What gauges to use on DADG tuning?

Byron92 · #1 09-07-2011, 12:03 AM

That's pretty much my question. Also, what would be ideal for CGCF?

Terry-MaQ · #2 09-07-2011, 12:17 AM

Hey Byron92, I find 45 to 110 is a nice set for DADG tuning on a 4 string.

I personally find the Warwick Red Labels to have the best tension and clarity on the dropped D string. They're not expensive but I much prefer them to some of the more costly brands such as D'addario and Ernie Ball's steel wound strings (assuming that's what you're after).
They can be a little rough on the fingers though...

Hope that helps

Terry

Byron92 · #3 09-07-2011, 12:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Terry-MaQ

Hey Byron92, I find 45 to 110 is a nice set for DADG tuning on a 4 string.

I personally find the Warwick Red Labels to have the best tension and clarity on the dropped D string. They're not expensive but I much prefer them to some of the more costly brands such as D'addario and Ernie Ball's steel wound strings (assuming that's what you're after).
They can be a little rough on the fingers though...

Hope that helps

Terry

Thanks for the reply. Although you said that they are rough on the fingers? I have small hands so I wouldnt want that to be a problem. :/

SLaPiNFuNK · #4 09-07-2011, 12:38 AM

If you are worried about strings being too rough, then look more at Nickel Plated Steel strings rather than Stainless Steel...

There are also other options like Pressure Wound strings, the closest you can get to Round Wounds without actually being Rounds...

ixlramp · #5 09-07-2011, 06:39 PM

Not a standard fourths set, you need to beef up the lowest gauge by .010 or so to compensate for the drop. Buy singles or perhaps purpose-designed drop-tune sets by Circle K Strings: vStandard Drop-tuned 4 Strings These have strings at equal tension in a drop tuning.

Byron92 · #6 09-07-2011, 07:03 PM

Another question comes to mins is if I will have to adjust the bridge/ intonation ( i think thats wat its called, sorry for bein a newb) considering the new tuning to my bass? Appreciate the responses so far

RBX4 · #7 09-07-2011, 07:32 PM

I have a 115 on my low e which is nice n tight the way I like

Catbuster · #8 09-08-2011, 04:56 AM

.45-110/115 for DADG.

.55-120/125 for CGCF.

E.J. T.N.T. · #9 09-08-2011, 05:34 AM

I play rotosounds for a long time now. I find that their 45-65-80-105 roundwound steel set great. They can handle drop-D pretty well for me and drop C, but I don't go that low anymore.

Drop C with the 45s is a little froppy but playing with a pick compensates quite a bit. Medium/light works better for me. In fact I switched from tortex 1.44 to 0.60 and I am not going back any time soon.

However I have also tried using the low strings from their 40-60-80-100-125 string set for drop C but was really really tight. I think the same gauge but in nickel would have been a lot better. And by the way their stainless steel strings are really high tension and really rough on the fingers but this is the reason why I like them so much.

Also their 5 string 45-130 set can go really low as well. I used on my fiver for ADGCF and GCGCF tunings and it was great(I miss my extreme metal days...)

Also their flats, in drop tunings have to be heard to be believed!

Essen · #10 09-08-2011, 05:41 AM

110 for DADG, and I would recommend DR Drop Downs (115) for CGCF. They also work great for DADG.

Terry-MaQ · #11 09-08-2011, 07:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Byron92

Thanks for the reply. Although you said that they are rough on the fingers? I have small hands so I wouldnt want that to be a problem. :/

Just a bit like, but worth getting used to IMO for the benefit of a really punchy low string

knuckle_head · #12 09-08-2011, 10:14 AM

.112 .076 .057 .041 for lighter tension

.118 .079 .059 .043 for heavier tension

You aren't going to find drop tuned sets prepackaged (unless you buy my strings). DDTs are (based on the gauges) meant for dropping the whole set and not just the bottom string. You are likely looking at getting singles for correct tensions. Traditional sets are notoriously under tensioned on bottom and when you drop the additional whole step it makes 'normal' sets altogether wrong.

jabsys · #13 09-08-2011, 10:53 AM

I don't mind slightly floppy strings so I've been using 45-100 for drop d & 55-110 for drop c.

rockstarbassist · #14 09-09-2011, 08:35 AM

.118 Circle K's for drop D, .124 for drop C.

Mods, where's that sticky thread I aksed youse guise about...

RBX4 · #15 09-09-2011, 11:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rockstarbassist

.118 Circle K's for drop D, .124 for drop C.

Mods, where's that sticky thread I aksed youse guise about...

Depends on the bass

rockstarbassist · #16 09-09-2011, 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RBX4

Depends on the bass

Basses don't change string construction properties, sry.

FunkMetalBass · #17 09-09-2011, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rockstarbassist

Basses don't change string construction properties, sry.

No, but they do change scale length which adjusts tension.

Bass construction really only affects the tonal properties of the strings, which is a good enough reason to prefer different strings or even different tensions for a specific bass.

rockstarbassist · #18 09-09-2011, 12:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FunkMetalBass

No, but they do change scale length which adjusts tension.

Bass construction really only affects the tonal properties of the strings, which is a good enough reason to prefer different strings or even different tensions for a specific bass.

Disagree but that's fine.

I've yet to see someone recommend (who I'd listen to anyway

) a different string tension especially for downtuning for a Fender style vs something a Spector or Ibanez, so. I don't see it making a difference in my experiences with the varying basses I use either.

FunkMetalBass · #19 09-09-2011, 01:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rockstarbassist

Disagree but that's fine.

I've yet to see someone recommend (who I'd listen to anyway

) a different string tension especially for downtuning for a Fender style vs something a Spector or Ibanez, so. I don't see it making a difference in my experiences with the varying basses I use either.

People do it all the time, but because tone is as subjective as string tension preference, it makes no sense to suggest something like that. Hell, every time time Skip recommends strings, he offers two or three different sets based on the most common E-string gauges.

You're right - I'd attribute the tonal qualities exclusively to the strings and the pickups, but I was just lumping pickups in with general bass construction so as to avoid argument. If I have really warm pickups and I want a brighter tone, I'm going to use a higher tension because the strings will emphasize the upper string harmonics. If I have really bright pickups without much low end, I'll go for lower tension to emphasize that fundamental.

The differences are subtle, but they are there, and to the tone chasers, it's the last 5% that they've been looking for to perfect their tone.

RBX4 · #20 09-09-2011, 10:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FunkMetalBass

People do it all the time, but because tone is as subjective as string tension preference, it makes no sense to suggest something like that. Hell, every time time Skip recommends strings, he offers two or three different sets based on the most common E-string gauges.

You're right - I'd attribute the tonal qualities exclusively to the strings and the pickups, but I was just lumping pickups in with general bass construction so as to avoid argument. If I have really warm pickups and I want a brighter tone, I'm going to use a higher tension because the strings will emphasize the upper string harmonics. If I have really bright pickups without much low end, I'll go for lower tension to emphasize that fundamental.

The differences are subtle, but they are there, and to the tone chasers, it's the last 5% that they've been looking for to perfect their tone.

Great stuff!