What Gauge string should I use for drop F?

Kornjunky · #1 12-28-2010, 11:55 AM

Ok, I know that's a little wierd but I was teaching myself how to play Parabola by tool and in the prosses I ended up tuning my 5 string to FBEDG. Justin tunes his bass to BEDG in this song and uses Ernie Ball hybrid slinky strings and swaps out the 105 gauge with a 110 gauge from the power slinky set. He either uses this tuning or drop D so I'm guessing that's why he doesn't go with a lower gauge string. I wan't to know what gauges I should get in order to basically have a 5 sting version of his. Should I just get a hybrid slinky set and use the 135 from the power slinky 5 string set? Or something else to make it sound cleaner?

Kornjunky · #2 12-28-2010, 12:10 PM

I think I just found the answer to my own question: Ernie Ball doesn't make anythink lower Than 135... err higher (depends on your perspective). But I still want some opinions.

FunkMetalBass · #3 12-28-2010, 12:16 PM

A .135 F is going to be quite floppy. You could always get rid of your A-string, shift the other strings, and add a high C, like so: B-E-D-G-C.

With the B and E string already existing next to each other on your 5er, I can't quite understand why you want to change it at all. At a quick glance of the tabs, there are very few times where he ventures above the E-string and it looks like most of the runs would be considerably easier with an added A-string.

Kornjunky · #4 12-28-2010, 12:25 PM

its the biggining part with the open stum on the E thats giving me a problem.
and i've thought about doing that but i want to be able to tune it back to ADADG/ AEADG

FunkMetalBass · #5 12-28-2010, 01:20 PM

I'm not sure how you're playing it, but I found this:
http://www.fretplay.com/tabs/t/tool/parabola-btab.shtml

**john turner** · #6 12-28-2010, 01:26 PM

so you need the same strings he uses?

if not, there's quite a few manufacturers that make low f# and even low c# (gauges ~165 to 175 for low f#, ~195-205 for low c#). by the way, if you're going to tune the instrument properly in a standard tuning, the next lower string from a low b is a low f#.

.

abcdefranklin · #7 12-28-2010, 01:29 PM

http://www.rotosound.com/dz66.html .175 gauge F#

your welcome :]

ixlramp · #8 12-28-2010, 02:52 PM

.175 is will be too tight when tuned back to A.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kornjunky

FBEDG

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kornjunky

i want to be able to tune it back to ADADG/ AEADG

So a string for A0 down to F0, one for E1 down to B0 and one for A1 down to E1. Those are 4 and 5 semitone drops, you won't get a string to sound and feel excellent at both extremes, so best to choose fairly tight gauges for the AEA of AEADG.

Take a look at Circle K Strings single strings.
You can download the Circle K tension Chart pdf to choose gauges. A nice fairly tight, punchy A0, E1 and A1 would be .158, .106 and .080 (42-44 pounds).

Kornjunky · #9 01-10-2011, 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by john turner

by the way, if you're going to tune the instrument properly in a standard tuning, the next lower string from a low b is a low f#.

.

No I did not know that. I really only know technique and can play well, I just don't know the notes. My main is flute so, it's kind of a big jump. I'm only just getting used to reading bass clef.
And that seems kind of condesending, the way you worded it.

Kornjunky · #10 01-10-2011, 02:07 PM

and this seems to be a pattern where the brand that I want to use because I prefer their sound/ quality doesn't have what I want. Ernie Ball doesn't make anything lower than .135 and ESP doesn't make a 10 string bass. Frusterating.

Kornjunky · #11 01-10-2011, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FunkMetalBass

I'm not sure how you're playing it, but I found this:
http://www.fretplay.com/tabs/t/tool/parabola-btab.shtml

he actually plays the beging part an octive up except for the last two notes. and then theres a part in the song where he plays octives using the E and D strings and its kind of annoying with the A in the middle. so it's not that I don't have the B and E together it's that I don't have the E and D together.

Bassmanhopkins · #12 01-10-2011, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kornjunky

Ok, I know that's a little wierd but I was teaching myself how to play Parabola by tool and in the prosses I ended up tuning my 5 string to FBEDG. Justin tunes his bass to BEDG in this song and uses Ernie Ball hybrid slinky strings and swaps out the 105 gauge with a 110 gauge from the power slinky set. He either uses this tuning or drop D so I'm guessing that's why he doesn't go with a lower gauge string. I wan't to know what gauges I should get in order to basically have a 5 sting version of his. Should I just get a hybrid slinky set and use the 135 from the power slinky 5 string set? Or something else to make it sound cleaner?

Heres the strings for the Warwick Dark lord bass, these are about the thickest strings i could find for you

085", 105", 135", 175"

http://www.gear4music.com/Guitar-and...sDark-Lord/7XE

Bassmanhopkins · #13 01-10-2011, 02:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by abcdefranklin

http://www.rotosound.com/dz66.html .175 gauge F#

your welcome :]

Seriously? rotosounds are shocking strings, for me they lose their tone almost immediatly after the first playing.

ixlramp · #14 01-10-2011, 02:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bassmanhopkins

085", 105", 135", 175"

Yep those are strings for F#BEA. However if you want to tune back to AEADG the .175 will be too tight at A0, the .135 too tight at E1 and the .105 too tight at A1

ixlramp · #15 01-11-2011, 01:44 PM

Circle K Strings are closed for another week or so. IMO they make the best designed strings for tuning below B. If you're tuning from AEADG / ADADG down to F#BEDG you need a set which is fairly tight at AEADG so that when you detune by such large amounts the strings are not quite so extremely floppy. Circle K make tension balanced sets for drop-tunings such as AEADG. When they re-open take a look at the drop-tune .150 or .158 set, the low strings will be fairly tight at AEADG