Best strings for detuning?

Skyring · #1 12-08-2008, 02:41 PM

I'm looking into getting the best detuned sound out of my schecter. So I've turned to the strings section. Can anyone reccomend any good strings for tuning as low as AEAD or CGCF. If im totally wrong any chance you guys can push me in the right direction?

Thanks all!

lowendgenerator · #2 12-08-2008, 02:49 PM

DR Lo-Riders.

tomvelsor · #3 12-08-2008, 04:54 PM

heavier gague ones..

iplaybasstexas · #4 12-08-2008, 05:01 PM

i use Rotosound Swing Bass 66's (45-135). I often downtune, to (E)AEAD, and CGCF, BEAD, etc.
They are tight, last long and you get a really nice tone out of them. i play fingerstyle.

lowendgenerator · #5 12-08-2008, 05:05 PM

You can get rotos to last? I kill rotos in mere minutes! They do have a nice stiff quality to them, but they chew up fingers and frets.

atheos · #6 12-08-2008, 05:06 PM

Check out Skull Strings too.

iplaybasstexas · #7 12-08-2008, 05:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lowendgenerator

You can get rotos to last? I kill rotos in mere minutes! They do have a nice stiff quality to them, but they chew up fingers and frets.

i haven't had problems with them tearing up frets on any basses...my fingers are fine too.

we've had different experiences!

My rotos last forever...I play my roto'd basses about three-six times a week.
Drop tuned, sometimes tune back to standard, then back down, etc. Bad for the neck, i know. i don't do it often!
but for the most part, they work great for me!
i love them. the sound is amazing when drop tuned.

I play fingerstyle, and i play pretty rough sometimes. I like to thrash and such :]
listen to my band...link below

isher1992 · #8 12-08-2008, 05:29 PM

as for AEAD, you may just want to consider getting a five string, it'd be much easier, and lighter on your necks when you have to tune back to standard.

But for CGCF, go for DR Lo-Riders, definetely. Or do a Rick Burch and buy a five-string set but leave off the smallest string.

doobeye · #9 12-08-2008, 05:29 PM

you should quit that band

iplaybasstexas · #10 12-08-2008, 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by isher1992

as for AEAD, you may just want to consider getting a five string, it'd be much easier, and lighter on your necks when you have to tune back to standard.

But for CGCF, go for DR Lo-Riders, definetely. Or do a Rick Burch and buy a five-string set but leave off the smallest string.

I do have a 5 string, that why i mentioned the (e)aead.

I now have other basses for standard, so its fine now.

Schecter-drop
aero-half drop/standard
SX-half drop/standard
Mats.-standard
thunderbird-drop/standard
spector-drop/standard
ibanez-drop

iplaybasstexas · #11 12-08-2008, 05:32 PM

OH, and to the OP,
my schecter studio-5 sounds amazing with drop-tuned Rotos.

AMAZING!

isher1992 · #12 12-08-2008, 05:33 PM

If you don't mind my asking, have you sat and played with your basses to figure out which ones sound best at what? And I don't mean just tuning down once and deciding it sounds great, I mean leaving them all in one tuning, pick one that sounds good and use it just for that tuning, and repeat for each tuning you use.

lowendgenerator · #13 12-08-2008, 05:36 PM

For tuning to C I use a .115, .085, .065 and .045, the tension is perfect with lo riders.

isher1992 · #14 12-08-2008, 05:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lowendgenerator

For tuning to C I use a .115, .085, .065 and .045, the tension is perfect with lo riders.

so pretty much, you have a medium gauge B string, but the other three are standard medium strings?

lowendgenerator · #15 12-09-2008, 12:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by isher1992

so pretty much, you have a medium gauge B string, but the other three are standard medium strings?

Exactly. I order 4 or 5 single .115s at a time from the local shop, then just buy regular Lo Rider sets and sub the .115 for the .105. It took me a bit of trial and error to reach this result, but it was worth it. I tried using the BEAD strings from a 5 string set, it was awful. I've found that using extra large strings creates odd, unnatural overtones. Simply put, they just sound like they're wound too tight.

The .115 is perfect for C and D, and the standard E,A and D Lo-Rider strings easily handle the whole step downtune. The size difference between the .115 and the .085 isn't drastic enough to be noticeable, unlike a .120, which just felt obnoxiously large compared to the rest of the strings. I felt like I was missing a string.

I've only used this method on DR Lo-Riders. I've tried GHS's Heavy Boomers, and EB Heavy Slinkys, and they don't feel right.

Thunderscreech · #16 12-09-2008, 12:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lowendgenerator

For tuning to C I use a .115, .085, .065 and .045, the tension is perfect with lo riders.

I use a .110 for the C.

A .115 would probably do me better. The current string a little on the floppy side.

And I've never used Lo-Riders. I'll have to give them a try.

lowendgenerator · #17 12-09-2008, 12:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thunderscreech

I use a .110 for the C.

A .115 would probably do me better. The current string a little on the floppy side.

Yes, definitely try a .115 on your next string change. It's stiff enough for low action in my basses, and I beat the hell out of 'em.

lowendgenerator · #18 12-09-2008, 12:43 AM

I should also mention, I order my .115s through my local Mom & Pop store. Juststrings.com doesn't stock the Lo-Rider string in .115, and even if they did, they want too much for single strings. I get mine for 8 bucks a pop, Juststrings.com wants a whopping $23 for ONE .105 DR Lo-Rider.

http://www.juststrings.com/drs-lrs-105.html

I pay less than that for a whole damn set of Lo-Riders!

PM me and I can hook you up with the shop I get them from. If they won't ship them, I'll pick them up and throw 'em in the mail for ya.

Solarmist · #19 12-09-2008, 01:14 AM

I use SIT Powerwounds, and tune DGCF or sometimes CGCF using .050 / .070 / .090 / .110 gauge, but a .115 would be better for low "C".

SIT will assemble "custom gauge" sets for the same price of a standard set ($17 / $18) at customers request through you local SIT dealer.

My next project is going to be setting up a 34" scale Ibby SR for ADGC, but not sure if I can get away with using a .130 (or .135) for the low A.

Skyring · #20 12-09-2008, 11:17 AM

Ah thanks for all the replies, just got home from work and saw all this useful info!
So from what I gather, DR Lo-Riders are the choice for downtuning to C/A. Using the low 4 from a 5 set would sound bad... as for the custom guages I'm guessing I should be sticking around .115/.085/.065/.045 set?

Another question thrown into the mix, I've been reading up tuning down to the lower end notes. Once I get the strings I wanna use, is it cruicial to re-ajust the action? I'm not sure myself I'd probably take it to a custom shop to get it done but would it affect the sound (better or worse?)?

Once again thanks guys.