Tuning Half step down - How to increase tension?

[Pako]

My guitarist in the band insists on tuning a half step down.... For a year I relearned the music so I didn't have to tune down with him.... I finally gave in and am now tuning my Sadowsky a half step down but now the tension is too loose and I have string noise all over the place. With standard tuning, the tension is just right. I also use this bass for standard tuning gigs so I go back and fourth.... What are some things I can do to address this?

Larger gauge stings? Different setup? Just roll the highs off and don't worry about it?

Any advise is greatly appreciated.

[rockwarnick]

I have the exact same question/situation. Someone help us.

[funkometer]

Just tune normal, and dont tell your guitar player

[ThunderSix66]

larger gauge strings

[lug]

Originally Posted by Pako

Larger gauge stings? Different setup? Just roll the highs off ?

.

yep, yep, and yep. A bit of all three would probably be the best compromise.

[Pako]

Originally Posted by ThunderSix66

larger gauge strings

What gauge for a 5'er? What happens when I tune to 440?

[Scott in Dallas]

Can't you just set up the bass so it doesn't buzz at A flat? You're going to have to set it up for heavier strings anyway. Are Sadowsky necks really flexible or something?

[MikeyB]

I have to tune down a 1/2 also, and I don't prefer doing it.

My solution is to use stiff strings, in my case Rotosounds. If I play standard tuning I use DR Highbeams.

I play down 1/2 all the time. If you have to go back and forth, I don't think there is any great solution.

-M

[73jbass]

Originally Posted by funkometer

Just tune normal, and dont tell your guitar player

+1.If you're playing a 5 string,don't worry about it,and leave it in standard.I went through that in my last band where the guitar player insisted I play tuned down. I didn't want to keep switching basses over a 1/2 step change,so I played a 5 string,and played the tune wherever it fell on the fretboard. See my"Guitarists say the stupidest things" thread.

[Thor]

Your guitarist is pretty foolish to insist that an instrument
that is played in a different register on a different clef need be
tuned the same way way his instrument is.

He doesn't strike me as much of a musician. Would the
violinist tell the contrabassist to tune in 5ths because he
does? Does a banjo player have to tune like a guitar player?
Tell your pedal steel player how to tune, see how long he sticks
around. Maybe you should bring a fretless to a gig?

I guess you could go extreme and throw on a detuner or two,
but the whole thing strikes me as darn silly.

Back to the original question. When detuning the strings by a half step,
you do decrease their tension. An increase in tension is effected by an
increase in string gauge, or an increase in scale length. Or both. The increase
in scale length means a different bass.

The decrease in tension means that the bass will have slightly added backbow,
possibly requiring a truss adjustment or a resetup. Tell him that because of the way your 5 is designed, detuning is an impractical idea for a bass because of the high tension involved.
Maybe that will get the idiot of your back. Let's hope so anyway.

[Mick D.]

Originally Posted by ThunderSix66

larger gauge strings

Larger strings don't necessarily mean higher tension. The tension is usually dictated by the size of the string's core wire.
Most string companies have some sort of customer service that can help you out with the core sizes.

[jmarcus2]

Originally Posted by Pako

My guitarist in the band insists on tuning a half step down.... For a year I relearned the music so I didn't have to tune down with him.... I finally gave in and am now tuning my Sadowsky a half step down but now the tension is too loose and I have string noise all over the place. With standard tuning, the tension is just right. I also use this bass for standard tuning gigs so I go back and fourth.... What are some things I can do to address this?

Larger gauge stings? Different setup? Just roll the highs off and don't worry about it?

Any advise is greatly appreciated.

If you continue to tune down, stiffer, heaver gauge strings (DRs come to mind) may help; go up by a factor of 05. you may have to adjust string height to avoid buzz.

Having a five, I used to just change position, rather than tune down.
This is dependent on how good and tight your B is. I have one bass where Eb played on the B doesn't sound so good...

Depending on your experience, keeping standard tuning may introduce confusion if your guitar player quickly needs to communicate a key change, or if you learned a bunch of tunes using open strings.

While on tour, I just gave in and tuned down because, well, I didn't have to worry about other gigs (lol!).


Do what gets the job done for you.

[John Wentzien]

Tell the guitarist to get a lighter guage string and tune standard?

[JGR]

all of my basses are tuned down a half step - heavier gage strings seem to do the trick for me - i use 50-110 rotosounds or DR low riders. some strings brands have higher tension as previously mentioned, DR's being one of them.

JR

[MikeyB]

I really like DR HiBeams, and tried the Lo-Riders for my 1/2-down bass. I didn't like them as much. I went to tried-n-true Rotosounds. That said, I only tried the 1 set of Lo-Riders, so maybe sometime I'll give them a second test drive.

I really like the Rotos though. Wished they lasted as long as the DRs.

-M

[All_¥our_Bass]

Bigger strings.

You'd hate my bass, I use thin strings AND tune down a whole step, specifically for extra clank and djent.

[FunkyFlashFive]

i never tune down and tell the guitarists to get over it. i use low riders anyway

[Jim Carr]

I used to have to tune my '71 P-bass down 1/2 step. I used the next heavier gauge of whatever strings I was using at the time (GHS and D'Addario rounds, IIRC). However, when I had to go back to standard tuning, the bass's setup was significantly disturbed, mostly because the relief became too great for the old neck.

Since you are playing a 5-string, my vote is don't tune down, unless you slap a lot and need the open strings to match keys/changes in the songs you play a lot. When I used my 5 on a few tunes in the above mentioned band situation, I kept it in standard tuning. We ended up playing in keys that laid pretty well for funk/slap, so it just happened to work out.

You may need to have a couple of instruments, with each one set-up for the tuning you are playing in.

For me, the issue with the old P-bass was complicated because the neck had truss rod and fret issues, and did not take well to higher string tension. YMMV, so try it both ways, and see how well it works. Getting into a kerfuffle with the guitarist seems pointless and unprofessional to me. I'd view this as a chance to explore dropped tunings, which is pretty common these days. Keep in mind the sound of the band is the main thing, IMHO.

[Pilgrim]

You're the bass player. He's not. Tune the way you please and play the bass line the way you please. It's none of his damn business how you tune your instrument, as long as you're playing well and holding up your end.

If I really needed to drop a note, I'd either tune down to D or install a drop-D tuner. But it would be my decision, not the guitar player's. I have a very high respect for both guitarists in my group, but they don't call the bass lines. They are welcome to make suggestions; then "I'm the decider".

BE the decider.

[Folmeister]

I do this permanently with one of my groups. It gives the singer just a tad more headroom for those songs at the limits of register. I use DR 100s in standard, so I went and got the Marcus Miller DRs which are 105s. They are just perfect.