playing with tuned down guitars

themerchguy · #1 10-13-2009, 12:33 PM

ok so a couple of my friends put a 4 piece "grindcore" band together. the guitar is scratchy high and heavy low. guitars are tuned down to open C.. well im on bass and tuning down to that seems just to low for me....unless its just because i have small 35w amp. possibly dumb question but, is there an alternate tuning that i can use that will go with the open C without getting new strings? thanks for any help

sirpug · #2 10-13-2009, 12:36 PM

Do you have a 5 string guitar. My band has a couple of songs in drop D tuning that the guitars have to tune down for but I just play them on my low B string. Works the same. If you're on a 4 string then you'll have to tune down or play an octave above the guitars.

PS, if you're tuning down your practice amp isn't going to cover it.

themerchguy · #3 10-13-2009, 12:53 PM

its a 4 string.

the guitars are tuned C-G-C-F-F#-E

so im tuned C-G-C-F

is there any kind of alternate tuning that will sound good with that sort of odd tuning.

thanks for the fast response.

electracoyote · #4 10-13-2009, 12:58 PM

If you want a low C match for what the guitars are doing, you have no choice but to get a metal gauge string set or a 5 string. Anything short of C two steps lower than your E is going to sound like a standard string set.

nightcityburn · #5 10-13-2009, 12:58 PM

Just tune with the guitars. Buy a set of .110's and you will make your life a lot easier.

themerchguy · #6 10-13-2009, 01:10 PM

thanks for the advice.

i would buy a 5 string set or something like that its just my personal tuning range doesnt go lower than a half step.

just trying to see whats out there cause my low strings seem barely audible and buzzy, maybe ill try some effects also.

J. Montgomery · #7 10-13-2009, 01:17 PM

IMHO, 35W is not going to pump a low C. From my personal experience with a 6 string, you're going to need more power and more surface area on your speakers to produce deep tones with much volume. Personally, I think you'd be better off staying in standard tuning and playing up an octave . . .

but thats just me.

themerchguy · #8 10-13-2009, 01:31 PM

well i have a 35w amp at home for messing around.
but the other amp is something like a 180w behringer amp.

his amp definetly sounds better.

now that i think about it my buddy has a 6 string he'll let me use. then ill have a big range of sound

sevenyearsdown · #9 10-13-2009, 01:36 PM

If you are playing with alternate tunings, it's a good idea to get your bass setup again.

hayngman · #10 10-13-2009, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sevenyearsdown

If you are playing with alternate tunings, it's a good idea to get your bass setup again.

+1, very important.

wetzelman1 · #11 10-15-2009, 02:37 PM

my band plays in drop c, I've gone through a couple combinations. One of my basses downtuned perfectly from standard to c but was kindof a piece. Got a new bass and threw some 110 boomers on it and that worked pretty well. Recently, I just had the bass setup professionally using a 105 and it's fantastic. Little higher action but strings are easier to press and the note clarity is much better.

BTW you're gonna need a good amp. My 200w peavey and 1820 couldn't handle the c well. It's the quality of your cab and speakers that will dictate how good it's going to sound. Recently got an Ampeg 1540 (1 15 and 4 10's) and I'm not totally satisfied with it's handling of the low c.

sloasdaylight · #12 10-15-2009, 02:42 PM

Just make sure you get good equipment, cause that makes all the difference. My band uses a drop D tuning D,A,D,G,B,E for the guitars, so I tune with my 6 string bongo A,D,A,D,G,C and my Hartke VX810 and 3500HA head handle the low A well.

fishsticks · #13 10-15-2009, 02:49 PM

i use a custom gauge set of strings for my drop c tuning bass. also a large amp will do you a world of good. At least 300 watts and 2 speakers.

TOOL460002 · #14 10-15-2009, 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fishsticks

i use a custom gauge set of strings for my drop c tuning bass. also a large amp will do you a world of good. At least 300 watts and 2 speakers.

+1 for getting custom strings. i started jamming with a guitar player who plays drop a flat. his low string is bigger than my d string. he orders his strings one at a time from some place in italy. i just tune down a half step so i have an open a flat to play with, and the a flat on the low e flat string is still pretty thumpy.

also, as stated by someone, get your setup done by a bass/guitar tech, because for larger gauge strings, you may need a custom nut, as itll probably break as it is now.

Deluge Of Sound · #15 10-15-2009, 04:18 PM

Of course, this is all subjective, but I've never been a big fan of custom strings for detuning, and I'm down in C standard. I like the feel of thinner strings detuned much more than thicker strings.

But you're going to have to switch up your amp if you want to keep up.

AleemRadunzel · #16 10-16-2009, 06:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sloasdaylight

Just make sure you get good equipment, cause that makes all the difference. My band uses a drop D tuning D,A,D,G,B,E for the guitars, so I tune with my 6 string bongo A,D,A,D,G,C and my Hartke VX810 and 3500HA head handle the low A well.

you also brought another good point to the table mr!

when i was playing in an old band when i was playing guitar (FORGIVE ME) the bass player was rocking a fretless 5 and i was in drop C so he tuned it in, what my old bass teacher called Traditional 5 string

respectively we where tuned

G-C-G-C-F
--C-G-C-F-A-D

This worked really well.. espec through his orange rig 15 and 4x10s, sound mad smooth and tight.

you know our ERB friends are working on drop C an octave down and the aformentioned bassist has a EADG a octave down.. it really is a case of

bass how low can you go?

sorry for the unrelated shizzle

NGL · #17 10-17-2009, 06:25 AM

Another idea that I don't see mentioned is perhaps keeping everything in standard EADG and getting some sort of octaver pedal. But I'm going to side with everyone else on pumping up your amp and speakers to be able to push it.

theunknowndude · #18 10-17-2009, 06:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NGL

Another idea that I don't see mentioned is perhaps keeping everything in standard EADG and getting some sort of octaver pedal. But I'm going to side with everyone else on pumping up your amp and speakers to be able to push it.

If you mean octave as in octave below he would still need a good amp to push that through...

I have a Crate 220W head pushing an ashdown 4X10,... I need more cos even my low B doesnt get as perfect as the rest of my strings and in a band setting it can be the difference between being in the mix or not! (personal choice of course, but I prefer the feel of 5 strings, always an option for if you want to tune down without having to rearrange a EADG setup bass)

themerchguy · #19 10-18-2009, 02:06 PM

thanks for all the suggestions. guess i just have to buy a better amp. i knew i always needed one anyways its just the money and picking the right equipment.