It’s just D standard tuning with a low A. I need to ask some of my guitarist friends if they refer to their 7 strings as being in B standard instead of the normal E.
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A standard tuning (ADGCF)
- Thread starter markanini
- Start date
That's around what I would do. I might even go to a 140 on the low A as long as I was using a string that was at least reasonably on the stiff side (like Bass Boomers). I personally don't mind low tension within reason and tend to find that past a certain point the lowest string will sound weird if it is too big of a gauge regardless of tension.
Using a "standard" set of .045-.125 in BEADG as a reference and trying to get about the same tension, I tried one of the online string tension calculators and ended up with - .055 .075 .095 .120 .145. I have no idea what a set that thick would feel like and you would need a new nut cut for the thicker strings.
I would probably use the DR DDT strings.
They are quite stiff and they are 055-075-095-115-135
I've been using these but a 4 string set on my 4 string for C standard and they are killer, to me. DR strings are my favourite, never had an issue with any of them and they feel and sound pretty good, imho.
The feel of them is what totally sold them to me. Stiff, none of that floppy, downtuned string nonsense. They're tight and great for this application.
They are quite stiff and they are 055-075-095-115-135
I've been using these but a 4 string set on my 4 string for C standard and they are killer, to me. DR strings are my favourite, never had an issue with any of them and they feel and sound pretty good, imho.
The feel of them is what totally sold them to me. Stiff, none of that floppy, downtuned string nonsense. They're tight and great for this application.
I use DDT (drop down tuning) strings from DR and they are great. I use the .125 gauge and it sounds great to me.
For a fill-in gig a couple of years back I did a song with that tuning on a 35 inch fiver, the lowest string was a .135 and it was fairly playable.
This was an outdoor show with huge PA (crowd about 10,000) - however on stage the low A notes were almost not perceptable 'as notes', but I threw a few in anyway as sort of a percussion effect (I only brought that bass because the song needed the open D string for the main riff...)
This was an outdoor show with huge PA (crowd about 10,000) - however on stage the low A notes were almost not perceptable 'as notes', but I threw a few in anyway as sort of a percussion effect (I only brought that bass because the song needed the open D string for the main riff...)
I have a 5-string tuned to G#0 standard; basically a half-step below what you want to do. I've used this .160 balanced set from Kalium Strings for years with my metal band and I swear by these. Gauges are 160-118-90-67-49. The heavier strings are taper wound, so that low string rings out quite well and it not nearly as dark and muddy as you might expect. For A0 standard you might want to consider the .148 set as that .160 might be a bit tight for A0.
I've used Kalium strings exclusively for well more than a decade (from way back in the Circle K days) for all my basses (regular tunings and others) and I swear by them. The heavier "B" string really makes a huge difference - I've had two different people play my G#0 bass and swear that it must be a 35" or 36" scale due to the tightness and resonance of that low string.
-Y
I've used Kalium strings exclusively for well more than a decade (from way back in the Circle K days) for all my basses (regular tunings and others) and I swear by them. The heavier "B" string really makes a huge difference - I've had two different people play my G#0 bass and swear that it must be a 35" or 36" scale due to the tightness and resonance of that low string.
-Y
