Using bass strings on the lower string or both lower strings on a 6 string guitar for lower end in metal?

Question

I am in a progressive death metal band and were currently a 3 peice drums guitarist and vocalist were still in bad need of a bassist and another guitarist for rythm but ive heard of many guitarist from back when i played shows close to me told me that they used high bass strings from a 6 string bass set to add the lower end on their 6 string guitars ontop of their bassist playing a 6 string bass so they sounded super heavy for all their general sound and tone of their play style and they sounded amazingly brutal and heavy so i was wondering if anyone could give me some advice for my guitarist with his 6 string guitar so we could make up for the missing bassist and extra guitarist in the meantime if not also bring out the low end in our songs and kick the heavy up a notch were allready playing in drop a but it doesnt seem to be enough and weve been together over a year or so and its important to sound fully ready for shows again since our original line up got knocked down from originally being lead guitar playing a 7 string harmony guitar being a 6 string and our original bassist playing a 6 string so it would mean a lot to me if anyone could give some advice on this whole higher bass strings on the 6 string theory and how to do it exactly right and which strings to buy for the best resolution to this problem!!???

Answer 1

As a bassist and guitarist who has been in a few bands, I suggest this:



Using drop A would mean you should use a bass string that's 75 gauge on the low end of the tuning.

Maybe throw in a couple more bass strings for the E and A, downtuned from the standard bass gauges for G and C. Off the top of my head, you could get away with a 40 and a 30.



It's the seventh string that gets a bit muddy at lower frequencies but for drop A that would work.



If you have two guitarists, this could go a few ways.



Idea one:

Have only the rhythm guitarist use the deepest strings.

They'll double as bassist.



Idea two:

Designate the makeshift bass playing for the lead guitarist when they're not soloing, therefore allowing the rhythm guitarist to fill out the chords.



Idea three, less focused

Equip both guitars with the low strings. Feature solos with either bass or rhythm guitar backing it up.

I don't recommend this as much because something will seem missing.



Hope this helps.



~Aizen

Answer 2

No offence, but what you suggested is crazy and simply wouldn't work.



Standard guitars are designed to be tuned EADGBE. Of course, it's possible to detune slightly but frankly trying to tune the low E down to A (7 semi-tones if I've counted right) is silly and is going to cause problems.



Trying to fit bass strings is likely to be impossible as, apart from any other problems, it very unlikely that they'll go through the holes in the barrels of the tuners. If you did manage this, then you would find that it was impossible to intonate the strings so that the guitar would play in tune.



Anyone who finds the range of an instrument, they don't like the tuning of a guitar, needs to use a different instrument. Try a baritone guitar or a seven string.

Answer 3

Personally, I wouldn't put bass strings on a standard guitar. I'd try for a 7 or 8 string. Or even play with a backing track that included rhythm guitar and bass synced to a metronome.

Answer 4

If you have the money just invest in the Roland GR-55 and suitable pickup needed for it, as its a Guitar synth and can synthesize just about any instrument known to man including bass, Although you'll need some patience to figure out how to set it to play in any tuning you wish and much more, but worth the money if you plan to expand your horizons. I've been using one for a couple of years and when a band member says he cant show up they get a bit nervous when I tell them I got it covered,

Answer 5

If you're using a regular guitar, i highly did not recommend using a bass string, because it can bend the neck. Trust me, I am a victim of such events.

Answer 6

Get a baritone guitar. You can get a Schecter Hellraiser C-VI for under $400 on E-bay. You can use standard guitar tuning or B E A D F♯ B. No other equipment change is needed. It will get you much closer to a bass sound than anything you can do with a standard size electric.

Answer 7

yu will snap the neck putting bass strings on a regular guitar.