Balanced tension for drop B on a 4 string

[H3R3T1K]

I want to tune my 4 string to BF#BE (3 half steps or a minor third lower than drop D) and used stringtensionpro.com to tell me what gauges would give me the same tension in drop B as I would have with D'addario's balanced EXL220BT 40/55/70/95 set in standard E. Interestingly the closest tension values were for gauges 46/65/85/130. Now I don't know if they make a 46 gauge G string but these figures suggest I can just take a 45/65/85/105/130 5 string set and leave out the E string to have perfectly balanced tension (on the lower side as I prefer it for my Geezer Butler inspired metal finger technique). I would probably have to modify both the nut and the bridge saddle for the B string to fit correctly. Does anybody have experience with this?

 

[knumbskull]

I have used this tuning (drop B) with 125 / 90 / 70 / 50 gauges.

(I was actually using this set for drop C – so it had a bit less tension than I was used to but was otherwise fine.)

I think the gauges you've listed - 46/65/85/130 - should be OK -

EDIT maybe a bit light on the thinner 3 strings? you might find that the 130 *feels* tighter than the others. remember that "standard" sets of strings usually have more tension in the thinner strings.

yes, you'll need to file the nut (and possibly the bridge saddles).

personally I always go with strings sold singly, where you can piece a set together yourself and not be bound by pre-determined set sizes.

 

[Nev375]

I want to tune my 4 string to BF#BE (3 half steps or a minor third lower than drop D) and used stringtensionpro.com to tell me what gauges would give me the same tension in drop B as I would have with D'addario's balanced EXL220BT 40/55/70/95 set in standard E. Interestingly the closest tension values were for gauges 46/65/85/130. Now I don't know if they make a 46 gauge G string but these figures suggest I can just take a 45/65/85/105/130 5 string set and leave out the E string to have perfectly balanced tension (on the lower side as I prefer it for my Geezer Butler inspired metal finger technique). I would probably have to modify both the nut and the bridge saddle for the B string to fit correctly. Does anybody have experience with this?

Yes.

 

[lz4005]

I want to tune my 4 string to BF#BE (3 half steps or a minor third lower than drop D) and used stringtensionpro.com to tell me what gauges would give me the same tension in drop B as I would have with D'addario's balanced EXL220BT 40/55/70/95 set in standard E. Interestingly the closest tension values were for gauges 46/65/85/130. Now I don't know if they make a 46 gauge G string but these figures suggest I can just take a 45/65/85/105/130 5 string set and leave out the E string to have perfectly balanced tension (on the lower side as I prefer it for my Geezer Butler inspired metal finger technique). I would probably have to modify both the nut and the bridge saddle for the B string to fit correctly. Does anybody have experience with this?

You won't know if it feels right until you try it, but I can't see any technical reason it shouldn't work exactly like you want it to.

Be careful filing out the nut for the B. Make sure you don't make it any deeper, only wider. The best way to monitor that is to make some pencil marks on the bottom of the groove and don't file them away.

 

[H3R3T1K]

EDIT maybe a bit light on the thinner 3 strings? you might find that the 130 *feels* tighter than the others. remember that "standard" sets of strings usually have more tension in the thinner strings.

Actually I don't think so. For this reason I used a Balanced Tension set as base values for tension. What the result shows is how much tighter the EADG strings are compared to a B in a 45-130 set. It is true that tension is not very high when 45-65-85-130 are tuned to drop B but this is intended and the reason why I chose the lightest BT tension set by D'addario as a base. I'm hitting the strings from above so that they bounce off the fretboard for an aggressive sound and great attack which works much better with slightly slacker strings. There's an article on here by a very knowledgeable dude that describes the evolution of this technique. With uneven tension between the strings it's much harder.

 

[ixlramp]

I can just take a 45/65/85/105/130 5 string set and leave out the E string to have perfectly balanced tension

That will work yes. Although you might find a .050 on top is more balanced. I don't know why stringtensionpro uses a .046 there when .045 bass strings exist. I'm a little suspicious of how that app works, i prefer to use a tension chart where you can see what is going on, such as http://www.daddario.com/upload/tension_chart_13934.pdf