D Standard Club (DGCF)

[Salvador Danny]

it´s confusing ... i know...
but a D on a (normal) C-bass is a D.. on a Bb-bass it sounds a C ... in concert pitch (like a piano) ...vs instrument pitch.
anyway. .. with other horns in the band. tune your bass D-standard. read the same lead sheets .. you´re good to go ´cause most of them are in Bb. and so is the sheet music.we call it ´beer-key´. haha.
to complete the chaos... some saxophones are in Eb, french horns are mostly tuned in F... its all about they´r construction...
the ground (root) note is the C for them.. related to concert pitch (eg piano) its different.
history i think...

 

[MirandM]

Never having played a horn, nor having played in school bands, I am left scratching my head as to why a C on a trumpet is a Bb, or why a D on a bass is a Bb.

I will completely take your word for it, but I can't say I follow.

Doesn't this have something to do with the transposition of the base key of an instrument?
I have no theoretical knowledge of music, but I seem to remember some things one of my former band member mentioned years ago. He had a master in music but couldn't play a note without it being in writing.

 

[RodRy]

So I just got a Rick 4003FG on order and I'm thinking of what to do with the standard gauges (45-55-75-105) with respect to my DGCF. I've got some strings that wound fit, or maybe not. The idea is to not having to do work on the nut.
1. Rotosound RB5Q heavy nickel round wound 50-70-90-110
2. Hartke SX medium stainless round wound hex core 50-75-95-110
3. Fender 9120M medium nylon wound 58-72-92-110
4. D'Addario EPS230 heavy pro steels round wound hex core 55-75-90-110
5. D'Addario ENR73 heavy half rounds hex core 55-75-90-110

So the question is: which one do you consider best for my rick?

To answer the first question, I'd probably suggest options 1, 2, or 4 for a Ric. The bass seems like it's best when producing a higher range sound. Of course, I'm basing that on not ever having owned one, so what do I know?

Not to throw a new wrinkle into the plot, but consider also Stringjoy strings. They let you custom design balanced tension string sets that fit your needs. I have two different sets, a medium light set on my 5, and a custom light set on my 8. I think they play really well, have great sound, and are reasonably priced for what I got. Of course, they're US-based, so I'm not sure how easy it will be for you to get them in Spain.

They are also working on medium and short scale sets, so it may be worth checking in for other basses you may own.

 

[RodRy]

it´s confusing ... i know...
but a D on a (normal) C-bass is a D.. on a Bb-bass it sounds a C ... in concert pitch (like a piano) ...vs instrument pitch.
anyway. .. with other horns in the band. tune your bass D-standard. read the same lead sheets .. you´re good to go ´cause most of them are in Bb. and so is the sheet music.we call it ´beer-key´. haha.
to complete the chaos... some saxophones are in Eb, french horns are mostly tuned in F... its all about they´r construction...
the ground (root) note is the C for them.. related to concert pitch (eg piano) its different.
history i think...

Woooshhhhh...the sound of a concept going over my head.

I'll just stick with the two take-aways that made sense to me:
1. When playing with horns, a D-tuned bass is probably OK.
2. Beer!

Thank you for the attempt, by my ol brain is just not ready to grasp this yet.

 

[MirandM]

To answer the first question, I'd probably suggest options 1, 2, or 4 for a Ric. The bass seems like it's best when producing a higher range sound. Of course, I'm basing that on not ever having owned one, so what do I know?

Not to throw a new wrinkle into the plot, but consider also Stringjoy strings. They let you custom design balanced tension string sets that fit your needs. I have two different sets, a medium light set on my 5, and a custom light set on my 8. I think they play really well, have great sound, and are reasonably priced for what I got. Of course, they're US-based, so I'm not sure how easy it will be for you to get them in Spain.

They are also working on medium and short scale sets, so it may be worth checking in for other basses you may own.

As I already said, none of the options are on the rick now, for the moment it has d'Addario ENR73 halfrounds at 55-75-90-110 which are very good, maybe I'll change them later on for the GHS ones but for the moment they work great.

Had a look at the Stringjoy strings, the customs are indeed very interesting and very nicely priced, shipping to spain is only $4.95 so not a big problem to order, which I'll probably do for a 50-60-80-110 set. Thanx.

 

[Will_White]

Woooshhhhh...the sound of a concept going over my head.

I'll just stick with the two take-aways that made sense to me:
1. When playing with horns, a D-tuned bass is probably OK.
2. Beer!

Thank you for the attempt, by my ol brain is just not ready to grasp this yet.

I am not a horn player but the way I understand it playing with a sax the last year and a half is that they treat what ever the note is that sounds without pressing anything as C (like the white keys on a piano) and go from there so if it's a Bb then Bb is treated as C and C is treated as D.

 

[MirandM]

... Not to throw a new wrinkle into the plot, but consider also Stringjoy strings. They let you custom design balanced tension string sets that fit your needs. I have two different sets, a medium light set on my 5, and a custom light set on my 8. I think they play really well, have great sound, and are reasonably priced for what I got. Of course, they're US-based, so I'm not sure how easy it will be for you to get them in Spain.

They are also working on medium and short scale sets, so it may be worth checking in for other basses you may own.

... Had a look at the Stringjoy strings, the customs are indeed very interesting and very nicely priced, shipping to spain is only $4.95 so not a big problem to order, which I'll probably do for a 50-60-80-110 set. Thanx.

So now I'm officially part of the Stringjoy family
Just ordered the mentioned set, at $29.90 really good priced. I don't know yet on which bass they'll end up, maybe the chinabacker or the just arrived Rocktile or even the Rick, although I'm very happy with it's current strings (d'Addario ENR73 halfrounds). We'll see.

 

[MirandM]

To answer the first question, I'd probably suggest options 1, 2, or 4 for a Ric. The bass seems like it's best when producing a higher range sound. Of course, I'm basing that on not ever having owned one, so what do I know?
...

Actually, you left out option 3, the fender tapewounds, and as I've got them now on one of my Yamaha RBX374's I've become to like them very much. They play very smooth, smoother than groundwounds/halfrounds, much like flats but sounding way better, very close to roundwounds. That considered I'm sure one day I'll try them on the rick, since a set isn't very expensive and I've got a number of other basses where they would very well fit, so no problem to try.

 

[RodRy]

Actually, you left out option 3, the fender tapewounds, and as I've got them now on one of my Yamaha RBX374's I've become to like them very much. They play very smooth, smoother than groundwounds/halfrounds, much like flats but sounding way better, very close to roundwounds. That considered I'm sure one day I'll try them on the rick, since a set isn't very expensive and I've got a number of other basses where they would very well fit, so no problem to try.

Well, you did ask my opinion (mine and others, of course), so I gave the opinion that option 3 was not what I would think best. But you know what you like, and from your other threads, I trust you will find the strings that delight you the most. May you enjoy the search!

 

[RodRy]

So now I'm officially part of the Stringjoy family
Just ordered the mentioned set, at $29.90 really good priced. I don't know yet on which bass they'll end up, maybe the chinabacker or the just arrived Rocktile or even the Rick, although I'm very happy with it's current strings (d'Addario ENR73 halfrounds). We'll see.

I've enjoyed their strings on two of my basses, and have a set for my electric guitar once I get around to it. Their CEO is also the guy who answers emails and he's been willing to indulge my questions. Seems they are very small, but also very customer-focused.

 

[MirandM]

Well, you did ask my opinion (mine and others, of course), so I gave the opinion that option 3 was not what I would think best. ...

True, correct and very much appreciated, I only mentioned this because at first that option didn't appeal to me either until I actually tried them. So I'm not criticizing just showing how my own opinion changes after having actual experiences.
I like variety in opinions it broadens ones view on things just like you mentioning the Stringjoys, I'd probably never found them on my own so it's good to have others mention things and follow up on them. I'm very cautious on denominating things 'crap' even though I might have that opinion based on my experience, others may show me another point of view in which 'crap' is all but the correct word.

 

[RodRy]

True, correct and very much appreciated, I only mentioned this because at first that option didn't appeal to me either until I actually tried them. So I'm not criticizing just showing how my own opinion changes after having actual experiences.
I like variety in opinions it broadens ones view on things just like you mentioning the Stringjoys, I'd probably never found them on my own so it's good to have others mention things and follow up on them. I'm very cautious on denominating things 'crap' even though I might have that opinion based on my experience, others may show me another point of view in which 'crap' is all but the correct word.

Yep, as mentioned, I'm not a Ric player, so I'm starting from a position of ignorance about the particular bass. I'm just thinking of what I've heard played on Rics, and how they sound.

I liked tape wound strings too, even though I don't have any right now. I found them to be too flat on my fretless, and I wanted more punch for my fretted (in those days I only had 2 basses - hard to believe). At the time, I put pressurewound strings on the fretless, and stainless Blue Steel strings on my fretted. Now I've got half-wounds on my fretless and Blackie is sporting light DR Black Beauties.

Let us know what you're playing on, and what you think of them as they wear in.

 

[RodRy]

Actually, you left out option 3, the fender tapewounds, and as I've got them now on one of my Yamaha RBX374's I've become to like them very much. They play very smooth, smoother than groundwounds/halfrounds, much like flats but sounding way better, very close to roundwounds. That considered I'm sure one day I'll try them on the rick, since a set isn't very expensive and I've got a number of other basses where they would very well fit, so no problem to try.

Jumping back to a slightly older post, bear with me.

What I'm wondering about is whether anyone has done a tapewound shoot-out? Several companies make them, so what's different about each type. Have you tried other brands?

 

[michael_t]

I'm here to officially join this prestigious club.

My Fender J is now dressed with GHS Pressurewound M7200 (44-62-84-106), tuned to D-G-C-F, as of this morning. My very first time trying out any non-standard tuning, so it should be interesting.

 

[4StringTheorist]

I'm here to officially join this prestigious club.

My Fender J is now dressed with GHS Pressurewound M7200 (44-62-84-106), tuned to D-G-C-F, as of this morning. My very first time trying out any non-standard tuning, so it should be interesting.

Still wanting to join you in this club new year's buddy.. been a bit detoured by a surgery I had on the 10th. lol.

 

[michael_t]

.. been a bit detoured by a surgery I had on the 10th.

Surgeries are no fun... I wish you speedy and complete recovery!

 

[4StringTheorist]

Surgeries are no fun... I wish you speedy and complete recovery!

Thanks!

I'm still planning on the M7200 for my fretless. Not sure what set of flats to go for for my P. I've got an old set of Chromes on there now that I love, but they get a lil flip floppy when tuned down to D standard.

Since I'm wanting to do a D-Bb for my 5er I might just go for assembling my own set of D'addario singles or a Kalium set for that one. Not sure yet. I need to go back and fully re-read this thread.. I'm sure someone else has done a D-standard high-five. I love the concept.. it's both a little bit lower and a little bit higher than a standard 4.

 

[michael_t]

Not sure what set of flats to go for for my P. I've got an old set of Chromes on there now that I love, but they get a lil flip floppy when tuned down to D standard.

Ernie Ball Stainless Steel Flats (NOT the Cobalt) do come in 55-75-90-110 (Group I) as a factory set, which is one size up from the medium Chromes (50-70-85-105).

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[4StringTheorist]

Ernie Ball Stainless Steel Flats (NOT the Cobalt) do come in 55-75-90-110 (Group I) as a factory set, which is one size up from the medium Chromes (50-70-85-105).

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Just after posting, I remembered that I had an old set of Rotosound 77 flats hiding in the closet. I remembered thinking they were pretty stiff feeling back when I tried them. I just slapped them back on and presto! They feel fantastic in D standard! They're a bit bright, but I'll let them age a bit more. I only played them for about a month before swapping them for the Chromes. They'll hopefully mellow a touch.. plus the tone knob can take a lot of edge off.

 

[Abner]

Don't forget the LaBella Original '54s "Jamerson" set, they are great flats for D-standard tuning.