Decent strings for DCFG tuning

jcburn · #1 10-06-2009, 04:01 AM

Hey all - did some searching and couldn't really find the answers I'm after. Lately my band has made the decision to tune DCGF (down a whole step). Usually use D'Addario XL's (100 to 45 I think), but for a little extra tension I tried some EB Power Slinkies (110 to 50). I'm not real keen on the tone of the EB's - what I'm after is a set of strings that are bright, can handle the tuning we are using and have the best tension.

ehque · #2 10-06-2009, 04:04 AM

DCFG? DGCF you mean?

Any heavy set will do, if set up properly.

jcburn · #3 10-06-2009, 04:59 AM

Oops - yeah thats what I meant. Looking maybe at DR Hi Beams or Lo Riders 110-50. but a bit worried about my frets. Never used stainless strings before.

jcburn · #4 10-06-2009, 06:15 PM

What about using the bottom 4 strings of a light 5 gauge set? Does a 120 B exist - I suppose I should just go and search eh?

Thegian · #5 10-06-2009, 06:21 PM

105 or 110 will be fine, 115 is pushing it and anything above that is gonna have too much tension imo.

I dont think stainless really wear down frets as much as they are reputed to do ... but i'm a nickel guy myself so i dunno.

MooseLumps · #6 10-06-2009, 06:27 PM

I'm selling some 120's

Gearhead17 · #7 10-06-2009, 07:01 PM

.110 , .090, .070, .050

Those gauges in the D'addario Pro Steels handle Eb tuning (1/2 step down on all strings) and should be able to handle another half step with no issue.

As for Stainless steel eating frets, well, maybe it does, but I honestly could care less. If the string sounds good, keep playing it!. I have always used stainless steel and I have not noticed anything bad on the frets of my basses.

rhapbus · #8 10-06-2009, 07:07 PM

Rotosound 66 strings are pretty bright, and they are what i use in .110-.50 gauge. I highly recommend them but they are very rough on your fingers.

jcburn · #9 10-06-2009, 07:28 PM

One thing I haven't mentioned yet is that for the odd 1 or 2 songs we drop D (making the lowest note C). This is why I thought the 5 string set might be in order. I currently am strung with 110 - 50 and would like a little more tension. Fender do a 115(7250-5L) and DR do a 120 B. The Fender set would be good I think - would feel very much like being concert pitch tension. They are nickels - I've never used stainless before and while I realise they will be nice and bright I dont like the idea of them being harsh on fingers and frets.

NickInMesa · #10 11-29-2009, 02:21 AM

I am digging this one out but I was learning songs for a female fronted pop metal band I am auditioning for tomorrow. Nightwish, The Gathering, Epica, etc... and all that stuff is DGCF.

I do a lot of drop D in my other band, a Godsmack/Nickelback cover band, and Drop D is absolutely different. These songs are totally written for drop D.

Anyway, I tried it on my basses, and my jazz has a .95 / .40 D'Addario XL 220 set and it works awkwardly well.

The Rotosound 66 on my Foundation works fine as well, but I was surprised to see the medium set do do well.

My theory is that since my Jazz was set up for the medium light strings, going down a full step does not change much proportionally.

I also happened to have just released the tension on the neck as the weather is getting rainy and humidity is going up and I was getting a bit of buzz.

XXL · #11 11-30-2009, 01:22 PM

Lo Riders 110-50 on my Jazz work well with this tuning. I had no problems setting the bass up to my specs or with tension.

Solarmist · #12 12-01-2009, 12:49 AM

I use a custom gauge set 50 / 70 / 90 / 110 of SIT Powerwounds for DGCF on my SR4. I wouldn't want any larger as the tension would be too tight.

If you want real bright try ProSteels like someone else said in 50 -110.

socialleper · #13 12-01-2009, 01:17 PM

I see that a lot of people are suggesting .110 sets. If you are going to DGCF and no lower, you can use a .110 set with a round core, but wouldn't suggest a hex core set because then it would be too stiff; a full step down isn't really that low. Personally I prefer a regular D'Addario .105 set or a nickle Lo-Rider set so you have more tension from the hex core and the nickle helps keep down excess finger, pick, or fret noise. I'm actaully running a super long (35") scale set of D'Addario 105, 85, 70, 50 on my ESP TA-600 tuned to C#F#BE and I like the way it works. The extra mass of the .110 or .115 (GHS) just sounds like its eating up some of the attack of the string to me

NickInMesa · #14 12-01-2009, 01:30 PM

As a follow-up: initially I was happy with the Fender Jazz and it's 95-40 set, but I realized than I would have to reset my neck due to the lesser amount of tension.

Currently, I am trying a 105-45 Roto 66 set on a Foundation that was set with low action and it works quite a lot better.

troll · #15 12-02-2009, 10:01 AM

If you're like me and prefer to be able to dig in and not have notes dying because you're pushing the string into a pickup or clacking it against the fretboard, thicker gauges are the only way to go.

I'm using a .125 for C# and tune it up to Eb often without trouble. A .110 would be pretty good for D as others have suggested.

I also use .90 .70 and .50 for only half step down, but I like tension. A lot of it is up to the instrument and how it responds to string tension. I've used my prefered gauges on another bass and hated it. A little experimentation goes a long way. Expensive, sure, but worth it in the long run.

I was originally using D'addario pro steels but they discontinued several of the sizes. So I switched to SIT since they were the only others offering anything over .145 for my low G#

I almost like the SIT's better and they stay zingy longer, and have a much nicer inherent growl down low.

Solarmist · #16 12-02-2009, 05:46 PM

^ Yeah I really like SIT Powerwounds too - warm, bright, and inexpensive.

SIT will assemble "custom gauge" sets for the same price of a standard set at customers request through your local SIT dealer.

troll · #17 12-03-2009, 11:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Solarmist

^ Yeah I really like SIT Powerwounds too - warm, bright, and inexpensive.

SIT will assemble "custom gauge" sets for the same price of a standard set at customers request through your local SIT dealer.

That'd be amazing, but somehow I think they will exclude the $26 .165 I include in my current setup

THSL · #18 12-04-2009, 09:08 AM

Check out Circle K strings...

They have a set with a .112 on the bottom...

http://circlekstrings.com/

Solarmist · #19 12-04-2009, 08:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by troll

That'd be amazing, but somehow I think they will exclude the $26 .165 I include in my current setup

Yeah - I think it applies to string gauges relatively close in gauge to standard sets.

TortillaChip520 · #20 12-04-2009, 08:28 PM

my band tunes CGCF and i use a set of 110's and they work great. I plan on going back to 105's though because i play at church in standard tuning, and the D string of the 110 set is too big for my nut. 105's work good for the downtuning, but if you plan to stay in D standard all the time, then just go with the 110's. They just feel powerful