3 strings

[Stjofön Big]

For a couple of years I've been thinking about making a bass with just three (3) strings. The background to that idea is the fact that I use the G string quite little, it's just for the occasional funk, which - to be honest - bores the f-ck out of me. In my mind it reduces the bass to litle more than a rhythm instrument. I want the bass to be part of a moving floor, yep, but still bringing flowers and - at times - interesting lines.
Besides, a 3-string would look kinda kool!
So I'm into these thoughts about a 3-string. Maybe with B at the bottom, followed by E and A? Or should I go for a E .110 bottom?
Is there anyone out there who's tried this concept? Are there any serial manufacturers of a 3-stringer?
And, would a T-bird pup do?

[patman]

I set up my favorite Precision BEAD...it works well for the most part because that particular bass stays in tune up the neck pretty well. i stopped using the sixer beause the Precision just sounds better. A lot better.

BEA would not have enough high notes for me.

[nofi]

i tried using three strings and my fingers go the absent g string too often. i made a 2 string with an e and a and its fun to mess with. with only 2 strings its like learning a new instrument.

[gearHed289]

Tony Levin had one made by MM quite some time ago. It has since been destroyed in a fire.

[Basvarken]

Peter Pan Speedrock bassplayer Bartman uses a bass guitar with only three strings.

[Dave W]

Tony Levin had one made by MM quite some time ago. It has since been destroyed in a fire.

I liked the letter he got from Sterling Ball after he sent it in: http://www.papabear.com/miscpages/fire.htm  

[Stjofön Big]

 

[Stjofön Big]

Sometimes things just happens, out of the blue. So, a pal calls me up today to remind me of the bass my daughter lent his son 15 years ago. The son has no interest in the bass, lost it several years ago, and now my pal wants to leave it to me. "Just takes up space", he says. My daughter isn't interested either. Which leaves who? Moi! Who had forgotten all about that bass!
The bass in question is a black Ibanez I bought for our oldest daughter around 20 years ago. Cheap. Combination of P and Jazz pups that I don't intend to keep. Or should I? Which pup should I get for my 3-stringer to be? Don't have enough bread for any extra vaganza, so it can't be to expensive. As most of us here, I really dig the T-bird pup. Any ideas?
Plus: where to get a saddle and bridge piece that I can turn into 3-stringers?

[dadagoboi]

Remove  the G string and play it that way for a while to see if you like it.  

If you do, you can play it like that...

Then consider a new 3 string nut and removing one of the saddles from the bridge and relocating it to center the remaining strings.  You can get a $15 dollar blade (bar) type pickup.  Or you can relocate the Jazz pickup slightly.  Very little money is required.

[Highlander]

One and a half P pups... or something with a bar instead of pole-pieces...

[nofi]

whatever pickups are in that bass will work. except for the afore mentioned nut this a free bee.

[Rob]

Remove  the G string and play it that way for a while to see if you like it.  

If you do, you can play it like that...

Then consider a new 3 string nut and removing one of the saddles from the bridge and relocating it to center the remaining strings.  You can get a $15 dollar blade (bar) type pickup.  Or you can relocate the Jazz pickup slightly.  Very little money is required.

YEP

[patman]

EMG Selects are blade pickups

[GonzoBass]

I think it was the guy from NOFX who had his E-A-E-A
in case he broke one, he said...
He also said the other two strings were "kinda silly"

[uwe]

Scroll a little down here - but Magnum Coltrane Price wanted a custom three string FOR funk, you are going the other way:




http://www.google.de/imgres?q=magnum+coltrane+price+three+string+bass&um=1&hl=de&rls=com.microsoft:en-US&tbm=isch&tbnid=zZV1ChuToq4AoM:&imgrefurl=http://hotwire-bass.com/457.html&docid=QNN3kxQFX9B9lM&imgurl=http://hotwire-bass.com/tl_files/hwb/basses/custom%252520shop/drei%252520saiten/b3all.jpg&w=709&h=334&ei=K05cUKRTp6bRBeqPgYgG&zoom=1&biw=1194&bih=576&iact=rc&dur=640&sig=110951879766633309401&page=2&tbnh=79&tbnw=168&start=21&ndsp=28&ved=1t:429,r:0,s:21,i:144&tx=86&ty=44

If truth be told I could rather see myself sacrificing the E rather than the G string! I love the sound of a G on a Gibson bass, on Fenders, Rics and Stingrays they can sometimes be a bit thin, but never on a Gibson, regardless of scale. Does that make me a closet baritone guitar player?