gypsyjazzer Posted March 26, 2017 Share Posted March 26, 2017 Anybody tried the cello--tuned to GDAE---for band gigs? Did it work for you? Did you or the guys notice the 'lack of depth' in sound? Did you play acoustic or amplified? Look forward to your answers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alyctes Posted March 26, 2017 Share Posted March 26, 2017 Haven't tried yet. I'm a cellist deep down anyway (and my bass pllaying suffers for it), I really need to give it a go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lazurus Posted March 27, 2017 Share Posted March 27, 2017 My teachers uses a cello, fitted with EUB strings and tunes to GDAE, he calls it a "Chase"! The reason was its portability and the high cost of a 1/2 size DB as he already had the cello. To my untrained ear it sounds pretty good, both pizz and arco. The tuning pegs are a pain so machine heads will be fitted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marc S Posted March 27, 2017 Share Posted March 27, 2017 Do you know which brand of strings they are Lazarus? I just wonder whether a Cello is really built for heavier gauge, higher tension strings? Could the Cello's structure be compromised? I'm interested, as it could be a nice, portable DB option.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alyctes Posted March 27, 2017 Share Posted March 27, 2017 That's interesting! I would want to be very cautious with non-standard strings on an acoustic cello though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lazurus Posted March 28, 2017 Share Posted March 28, 2017 I will find out which strings on my next lesson. Not sure about the structure, seems to be hanging in there though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marc S Posted March 28, 2017 Share Posted March 28, 2017 It would be very interesting to know what strings he uses, and what he thinks re the construction of a Cello, and how it stands up to being set up as a DB. Also, did he need to do any mods to the bridge? Will a Cello bridge be sturdy enough? I'm really interested in this Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickA Posted March 28, 2017 Share Posted March 28, 2017 E A D G .... seems like a waste of a finger to me. The scale is smaller than an electric bass so four fingers working a fifth is about right. Try using three finger tech on a cello tuned to forths would be hard unless you have extra thin fingers :¬). Anyway .. that aside ... 'cellos are pretty strong. My dad's delicate 18th century cello is strung (to my horror) with quite high tension Larsen steel strings. My JB Colin and Dad's Benedict Lang are made of sterner stuff and could probably take a lot more tension (tho mine has thomastic dominant synthetics). I always found the 'cello to be a bit "not right" for Jazz .. not deep enough to hold the bass line (would have to be an octave above a double bass .. surely) and a bit too soft to be a solo instrument .. the Ramsey Lewis Trio had a 'cellist tho, Antonio Forcionne performs with a 'cellist sometimes (I prefer it when he plays with a bass .. especially if it's Kai Eckhardt) and David Darling of course .... think they all use standard 'cello tuning tho. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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