Chromes .50-.105 sufficient for standard D?

bunkaroo · #1 09-21-2010, 02:29 PM

OK here's the deal - I should be getting an MIA P bass shortly and I want to tune it to standard D with the option of dropping C occasionally. I'm aware of the various custom set options out there but right now I want to try a stock set of flats for this.

I am not typically a fan of high tension, and I've read the D'Addario Chromes are pretty tense. So I'm thinking if I go with the .50-.105 set, that plus the combo of tuning down a full step would work.

Thoughts?

Surly · #2 09-21-2010, 06:27 PM

Probably would work, I just got a set of these and Drop D is no problem at all.

Krucial · #3 09-22-2010, 03:30 AM

Yep! I have the .50-1.05 set on my Ibanez SR 1000 prestige tuned D-G-C-F.
Sounds awesome and plays very nice.

Drop C however might become very loose tension, but worth a try. The Labella James Jamerson set (darker sound) and the Rotosound Steve Harris set (never tried, so no clue to the sound) have a thicker E string.

jasper383 · #4 09-22-2010, 04:34 AM

I just tried it on my Jaguar bass, and D is no problem. C, I'm not so sure; you might need to change the setup to go there.

markdavid · #5 09-24-2010, 06:27 AM

D will be fine , C will be like a wet noodle

erigod23 · #6 09-24-2010, 06:55 AM

If you want flats for drop C, which I something I do, go with Steve Harris Rotosounds. The E string is .110 which keeps nice tension in C. Juststrings.com has the best price on them.

bunkaroo · #7 09-24-2010, 03:35 PM

Well I got these put on yesterday. Standard D feels good. Not too tight - not too loose. Haven't tried dropping C yet.

I bought the standard Long scale and they didn't wind up being long enough to go through the body on my P bass. Not a big deal - sounds like maybe going through the body with some flats isn't a good idea anyway. If I decide to stick with them I suppose I could get the super longs.