String Recommendation For EADGC?

[mantrabass]

About to purchase my second five-string, potentially a fretless, and I was wondering what string gauge would work for EADGC tuning.

I'm tap-centric when it comes to my playing, so if that information helps I'd greatly appreciate it.

[1958Bassman]

Why would you tune the top string to C? Did you play guitar in standard tuning before starting on bass, or have you only played bass?

[Roscoe East]

Originally Posted by 1958Bassman

Why would you tune the top string to C?

Because that's the standard tuning for a 5-string bass with a high string, and has been for ~40 years.

Also because it maintains intervallic symmetry over the entire fingerboard. (Which is probably why it's been the standard for ~40 years.)

[whitefuneral]

Isn't a 5 string bass BEADG?

[Roscoe East]

Originally Posted by whitefuneral

Isn't a 5 string bass BEADG?

That's the other standard.

[whitefuneral]

Originally Posted by Roscoe East

That's the other standard.

I've seen 6 string BEADGC, just pick up a set of them and use the B for something else.

[mantrabass]

I already own a 5-string that I tune to BEADG, I'm just curious what'd be a good gauge/style for EADGC. Like I said, I'm into tapping so something that I won't snap switching between each playing style (tapping&fingerstyle) would be excellent.

[jasper383]

I assume tapping would favor a light gauge?

Maybe get a light set of D"Addarios, then a single C string.


D'Addario Electric Bass XL Nickel Wound X-Super Soft Long, .035 - .095, EXL180

plus

D'Addario Electric Bass Nickel Round Wound XL .028, XLB028w

[knuckle_head]

.106 .079 .059 .043 .031

.106 .082 .061 .047 .033

.102 .076 .057 .041 .029

.102 .079 .059 .045 .031

.098 .073 .055 .039 .028

.098 .076 .057 .043 .029

. . . . depending on your proclivities.

[ixlramp]

My personal experience (as someone who sets up his basses primarily for tapping) is that tapping needs a light gauge, also i find tapping increasingly difficult on higher pitch strings (especially on fretless), since the string needs to hit the board with a velocity similar to the vibration velocity for a good response. My solution is a light set that has a consistent string by string fall in tension from lowest to highest string. No string sets like this are sold so i recommend single strings. Mainstream sets almost always have a tension that rises toward the highest string and are the opposite of what is needed for tapping.

My recommendation as a starting point is 95 70 50 35 25w and no heavier. Perhaps even a 22w on top.

You can use tension charts to design sets:
D'Addario complete guide to calculating tension and tension charts: http://www.daddario.com/upload/tension_chart_13934.pdf
Circle K Strings: http://circlekstrings.com/CKSIMAGES/...nsionChart.pdf

[mantrabass]

Printing this out, haha... Thank you!

[1958Bassman]

Originally Posted by Roscoe East

Because that's the standard tuning for a 5-string bass with a high string, and has been for ~40 years.

Also because it maintains intervallic symmetry over the entire fingerboard. (Which is probably why it's been the standard for ~40 years.)

Thanks- I've never played a 5 string with the higher string.

[Root 5]

Originally Posted by mantrabass

About to purchase my second five-string, potentially a fretless, and I was wondering what string gauge would work for EADGC tuning.

I'm tap-centric when it comes to my playing, so if that information helps I'd greatly appreciate it.

Because you're a tapper, I'd assume you'd prefer a lighter gauge set? I know GHS makes light "Boomer" sets and you could buy a single high C string from them too. Something like DYB20 which is a .20 gauge string. I just looked it up.

Their progressive set, which are brighter, can be had in 35-55-75-95 gauge. Singles are available too.

D'Addario would offer similars stuff too. Both are good strings

[deeptubes]

I tune my 5'er to EADGC. I use D'Addario's 160s (.105 .085 .070 .050) with a single .032 for the C. I suspect you'll want a lighter gauge, though. I just like my higher pitched strings to be fairly stiff.

[SLaPiNFuNK]

There are some pre-packaged sets with High-C's (EADGC) available...

Fodera offers 5 string sets in EADGC as well as the Matthew Garrison signature 5 string set: .028 .040 .060 .080 .100

GHS also has Boomers pre-packaged with a High-C.

You can also purchase any 4 string set and add a High C or make your own set out of singles.

MTD also offers a .020 Wound string if you want to go up to F even...

There are a ton of options available really, you really just need to pick a brand of string you know you like and add a high C.

I wouldn't buy a 6 string set and dump the B, the B takes up most of the cost of some sets!

[mantrabass]

Excellent, thanks guys!