Down a step on "35

Roland777 · #1 08-26-2006, 06:22 AM

I've been playing around for a little while on my guitar, tuning it down one step to A, enjoying the humongeously heavy sounds I can get out of it that way. However, I tuned back up again after realising the problems I'd get out of it when trying to tune my bass down to A to match it.
I've got an Ibanez BTB555 ("35 as you may know), and I'm wondering what kind of gauges I'm looking at if I'm to tune down. I'm not that keen on the Elixir low B I got on it shipped (think it's a .125) since it gives me buzz on the lower frets. Would a Warwick Black Label .135 set be enough, or am I looking at something else?

hyp.spec · #2 08-26-2006, 10:11 AM

DR Lo-Riders

awesome tension!

they should work fine for down tuning!

Ian Perge · #3 08-26-2006, 01:54 PM

As a general rule I add .005 for every step I downtune. I usually use D'addario XL ProSteels EPS170-5SL (.130, .100, .80, .65, .45) on my five-strings but as an example, I once had a bass tuned C#,F#,B,E for "A Perfect Circle" covers and found that going to .115, .095, .080, .060 seemed to keep the overall tension and "feel" similar to my normal tuning and gauges.

I'll also go up to a .105 on my E if I plan on using the bass for "D-tuning" a decent amount, although I haven't done this since moving to five-strings almost exclusively. However, I feel a return to a four-string Jazz in the near future, so I might just reinstate this. Thank goodness for juststrings.com and single-string purchases!

tim99 · #4 08-26-2006, 02:11 PM

These neat little things allow you to tune up and down on the fly during a performance:

http://www.hipshotproducts.com/cart....oduct_list&c=6

Read everything about them here very carefully. Some people make some very tyipcal mistakes:

http://www.hipshotproducts.com/faq.htm

And yes, some people put a bass xtender on every string, so they can tune down all the strings.

Bryan R Tyler has a picture of a bass on his site that shows this:

http://www.bryanrtylermusic.com/elri...tfretless.html

Look at the picture of the back of the headstock.

Ian Perge · #5 08-26-2006, 02:45 PM

Tim brings up a great piece(s) of gear - for up/downtuning on the "fly" you can't beat a Hipshot, especially if you're doing tuning changes mid-song. Well worth the cost, and you can always list a single tuner here or on the 'Bay for people who need replacement parts to offset the monetary outlay.

(and don't forget Manring - Hipshots on all six tuners of his Hyperbass as well as a detunable bridge. From his webpage: "or those unfamiliar with Michael’s technique, he makes extensive use of the retuning capabilities of these basses on the fly. For example, 'The Enormous Room' involves over 100 tuning changes during performance." )

One thing you either didn't mention of my sleep depravation is causing me to miss - are you talking about E-to-A-and-back, or setting up for dropped A? If the latter where all the strings would be "permanently" lowered I stand by my advice. If it's to-and-from, you might want to split the difference and go with a .130 - as I said it's what I use for "standard" tuning, and can easily give good focus on the occasions where I drop my B down to A.

Roland777 · #6 08-27-2006, 06:35 AM

I intended to just go down a whole step, tuning the entire bass to A D G C F. Seems like .135 is a good idea. The Elixirs my bass ships with is like .125.... I think. That's what people say anyway. It's buzz city on the lower frets, but okay otherwise. I still want more tension on the low B, not to mention a better string feel - the Elixirs are just way too slippery (I wipe my strings after every session - my own sweat is not the issue) for all out fingerstyling for me. They do sound and work nice for slapping, however.

Roland777 · #7 08-28-2006, 09:23 AM

Okay, I have to bump this one. I do NOT want to go below .135 - so which companies other than Warwick do I have to choose from? I can say that I sonically like Elixirs quite a lot, so a string that sounds like them will receive bonus-points, but it is not necessary. However, I would like them to be more vivid than the Warwick Black Labels, since a second trip to the shop proved them to be quite dull in comparison to other strings.
Any tips will be greatly appreciated! Keep in mind that it's a "35-scale.

Ian Perge · #8 08-29-2006, 02:29 AM

Out of all the coated strings I've tried, D'addario EXPs have come out on top sounding like uncoated strings as opposed to Elixirs, Warwicks, etc.

That is, if you want the protection and life of coated strings - if you've a fan of their natural sound, best to try a few different brands (D'addaio, DR, others)

Stay away from Hartkes as if your life depended on them.