Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
A standard tuning (ADGCF)
- Thread starter markanini
- Start date
A number of people might use A standard tuning, I don't know if it's considered broad.
I think the titles does not refer to "some kind of standard tuning", but to "A0 (27.5 Hz) - D1 - G1 - C2" tuning.
Well, it may mean A1-D2-G2-C3 instead, but that makes it ambivalent at worst, not really "broad"...
I'm sorry I read the title wrong. A-standard tuning is what you meant; I read it as "the standard tuning". My bad.
Why bother with changing your strings to a thicker gauge? Adjust the truss rod and let ‘em flop!
I had a thread about this a while back, wanting to string up a sort of piccolo type of bass. Mine is a 33" scale, though, and I ended up with .020 - 0.032 - 0.040 - 0.060 - 0.080, I believe. These are D'Addario Chromes. Sounds great!
Oh, maybe you meant A0 tuning, not the tenor/piccolo tuning I'm thinking of.
I used to be in a band that played everything down a half step, so I strung up my 5-string Fender J with the DR Strings DDT set. I believe it had a 0.135 B string, and they worked very well.
I used to be in a band that played everything down a half step, so I strung up my 5-string Fender J with the DR Strings DDT set. I believe it had a 0.135 B string, and they worked very well.
Any specific type of string you prefer? Stainless steel rounds? Nickel?
Stringjoy offers top quality nickel wound bass singles in gauges running from 030 to 145 so it’s easy to order a custom set if you need to. Prices are very reasonable. You might want to run your question past them at : [email protected] to see what they suggest as far as gauges go.
I’ve ordered custom and standard sets of guitar and bass strings from them. And I’ve been very happy with their quality and service.
I’ve ordered custom and standard sets of guitar and bass strings from them. And I’ve been very happy with their quality and service.
I use standard .45-.125 DR pure blues or nickel low riders. I’ll even drop the D to a drop C (ACGCF) at times and don’t have an issue. 34” scale bass.
I run light gauge strings on my 5’s - 40-55-70-95-130 is a pretty well balanced set, with about 35 pounds tension on each string. Tuning down 2 half steps, you need to bump up the string diameter by about 12% to keep the same tension, and that lands is at 45-60-80-105-145. That’s for light tension - if you’re used to higher tension, you need even bigger strings. Wimping out on the lowest string diameter is where “floppy” becomes an issue - almost all packaged sets have a floppy B, if you try to stretch that to A, it’ll be VERY floppy.
I have no recommendations on strings, but I got to tell you, down tuning to “A” sounds very interesting.
Seems like we like a similar string balance, but your preference is for a lighter tension. I have used 45-60-80-105-140 for a great feeling A# standard before. I appreciate the input.
Watch the thread and join my journey.
Are you playing some heavier music?
Check out Kalium Music! They have a wide selection of strings, as well as a tension calculator. I tune down to G0 standard myself, and use a .168 set from Kalium.
Seems like we like a similar string balance, but your preference is for a lighter tension. I have used 45-60-80-105-140 for a great feeling A# standard before. I appreciate the input.
Watch the thread and join my journey.
Heck no. I play in a Motown revue band. That said, I have a five string and frankly I like to play a round with different things. On occasion we record some pretty off the wall stuff, like our never popular hits of the 80's found on our very rare LP release Born to Eat....
