Good idea or bad idea?

[leftyguitarjoe]

I play my custom made 12 string tapper in my band Maximus.

I realize that I'm using the instrument more like a super bass and less like a real stick-like instrument.

Therefore, I am considering giving it a straight 4ths tuning:
C# F# B E A D G C F Bb Eb Ab

Yes, thats a low C#

[GaryOpenhill]

I think you are crazy, and i would be very interested to see if it works out! AS far as i know there are three real official 12 strings in the world, at least the last time i checked.
But my concern would be if the neck could take the extreme sub bass strings. and also, WHAT r you gonna use for the Ab4?? Maybe call NASA and see if they have som left over wire from their last spaceships!
I could be wrong, but the only guy that ive seen that hinted that he tried tuned to Ab4 on a bass that doesn have a slanted nut (even thoug he probly IS a slanted nut doing this), is yves carbonne ( http://www.myspace.com/yvescarbonne ), and he used a string from this site which he claims is the only one that works: http://octave4plus.com/ . But as i understand it his normal tuning is from B00 (Thats not even audible)
I think i would tune from C0 instead and go to G4 using the strings that actually now are commercially sold for this tuning on that site. The extended bass range guys goes from C#0 and F#0 but thats only because they wants to keep the standard BEADGC intact. But thats meaningless on a tapper with no open strings, in fact it could make more sense to lower the whole tuning one step so that the first tappable frets will be the same as the open bass strings, and t would give the oportuniy to use a G4 and tune all 12 in fourths. If thats not an idea, then i guess its ok to tune the highest strings using a "guitar" major thirds between either string 11 and 12 or 10 and 11 ( making it possible to play it like a guitar.)
This post got long. didnt know i had so much to say about it.

[rjgoos]

I'd ask Gary Goodman. He knows a lot about these topics. octave4plus is his web site.

[leftyguitarjoe]

I'd ask Gary Goodman. He knows a lot about these topics. octave4plus is his web site.


I asked him already. The Ab is not possible at a 34" scale.:(

Oh well.

[GaryOpenhill]

You could go from C0, you know and up to G4. He got strings for that. BUt i promise you, those strings will be TIGHT! DOINNNNNGGGG!!!

[lactose]

If I am following you guys, the bottom string would be more than an octave down from the low E on a four string bass. I believe low E is 42 Hz, so you are talking under 20Hz. That would be a cool amp that can handle that, maybe with a subwoofer.

[GaryOpenhill]

i can just hear the pulse but actually not distinguishe between notes under F0 and only with difficulty up til A0, but the subbasses does sound fantastic!