How to restring a bajo quinto
A bajo quinto has ten strings in five courses. The three treble courses are unison pairs and the two bass courses are octave pairs, a thick string with a thin one an octave higher. Put them back in the wrong slots and the bajo loses its sound, so this guide goes course by course and keeps the order of every pair.
Bajo quinto standard tuning, course by course
From the 5th course (the lowest) to the 1st, at A 440 Hz. The 5th and 4th courses are octave pairs.
| String | Note | Hz |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | A1 + A2 | 55.00 + 110.00 |
| 4 | D2 + D3 | 73.42 + 146.83 |
| 3 | G2 | 98.00 |
| 2 | C3 | 130.81 |
| 1 | F3 | 174.61 |
How to use it
- Lay the new set out in order before you start: two .026, two .036, two .046, then .030 with .062 and .036 with .078 on D'Addario's EJ85.
- Do a step and tick its box. Your progress stays saved on this device.
- When every box is ticked, tune each course in the tuner below, the two strings of a pair one after the other.
Help and explanations
At the end there's a course-by-course tuner: A1 55 Hz with A2 110 Hz on the 5th course up to F3 174.61 Hz on the 1st, at A 440 Hz.
Why one course at a time
D'Addario puts the EJ85 set at 269.1 lb (122.1 kg) on the neck and top, 21 to 30 lb per string. Taking all ten off releases that load at once: the neck relief moves, and if the saddle is not glued it can drop out. Change one course, tune it roughly, then move to the next. The neighbouring strings keep the bridge and neck under load and show you the slot each new string goes into.
Octave courses: which string goes where
On the 4th course, the .062 is tuned to D2 and the .030 to D3; on the 5th, the .078 to A1 and the .036 to A2. Builders do not all lay out the pairs the same way, so before you remove a pair, note which side the thin string sits on and put the new one back in the same slot. Swapping them changes the attack of every bass note.
The nut slots for the octave strings are narrower. A .078 forced into a slot cut for a .036 will sit high, bind and go out of tune.
Tips
- Slacken before you cut: a wound .078 under tension whips hard enough to mark the top.
- Going lighter or heavier? Compare the sets first in the bajo quinto string tension calculator.
- With the new strings settled, check each course at the 12th fret with the intonation checker.
Frequently asked questions
How many strings does a bajo quinto have?
Ten, in five courses: A, D, G, C and F. The A and D courses are octave pairs, the G, C and F courses are unison pairs.
What is the string order on a bajo quinto?
From the 5th course to the 1st: A1 .078 with A2 .036, D2 .062 with D3 .030, G2 .046 ×2, C3 .036 ×2 and F3 .026 ×2, in D'Addario's EJ85.
How do I tune a bajo quinto?
A D G C F in fourths: 55 + 110 Hz, 73.42 + 146.83 Hz, 98 Hz, 130.81 Hz and 174.61 Hz at A 440. Tune the thick string of each octave pair first, then its octave.
Are bajo quinto strings ball end or loop end?
D'Addario's EJ85 is loop end. Copy how the old strings are anchored at your bridge before you take them off, since builders vary.
How long does it take to restring a bajo quinto?
About 30 to 40 minutes for ten strings, plus a few retunes over the first day while the wound strings settle.