C# Tuning for 4 string bass.

[Monsterbass74]

Cheers!

Any ideas as to what gauge to use? 100s are too light and floppy. I figure 110s. My buddy suggests 105s and 110s. Anyone else have any suggestions and can not be snarky about it and site the standards and purity of the bass? I am curious as to what others might use.

Thanks!

[bass5]

Idk if u could get a standard gauge E string down that low. I was thinking put a low b in place of your E and so on. Put an E in place of A so BEAD. Hope it works out

[FunkMetalBass]

If 5-string sets are readily available near you, buy something with a .120.

I also recommend Circle K strings.

[fullrangebass]

Originally Posted by FunkMetalBass

I also recommend Circle K strings.

You beat me to that!!!

Skip is a great guy and very knowledgeable. Great strings too

[NGJBeaner]

i have a fender precision 4 string that is tuned drop C (half step lower) and use 115's i believe. DR DDT stings. sounds great. with a C# you could probably get away with 110's.

[rockstarbassist]

C# you can do .110 or .115 no problem with a setup. Is this drop C# or C# standard?

Still recommend Circle K's, either way. Better and more even/natural tension than the DDT's which to me were too tight and too dark.

Still, in a pinch even Ernie Ball .110's can swing it. I have my Epi T-bird in drop C with that set and it holds fine.

[Burlington]

Like the other guys said, anything between 105 and 115 will be fine. I used 115 for drop C for a long time, went back to 105 recently, if you have a good setup it will work fine.

[Monsterbass74]

Thanks for all the info, everyone!!

To simplify the original post: I am tuning to standard C# for a Doom/Stoner metal collaboration project and NOT dropped C#. My buddy tunes to C# hence the change. I always use standard since I practice to classic tunes too much. A lower tuning is new to me. I also ALWAYS use 100s for standard. I figured that 110s would be "in the middle of the road" and the way to go since it's not a B string (125-130). I have been there using a 125 and it was much too tight. I have been to Circle K strings before and I might try a set from them, but if I become impatient I might scoop up Boomers or D'Adarrios.

Cheers!

Gio

[rockstarbassist]

Yeah lots of people in that genre seem to go after C# or C standard as those are highly used by both Down and High On Fire, among others. We play in drop C mostly but tested out C std. during rehearsal and it's pretty rad. Very raunchy sounding which I like. We may start doing some of the tunes we have written in D std. in C std. and see what happens.

If you go Circle K, just tell them what tuning you're after and they can hook you up. They do it right and that's why they work so well.

[MikeBass]

Originally Posted by Burlington

Like the other guys said, anything between 105 and 115 will be fine. I used 115 for drop C for a long time, went back to 105 recently, if you have a good setup it will work fine.

I have my PRS with a HipShot D-Tuner w/ Double Stop lever.
I have it set for drop "D" and "B".
I used a .100 for a while and yeah, it was a bit floppy. But just recently went to a .105 and it seemed to help.

Just gotta tread a little lightly with lighter strings tuned down that low.

I have a (sloppy) youtube video that you can kinda get an idea of what a .100 will sound like down to "C" (my tuning at the time forward to the last 1/4 of clip to hear the drop "C" stuff).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kU-Vdgji8sw
(be nice!)

[ixlramp]

Something like .120 .085 .060 .045 would have an even tension across the strings. The .120 C# looks big numerically but actually has the same tension as a .100 E.