could make a fanned fret neck to accommodate the mirrored tuning. I would probably need to essentially make two fret boards then mate them together on the neck. I wonder if that would cause a problem when the truss rod starts pressing up against the fretboard.

Otherwise I would have to figure out how to cut the fret slots with out using the normal saw approach.

[haimeh]

Rob, what are your gauges & pitches?

[rpmartino]

I use light gauge, last I asked these were the gauges:

(A key aspect of the tuning is that I start on low E rather than C or B. With six strings, at the expense of a little low end, this gives a very comfortable range for both basslines and clear sounding chords all the way down to the nut)

These are 12th fret ptches and the first tappable note on an extended scale instrument (open pitch otherwise)

Melody (same as Matched Reciprocal):
C - .08 (high)
G - .10
D - .12
A - .18
E - .26
B - .36 (low)
Bass in 4ths:
E - .96 (low)
A - .65
D - .44
G - .28
C - .20
F - .13 (high)

[GaryOpenhill]

Rob, im not questoning your gauges here. They seem to work more than fine!
But since i basicly use the same tuning system i wonder about something: your bass strings goes from almost .100 for the E and drops to 65 for the A. I have the same .065 for the A string, but use (i think) about a 85 for the E string. I guess both 96 for an E string, and 65 for an A string is fine, but its the difference between those two i'm thinking about. Whats the reason for these gauges?
Oh, it maybe has to do with scale length, when i think about it. You have 36" right?

[rpmartino]

Emmett gave me a .86 and .98 to also try once for the E, I didn't notice a major difference in tone or feel.... perhaps the ones closer to .100 give a slightly deeper bass tone, and upper harmonics slightly more apparent with the lighter gauge.

It's also possible that the last couple light gauge sets I got were closer to .86 in gauge for the E since it seems very similar to the .86 string I still had laying around. I just ask for "light gauge" and whatever strings arrive I put on. :)

I am also using a 36" scale instrument.

[GaryOpenhill]

BTW, i bought this cheapo electronic measure device that is perfect for measuring string gauges and works down to .001 inch. That is one of the few gadgets i've bought that i actually use a lot. Very, very handy.

[haimeh]

The cheapest digital micrometer i have found is like $50.
1. what are you using?
2. how much?

[GaryOpenhill]

Originally posted by haimeh
The cheapest digital micrometer i have found is like $50.
1. what are you using?
2. how much?

Yep, it was about $40. It is this one. :
http://www.biltema.no/Archive%5CProduct_images%5C16%5CLarge%5C16-105_l.jpg

[Rayzcane]

Here's one on sale for $15.99 at Harbor Freight:

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=47257

Ray

[GaryOpenhill]

Originally posted by Rayzcane
Here's one on sale for $15.99 at Harbor Freight:

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=47257

Ray

It's the same! I've been ripped off!!!