5 string basses in drop A.

anthowl · #1 02-28-2008, 02:20 AM

hokay, on a five string the standard low B string guage is around 130, and i wondered what people think regarding it's looseness when you detune it to a dropped A tuning.

i was thinking of adding a bass xtender for quick detuning.

but do i need a thicker string for a low A tuning?
(and if so what heavier gauges exist?)

stitchbass · #2 02-28-2008, 03:58 AM

i play in drop A most of the time with a 130, DR Lo-riders. I find it works fine; but I'm so used to it to let it bother me.

Bass Below · #3 02-28-2008, 07:27 AM

I tune to G# (only a half step down from your A), and right now I'm using a .175, but I don't flip flop from B. If I did, I couldn't get away with the .175, I stay at G# all the time.

IMO a B should be at least .145 anyway, so you may want to consider jumping that .130 up to a .145, you'll have a tighter B and when you drop to A you'll still have adequate tension.

The thought of a .130 tuned to A brings back bad memories

Tobbo · #4 02-28-2008, 07:38 AM

"The thought of a .130 tuned to A brings back bad memories"

mind sharing those, because I got my bass tuned down to A with .130 ^^ and I think it's more comfortable than .135 for example

Muss · #5 02-28-2008, 07:47 AM

try ernie ball's strings with the 135

Bass Below · #6 02-28-2008, 07:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tobbo

"The thought of a .130 tuned to A brings back bad memories"

mind sharing those, because I got my bass tuned down to A with .130 ^^ and I think it's more comfortable than .135 for example

I sort of mentioned my issues with low tension in another thread a few minutes ago, but basically I'm a sloppy player and a .130 at A (actually G# in my case) was a nightmare for me. I give you a lot of credit for being able to play that low on such a light string.

fullrangebass · #7 02-28-2008, 07:59 AM

If the scale of the bass is 35" (or longer), the experience is less likely to be bad or bitter. I use the detuner on the B-srting of my Dingwalls (37") and I go down to A (or even Ab=G#) and it's not floppy

Tobbo · #8 02-28-2008, 08:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bass Below

I sort of mentioned my issues with low tension in another thread a few minutes ago, but basically I'm a sloppy player and a .130 at A (actually G# in my case) was a nightmare for me. I give you a lot of credit for being able to play that low on such a light string.

That's what you get when u don't read the whole post, well done me

Yeah, I dunno.. I just like it a better when it has some air to breathe ^^

spade2you · #9 02-28-2008, 10:03 AM

I once tried getting a 130 to work on a 35" scale bass with no luck. I eventually got the flop under control, but the string lost too much volume when I switched from B to A.

Now I'm looking at ordering a 37"-33" fanned 7 with a low A. That should work!

Bass Below · #10 02-28-2008, 10:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spade2you

Now I'm looking at ordering a 37"-33" fanned 7 with a low A. That should work!

Nah, get one of these instead!

greenboy · #11 02-28-2008, 05:44 PM

When I started building my own balanced-tension sets I got used to lighter gauges all around; then my B/A Hipshot gauges no longer felt floppy in B, and only marginally so when flipped to A. It's all relative - I could do the same building around heavier gauges as long as they feel matched better than stock sets do. Example: 145-105-80-60-45 or 145 (or more if you can find something)-110-85-65-50. But I've gotten used to considerably lighter and have no problems as long as all the strings have about the same tension.

A lot of it also is perceptive based on how well one's rig translates the lower pitches into acoustic output. If the low bass is deficient leading down to 55 Hz or so, and/or there's an especially big midbass hump in the cab(s), then some notes are not going to seem as loud and full as others regardless of even tension or not. Another issue is drivers/cabs that run out of excursion when the steam is put to 'em on lower notes.

Lokire · #12 02-28-2008, 05:52 PM

I have a d-tuner on the B-string of my Ken Lawrence. I use it to drop to A with TI Jazz Rounds, and that's a .118 B-string. Sounds fine for my purposes

Roland777 · #13 02-29-2008, 06:25 AM

It's all subjective. Some need heavy strings, some can get away with lighter. I personally think that Lokire is clinically insane for using a .118 tuned to A, but that's just me. A good starting gauge (playabilitywise) for a low A is a .145.

Lokire · #14 02-29-2008, 04:47 PM

I have proof:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wwJ7sb64Ywo

spade2you · #15 03-01-2008, 08:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roland777

It's all subjective. Some need heavy strings, some can get away with lighter. I personally think that Lokire is clinically insane for using a .118 tuned to A, but that's just me. A good starting gauge (playabilitywise) for a low A is a .145.

Heh, on a 35" scale bass, I use a .110 for dropped D tuning. Not to bash the vid, but it's pretty easy to tell when the guy with the tattoos was playing the dropped A string. I'd think if it weren't a nice bass like a Stambaugh, the results would have been more noticable.

anthowl · #16 03-07-2008, 03:19 AM

i'm looking at a 34" scale, would that be feesable? i want to attatch a hipshot x-tender on it, so i want a string that can do the A and B thats not too loose of to tight.
just comfortable, holding tune and tonality.

to be specific the bass in mind is a Cort Artisan B5. not fanned.

the b holds it's own fantasticaly.