D Standard Club (DGCF)

Ok, could you start by defining D standard? I guess that means I'm not in. Is there a secret handshake and stuff?

 

Disclaimer: I currently don't have a bass for the D Standard tuning, but am seriously considering having one bass in that tuning when I acquire my next bass in the future. Meanwhile, hope it's okay for me to hang out here from time to time?

I just wanted to comment on the Fender 9050ML...
I love the 9050L set (45-60-80-100) for its overall balance. So, I'm a little disappointed that the 9050ML set does not include a 105. I would love to try 50-65-85-105 for the D standard tuning, but unfortunately, they can't be ordered as singles for a custom set.

 

Thanks for the suggestion. Definitely something to take into consideration when I do get my third bass.

My other option would be the GHS Pressurewound M7200 (44-62-84-106). I currently have the ML7200 set (44-58-80-102) on my J and absolutely love it! I just wish the medium set came with a heavier G, maybe a 48. Oh well...

 

I've been tuning DGCF exclusively for over a year now . Actually one trio I play with tunes down a half step so I tune Db standard for that (or more recently just use a pitch shifter). There's a couple songs I capo back up to E standard (or Eb standard) as the fingering gets too hard otherwise (or again - more recently just use a pitch shifter).

I play only short scales so it's a bit of a beach to get heavier strings. I have a set of DR High Beam flats bought as singles 45/65/90/125 but haven't tried them yet.

 

Sign me up. Tuned all my basses down to D standard about five or six years ago. Use a variety of strings — mostly flats. If .100 is a little small, try the Ernie Ball Group I flats: .055, .075, .090, .110. Have some on a fretless Roadster, very nice actually. La Bella "Original 1954" are also excellent for D standard. As are GHS flats. Heck, I even have a shortscale AGB-200 with Pyramid flats tuned to D standard. Not the best, but works okay. Been meaning to switch them out for some medium scale GHS flats.

Oh, also have some La Bella black tapes on a fretless Vantage, and some Rotosound flats on something, Sadowsky Black Label, Detroit Bass, I'm sure I have more...

.125 for a shortscale? Sounds intriguing. Let us know how that works out.

-Alex

 

I like the idea of a D standard Club. Although I may be a tad too radical for the average "D standard player", if there is such a thing. DGCF is a good start...but I favor a B flat as well. D standard is my preferred tuning: I also prefer 5 strings. Every bass that I own is tuned to D standard...

 

I actually just finished a bass for D standard tuning, I'm using a set of DR NEONS from BSO .125 .090 .065 .050, the plus side of the heavier strings is I can tune down to BEAD with some decent tension still.

 

Wouldn't the "B" string be tuned down to "A" ??

 

I probably wasn't clear...I tune my fiver's DGCFBb as opposed to EADGC. The only use that I have for a B string these days is to tune it UP to D.

 

Nobody using DR DDT Strings here?

 

I kept a bass in D standard for a couple years before going BEAD. TI Jazz Flats tuned down a full step had a very nice feel to them.

 

For years I kept both fretted and fretless basses in standard EADG, and had to re-tune the fretted one back-and-forth every time I needed something lower. Finally I realized what I needed more than the fretless was for bass #2 to be both fretted and in a lower tuning of some kind (Eb, D, Db, etc) by default. So I sold off my last pair and had a couple of new ones built, one for each tuning regime, so to speak. It is very handy to be able to go between tunings just by quickly swapping instruments.

I'm using 45-65-85-105 DRs on both btw, and I have a NOS old (found in a gig bag) set of Hi Beams on the D-bass at the moment. I usually prefer DR's nickel Lo Riders but these are pretty tight and seem to handle the lower tunings without any difficulty whatsoever! Since they were "free" I'll leave 'em on until they're thuddy.

 

I found that not having the high "G" string in the BEAD tuning to be limiting - but the high "F" in the DGCF tuning was a fine compromise .

 

The only good reason I've seen to have a low B is so you can avoid all open strings so that you can transpose on-the-fly if you're doing a lot of that. I really prefer using open strings myself - and have recently started using a pitch shifter for the occasional transposing. It doesn't sound perfect but better than me stumbling all over sour notes .