Question about DR DDT tension.

[hyp.spec]

How does the tension on DR DDT's compare to Hi-Beams/Neon strings?

I'm currently using DR .45-.125 for my five string. We were tuned to Bb/Eb/Ab/Db/Gb but have since moved down another half step to ADGCF.

The tension was okay with the Bb tuning, but in A its waay to floppy for me.

I've been reading up on the DDT's and how they are good for downtuning, but I'm unsure of what gauge to pick, the .45-.125 or the .55-.135? I'm looking for the tension of a standard tuned bass (BEADG) but tuning to ADGCF

Suggestions/comments?

[knuckle_head]

Tension will be near-identical gauge for gauge - rigidity is the difference.

Use D'Addario's resource; http://www.daddario.com/Resources/JD...sion_chart.pdf to approximate your tensions at A;

.045 - 34.0
.065 - 40.7
.085 - 38.4
.105 - 32.0
.125 - 24.9

.055 - 50.0
.075 - 53.7
.095 - 48.7
.115 - 38.9
.135 - 28.6

The .135 at B is 36.1 pounds - a .100 at E is 36.5 pounds and at E a .105 is 40.3 pounds. A .150 at A will give you roughly 36 pounds as an estimate.

IMO a set that has more than 10 pounds sway from tightest to loosest is a poor assemblage of gauges.

My balanced tension set with a .150 on bottom is;

.150 .112 .082 .061 .045 - 36.7 to 36.9 pounds

My traditional tension set is;

.150 .112 .086 .065 .049 - 36.7 to 43.4 pounds

Consider getting singles if you have no interest in my strings.

EDIT; If you can do a mashup of the DDTs;

.045 - 34.0
.065 - 40.7
.085 - 38.4
.115 - 38.9
.135 - 28.6

[ixlramp]

What knuckle_head said.

Plus in my experience a D'Addario ProSteels tapered .145 works well at A with 29.6 pounds tension, close to the .125 B with 30.1 pounds (going by the D'Addario tension chart). A bright, flexible, harmonic string with 3 wrap layers and well designed fat taper. So it's 125 B - 145 A tension equivalence.

Does anyone know the secret of the DR DDTs? I get the impression it's a thicker core to reduce flop at very low tensions, but then, surely that causes stiffness, are DDTs stiffer?. A 135 will be undertensioned at A, seems better to have a fatter, tighter, more flexible string.

[hyp.spec]

Thanks for the input guys.

I ended up ordering a set of DR DDT .55-.135's

I've been using my .125 B string tuned to Bb and have been fairly happy with that so I figured going to a .135 for A would be fine for me.

I'm actually more concerned about the ginormous E string (.115) but I guess I'll see how it goes

I've used D'Addario's in the past and am really curious about Circle K strings, but I've got a DR dealer that hooks me up with unbeatable prices... who can argue with that?

[knuckle_head]

You should use just the two thickest strings from your new set - the .115 and .136 - and keep the thin strings from your original set. It won't be right, but it will get you the closest you'll be able to with the DDTs.

[rockstarbassist]

Originally Posted by hyp.spec

Thanks for the input guys.

I ended up ordering a set of DR DDT .55-.135's

I've been using my .125 B string tuned to Bb and have been fairly happy with that so I figured going to a .135 for A would be fine for me.

I'm actually more concerned about the ginormous E string (.115) but I guess I'll see how it goes

I've used D'Addario's in the past and am really curious about Circle K strings, but I've got a DR dealer that hooks me up with unbeatable prices... who can argue with that?

If you have a DR hookup, I'd be order custom sets of LoRiders or HiBeams over the DDTs, personally.