What strings for drop tuning?

[taygunov]

My group is playing in 2 steps down (C F D# A#) and me being a 'standard' guy for most of my playing time, I'm kinda clueless here.

I was thinking putting on B E A and D strings and tuning them up half a step, would that be alright? Or should I just get a really heavy gauged regular set of EADG strings?

[JetBlackJazz]

look into DDT strings...no need for 5 string sets...

[knuckle_head]

DDTs are not for drop tuning - they are for traditional intervals.

A C string ought to be in the .125 range to be as tight as a .095 is at E.

Drop C set suggestion; .124 .082 .061 .045 .031

[ixlramp]

Originally Posted by taygunov

My group is playing in 2 steps down (C F D# A#)

That should be C F A# D# or C F Bb Eb

To clarify and avoid confusion, the widely accepted meaning of 'drop tuning' is where the lowest string is detuned by a wholetone relative to the other strings, so the lowest interval is a fifth.
Drop D = DADG
Drop C = CGCF

I recommend buying 4 single strings. My suggestion would be 130 95 70 50. The gauges look strange but if you look at the D'Addario tension charts here: http://www.daddario.com/upload/tension_chart_13934.pdf you will see the strings have roughly equal tension, and tension similar to a 100 E.

[Grateful]

You might want to research Circle K strings:

Circle K strings...
Circle K Strings - Circle K Strings

As you'll find, they make many, many gauges from tiny to huge for pretty much any tuning/tension.

I use a balanced set on 3 of my 5 string basses for regular BEADG tuning the other 2 basses have flats). They are my favorite roundwound string of all the ones I've ever tried.

[dogbluedrummer]

I just changed to DGCF with La Bella Deep Talkin Flats (FS). It's a great combination. Tension and tone are great.

[GOV]

I play on DR DDT5 Heavys. Just put them on and switched to a heavier gauge since my neck is 37" long. I am in heaven with these things! Completely changed the sound and doubled the power in the sound. I won't put anything else on my Dean for now on.

By the way we are tuned down as well and mostly metal and progressive rock.
(A,D,G,C,F) since I am on a 5-string

[Thunder Pulse]

Originally Posted by GOV

I play on DR DDT5 Heavys. Just put them on and switched to a heavier gauge since my neck is 37" long.

What kind of bass is that?

[GOV]

Originally Posted by Thunder Pulse

What kind of bass is that?

Its a Dean Edge 5 string. Active pickups, plays like butter.

[knuckle_head]

Originally Posted by GOV

I play on DR DDT5 Heavys (A,D,G,C,F) on a 5-string

Have you tried anything heavier than their .135 for your A?

[BurnedEdge66]

I use DDT's on my 5-string and tune to drop A. A few weeks ago a sound guy asked me how I tuned so low without that "floppy string sound", so I'd say go for those.

[TheNightLife]

Definitly try a heavy gauge of ddts. I found they sound really good for drop tunings lower then drop d. They sound kinda boring in standard though.

[Thunder Pulse]

Originally Posted by Thunder Pulse

What kind of bass is that?

Originally Posted by GOV

Its a Dean Edge 5 string. Active pickups, plays like butter.

That's a 35" scale bass. Is that what you meant? I didn't understand your 37" neck comment.

[gard0300]

Originally Posted by dogbluedrummer

I just changed to DGCF with La Bella Deep Talkin Flats (FS). It's a great combination. Tension and tone are great.

If your not against losing a little brightness, I would suggest flatwounds as well. Tension is great through out drop tunings. I use Chromes and I love them. We play several drop tunings in our arrangements.

[gotyoursoul]

I play in a stoner Rock band tuned in C,G,C,F.... I play standard Rotosound swingbass Nickle 100- 45 gage.
Most people don't belive me when i tell them, but it works for me, easyer on the hand and fingers!!!!
At the end of the day its what you are comfortable with as 80% of your tone is in your fingers! So i believe!!!! ???

[alec]

Originally Posted by gotyoursoul

At the end of the day its what you are comfortable with as 80% of your tone is in your fingers! So i believe!!!! ???

I think its closer to 82.5%

I had 135 DDTs on a 34" 5er and I wasn't that impressed. The bass wasn't the greatest but the strings were stiff and didn't sound that good. I was tuning down to Bb.

Circle Ks are great. Don't be scared by the big gauges.

[Thunder Pulse]

Here's what I don't understand about people who say they don't like playing heavier gauge strings. Say they have a bass tuned EADG with 40,60,80,100 strings. They want to to go to a lower tuning so it's suggested that they go with 55,75,95,115 strings to maintain roughly the same tension, but they don't want to do that because the strings are too big. Yes, they're bigger, but the 55,75, & 95 strings are still smaller than the old 100 E-string that they didn't have issues with.

So what's the big deal? The 115 is the only string that would be bigger than anything they'd played before. Seems like this is more of a mental hangup than a physical one.

[GOV]

Originally Posted by Thunder Pulse

That's a 35" scale bass. Is that what you meant? I didn't understand your 37" neck comment.

Well my neck is 37" long, trust me I measured it. I picked up the bass at a small guitar shop a while back without any knowledge of the instrument. Only that it sounded amazing and played really smooth. It could be one of their signature basses, I'm not real sure. I have not seen it on their website though.

[GOV]

Originally Posted by knuckle_head

Have you tried anything heavier than their .135 for your A?

Not yet, because I would have to replace the nut. Right now they are at the max without replacing it. To be honest, I am not getting any slop in the strings since I replaced them.

[RBX4]

Originally Posted by knuckle_head

DDTs are not for drop tuning - they are for traditional intervals.

A C string ought to be in the .125 range to be as tight as a .095 is at E.

Drop C set suggestion; .124 .082 .061 .045 .031

Listen to knuckle_head!!