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[Huda]

Hi all,

I play mandolin and bouzouki. However, my band needs a bassist, and I want to hold down the low end. Can you give me some advice?

Has anyone had success in tuning (and playing) the Ashbory in fifths? That's GDAE from the bottom.

What is the sound like? How is the string tension? How rapidly do the strings break?

Any thoughts on tuning the Ashbory in fifths?

Thanks,
Huda

[c10]

I think slacking the E A D and G down by 9, 7, 5 and 3 half-steps will make your lower strings WAY too floppy, and trying to tune up an octave from that will snap the G and maybe the D strings.

Different tunings aren't that difficult to get a handle on (I switch between Ashbory, a uke, and a lap steel on gigs).

[Grassy Ash]

Hi, (1st post here)

You could probably tune C G D A (from the lowest note up), and not be too much more likely to break the first string. I don't notice that much difference in either tone or tension when an Ashbury string is tuned low. With that tuning, only the fourth string would be more than a whole step away from normal tuning. I've thought of doing this since I also play mandolin, but I play guitar as well and I think the normal tuning works better.

I use the Ashbory for bluegrass and find the tone much closer to an upright bass than any other electric bass, especially when picked with the right hand positioned about where the neck joins the body. The string tension is very low. My girlfriend also plays it and she likes the fact that there's very little physical effort to pressing the strings down and has no callouses from playing.

[Abq-Ken]

mandolin/zouk player also.  I tuned my Ashbory D-G-D-A.  The low end is a little slack.  The higher D & A are much brighter and louder, and the A just snapped a few minutes ago as it sat there on the stand (after about an hour of practicing).  It had been tuned up a couple of weeks.  I'm wondering if it is possible to get other gauges of silicon strings for better balance across the strings and longevity on the top string.

[Brock]

I'm wondering if it is possible to get other gauges of silicon strings for better balance across the strings and longevity on the top string.

It doesn't surprise me that the highest string tuned to (I assume) an A that is above the E it normally is tuned to would snap. I'd expect the string to snap.

I'm not sure what the answer is. Ashborys tune down nicely. I've  run BEAD before with stock strings after someone said it worked well and sure enough, it did. The instrument really doesn't want to be tuned up, though. The G is already pushed. I'm not convinced a smaller gauge would be helpful either. Maybe it would be, I haven't tested, but I'd be curious to see how that would (or wouldn't) work.

-Brock

[Patrick]

I got my Ashbory with the intention of tuning it in fifths, but I've found that standard tuning works fine for me so I only got as far as theorising.

If you look at the Ashbory patents on the  "Artifacts" page of this site you'll find some technical info about the type of strings you need, including the string diameters
 (3, 2.64, 2.4 and 1.78mm).  I found at least one source of silicon rubber strings in the UK in these and other diameters (http://www.polymax.co.uk/acatalog/Silicone_White_Cord.html) so it should be possible to get a selection of strings to experiment with.

If you do try this please let us know how you get on.

Patrick

[Jack K]

I'm using CGDA tuning, like a mandola, or cello. Works fine. But, if you want to use the open C, make sure you have an amp that can deliver. I'm using an Acoustic Image Contra II. And, find a way to pull the C string down above the nut (discussed elsewhere in this forum), this greatly improves the sound and sustain.

For a mandolin player, this will transfer all your patterns, but a fifth lower, and a longer 18" scale.