Tuning down a half step and fret buzz

[Rushfan-nLV]

Just want to confirm my thought process here. Joined a band that tunes down a half step and with my four string, I experienced a little buzzing and some almost muted notes. I changed from medium to heavy gauge strings and the bass now plays great.

I just purchased a 5 string that I'm sure has medium gauge strings on it. When I tuned down, I get buzzing on the B & E at around the 5th and 7th frets. Switching to the heavier gauge, putting more tension on the neck should fix the problem, correct?

Thank you for your help.

[T.A.P Bass]

Yeah, a heavier set of strings should alleviate some of the issue. I would take it to a tech as well and get it properly set up since your going to have less tension on the neck with the dropped tuning.

[Rushfan-nLV]

Originally Posted by T.A.P Bass

Yeah, a heavier set of strings should alleviate some of the issue. I would take it to a tech as well and get it properly set up since your going to have less tension on the neck with the dropped tuning.

I plan on taking it to my regular guy for sure. Thanks for the reply.

[knuckle_head]

Careful with your selection of a B string.

E strings are lower-tensioned than the balance of a normal 4 string set, and proportionally B strings are even looser.

If you want to play your B string as you would your E string consider a .136 to go along with a .100, or a .142 to go well with a .106. This will give you very similar tension between the E and B and ought to allow you to use the same playing technique on both.

. . . just my $.02

[Rushfan-nLV]

Originally Posted by knuckle_head

Careful with your selection of a B string.

E strings are lower-tensioned than the balance of a normal 4 string set, and proportionally B strings are even looser.

If you want to play your B string as you would your E string consider a .136 to go along with a .100, or a .142 to go well with a .106. This will give you very similar tension between the E and B and ought to allow you to use the same playing technique on both.

. . . just my $.02

Thanks for the advice. I’m planning on tuning my B to a D so I can play those drop D songs without having to do any tuning. Since there will be some increased tension on the B string already, perhaps the .130 would suffice in this case?

[Duckwater]

If heavier gauges don't solve your issue, then raising the action of your B & E string will help with buzz as well.

[knuckle_head]

A .124 is right nice for C - if you're a high tension guy you could go with a .120 or a .115 for D and I bet you'd be pleased.

I usually suggest a .112 for D

[JustDavid]

Have you tried adjusting the truss rod?

[warnergt]

You're down tuning a B string? ...to Bb?
Man, that's really low.

Can't you get away without down tuning since you have a 5'er?

[kcandme]

Originally Posted by warnergt

You're down tuning a B string? ...to Bb?
Man, that's really low.

Can't you get away without down tuning since you have a 5'er?

I think he said he's up-tuning his B to a D...???

I don't understand it in either case, but I'm not very knowledgable about alternate tunings.

A friend has a fiver that he tunes his E down to a D...
I didn't understand that either, given the availability of the D on the B string.

[Rushfan-nLV]

Originally Posted by JustDavid

Have you tried adjusting the truss rod?

That was my first thought. 1/4 counter clockwise turn should do the trick but I'm holding off because A. I have to change the strings because the factory strings are still on the bass and since I'm changing them, I'm going to try the bigger gauge first to see if that does the trick and B. I love the sound of really heavy gauge strings. SRV said it best, the bigger the string, the bigger the tone.

BTW I'm a 90% pick player who plays 90s hard rock.

[rockstarbassist]

Originally Posted by warnergt

You're down tuning a B string? ...to Bb?
Man, that's really low.

Can't you get away without down tuning since you have a 5'er?

That's kiddie stuff. I tune my B to A and G. Lots of topics with good info on this (less the trolls) actually.

[bass5]

Originally Posted by rockstarbassist

That's kiddie stuff. I tune my B to A and G. Lots of topics with good info on this (less the trolls) actually.

Do you have any setup advice for that i have a rockbass corvette and i would like to go to g but seems floppy. I have DR black beauties I thing I'll need higher gauge strings maybe adjust the truss rod how do you set up your bass to go to g

[Nev375]

Consult this chart downloadable from circle K strings.

http://circlekstrings.com/CKSIMAGES/...nsionChart.pdf

For any given tuning, you are going to want a gauge that gives you around 40 lbs of tension more or less.

[ixlramp]

^Yes, this. Circle K make the best strings for really low tunings.

Originally Posted by bass5

Do you have any setup advice for that i have a rockbass corvette and i would like to go to g but seems floppy. I have DR black beauties I thing I'll need higher gauge strings maybe adjust the truss rod how do you set up your bass to go to g

Is your B string permanently dropped to G? If so choose a Circle K gauge that gives you at least 30 pounds (the manufacturing tension, Circle K recommend exceeding this) at G. The .158 will do this.

Or do you use both B and G? This is a big drop, difficult to get a string to sound good at both extremes. I would go .142.