Modify 10 String Stick to 8 String Bass Stick?

[Eric Sands]

Hi All,

I use my 10 string Stick primarily for bass parts. Is it possible to modify my 10 to an 8? Do I just need a new bridge and nut?

Alternately, should I try out any particular tunings before doing this? I'm thinking 5+5 bass in fourths in both regions might be pretty cool. Has anyone tried this one before?

Thanks!

-Eric

[rockola]

Disclaimer: I haven't tried this, but:

If you want to try it out as an 8-string one region instrument, just string it up with 8 strings, leaving one string on each end unused.

I don't know anyone who has done this, but Wolfgang Daiss once told me he played his 10-string Stick for a long time strung with 9 strings in one region, all in 4ths. This is basically the same tuning as you're contemplating, but according to Wolfgang (I haven't checked this, but he should know), with 9 strings in 4ths it's possible to reach all the same notes as with the 10 string 4ths-5ths tuning.

A two-region instrument with both regions in the bass register might sound muddy. Of course, this depends on what and how you play. But by all means, experiment, and let us know how it turned out!

[rjgoos]

I have had similar thoughts of radically changing the tuning of my stick, of converting my 10-string Stick from Classic tuning to the 'Carpentier' tuning, to play uncrossed (because of wrist pain with a crossed tuning). Jeff Moen's uncrossed offset melody tuning looks interesting also.

I notice on my Stick (mid-90's rosewood model), that the nut-screw-thing on the low-low string is not the same as the other strings. Most importantly, it seems to be of a larger diameter than the other nut-screws. So, it seems to me that to radically change the tuning, I would need to be filling in that hole and re-drilling it for a smaller diameter, etc. Since I posess zero wood-working tools or skills, I would rather not do that sort of surgery myself.

R. Jay Goos