What string gauges for A-D-G-C-F tuning ?

[=^..^=]

I'm getting a 35" scale length 5 string and I fancy running a lower tuning than normal.

Any one tried this ?

And what string gauges did you use ?

On my four strings I tend to run 45 - 100's Dean Markleys or Prisms.

Why do I think JT will be the man with the knowledge ?

Thanks for your time guys.

[Slater]

Maybe some Dean Markley SR2000 Will Lee's will do the job for you. They're a little heavier than the standard SR2000's.

[eli]

The fact that it's a 35" scale is interesting. If 34" scale strings will do the job (silk on the low B's frequently hangs over the nut), then a standard gauge 5-string set will be very close to its designed tension tuned ADGCF and you won't have to do anything at all. If anything, it'll be a half step below standard tension. So maybe just a gauge heavier than you'd normally use.

Of course, by detuning a 35" scale instrument, you're blowing one of the advantages of a 35" scale -- increased tension and therefore clarity on the low notes, especially the open B string.

You'll probably wind up experimenting with string gauges anyway. To get the tension back up, just try a heavier gauge set.

[=^..^=]

I'd kinda worked out the gauges - normally I use 45,60,80,100 - so I figured that if an increase of .20 was worth five semitones then and extra .08/10 would be worth two semitones (which is the difference I'm looking for)

So therefore 55, 70, 90, 100 and 135 seemed about right to me.

Now all I need to do find a set like that - the DR's don't go that heavy for normal players (unless JT has an old set spare).

[Angus]

If you find a 55-135 set, which really isn't all that hard (my preferred guage is 50-135), it'll probably be more like 55-75-95-110-135 or 55-75-90-105-135. The former would be much better than the latter, but I've seen both.

Really, the heavier you go, the better it will sound. As a good rule of thumb, .005 thicker per half step detuned works pretty well.

[brianmc]

maybe i have been playing above the 7th fret too much but when i saw that i thought an octave higher, like a 7. weird. that would be cool though. i think ima try that.


brian