Drop C tuning on a 8 string bass (paired)

[albi]

Hi everyone,

I have recently bought a very nice ESP LTD B208FM 8 String Bass which, as usual, is tuned E-e-A-a-D-d-G-g with a set of Rotosound string with gauges of 20, 30, 35, 45, 45, 65, 80, 105.
I do play quite a lot in drop C (C-G-C-F) and I would like to get new strings that could sustain such a tuning (on my 4 strings I usually use 40-120) whilst at the same not causing the paired strings to clash and produce some horribly disgusting noise

Has anyone ever tried this and if so which gauges would you suggest?

Thank you!!

[Hookus]

I play an 8 quite a bit, and think you are going to run into some problems with that. For starters, you need to make sure it will intonate to C.

My best guess would be for you to just calculate what gauges you need for each and buy singles.

[albi]

yeah, I suppose I'll go up a couple of gauges and see what happens...thanks!

[CopperheadLXXIX]

You'll be fine. I tune my Dean Rhapsody 12 to CGCG. Intonates wonderfully. I build sets from singles, which is expensive, but worth it. Right now my low C is a .120. Only real concern is that changing the gauges that drastically you may have to do some deepening/widening of the nut slots to accommodate the thicker gauges.

[Hookus]

Like the previous poster said, It should work fine if you widen your nut slots, and have intonation room on your bridge.

[albi]

Thanks for the useful replies...I actually had had to widen the nut slots already on a 4 string I now play in drop C so I' ll definitely give it a go!