What is the exact danger in tuning strings WAY down?

[SMILEYSIXX]

My bass was set up for standard as iit's the one I use in my jazz band, but for a song, I've been tuning down to AGCF. It's been holding the tuning pretty well, but is there a danger in dropping the strings that much? I mean the A, D, and G are only dropped a whole step, but my E being dropped all the way to A seems like it may not be good for the bass, but what is the exact danger?

[FunkMetalBass]

A few horrible things:

1. You'll need to adjust your truss rod.
2. You may need to adjust your amp's/bass' EQ.
3. String buzz is 18% more likely for each semitone dropped.
4. You may need to adjust your action or plucking strength.

[TGLbass]

Loosening -- probubly won't cause any danger unless the neck catches on fire from playing too fast. Danger comes when you tighten the strings too much. Like the guy above said +1.

[SMILEYSIXX]

the neck isn't bowing at all and it's playing great. As long as there's no danger of the neck snapping or something drastic and as long as any neck bow can be fixed with a truss rod adjustment, it'll work, because I'm playing in standard for some stuff and AGCF for other stuff.

[TGLbass]

If there is less tension on the neck from the strings pulling from the bridge over thier full length all the way up to the tuners then- the neck would not snap . Now if the neck is bi-polar -- well you just never know.

[darkstorm]

Below a certain level of detuning the strings get too loose and just go floppy. Then you got dull floppy strings that cant make a good sound. But no danger from detuning itself. Truss rod adjustment may be needed with downtuning since less tension.

[JLS]

Originally Posted by SMILEYSIXX

My bass was set up for standard as iit's the one I use in my jazz band, but for a song, I've been tuning down to AGCF. It's been holding the tuning pretty well, but is there a danger in dropping the strings that much? I mean the A, D, and G are only dropped a whole step, but my E being dropped all the way to A seems like it may not be good for the bass, but what is the exact danger?

One song?

[BigOldHarry]

Danger? No. But there will be results.

The neck is designed to compensate for the tension the strings provide. Less tension on the strings means the neck will tend to bow backward and require "Relief" (which is the truss rod adjustment previously mentioned).

Now, tuning way HIGH, that's a different thing. I do believe you can tune high enough to trash a tuner, bridge or even a neck - if you really put your mind to it! But low? Nah - your bass just wont' play so well until you tune back up.

[SMILEYSIXX]

Originally Posted by JLS

One song?

Ehh two right now, working on a third. Korn, Dimmu Borgir and working on Mastodon.

[StonewallValent]

If you plan on keeping it consistently tuned like that, thicker strings may be a good idea, at least for the low A. Mainly just because it'll make it easier to play, since tuning down a fifth makes for loose strings.

Or get a fiver.

[maturanesa]

Originally Posted by SMILEYSIXX

My bass was set up for standard as iit's the one I use in my jazz band, but for a song, I've been tuning down to AGCF. It's been holding the tuning pretty well, but is there a danger in dropping the strings that much? I mean the A, D, and G are only dropped a whole step, but my E being dropped all the way to A seems like it may not be good for the bass, but what is the exact danger?

To learn the notes on the fretboard again

[SMILEYSIXX]

Originally Posted by StonewallValent

If you plan on keeping it consistently tuned like that, thicker strings may be a good idea, at least for the low A. Mainly just because it'll make it easier to play, since tuning down a fifth makes for loose strings.

Or get a fiver.

I have one.