Drop A tuning on a 4 string? Looking into some Drop Circle K strings and need insight

AciDBatH666 · #1 01-21-2011, 08:15 AM

I started jamming with some guys that play in Drop A. At first I was like w t f?! but after messing with their material I kind of got adjusted to it. I'm currently playing with these guys on my 5 string Ibanez dropping the B to an A. I'd like to get back down to a 4 string for this band because I just feel like I'm faster on a thinner 4 string neck. I was worried about the balance and tension of dropping such a big top string onto a bass that's accustomed to having an E. Also worried about intonation problems.

Well I recently found Circle K strings here on TB and saw that they offer Drop string sets. I currently am playing with a .130 B on my 5 string. If I go to a set of 4, should I up the string size to a .136 or more? Will that help with the floppiness or anything? And if they are balanced in tension will this help alleviate some of the issues with slapping heavy strings on a bass that's meant to be played with some EADGs?
I'm assuming I can bring it in to my local shop and have them professionally adjust it to make it workable but I'm just weary of jumping into it until I can find someone that's had experience with it.
Please pardon my ignorance on the subject, I've tried to do my research on the subject but I can't find much of anything pertaining to people dropping down really low to an A and how they set up their basses to handle it. Let alone on a 4 string.

zachoff · #2 01-21-2011, 08:19 AM

I'm hard-pressed to believe any string will properly intonate on a 34" scale 4 string with a good amount of tension for A tuning.

rockstarbassist · #3 01-21-2011, 08:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zachoff

I'm hard-pressed to believe any string will properly intonate on a 34" scale 4 string with a good amount of tension for A tuning.

This. Troy Sanders (Mastodon) uses his Godlyke when they go down to drop A, which is like 36" or 37" scale, I believe.

Worst you could do is ask Skip and take it to a REALLY really good tech!

BoomHeadshot · #4 01-21-2011, 08:33 AM

I have used .135 D'addarios and Ernie Balls for drop A (on a 5 string with a 34" scale) and it worked pretty well. It wasn't perfect, but it worked well enough for me. You might want to try DR DDT strings. I personally have had bad experiences with DR, but it could be worth a shot for you.

AciDBatH666 · #5 01-21-2011, 08:39 AM

Hrmmmm.
I might look into ordering a set for my 5 string. Maybe I'll go to a .135, find another nut to put onto my 4 string and try it out. If it just doesn't work I'll keep em as 5 string backups. I was thinking of buying a backup bass just for this tuning. Nothing too extravagant, just something decent for this project.

rockstarbassist · #6 01-21-2011, 08:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BoomHeadshot

I have used .135 D'addarios and Ernie Balls for drop A (on a 5 string with a 34" scale) and it worked pretty well. It wasn't perfect, but it worked well enough for me. You might want to try DR DDT strings. I personally have had bad experiences with DR, but it could be worth a shot for you.

IME the intonation up the neck on these is pretty terrible. If you don't go past the 7th or 8th fret they're ok, but if you're looking for the 12th octave or anything they're iffy at best.
I was a long time DR player so I don't like bashing them but they need to work out the kinks on those strings (which they could) before I'd ever try 'em again.

NKBassman · #7 01-21-2011, 08:42 AM

I'm using the DR DDT strings right now for my 4 string tuned to C standard, which occasionally drops to A#. They're not bad, but still not as tight as I would like.

Jensby design · #8 01-21-2011, 10:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zachoff

I'm hard-pressed to believe any string will properly intonate on a 34" scale 4 string with a good amount of tension for A tuning.

Beg to differ,I am using a circle k 182 for an F#(38.8 lbs of tension @ 34").
It intonates within 4 cents on the first 7 frets,within 7 cents up to the 12th.
For good intonation,the nut needs to be as close to level with the frets as possible,you may need a luthier to file it properly to accommodate for the bigger string gauges.

FunkMetalBass · #9 01-21-2011, 11:53 AM

Go with a Circle K dropped 150. It'll be about the same (tension-wise) as a typical medium set.

knuckle_head · #10 01-21-2011, 12:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FunkMetalBass

Go with a Circle K dropped 150. It'll be about the same (tension-wise) as a typical medium set.

This.

The set is .150 .100 .076 .055 - standard gauge for E with similar tension on your dropped A.

ixlramp · #11 01-21-2011, 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zachoff

I'm hard-pressed to believe any string will properly intonate on a 34" scale 4 string with a good amount of tension for A tuning.

Prepare to be hard-pressed

As long as a string is very flexible for it's gauge, which Circle K's are, you can intonate them. I have used a D'Addario .145 (also very flexible) tuned to A and Ab on a 35" scale and it intonated perfectly up to the 23rd fret.

AciDBatH666, as long as the tension is similar to a standard EADG set, there is no harm in using a drop tune set with really big gauges. The drop tune .150 set recommended above is perfect and has no more tension than a 40-100 EADG set. The .150 A has the same tension as a .100 E. From experience anything less than .145 for A will be floppy and lose it's good tone. You'll need the nut slots widened for the larger gauges.

AciDBatH666 · #12 01-21-2011, 01:38 PM

Awesome. I'm glad I got some mixed answers, but I'm even more glad that I got some positive reinforcement that this isn't a total crapshoot.
I guess now I'm off to find another nut for my B.C. Rich, or possibly another bass. OFF THE THE USED SECTIONS!!!

SMILEYSIXX · #13 01-21-2011, 04:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rockstarbassist

This. Troy Sanders (Mastodon) uses his Godlyke when they go down to drop A, which is like 36" or 37" scale, I believe.

Worst you could do is ask Skip and take it to a REALLY really good tech!

Not sure if the Mastodon comment is accurate, I was thinking he did it on one of his Fenders. Regardless of whether or not Troy does, I know I do AGCF on a Precision, so it's definitely not impossible.

Jensby design · #14 01-21-2011, 04:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ixlramp

I have used a D'Addario .145 (also very flexible) tuned to A and Ab on a 35" scale and it intonated perfectly up to the 24th fret.

I have try that string as well,when you say"perfectly"what do you mean by that?

abcdefranklin · #15 01-21-2011, 04:38 PM

Get your favorite 4 string buy a 5 string set throw away the smallest string and have a luthier adjust the truss rod and file the nut for you unless you could do that yourself. I have a 4 string with a 130 gauge for drop B

ixlramp · #16 01-21-2011, 04:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jensby design

I have try that string as well,when you say"perfectly"what do you mean by that?

Yes it was very surprising. It was a ProSteels tapered .145. Using a BOSS TU-2 tuner pedal (non-strobe) accuracy +/- 3 cents. Every fret was in tune to within about 5 cents. The tone did begin to suffer a little above the octave fret though ... inharmonicity.

The .145s are good for the same reasons Circle Ks are: Only 3 wrap wire layers and a short, fat tapered section. I expect the Circle Ks are better strings though, they have a shorter tapered section.

FunkMetalBass · #17 01-21-2011, 05:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SMILEYSIXX

Not sure if the Mastodon comment is accurate, I was thinking he did it on one of his Fenders. Regardless of whether or not Troy does, I know I do AGCF on a Precision, so it's definitely not impossible.

That is the weirdest tuning. Almost an octave between your two lowest strings?

rockstarbassist · #18 01-21-2011, 10:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SMILEYSIXX

Not sure if the Mastodon comment is accurate, I was thinking he did it on one of his Fenders. Regardless of whether or not Troy does, I know I do AGCF on a Precision, so it's definitely not impossible.

I've only seen him use his Precision Special for the DGCF stuff live. In the Making of CtS DVD he uses the Godlyke for the low low stuff in the studio.

SMILEYSIXX · #19 01-23-2011, 04:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FunkMetalBass

That is the weirdest tuning. Almost an octave between your two lowest strings?

I used it a few times, but it's one hell of an inconvenience to keep tuned.

Quote:

Originally Posted by rockstarbassist

I've only seen him use his Precision Special for the DGCF stuff live. In the Making of CtS DVD he uses the Godlyke for the low low stuff in the studio.

You may be right, I was just guessing.