to down tune or not to down tune?

lilb1978 · #1 10-20-2009, 09:25 PM

hey fellas...just started playing bass about a month ago(i'm a guitar convert, but determined to play like a bassist, not a convert). the band i'm in tunes guitars low to high c, g, c, f, a, d. for the first few weeks, i borrowed a four-string from a friend, and tuned just like the guitar players did. i recently purchased the 5 string traben havoc, and attempted to tune it like i did the four-string, with an additional low "A"(on the B string). i get a horrible fretboard rattle from it. I know there are dudes out there that down tune their basses, so my question is: what do you guys do? do i need thicker strings? proper setup? bite the bullet and re-learn a 25 song set(transposing with standard tuning)? any help would be greatly appreciated. thanks!

bearshimmy · #2 10-20-2009, 09:43 PM

to me it sounds like you need to raise the action and/or use thicker gauge strings.

Beej · #3 10-20-2009, 09:44 PM

I play a fiver and tune it C# G# C# F# B. Basically, DADGC but down a half-step. I find the high B string much more useful than a low G# string and it works well just being an octave lower than the guitarist.

If you do want to tune a low A though, find a heavy five string set and do a full setup. Also, try lowering the pickup under the low A.

Thegian · #4 10-20-2009, 10:46 PM

Hey, i play with G C G C F and yeh, you definitely need some thicker strings and a good set up will make all the difference. I chose the low G just cause at the time we were playing some The Faceless tunes and thats how Brandon Giffin tunes his basses so i just went with that option, I think Dan Briggs also tunes to C# with the low G# ... just extra info xD

I use DR high beams .045-.105 and a .135 "B" string right now and have been thinking of using a thicker set but i'm pretty comfortable as is.

Also, i wouldnt even consider fretting that low C if i didnt have to. Guessing that its used as a pedal note more than enough to make that option go out the window entirely.

Asg09 · #5 10-21-2009, 11:41 AM

Does anybody know Brandon Giffin's rig?

Basses/cabs/amps/effects?

Chickencha · #6 10-21-2009, 01:27 PM

Since you have a fiver, couldn't you just consider tuning it standard BEADG? You'll be able to hit all the same notes as your guitarist (an octave down, of course); you just won't be tuned the same way. That could make it a little tougher if you're following his riffs, but I think it's definitely something to think about.

Drop tunings really don't do you much good on bass. They let you hit lower notes, but break the pattern of tuning in fourths. The big advantage for guitarists is that they can play power chords more easily, but as a bassist you're probably not often playing power chords.

Scionreality · #7 10-21-2009, 01:41 PM

The guitarist I was working with for the last like four years played almost exclussively in drop C (the tuning you described, OP). I tried a few things, but after a lot of trial and hassle I settled on standard BEADG tuning. The tone was better, the notes were distinguishable, your bass and amp aren't struggling to compensate because they're designed to work there, so I stopped fighting it.

IMHO, that's the best way to go. Or, at least, a solid place to start.

i hate username · #8 10-21-2009, 01:53 PM

You could get thinner strings and tune up,i use'd to tune up when i played in Drop "B" it worked pretty well,did have to set up my bass to accomodate the higher string tension and the tone was nice and bright which helped cut through all the distortion(could be too harsh if you dodnt eq it right) I dont know if its the best thing to tune up for C. Thats a lot of tension to put on your neck

jeremyr · #9 10-21-2009, 02:05 PM

try a setup first.

My CallowHill has a drop tuner on my Bb to get me down to an A and I get no rattle whatsoever unless I beat it mercilessly

I'm using a .125 or .120 for my Bb/A

73jbass · #10 10-21-2009, 02:19 PM

Just take a standard 5 string set and tune it C standard. It's only 1/2 step up.Should work great.

Thegian · #11 10-21-2009, 09:01 PM

Really, the point of tuning the same way is for ease of playing. Why waste all the extra energy if you know you can prevent it you know?

To me, your spending far too much energy trying to figure out how to play with others using a different tuning and its just not worth it. Also, if youve ever tried to play a riff that was written in something like drop C with C standard tuning you know you might have to cut some stuff out because the fingerings can become too much to deal with ... cant imagine trying to pull it off with B standard.

Then again, when i think of drop C i usually think of the modern rock and metal / core styles where the lowest note is used as a pedal very often and the pace is faster which just creates problems with not being in the same tuning. No experience with other genres and drop tuning so far so i dont know if it'll work comfortably enough.

Scionreality · #12 10-22-2009, 07:09 AM

The band I was in with Drop C tuning was hard rock/metal. For example, we did some Chevelle and Deftones covers pretty often. My main bass was a 4 string in Drop C (with heavier E string. Er, C string), and the second bass was a 5 string in B Standard.

Playing the 5er quickly with the Drop C guitar wan't a problem for me. YMMV.

THPBass · #13 10-22-2009, 07:21 AM

I use a 4 string tuned c#, g#, c#, f#....I use .110 strings and raised the action a hair, no rattles and the thicker string strings keep the tension from feeling floppy. I think the last set I put on were EB power slinkies.

honestjohnny · #14 10-22-2009, 07:25 AM

OP, there's nothing wrong with tuning down. It opens up new possibilities and can give you a fresh perspective when you're in standard tuning. You will need heavy gauge strings and higher action if you want it to sound good. Also, you'll need good speakers that can handle those low frequencies.

Skeet · #15 10-22-2009, 07:58 PM

My band plays exclusively in drop C, and there is a LOT of open Cs then higher notes at fast paces. So what ive done, is tuned it ACGCF Its only one step down, and doesn't sound to bad, although i do get a bit of fret buzz on the A string, that's only coz its not set up properly.

But it plays well.
so thats the benefit of drop tuning, so you dont have to go back to the first fret on the B string every time after a 9th fret on the E string.

I hate string skipping at fast speeds, mainly coz i cant do it. ahaha

diechris · #16 12-12-2009, 12:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Asg09

Does anybody know Brandon Giffin's rig?

Basses/cabs/amps/effects?

I actually just did a show with them last night and got to talk to him about stuff.

he was running an 5 string musicman(stock) eden wt800, aguilar 810, used a sansamp bddi as dirt for one song, and a boss tuner.

he runs the sansamp as a DI but only turns it on for one song(his signal still runs as a clean DI with the effect section off) then he mic's his bass cab with a audix D6 mic.

EQ is set flat for the most part but he bumps his low mids a lot.

i swear that was the best tone i've ever heard in a metal band... it cut thru and it still sounded huge.

he said the tone is all in the cab. he has a aguilar db750 at home that he uses in the studio and loves how the tone and how simple the EQ is.

he doesnt bring the db750 because "its just too loud and the other guys complain about it and tell me to turn down even when its at 2.."