GS Mini Bass

[Verne Andru]

To pick up the conversation Ted started on Taylor's new mini-bass...

it looks like it could be quite easily converted to a tenor with some adjustment to string spacing.

From the Taylors I've played they tend to have a very light build, which would play into lighter gauge strings nicely.

[Verne Andru]

Scale Length - 23-1/2"
Number of Frets - 20
Nut & Saddle - Nubone Nut/Micarta Saddle
Bracing - GS Mini with Relief Rout
Truss Rod Cover - Black Plastic

https://www.taylorguitars.com/guitar...i-e-bass#specs

[arturo7]

I played it at NAMM this week. As a bass player, I'd have to say this is a very nice instrument. Quite easy to play, nice tone. What I didn't like was the short scale neck and are how loose the strings were to achieve the tuning. As far as adapting it to tenor, I'd say the neck is probably a bit wide for that.
cheers

[Verne Andru]

Thanks for the report. I can see bass strings not liking that short a scale.

As far as wide neck, a new nut and bridge saddle could easily move the strings closer together and we'd just have to suffer the extra width - suffering 1/2 measures seems to be part and parcel with the tenor world these days, I'm afraid.

But this one seems to be really close...

[Jacob]

I can see bass strings not liking that short a scale.

It depends on the strings.
Much progress has been made in strings for ukulele basses.
They now can play all notes in tune.
Here's my experience from the past couple of years.
(No offense meant to any string maker or seller.)

Aquila
Thunder Reds are far superior to their other synthetic offerings.
The specific gravity of the strings increases as the pitch gets lower.
G is least dense, D is denser, A is denser still, and E is densest of all.
The result is thinner strings that play in tune on all frets.
I use them on a hollow body bass uke for an upright bass sound.
The other Aquila U-Bass sets don't play in tune and buzz down near the nut.

Pyramid
Silver-plated copper wound on a nylon silk core strings are excellent.
They play in tune up and down the neck.
I use them on a solid-body bass uke for an electric bass guitar sound.
Haven't tried their new black tape wound on steel cores strings.

Kala
Synthetic sets have the lower fret problems noted above.
Tried their metal round wound U-Bass strings.
Didn't like the sound. After a few minutes, went back to the Pyramids.

I wouldn't be surprised if the GS Mini Bass requires proprietary strings.