Best string set for drop C?

[SMILEYSIXX]

Forgive me if this was posted before, I'm on my phone and the button to search is acting weird... what string set is best to get to drop C? I was gonna use DR's drop tuning set, but the sets seem to have string gauges better suited to standard tunings than having a heavier E string for drop tunings. Are there any sets of strings besides the Billy Sheehan set that have a heavier low E specific for drop tuning? Or do the DR sets work well for drop tuning, and if so, should I get the 55-115 or 65-125 gauge set?

[knuckle_head]

DR sets are indeed meant for 'traditional' intervals and not drop tunings.

A .118 to .124 ought to be good for your C with a .079 to .082 for your G.

[tylerwylie]

There are two rather excellent options:

Circle K Drop Tuned Set

BassStringsOnline.com DR singles set w/ 120 or 125 for C, with fairly standard gauges for the GCF.

DR Lo Riders, Hi Beams, Fat Beams in these gauges:

I use 120 85 65 45 and it works pretty well.

Circle K Drop Tuned 124 works really well too.

Can't go wrong with either set.

You can do what I did and try both to see what you prefer.

[tylerwylie]

Originally Posted by knuckle_head

DR sets are indeed meant for 'traditional' intervals and not drop tunings.

A .118 to .124 ought to be good for your C with a .079 to .082 for your G.

How long until I can buy Stainless Steel Circle K sets?

[LegoBass]

I personally love the DR DDT Strings. They have the same gauges as most other strings but handle the lows extremely well. They are not your standard string, Spinocores, I think that is what they are called. Basically, the core itself is spun, giving it a lot more mass with the same volume. I would check those out, don't count them out before you hear them!

[ixlramp]

Originally Posted by SMILEYSIXX

I was gonna use DR's drop tuning set, but the sets seem to have string gauges better suited to standard tunings

Exactly. DR DDT are apparently designed to 'feel' good when detuned but the actual tension of that lowest drooped string will indeed be much lower.

Circle K have sets designed for drop tunings, the gauges have been chosen to create equal tension on each string in a drop tuning: vStandard Drop-tuned 4 Strings.

[knumbskull]

for drop C i mainly use Roto steels, 125, 90, 70, 50...

(only Rotos because they are readily available here in those guages... but those seem to work OK. listen to Circle K strings for more precise advice!)

[Mooch]

Circle K's still are string through body yet are they?

[Mooch]

Dang it, I ment are not string through.

[tylerwylie]

Originally Posted by ixlramp

Exactly. DR DDT are apparently designed to 'feel' good when detuned but the actual tension of that lowest drooped string will indeed be much lower.

Circle K have sets designed for drop tunings, the gauges have been chosen to create equal tension on each string in a drop tuning: vStandard Drop-tuned 4 Strings.

Yea, I'm going back and forth with my denatured alcohol bath and a set of .124 drop tuned Circle k's and a 120 85 65 45 DR Lo Rider set, both feel great and are better balanced than the DDT set. though now I just put in an order for a .112 balanced set, replace the .112 with a .118 instead of the .124. Will keep the set somewhat balanced and the tonal difference between the top 2 strings will not change as much.

[AmadeusXeno]

Mudvayne uses drop c tuning and their bassist Ryan uses a 50-110 set of DR's. I think he uses Highbeams. It mostly comes down to your preferance of tension. Some people like lower tension and might be happy with a 45-105 while as you can see in other people's comments some like more tension and are using gauges like 55-125. I suggest trying whatever gauge you have on now. If it doesn't have enough tension for your liking then get a set that's a 5-10 heavier. Eventually you'll find what is best for you.

[tylerwylie]

Originally Posted by AmadeusXeno

Mudvayne uses drop c tuning and their bassist Ryan uses a 50-110 set of DR's. I think he uses Highbeams. It mostly comes down to your preferance of tension. Some people like lower tension and might be happy with a 45-105 while as you can see in other people's comments some like more tension and are using gauges like 55-125. I suggest trying whatever gauge you have on now. If it doesn't have enough tension for your liking then get a set that's a 5-10 heavier. Eventually you'll find what is best for you.

Yea he needs lower tension usually cause he bounces the string off the fretboard.

[blastjv]

I play in Drop C and just tried a set of the Billy Sheehan Rotos. Overall I am very happy with them. I had been using Ken Smith Rock Masters in 45-65-85-105 and was happy overall with the sound and feel, but wanted to try the heavier 110. I am VERY glad I did. The 110 got me the tension and focus I wanted on the Low C, but still feels natural to me (I really don't like the feel of thicker strings) I do think that the ideal strings FOR ME would be a 45-60-85-110 set of Rotos... I'd like a little more tension overall, and a slightly thicker 3rd string to make the transition from 3rd to 4th string a little more natural feeling. I don't know why they use a 65 in the Billy Sheehan set...seems like a 60 would be a more appropriate choice in between a 43 and an 80.....

-JV

[knuckle_head]

Originally Posted by blastjv

. . . the ideal strings FOR ME would be a 45-60-85-110 set of Rotos...

-JV

That set is better suited for traditional intervals IMO - there is 10 pounds less tension on your .110 than on your .085 in drop C.

[lowendgenerator]

Here's what works for me, after years and years of experimenting.

DR Lo Rider SS strings 115-85-65-45. The stock strings can handle a full step drop just fine. I can get my action ridiculously low. They don't sound funny, or intonate out of whack.

IMO, YMMV, blah blah.

[blastjv]

Originally Posted by knuckle_head

That set is better suited for traditional intervals IMO - there is 10 pounds less tension on your .110 than on your .085 in drop C.

Of course that's true, but this would be the best 'balance' of my personal (and maybe irrational) preferences, even if it's not a very 'balanced' set of strings, tension-wise.....

-JV

[zachoff]

I know it's not ideal, but I just use the EB Power Slinkys. They're cheap and available everywhere.

[rockstarbassist]

Circle K .124 dropped set w/ a .158 low B tuned to A or G.

[knuckle_head]

Originally Posted by zachoff

I know it's not ideal, but I just use the EB Power Slinkys. They're cheap and available everywhere.

Wow - dude. How the hell are ya?!?

Long time no see.

[seungkoo]

Buy a 5 string