question on getting punch through strings!

casio · #1 08-21-2007, 07:37 AM

hey!
this is my first post on the string part of the forum, so HELLO to everyone!

In any case:
I own a 34''scale 5 string bass, and my band is tuned down to ADGCF, and I have serious sound issues!

I've ben using daddario prosteels cause they're extra bright and inexpensive.
When tuned normally, the bass sounds frickin awesome!I mean, I don't even have to tweak the sound one bit, it sounds to die for!
But when I detune the whole step, it gets real muddy and the strings are (expectedly) floppy!
So I wondered how much good it would do to switch to thicker strings (50-135) to get the desirede sound I get when normally tuned?

I mean, it would be great to get the band to play in normal tunings, but since that ain't going smoothly, I have to ask!

smogg · #2 08-21-2007, 07:45 AM

yes, try heavier guage strings but, that tunning will require a lot of eq tweeking to lessen the mud. if you haven't already then try running bass @ flat and boost your mids & treble alittle. just go in small steps to try to help "clean" it up.
hope this helps some, peace, smogg

casio · #3 08-21-2007, 07:48 AM

thanks a lot!
yeah.
I do tweak my mids and highs quite a bit to get a better sound, and it manages to help, but the floppiness of the strings still manages to deteriorate the overall sound!
It does help tho!

smogg · #4 08-21-2007, 07:57 AM

well, if heavier strings don't work you may have just the excuse you need to look at a 35" scale bass. lakland 55-02 or peavey usa milennium come to mind or even an old peavey G-Bass

pickles · #5 08-21-2007, 08:34 AM

#1 add some relief back to the neck. When you detune you loose relief, and a whole step across all 5 strings is a BIG change in tension

#2 if that doesn't work you could try raising the saddles just a touch

#3 if you don't like how that feels, lower the saddles back and go to heavier strings

#4 if that doesn't work, try a 35" scale bass

NorCal Dog · #6 08-22-2007, 11:14 AM

+1,,, what Pickles said

JKT · #7 08-22-2007, 12:05 PM

Forgive the grumpy old school guy, but what is the deal with all this de-tuning? beyond the odd (and somewhat anal) argument about a riff here and there sounding better detuned rather than fingered differently what the heck is your band tuning down a whole step for? Are you trying to accomodate vocalists who can't sing the stuff in the original keys? Guitards who can't transpose?

With all due respect, the gig doesn't exist that I would be messing with detuning, string gauges, neck tensions, etc,etc.

Just my 2 cents

JKT

J.T. Chester · #8 08-23-2007, 11:03 PM

Just adding to JKT's post... Just because they detune, WHY should you?

With a 5-string, you're already a fifth below them. ...unless you're following them (visually)?

Just learn to transpose!

casio · #9 08-24-2007, 02:17 AM

I can transpose, that's not much of an issue, but playing some of the stuff can be scewed for me that way, sonically and as far as technique is concerned.
they go all the way to dropped C tuning, which I don't have to do, but the rest is just easier for me this way

bassbmx · #10 08-24-2007, 02:35 AM

How about tuning only the B down to an A and leaving the rest regular tuning? You'd still be able to play everything you did before without the issues you've described. Hopefully anyway. Just an idea.

Roland777 · #11 08-24-2007, 09:43 AM

Ugh. Quit questioning his decision to tune down and help him out instead.

My first tip is connected to the second - you're going to have to learn how to play with a lighter touch, if you want a feasible solution to this problem. You said you had issues with a .135 at "34, tuned to A. This leaves you with a .145 to solve your problem. Thus, the best solution, hands down, is to build yourself your own 5-string set by buying singles. And the absolutely best way of achieving a playable set is to have even tension across the strings. That definately discriminates almost all of the sets commercially available.
So, my solution for you is to buy yourself singles in the gauges of 45-60-80-105-145. This will give you a bit lighter tension on the top 4 strings (which will all be between 33 and 32 lbs), but will bring the tension of the low A up to an even 33lbs! Brilliant, isn't it?
The part with even tension is that since you don't have to shift attack from string-to-string, you can uniformly develop a lighter touch that will work on the entire fretboard! Again, brilliant, isn't it?
And trust me, unless you're extremely stubborn, you'll have no problem adjusting to 33lbs of tension - I'm used to 30lbs on my low A!

casio · #12 08-25-2007, 05:23 AM

that ws cool!
though I did change my set up since the beginning of the thread!

I'm tuned BDADG now, with string tension at 50-70-85-105-135 (d'addario prosteels)!
and I must say I'm getting a much better sound with way more atack and punch, less floppiness, and more playability!
so thanks a lot for making me get off my ass and start transposeing although I didn't quite feel like it!