drop C Tuning problem Thunderbird IV Pro

[fedecastro]

Hi! I bought a Epiphone Thunderbird IV Pro bass and Im having problems with the fourth string.
I'm using D'addario Bass Strings Nickel Longscale Exl 160 050-105.
Here is the problem ... the fourth string tuned to C do not have a defined sound and tuning seems to jump when I play with a pick.
I'm think I need thicker strings for this tuning.
My question is this, this bass supports thicker strings as 110/155?
I mean...the nut is ok to put thicker strings like 110/115?
Thanks!!!
PD: The bass is correctly sizing to drop C

sORRY FOR MI ENGLISH

[SLaPiNFuNK]

Drop C you want something along the lines of...

120 90 70 50

There are a lot more options but that is the simplest way to put it. If you want all strings to have the same tension we can do that too.

Many instruments you can fit a 120 without a lot of modifications if any at all. 115 would work but 120 is preferred

[ZombieSpacebat]

I also use a Thunderbird in drop C, you'll definitely need thicker strings. I use EB Power Slinkies and the .110 makes a lot of difference.

[PatQ]

I play a Gibson Thunderbird in Drop C and have used D'Addario EXL 230 for a while, those worked well.

I'm currently testing Circle K Strings in 47/65/86/130, which also seem to work pretty good. And they drag less on the neck than the EXL, which isn't a bad thing for such a narrow neck.

[ZombieSpacebat]

Originally Posted by PatQ

I play a Gibson Thunderbird in Drop C and have used D'Addario EXL 230 for a while, those worked well.

I'm currently testing Circle K Strings in 47/65/86/130, which also seem to work pretty good. And they drag less on the neck than the EXL, which isn't a bad thing for such a narrow neck.

How do the Circle K feel? I've been interested in them for a while.

[PatQ]

They don't feel much different from the EXL, really nice balanced, ideal for drop-tuning. Don't have anything negative to say.

I am a bit concerned with using "normal" strings that aren't especially made for drop-tunings on the Tbird because of it's narrow neck. I don't want to twist it over the years :-)

I also tried the DR DDT stings (65/85/102/125) but didn't like how they sound.

[ZombieSpacebat]

Which T-bird do you have? I wouldn't call mine a narrow neck at all.

[DwaynieAD]

you absolutely do not need thicker strings for drop tuning. check pickup height and where you picking the bass at. check eq.

[PatQ]

Originally Posted by ZombieSpacebat

Which T-bird do you have? I wouldn't call mine a narrow neck at all.

Gibson. Never had a smaller neck on a bass.

[fedecastro]

Originally Posted by DwaynieAD

you absolutely do not need thicker strings for drop tuning. check pickup height and where you picking the bass at. check eq.

tHANKS! So do you think that pickup height affects this "bending"?

[spade2you]

Originally Posted by DwaynieAD

you absolutely do not need thicker strings for drop tuning. check pickup height and where you picking the bass at. check eq.

Unless you want the pickups to sound muddy. It's close to B and I don't recall many of us using a .105 as a B string.

[DwaynieAD]

Originally Posted by fedecastro

tHANKS! So do you think that pickup height affects this "bending"?

i have no idea in your case but the "you need a thicker string camp" is way off IMO. sounds to me from the op that it is coming out of tune, check the tuner.

around here if you go below standard E you suddenly need steel cable or your doing it wrong.

Originally Posted by spade2you

Unless you want the pickups to sound muddy. It's close to B and I don't recall many of us using a .105 as a B string.

i played a .105 drop tuned to A for a few months, no problems whatsoever thick heavy and loud. I now have five string, drop A tuning with a .120 b string. thick heavy and loud.

set up, intonation, roll off the tone knob just a hair and play that thing.

[spade2you]

Hell, I heard a guy using an Epi short scale mudbucker tuned to BEAD with standard strings. He thought it sounded good. Muddy and floppy to my ears.

[Savage_Dreams]

if you tune a 105 down to A and played it with a feather maybe that works and sounds ok. im betting the OP has a bit heavier attack and a thicker string would more than likely fix the problem. is it the only possible solution, no, but it is the most likely.

[NYCbassist]

I would go heavier on the strings. If you're going to need the drop tuning a lot the I strongly recommend a 5 string. I gigged about 6 months on a 4 banger tuned BEAD and it was ok. There's just no substitute for a solid 5 string. IMO of course. If you are finding the nut too tight for the fatter strings, consider this trick. I used to "Flatten" out the strings where they ride the nut plus a bit on each side. I just squeezed a smidge with a vice grip. It worked like a charm for me but YMMV.

[fedecastro]

Thanks for all your support guys! Maybe It was a mistake buying a 4 strings bass... Anyway I will try a little ticker gauge without modify the nut

[khutch]

I tune the low string on all my basses to C. I've done that as an experiment with standard four string sets with 95 to 105 E strings. You most definitely do need thicker strings if you want something approaching normal bass string tension on a 34 inch C string (I don't happen to know the scale length of a Thunderbird). Personally I use 128 to 145 C strings and I would consider 120 to be the minimum.

Ken

[lfbassguy]

You can try the DR Black Widow strings. They are suppose to be a 45-105 gauge that is designed to be detuned. I have not used them personally but I have heard people that have, and they seem to like them.

[fedecastro]

Originally Posted by khutch

I tune the low string on all my basses to C. I've done that as an experiment with standard four string sets with 95 to 105 E strings. You most definitely do need thicker strings if you want something approaching normal bass string tension on a 34 inch C string (I don't happen to know the scale length of a Thunderbird). Personally I use 128 to 145 C strings and I would consider 120 to be the minimum.

Ken

145? thats THICKER!!!!!!!

[Niff]

.055-.110 ernie balls on my rick (at a shorter scale than 34") works fine for C standard.