Covering multiple low tunings

[GBassLondon]

I know there are plenty of those threads but would appreciate advice. I'm playing with a guitar player who has loads of instruments, tuned from E standard all the way down to drop G#. I only have two basses, a Precision with standard gauge strings and a Jazz that currently has a 115 on the bottom. The problem is I need the Jazz to cover drop C-drop G# because I can't afford a third bass.

I've never been massively bothered about tension - have also happily tuned a 105 down to C# or even C but the 115 is just crazy on drop G#, it can't keep tension. So I need a higher gauge but I need it to cover that spectrum, in the full knowledge that it will be tight on C and loose on G#. What gauge might work best for this?

The other option is to play in standard tuning for the drop G# but it just won't give the low power needed. This does appeal a bit though, because I don't fancy mutilating the nut of the Jazz and I'm worried about tension on the neck and ruining the instrument long term.

 

[Funky40]

I can't afford a third bass.

Maybe its an option to think along that lines:

you can have basses down to 150€, new. Or even down to 100€, you´re aware ?
just sayin....

thomann has often B-stocks, and mostoften is just the string height wrong, and the bass would need some adjustment work.
i had a B-stock 5er here which was 130.-. the bass was good, but the string spacing to small for my taste, so i sent it back.

you can have basses for that amount of money which are suprisingly good
( electronics sucks to some degree usually / not so much sound adjustment options / one of my very cheap basses had hum, but turned out the bridge was not making contact to the grounding wire, cause of the thick laqueur,.......such type of problems)

maybe worth a thought ?
sorry, nothing on topic to add

 

[MattZilla]

For the J, get a new set of strings, never tune it above drop G#.

 

[HaphAsSard]

More than adapting to tensions, the real problem is *setup*: it will be hard to find one that fits all tunings.

- Your best bet is an accurate setup at the middle point (Bb) of your intended tuning gamut, and living with inaccuracies when tuning a whole step above and below that.
As for gauges, a .135 tuned to Ab would have about the same tension as your .105 tuned to C (an even thinner string might be too difficult to rein in - maybe a 130, but less than that gets gradually iffier).
Conversely, a .145 will be nice and tight (but not overly so even when tuned up to C) but have less "usable" frets before audibly chorusy overtones set in, come the 9th fret or so.
Your call.
Suggestions for sets built (from [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]) around the two options:
055-075-100-135
065-085-110-145 (or get the D'Addario [Invalid or Expired Link Removed] set, discard the G, add a single [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]).
And get a new nut, keep the old one in a drawer, and mutilate away.

- Either the above, or get another bass, the cheaper the better, as suggested upthread.

- Or tune to Ab and use a capo for the other tunings. Yes, seriously.

 

[GBassLondon]

More than adapting to tensions, the real problem is *setup*: it will be hard to find one that fits all tunings.

- Your best bet is an accurate setup at the middle point (Bb) of your intended tuning gamut, and living with inaccuracies when tuning a whole step above and below that.
As for gauges, a .135 tuned to Ab would have about the same tension as your .105 tuned to C (an even thinner string might be too difficult to rein in - maybe a 130, but less than that gets gradually iffier).
Conversely, a .145 will be nice and tight (but not overly so even when tuned up to C) but have less "usable" frets before audibly chorusy overtones set in, come the 9th fret or so.
Your call.
Suggestions for sets built (from [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]) around the two options:
055-075-100-135
065-085-110-145 (or get the D'Addario [Invalid or Expired Link Removed] set, discard the G, add a single [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]).
And get a new nut, keep the old one in a drawer, and mutilate away.

- Either the above, or get another bass, the cheaper the better, as suggested upthread.

- Or tune to Ab and use a capo for the other tunings. Yes, seriously.

Amazing advice, thanks!