My band sometimes plays songs in standard tuning and sometimes we play tuned down 1/2 step. Should I set up my bass tuned regular and then tune down? (Which would then give me too little relief, thus buzzing) or should I set up my bass for 1/2 step down then tune up? (which would give me excessive relief). Does it even matter? and lastly tuned up or down shouldn't affect my action right? Thanks in advance
(It's a Setup question. It's a Setup question. It's a Setup question.)
Depends some on whether the songs care (i.e. no opens). If there was a strong majority (80%?) for one tuning I'd be inclined to setup for that one. If heads or tails I'd setup for low action when dropped.
Or get a 5. Or go BEAD. Or stick to dropped. Play all the songs by note not position. Not dissing the tuning changes, but one way to fix a problem like this is to avoid the problem. And those 3 do clear the problem situation.
A half step isn't much, and on a lot of basses it won't matter at all. I'd set it standard - then drop it the half, and check the relief to make sure there is still a smidgen anyway. Go from there.
