F# tuning? Not that sure!!

5str · #1 02-07-2011, 07:02 AM

I recently saw a bass guitar, particularly the Warwick Vampyre Dark Lord, that has a F# standard tuning. The advertisements always talk about the "ultimate metal bass guitar with all that subterannean lows".
Actually is that low tuning used so much in metal, or is it actually so metal? I've never seen any metal band that uses that low tunings? Have you seen any? If yes, then which bands are they?

T-Bird · #2 02-07-2011, 08:10 AM

Hi.

Maybe it's being advertized as such, but F# tunings advantages in metal genres are questionable to say the least. IMHO anyway.

IMLE, tunings that low are better suited to less loud genres

.

Regards
Sam

FunkMetalBass · #3 02-07-2011, 08:12 AM

Over the years, I've seen plenty of bands that tune that low (especially with the rising popularity of 8-string guitars).

Whether or not the bass tunes down that low also is debatable, because many bassists discovered that playing an octave below was incredibly difficult to record/reproduce and playing up an octave helped them cut through the mix.

arsie · #4 02-07-2011, 08:50 AM

What is the best tuning for metal?

ThunderousFunk · #5 02-07-2011, 08:54 AM

Messhuggah goes in that area with 8string guitars(low F#), and Stephen Carpenter(Deftones) is a big fan of that band, and now uses an 8 string guitar. So, it's slowly becoming popular. Because this idea isn't as readily popular on bass, the guitar is tuned so low, that the bass is on the same octave as the guitar(See the Butcher).

Rockingbird · #6 02-07-2011, 09:00 AM

tuning that low, you may as well just string the bass with barbed wire.

Goteky45 · #7 02-07-2011, 09:05 AM

jeroen paul thesseling from obscura and pestilence started using a fretless warwick thumb NT with 7 string tuned from low F# to high C on the latest album from each band.

Schizo Sapiens · #8 02-07-2011, 09:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThunderousFunk

Messhuggah goes in that area with 8string guitars(low F#)

Actually they play in F, one semitone lower than standard 8-string tuning.

This song goes even lower, AFAIK low Eb (more than one octave lower than standard): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=40qrlt3pjc4

Periphery are using Drop-G# sometimes (song "Light", for example).

In general, such low tunings are used a lot in djent and math metal genres and bass guitar is not very audible there usually. It's just there for the sound, playing root or doubling guitar parts.

FunkMetalBass · #9 02-07-2011, 09:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThunderousFunk

Messhuggah goes in that area with 8string guitars(low F#), and Stephen Carpenter(Deftones) is a big fan of that band, and now uses an 8 string guitar. So, it's slowly becoming popular. Because this idea isn't as readily popular on bass, the guitar is tuned so low, that the bass is on the same octave as the guitar(See the Butcher).

I already have an 8-string that I string up F#-F, but I've been so tempted lately to pick up another Spector 6-string and string it up F#-G.

Metal Matt · #10 02-07-2011, 10:10 AM

Tony Danza Tapdance Extravaganza tunes to drop E, a full octave below standard on their new CD. Without decent computer speakers with a sub, I imagine it'd be hard to hear the bass but it is, IMO, one of the best recordings of sub-bass in heavy music.(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTljl9tPI4k)

Ion Dissonance tunes somewhere in the low G range. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bFk3pRWN-rA)

Bongripper (TB user Ron_Now's band) tunes to low F. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=drzzGClaEKU)

Meshuggah plays in low F but the bass player, instead of trying to match them an octave down, tunes UP from standard to match the guitars in the same octave range. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bk9G1JlQeFs)

The Acacia Strain tune to low F# or F on their newest CD. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbfoiAqSAqk)

Black Sheep Wall tune to low G (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z90mz4AK6mY)

Aside from Meshuggah, all these bands bass players tune an octave under the guitar.

"IMLE, tunings that low are better suited to less loud genres"

I have my Fender P-bass tuned F#BEA and trust me, it only gets better the louder it is. You need the right strings for this and of course a proper set up on the right bass. I had this tuning on my Thunderbird and it sounded like garbage. Came alive when I switched the strings to my Fender...

I think metal and it's associated genres are all about pushing the limits, whether it's speed (or slowness), technicality, volume, and tunings included. I'm glad there's bands pushing the limits of their instruments like this. It's relatively uncharted territory. It's like back in the day when the low B started getting used, a lot of people said it was useless and sounded like crap, now it's a standard for a lot of people. It's hard to say if low F# and beyond will become as widely used as low B. Time will tell.

TomA1234 · #11 02-07-2011, 10:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Goteky45

jeroen paul thesseling from obscura and pestilence started using a fretless warwick thumb NT with 7 string tuned from low F# to high C on the latest album from each band.

IIRC he is only using F# on the pestilence album (Doctrine). I think he is staying with a B on the Obscura album (Omnivium) for now.

Burlington · #12 02-07-2011, 10:16 AM

Obscura.

RedLeg · #13 02-07-2011, 10:17 AM

pretty soon, only whales and pachyderms are going to be able to appreciate this music!

TomA1234 · #14 02-07-2011, 10:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RedLeg

pretty soon, only whales and pachyderms are going to be able to appreciate this music!

or it will soon be able to cause buildings to collapse.

Metal Matt · #15 02-07-2011, 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TomA1234

or it will soon be able to cause buildings to collapse.

Last week, had the house to myself for a bit, turned up my rig to full volume (two 200 watt sunn amps and 2 2x15's). It's shook the light fixture so much that the filament in the light bulb got super bright like it does when it's ready to burn out.

RedLeg · #16 02-07-2011, 10:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Metal Matt

Last week, had the house to myself for a bit, turned up my rig to full volume (two 200 watt sunn amps and 2 2x15's). It's shook the light fixture so much that the filament in the light bulb got super bright like it does when it's ready to burn out.

thats effing brutal!
ever thought about 18's or 21's or the amp from Back to the Future! lol

GobBass · #17 02-07-2011, 10:30 AM

Tuning up to F#BEA would make more sense.

Metal Matt · #18 02-07-2011, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GobBass

Tuning up to F#BEA would make more sense.

Why's that?

F#BEA up from standard sounds nothing like F#BEA below standard and if you're thinking about saying use an octave pedal, well that just never sounds like actually tuning that low.

HaMMerHeD · #19 02-07-2011, 10:50 AM

I'm currently planning an F# B E A 4-string build, using Circle-K's .182ga balanced string set. If it sucks, I'll just refit it for a different tuning scheme.

Metal Matt · #20 02-07-2011, 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RedLeg

thats effing brutal!
ever thought about 18's or 21's or the amp from Back to the Future! lol

Well, live I have another slave amp and a 1x18 and a 4x12. Had a 4x10 as well but I sold it, and am working on selling the 18 and the 4x12. After that, I'm getting another 2x15, stacking them all sideways three high and running off my three amps. Technically a downsize for me.