Hi guys, long time no post...just dealt with a big move and am finally getting settled in. The last couple of nights have been the first times I've gotten to play my Stick in almost a month. Sad!

Anyway, yesterday I had a moment where I just suddenly decided that Dual Bass Reciprocal was likely going to be the tuning for me; coming from a 6-string bass background it's obviously very attractive. I've been getting somewhat comfortable with 10-string Classic, but the 4+6 approach would probably open up for me so much more quickly.

Of course, I don't want to "miss out" on what I would learn and develop in 10-string Classic. I suppose I can always keep the strings and switch back.

I know that Greg has of course used DBR to great effect, but I'm curious to hear more of his and other Stickists' experiences with it.

Hi canyon canyon canyon

I haven't spent as much time with it as I'd like lately, but I have a couple of gigs coming up that I'll use it on more.

I did play a few tunes on it on the Jan 29 UpTeT gig, and whenever I play it, I'm taken by the sound, which is just so "present". I still have some moments where both hands want to play that common low string at the same time, but other than that the "mental process" is very much like playing a normal 10-string. Intervals are intervals, and the technique is the same.

My favorite tunes to play on it right now are "Waiting for Ernie" and "Sphere", but "Tomorrow Never Knows" was next on the setlist last time and I didn't even change back to the Classic Grand, but ave it a try on the DBR instead. It came off pretty good, but the distortion settings didn't geive me the same kind of results because the register was so low.

Hopefully I'll have more to report soon.

Here's a video of Waiting for Ernie from a few months ago, in case you haven't seen it:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mqKWvJYpBqg[/youtube]

RSS: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mqKWvJYpBqg

Good vid Greg. Nice and groooooooovy
SA

Thanks, Steve

Lester Bulence

Awesome, thanks. I appreciate the echo, too! I went ahead and emailed SE about getting the string set for it. I did see that Waiting for Ernie video - very nice, of course. I also recall maybe a solo tune you did in DBR a while back? The bass register tapping sound in general is one that I really associate with personally.

Inara Veen

Hi Canyon,

This is the solo tune, just improvising over a simple chord progression:

"Rain Dodgers"

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSJ-M2szEiA[/youtube]

RSS: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSJ-M2szEiA

You'll have some pretty major setup changes to make, action, intonation and even the pickups, but take a few notes about it (pictures are even better), and you'll be able to get it back for the other string set if you want.

Gregg, I have a Graphite Grand (PASV4 pickup - 12 string) and since I sold my NS Stick when i quit playing out ,and recently have gotten back into gigging as a bass player (of course, couldn't keep away) I have been missing the extended 4ths tuning the NS Stick has. That said I've been staying away from the DBR tuning for my G. Grand because although my Stick playing technique is still (years later) mostly undeveloped I'm unwilling to give up the melody range in 4ths that I have with my Grand Stick. (MR tuning) I don't need another instrument tuned in the 6 string bass range, I have a great 6 string bass and have a well developed technique on it.

Is there a way to string and tune my Stick like an SB8 with the remaining 4 bass strings strung and tuned in inverted 5ths? You know, have an SB8 with the "limited" ability to still chord voicings with inverted 5ths tuning. Would my Stick need any modifications beyond action tweaking and intonation? (It's a modern Graphite Grand 12 string)

Thanks in advance for the advice and as always, great playing!

Hi Ray,

I would think that placing the common low string at position #8 would be good enough. String #1 would be a Bb (a half-step higher than on Baritone Melody)

That would give you 5 strings for chording, and the 7th string would be appropriately sent to the bass output side (might even lead to some cool new basslines...)

Here's the way the tuning would look

Bb
F
C
G
D
A
E
B (lowest)
F#
C#
G#
D#

Hope that helps!

It does Greg, thank you! I'll probably call SE soon for the strings. Hey ... should I simply order a set of SB8 strings?

Perhaps this should be considered as an official alternate tuning for the Stick? An SB12!! Seems like a "your cake and eat it too" tuning for we bass players. The pickup spilt is a little strange but if you play mostly clean the whole instrument becomes an amazingly flexable extended range bass without giving up higher pitch 4ths melody possibilities!

I'm at work right now but if I just remembered, I think I have an unused set of SB8 strings I bought to try on my old 10 string Stick years ago. The strings didn't fit in the the custom tuners that Old Stick had so I never used the strings. If I can find these I can experiment with this "SB12" tuning right away for free! I'm very excited about the possibilities of having the traditional 4ths tuning of the SB8 along with it's full range and still have the inverted 5ths bass chord possibilities of a traditional Stick. If this doesn't quite work out I may try DBR tuning which will give me one less upper range string but having owned an NS Stick I think this will be the perfect marrage for my needs as a bass player and and still allow me to take advantage of the "magic" of inverted 5ths bass tuning.

Can't wait to give this a try! I'll keep you all posted.