I'm planning on playing in drop F/G# soon on my 6 string. I checked out the tension chart and I'm torn between .166 and .174. Does anyone have experience using these sets in this tuning? Thanks!
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Circle K strings question
- Thread starter Metaldood19
- Start date
Word on the street is that Skip is pretty knowledgeable with string gauges,...just fire off an email to him, he has responded quickly to mine.
Gave me a suggestion on a weird drop tuning on my geetfiddle as well (like 1.5 steps down plus dropped,...had to go with a custom set with a .070 "E" String).
Gave me a suggestion on a weird drop tuning on my geetfiddle as well (like 1.5 steps down plus dropped,...had to go with a custom set with a .070 "E" String).
Two things to consider...scale length and string tension. CK's are very low tension, so normally you need the next size up from what you're used to. But if you have a 35" scale, that might make it TOO high.
rockstarbassist
Inactive
Compared to what? The only other tension information available, as far as I know, is from D'Addario and those two are very similar. Perhaps you are talking about the feel of the strings rather than the actual mechanical tension?
To the OP I would say that if your G# is the 26Hz G# then either of those gauges will work about as well as the other and both have a typical tension for the low strings on a bass guitar. If your F is the 22Hz F then you definitely want to go with the 0.174 but that is probably not going to be heavy enough if you tune to F very much. If the same string will be tuned between F and G# then you probably want the 0.182 if you are targeting 40lb tension, a typical number for the bottom string. The 0.182 will be 7lb low at F and 7lb high at G#.
Maybe I misunderstand what you mean by "drop F/G#". If that is the case then know that the bottom strings on a bass are typically around 40lb tension. You can pick the string you need to get that easily enough from the Circle K chart and any two strings that are as close to the target as 0.166 and 0.174 are for G# will work about the same, no need to obsess over the difference between them. I just bought a set of CGDA strings from GHS through Bass Strings Online that were targeted at 40lb on every string (using Circle K and D'Addario data to estimate since GHS publishes none). I am quite happy with the result.
Ken
Circle K recommend exceeding 30 pounds tension (extra-light tension), this would suggest .174. My experience with daddario .145s agrees with this, below 30 pounds a big string starts to get very floppy and the tone suffers. A .174 retuned to G# is fairly tight at 44.1 pounds so i wouldn't advise going above .174.
.174 seems optimum for switching between F and G# on a 34" scale.
EDIT see below ...
.174 seems optimum for switching between F and G# on a 34" scale.
EDIT see below ...
Whoa, all of you guys are insanely awesome. Thanks so much for all the help, I really appreciate it! I'll shoot an email like you all said but I think I'll be picking up a .174 drop tuned standard 6 set.
Sorry about the confusion earlier. What I meant by Drop F/G# is that we will be switching tunings (mainly between those). It's a studio project so no live stuff, but songs will vary between the two tunings.
Thanks again for all of your help!
Sorry about the confusion earlier. What I meant by Drop F/G# is that we will be switching tunings (mainly between those). It's a studio project so no live stuff, but songs will vary between the two tunings.
Thanks again for all of your help!
rockstarbassist
Inactive
Yeah that's quite a drop down... 1.5 steps, innit?
What is the rest of your bass tuned to? I'm curious.
Currently it's in Drop Bb. I actually literally just found out that it will not be Drop F, but Drop F# (small misunderstanding, my apologies) so it will be only one step between the two tunings
Drop F♯ - F♯-C♯-F♯-B-D♯-G♯ / G♭-D♭-G♭-B-E♭-A♭
Drop G♯ - G♯-D♯-G♯-C♯-F-A♯ / A♭-E♭-A♭-D♭-F-B♭
Drop F♯ - F♯-C♯-F♯-B-D♯-G♯ / G♭-D♭-G♭-B-E♭-A♭
Drop G♯ - G♯-D♯-G♯-C♯-F-A♯ / A♭-E♭-A♭-D♭-F-B♭
Gotcha! Thanks! I can't wait to order these. I've been wanting to use Circle Ks for a while but I would need a bridge replacement. Now that I can afford one I'm ready to experience what everyone has been raving about
rockstarbassist
Inactive
Ok now that makes sense!
I tune ACGCF and sometimes drop my B down to a G and I use a .156 CK. It holds up ok but yeah I'd go more your route if I was permanently in G# or lower.
rockstarbassist
Inactive
For dropped/low tunings, it really is like you're playing a new instrument. I didn't believe it til I tried it myself. They really assist in making your tone more "normal", just lower, if that makes sense. Finally something just "works".
rockstarbassist said:
Yes that's why I can't wait to string my bass! Been waiting forever for circle k's on my 6
- Aug 5, 2005
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- Endorsing Artist: J.C. Basses
I use a 35" scale and .166 for low A and occasionally tune it down to G#. Sounds great. If I were sitting in G# more often, I'd get the .174 set.
If you're going to be further detuning to F#, get yourself the .174 set. The strings are rather flexible, so don't let the 47 lbs of tension at G# scare you.
If you're going to be further detuning to F#, get yourself the .174 set. The strings are rather flexible, so don't let the 47 lbs of tension at G# scare you.
Thats exactly what's holding me off from getting a set. The 47 lbs terrifies me haha. It sounds way too stiff
