Low strings

daedalus · #1 03-15-2007, 09:37 AM

Sorry im posting this, but i dont know much about bass strings and needed some advice...

I currently got a new bass (Schecter Custom-4) but the strings that are on it wont let me play to the drop tuning my band plays in.

Im looking for some good strings that can play some real low death metal tunings. I dont really know much about the sizes ect ect.

We play D#,A#,F,A# so anything that will get me a good sound would work.

Thanks a lot guys!

Roland777 · #2 03-15-2007, 10:08 AM

REALLY depends on your touch... As far as your tuning goes, you're gonna have to explain that one to me! Do you mean A#-D#-G#-C#? If you play with a pick, you can get away with (low to high) .130-.105-.085-.065. If you play with fingers and you have a heavier touch, up the low A# to a .135. If you play really heavy, go to .145.

daedalus · #3 03-15-2007, 10:23 AM

LOL we play stuff like Jobforacowboy with a Low A# tuning. But we tune the low C to a low A# so its super low.

A# - F - A# - D#

I play with a pick, but im trying to make the transition to my fingers. But ill most likely be playing with a pic in this tuning.

Is there a certain brand i should be looking at too?

Thanks again!

knuckle_head · #4 03-15-2007, 02:11 PM

Gauges are what you should be concentrating on.

A standard B string is customarily a .125, but IMO you are better served with a .130 or .135 for the sake of bringing it into friendlier terms with standard higher strings.

If you are dropping below standard B by a half to whole step you ought to be looking at .135 to .145.

Keep in mind that you will start noticing a drop in upper harmonics as you get to .140 and beyond - not much you can do about that except to acquire taper wounds or bare core strings.

DavePlaysBass · #5 03-15-2007, 10:49 PM

135-100-80-60 ought to get you in the ball park. Buy singles

Descent2Cocytus · #6 03-16-2007, 12:59 AM

i couldn't imagine playing with strings that thick, my band plays in B-E-A-D and i use D'addario Chromes Super Lights, and i have no trouble, fingerstyle, technical deathmetal, i don't think you need to go as A-F-A-D, Job For A Cowboy uses CGCF tuning anyway...

cheurl · #7 03-16-2007, 01:19 AM

Hi everybody,

My band is tuned in BFBE and I use a LTF B-2005, 4 strings and 35'' scale neck.

I thinked to get a new strings set, I want to can tune for a
drop-B and a drop-A.

Drop-B for my band and drop-A for some Nile covers.

ericmonster_tm · #8 03-16-2007, 06:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roland777

REALLY depends on your touch... As far as your tuning goes, you're gonna have to explain that one to me! Do you mean A#-D#-G#-C#? If you play with a pick, you can get away with (low to high) .130-.105-.085-.065. If you play with fingers and you have a heavier touch, up the low A# to a .135. If you play really heavy, go to .145.

I have a similar question. I play low tunings in my metal band.

We tune: C, F#, A# d flat.

I've found that medium light gauge are best. However, our songs have gotten faster and a bit more thrashier (we went from an almost moterheady/old metallica feel to somethign mroe akin to Mastodon and Entombed).

Anyways. With the riffs that we are playing, I dont have time to do the muting I used to. I also changed amps and I really had to change my playing style cause certain strings ring out.

I do play with a pick.

Anyways, if I go with some different gauge strings...

1. Will I have to get a new nut to comepensate for the "B" string?

2. Will the higher tension keep the extra ringing under control and allow me not to have to do crazy fast muting?

I've thought about going with different strings, but I wanted to wait until after our show next week in case anything went astray.

But I thought of stringing it like a 5 string, with no bottom string (I play a 4 string) and tune up from B to C.

I figured my riffs might sound better since I could get some better double picking too. =D

JimmyM · #9 03-16-2007, 10:37 PM

Man, you guys use some torturous tunings. How do you even make sense of the fretboard? Geez, I must be out of it. You wacky kids!

ericmonster_tm · #10 03-17-2007, 01:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

Man, you guys use some torturous tunings. How do you even make sense of the fretboard? Geez, I must be out of it. You wacky kids!

I hardly consider myself a kid at age 31.

But none the less our tuning is like 2 steps down?

Heck we even play covers. I've gotten really used to it.

Aside from songs the require open D or E (old thrash like older Slayer-Sepultura-metallica)everything else you can play just fine.

In fact, its more interesting to me. It helped me advance my playing and actually learn the fretboard and scales better.

In our tuning, everything is just shifted up

Roland777 · #11 03-17-2007, 08:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ericmonster_tm

1. Will I have to get a new nut to comepensate for the "B" string?

2. Will the higher tension keep the extra ringing under control and allow me not to have to do crazy fast muting?

1. Maybe, I'm really not sure. This is a regular 4-string low E-nut, right? You might have to file it to accommodate the .120/.125.

2. Yes.

JimmyM · #12 03-17-2007, 12:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ericmonster_tm

I hardly consider myself a kid at age 31.

But none the less our tuning is like 2 steps down?

Then you must have put the wrong note names. If you tune everything down 2 steps, then the notes would be C, F, Bb, and Eb.

ericmonster_tm · #13 03-17-2007, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

Then you must have put the wrong note names. If you tune everything down 2 steps, then the notes would be C, F, Bb, and Eb.

I dont exactly know how many steps down we are. But I do know we tune C, F#, A# d flat

ericmonster_tm · #14 03-17-2007, 02:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roland777

1. Maybe, I'm really not sure. This is a regular 4-string low E-nut, right? You might have to file it to accommodate the .120/.125.

2. Yes.

Yes, regular 4-string low E-nut. I will change the strings after the next show and see how it works out.

I've been meaning to do this anyways.

ericmonster_tm · #15 03-20-2007, 06:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roland777

1. Maybe, I'm really not sure. This is a regular 4-string low E-nut, right? You might have to file it to accommodate the .120/.125.

2. Yes.

Hmm. I looked all over for different gauge strings. Tried to find a .115 or .120

Fender makes a light gauge 5 string with a .115 for a B string.

Rotosound makes the 66's with a 120, but they seem kind a rare?

I suppose I could find a heavy gauage 4-string set and buy custom gauge b-strings till I find one that works?

knuckle_head · #16 03-21-2007, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ericmonster_tm

Hmm. I looked all over for different gauge strings. Tried to find a .115 or .120

Fender makes a light gauge 5 string with a .115 for a B string.

Rotosound makes the 66's with a 120, but they seem kind a rare?

I suppose I could find a heavy gauage 4-string set and buy custom gauge b-strings till I find one that works?

Part of the struggle with your tuning is that very few players tune in 5ths.

There is only a semitone difference between a standard B and the C you want to get to. .125 is light for a B string (IMO) so tuning a .125 up to your C would serve you well. If the balance of your string set is on the lighter side for standard tuning you might be able to get away with a standard light gauge 5 set and lose the top string.

Keep in mind that for every string you go up you have a semitone more tension than people are used to, and you may find it gets to 'cheese slicer' zone quick if you go too far.

Consider singles; .125 .100 .075 .055 (or .060) - and let me know how they work out if you give it a go. I'd be very curious as there are a fair amount of requests for a decent C set for 5ths tunings and nobody has that answer yet.

ericmonster_tm · #17 03-23-2007, 09:25 PM

I talked to the bassist from the Sword last night.

They tune the same as my band does. I asked him about my problem and asked him if he did any sort of crazy fast muting.

He says the doesnt have the same problem I have.

He said he used Ernie Ball Slinky's. I dont remember which type, I think he said Regular Slinky's.

Well...I went to GC and picked up a pack of Power Slinky's.

(these: http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/EB2831/ )

They are 110 90 75 55. Although they are a bit on the bright side, they are a bit more "girthier" sounding, probably due to the gauge of the strings.

Theya rent near as 'twangy' as the fender strings I had.

My problem only occurs at high volume. I will post an update after my next practice!

ericmonster_tm · #18 03-25-2007, 08:28 PM

PROBLEM SOLVED!

The Power Slinky's did it. I have a a bit more bottom end now too.

Previously my E string would go out of tune about 3 songs into a set. The other strings would drift a bit as well.

No problems at all tonight. I'd check the strings and they were all in tune, even after double picked riffs.

The E string seemed to be easier to tune to, where as previously with other sets I have tried (DR Hi-beams, lo-riders, GHS Boomers and Fender 7250ML's).

The BOSS tuner had no problems finding "C" and keeping it as oppossed to previously, it was always very slightly sharp or flat and I just dealt with it.

So Ernie Ball power slinky's it is for me from now on!

Anyone else out there doing low tuning go check them out!