Strings for low tunings

[Hoodee]

The question may sound dumb but I'm new in the bass world, so I need help.

Since I switched to bass, I bought what I thought would be the best for me : a polish (Flame, a sub-brand of Mayones guitars) hand made copy of the good old MM stingray (ash body, maple neck, maple fretboard, Seymour SMB-5 pickup). I play in a band where the guitars are tuned to drop B (therefore the 5 string bass).

My question is : what strings would be the best choice to have a really clear, cutting through tone on the B string ? I'm currently using D'addario's EXL 170-5 (long scale, regular gauge) and I was thinking that It wouldn't be a bad idea (having a more guitar oriented aproach in mind ) to get something thicker for the B string. I'm thinking about ProSteels 165-5 (.045 .065 .085 .105 . 135). Would that be a godd choice ?

[knuckle_head]

Your treble strings are going to be awfully tight in that ProSteels set.

As important as the gauge of your B is that the B is a whole step lower than the rest of your string set - any set you get will give you either a good B and really tight higher strings or a very loose B with comfortable treble strings.

A .135 is a decent B string as tension goes. The rest of the set ought to be roughly .090 .067 .049 .035. These are the gauges in my .136 5 string drop-tuned sets - if you want to use another brand then look for gauges that align to the nearest .005 in gauge

[Hoodee]

Judging by the manufacturer's informations, this Prosteel set should have a few pounds LESS tension on the G and D strings, lamost 10 more on the A string, around one pound less on the E and about the same tension on the B string than the set I'm actually using.

As I said, I try to appraoch that matter just like I would do with a guitar : bigger gauge/more tension = clearer tone (less muddy and washed out).

Are there any other options, sets of string that would be better fitted for 5 string basses, knowing that most of the material we write is in the key of B (a lot of open B string going on in there).

[mmbongo]

DR HiBeams sound like they might be right up your alley. A .135 would be as big as I would go for tuning to B. You'll also get better results from a 35" scale bass. However I'm currently using a DR .125 on my 34" scale Brubaker Brute with great results, but nothing near my 35" Spector.

You can put together whatever gauges you want here:
http://www.bassstringsonline.com/-DR...ing_p_318.html

Once you register on the site and tell Jason you're a TB member, you'll get a better price

[knuckle_head]

If you were tuning to D and G that would be true, but if you are indeed in drop tunings your two highest strings would be E and A - the 4 string set above the B being F# B E A.

.135 B - 39#
.105 F# - 54#
.085 B - 59#
.065 E - 62#
.045 A - 59#

.136 B - 39#
.090 F# - 39#
.067 B - 39#
.049 E - 38#
.035 A - 36#

A shift of 15 or more pounds is way less than ideal, and awfully uncomfortable IMO. Balanced tension is something I advocate for consistency of technique, output from string to string, and physical duress on your instrument. Some agree and some don't, but you are better served by singles than the set of ProSteels you posted.

[Hoodee]

I forgot to mention : my guitar players use drop tunings...I leave the bass in a standard tuning (B E A D G )

[knuckle_head]

HUGE difference . . . . but I still advocate balanced tension. It's written up on my site.

A balanced tension set is something like;

.136 .102 .076 .057 .041

[ixlramp]

In my experience ProSteels B strings are flexible, bright and clear, excellent strings. A .135 or perhaps consider a .145 for B, it has the same tension as a .105 E.
Circle K Strings i also highly recommend as they're designed to be super-flexible and very clear.

[johnnybass01]

I use circle k balanced 5 string sets in both 142 b string and 136 b , you can't go wrong with these strings, they actually give you a playable b string with a 34 inch scale bass, I went from using my b as a thumb rest to transposing everything so I can use the B all the time and move my hand up the board to be more comfortable, but when I do drop down to the B it is piano clear...

[Hoodee]

I lurked a bit on their website, they seem to have some pretty interesting stuff...Unfortunately, I live in Poland, so it's going to be a pain in the ass to find a dealer nearby. It's hard to buy anything that isn't a world renown brand...And waiting for something to be shipped to me never was my thing Althought, for the prices they have, I may give them a try...

[knuckle_head]

Originally Posted by Hoodee

I lurked a bit on their website, they seem to have some pretty interesting stuff...Unfortunately, I live in Poland, so it's going to be a pain in the ass to find a dealer nearby. It's hard to buy anything that isn't a world renown brand...And waiting for something to be shipped to me never was my thing Althought, for the prices they have, I may give them a try...

You won't find a dealer - I sell directly to players.

[Hoodee]

So I see

I've changed the strings earlier today, spent almost an hour playing. Those Prosteels are indeed an improvement...But it's still not what I wanted. At least as it goes for tension...

And what if i went stright into something like this :
65
85
105
125
145

A Polish luthier makes something like that...

[knuckle_head]

If you're gonna go that direction do .145 .105 .080 .060 .045

[runmikeyrun]

I have always played Ernie Ball strings. I really like them. The standard 5 string slinky set has a 130 low B string. I believe they have a new 5 string set out, the low B is 135 IIRC.

[ixlramp]

Originally Posted by Hoodee

And what if i went stright into something like this :
65
85
105
125
145

Not a good idea, the 145 B is ok but the EADG dangerously tight, something will break. Increasing the gauges by only .005 will result in a significant increase in tension, especially on the higher strings.
So you're using ProSteels 165-5 (.045 .065 .085 .105 . 135)? You can see the tensions here: DAddarioFretted Strings » Bass Strings » ProSteels Round Wound » EPS165-5 Long Scale 5-String 45-135
Which strings, if any, feel right in that set, and which are too loose for you?

[knuckle_head]

I wouldn't put a .110 under a .145 . . . 7 pound sway.

[ixlramp]

... On second thoughts neither would I Post edited.

Hoodee ... knuckle_head's recommendation of .145 .105 .080 .060 .045 is a good one if you're happy with a 105 E and 45 G and don't mind the AD being slightly looser. All strings will be at roughly equal tension.

[Hoodee]

Ok, so apperently the guys at the store I usually buy strings and stuff had a set like this because it was "custom" made by that luthier for a friend of mine (i forgot that he plays a 5 strings tuned one step lower), so that set may work in that case, but I trust you guys know best what to do and avoid and it would actually be a bad idea to put those strings in a bass with a standard tunning.

Now, I'll play some more that set of ProSteels, see all the ups and downs of it. This far, only the B strings bothers me, I feel like it could need some extra tension.

@knuckle-head : ever shipped your products abroad (like, over the ocean ? ) ?

[knuckle_head]

Originally Posted by Hoodee

@knuckle-head : ever shipped your products abroad (like, over the ocean ? ) ?

I've shipped to every continent on the planet except Antarctica.

[Catbuster]

I'd run a .145 B, and a .105 E, .80/85 A, .65 D and .45 G. The high 4 strings are what is sometimes used as the low 4 strings on a 5, which is way too much tension.