I've decided to stick (no pun intended) with the original DBR instead of what I had in mind.

The main reason is that I'm more used to playing 4/5 string basses, so my highest string is always G2 and I need this for reference, I was going crazy with 8 strings in straight 4ths...

Another reason is that in "my mind" the tuning needs to "make sense", so this I can call a 4-string bass 1-4 plus a 4-string cello 5-8 (tuned half step down). With the added benefit that string 5 doubles as a low B for the 4-string bass, which turns it into a 5-string bass.

Call me crazy, but this makes sense to me and gives me peace!

So, the bass side is 1-5 which has a range of 3 3/4 octaves (B0 - G4), and the cello side is 5-8 which also has a range of 3 3/4 octaves (B0 - G4#).

I basically have the same notes on each half of the stick, which allows me to play crossed or uncrossed, or in a single section. There is 99% overlap, which is not a problem for me as I don't need more range than a 5-string bass.

George, I have to admit that when I first read your post I thought "No, that's not for me", but the more I think about it the more I think I will like it!

I am now set on tuning my SB8 in DBR. Actually, I already tuned to DBR but with some old strings, so the notes are there but the tension is all over the place. Sidenote, new set coming from NewTone soon.

But I am considering tuning a 10-string stick into DBR too, but since I'm not sure if the space between the groups would be a problem (I know it was an issue for you on your RB8), I'm thinking of tuning the bass side starting on C:

Melody: C3 G2 D2 A1 E1
Bass: C1 G1 D2 A2 E3

Then I thought to myself, "Wait, I've seen this before... Isn't that Big George's tuning?" And it is, just a 10-string version of it.

Moreover, looking at the table of gauges and tunings that I'm compiling (see here: https://www.stickist.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=16710) I notice that note-wise (but not pitch-wise) I had landed in Matched Reciprocal! Just with the melody an octave lower. I also thought about starting the melody side on B0, so like deep baritone melody with the melody an octave lower, but having two thick strings in the middle tuned half-step from each other seem a bit redundant to me.

Would love to hear your comments or read any other of your posts on this (if you can share the links)

Walt, when I'm doing tuning experiments (real experiments or just preliminary thought experiments) I find it very useful to see what I call a "Touchboard Map".

"Touchboard Maps" are an illustration I've set up using html & a bit of css (e.g. some of the css helps shoe the 'frets' closer together as you go along the touchboard). There are some examples at http://www.david-wright.co.uk/music/touchboard_maps/. Maybe sometime I will add a few more 'standard' tunings, but they don't actually interest me so up til now there have been lots more intersting things to do!

I''ve structured the html code so that if you are handy with a text editor (expecially one that can do column operations and block copy & paste, such as notepad++) it's not at all hard to take an existing map and convert it to a different tuning, once you get the idea.

I suspect you may be handy with such a text editor?

Hey David, that’s a great idea. I do something similar with excel, but it takes some effort to put the notes manually. So your code should come in very handy!


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With block copy/paste you can often switch whole chunks around with little extra typing.

The main detail editing for a change usually for the 'C' octave locations that I like to include. If you don't bother with those it would be even easier.

Honestly, I try not to dive deep into different tunings....

Grace is the one who gave me the idea of the two bass guitar tunings one fourths one fifths, so she is the one who deserves the credit, and that's also something that took about a year for me to even consider, but then: a miracle !! SE had an 8 string stick for sale, and I had Grace set it up her way, the set up she turned me on to the previous year.

I'm so glad I got Emmett and Grace to sign it as well......