Strings for tuning down a whole step

[NineSpine]

Does anyone have any experience tuning down a whole step on a 34 inch scale bass? Im trying to find a good string gauge for playing in ADGCF on a 5 string. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[ThatGermanDude]

i had that for a while and i used regular gauge strings. elixirs i believe. it sounded okay. but the strings got kinda loose and floppy, so you might want to try heavy gauge.

but you better have an amp and speaker that can handle the lows.

[Bettyrocker23]

you usually just get some heavy guage strings, and for a whole step, might have to have the truss rod and string height setup again

[ROON]

A set of Ernie Ball Power Slinky's is what you're looking for.

[Bass Below]

There are a few recent threads on this subject going on over in the "Strings" forum, but to answer your question, I tune very similar to you on a 5 and I use 165-120-85-65-50. I had to piece that together buying singles, but it was worth it.

There is a 5 string bass that is made specifically for tuning down to A. If you tune that way as a standard, you should look into it, it's a wise investment.

[Femto]

Originally Posted by Bass Below

I tune very similar to you on a 5 and I use 165-120-85-65-50.

Holy bridge cables, Batman!!

Which company makes those .165 strings? The heaviest I've been able to locate are .135. Did you have to file your nut slot wider to accomodate the .165?

I have Elixirs on my Sandberg at present. I tune that to A-D-G-C-F and they seem okay to be honest.

I'm quite a heavy-handed player but they seem to be able to take the bashing. My action is not über low but it's comfortable and they don't seem to rattle on the frets all that much as though they're not tight enough.

On my 4 string '73 Fender P, I use Ernie Ball Power Slinkies which are .055 .075 .090 .110. I would like to try the Sandberg with Power Slinkies but the gauges of the 5 set are lighter than the 4 set. The 5 set is .050 .070 .085 .105 .135

I suppose they'd be okay but hey, *I want my heavy!*

[NineSpine]

What's the bass that is made for tuning down to A? That sounds dead on exactly what I need.

And daaaaaaamn... 165? That's pretty intense!

[cnltb]

I think that may be knuckle quake 5. It is 39.5".
You can find soundsamples at basstasters.Here the link, as well as that to the website of the actual maker:
http://www.basstasters.com/basses/Knuckle_Quake_5.html
http://www.knuckleguitarworks.com/

As to strings;
I highly recommend you give pyramid a try.
I find them most helpful.
I got the feeling,they'd be able to make the set you need for you.

[Rolle2k]

Fender does have a set of nicksteel 110-90-70-50, i think those would fit your needs fine

[velvetkevorkian]

I use heavy guage Elixirs (50-110s I think). Even on a cheap bass I can get a great feel and frighteningly low action.

[Dave Siff]

For tuning DGCF on a 4-string, the best strings are La Bella Hard Rockin' Steels D-tuning set. They're built specifically for that tuning, unlike other heavy-gauge 4-string sets. I get them through juststrings.com.

[Bass Below]

NineSpine, cnltb is correct, the bass I was referring to is the Knuckle Quake. Follow the links he provided and you'll find the bass you want.

Femto, the .165 is made by SIT/Conklin. They also make a .194, I did have to widen the nut slot a bit for the .165, but when I go back to a .145 (once I get my Knuckle...) it'll still fit without me having to replace the nut.

[Roland777]

Currently, I'm using a composite set of DR LoRiders, 50-110, plus a D'addario .145 on the bottom. Tensionwise, it's good, but the tone gets anemic after a while, and it's way too heavy and intrusive for a slaptone. I used a set of Elixirs before, .45-.130, which was great once I got used to employing a lighter touch. Much preferred over the heavier composite set.
Now I'm getting a custom set made from D'addario singles, using .45-.60-.80-.105-.135. I'm still waiting for them, I'll report back with results somewhere... but what intrigues me is how the balanced stringtension between the top three strings will translate. Much better slaptone is one thing...
Yup, I tune down a step to A-D-G-C-F as well.

[bassphreak]

Originally Posted by Dave Siff

For tuning DGCF on a 4-string, the best strings are La Bella Hard Rockin' Steels D-tuning set. They're built specifically for that tuning, unlike other heavy-gauge 4-string sets. I get them through juststrings.com.

good tip...i'm going to look into those

[Dave Siff]

Here ya go..
http://store.juststrings.net/lab-m70.html
They've got the gauges listed wrong on the page.. it's .054-.075-.090-.111.
I tuned DGCF with .045-.105 strings for years before I found out about these La Bellas. Since then, I've tried a .055-.110 set of another brand, and they don't compare. The La Bellas have perfect tension, sound great and are the easiest on the fingers of any stainless steels I've tried. I put them on a bass that had been tuned standard with lighter strings, and the neck didn't need any adjustment. These strings are built for a specific job and they do it very well.

[SGT. Pepper]

A 145 for the B string should be plenty. You could do a custom set from D'Addario. Go with the nickels because they have more tension than the steels.