Standard Tuning with Thicker Strings?

[Pinchy]

Hey guys and gals,
I am going to set my bass up for Drop C or Drop B tuning soon and was wondering, if at any stage I'd like to tune to standard, is it possible to do it with the same thick strings? I'll be using D'Addario EPS165-5's (135, 105, 85 & 65).

What would the sound difference be with these thicker strings when in standard tuning? Would it affect the bass ie; neck warpage and stuff.


Feel free to give your opinions or advice.

Thank you and cheers.

[anesthetist]

Why would you want to tune it to standard? What bass is it?

[beelzelboss]

well since the strings are thicker they will have more tension on the neck. You will have to set it up so it will not have to much releif in one of the tunings. It all depends on what you are mostly in.

[Pinchy]

Originally Posted by anesthetist

Why would you want to tune it to standard? What bass is it?

I do lessons even though I am in a melodic deathcore band. I think my teacher would prefer if I play in standard tuning. I am using a four-string Ibanez SRX590

Originally Posted by beelzelboss

well since the strings are thicker they will have more tension on the neck. You will have to set it up so it will not have to much releif in one of the tunings. It all depends on what you are mostly in.

I'd be mostly be standard at first, though I am not so sure, it depends until I could afford a second bass.

[gricko]

be sure the tension will be so high it might render it unplayable. and it might affect the neck too....
tune it to C or C# first, then see how it goes. i use EPS220-5 [.060-.125] tuned to C and the tension is about the same as .95 string tuned to E.

sound might be thicker, but all negative effects might overshadow it.

edit:
also - if you plan on going back/forth in tunnings from C/B to E you will have to set up neck every time. not to mention additional negative effect it might produce.

[Pinchy]

Originally Posted by gricko

be sure the tension will be so high it might render it unplayable. and it might affect the neck too....
tune it to C or C# first, then see how it goes. i use EPS220-5 [.060-.125] tuned to C and the tension is about the same as .95 string tuned to E.

sound might be thicker, but all negative effects might overshadow it.

Thanks a lot.

[gricko]

http://www.daddario.com/Resources/JD...sion_chart.pdf

here you have a link to a d'addario pdf on string tensions. you have charts and formulas so you can calculate string tension and what is the difference between setups.

cheers

[medawc]

65-135 strings are already pretty thick for drop C (or B), especially top 3 strings. Tuning to standard on this set will cause really huge tension. I'm afraid that the truss rod may not handle it and may even break.
The other problem is that tuners may also have problem with carrying that tension.
Besides, you will have to use a vise to fret a string :P.

The solution is simple - buy 2 different sets of strings: one thick for drop B/C and one like a 45-105 for standard tuning. I do similar thing when swaping from BEADG to ADGCF - i have 40-125 and 45-130.