Rickenbacker factory specs are for a dead straight, no relief neck. That said, even though I usually play in standard tuning, I have loosened the E string truss rod on my 4002 (yes, "2," not "1" or "3") to get a little bit of relief so I don't get fret slap when I dig in, and i have had it that way for almost all of the 28+ years I have owned the bass.
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Glad I found this, I may be getting together with a new group of guys and they are in D standard and drop C. I have plenty of basses, so setting one or two up for this tuning is no problem, but I definitely want to keep the string tension up to near where it would be on my E basses that use 45-105 rounds or 40/45-100 flats. I see lots of comments in this thread as to strings being used.
I seem to be learning that simply going to a 50-110 set for rounds tuned a full step flat, won’t necessarily give me a matched feel of a 45-105 set tuned to E.
Anyone want to throw at me their favorite set of SS rounds they use on their Fender Jazz that are close to feeling like a E standard tension when dropped to drop C?
I seem to be learning that simply going to a 50-110 set for rounds tuned a full step flat, won’t necessarily give me a matched feel of a 45-105 set tuned to E.
Anyone want to throw at me their favorite set of SS rounds they use on their Fender Jazz that are close to feeling like a E standard tension when dropped to drop C?
Daddario Prosteels were a fave of mine in my SS days.
For EADG on a 34" scale bass, a 105-85-65-45 set of Prosteels has the following tensions
.105 37.3 lbs
.085 44.9 lbs
.065 47.3 lbs
.045 41.9 lbs
For CGCF, the closest I could get with Prosteels was
.130 35.5 lbs
.090 45.0 lbs
.070 44.5 lbs
.050 38.9 lbs
Pretty dang close! A 125 low C might even be preferred based on personal feel. I feel like you'd definitely go for the 125 if you're going to alternate between D standard and drop C.
You could make a set like that by buying singles from Fretnation.
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I’m sure I’ll opt for a 125, a 130 is probably too much for my taste, I don’t even go that big on my Ric 5 string. I even think I have a set of Rotosounds that go 120 90 70 55 35. And that worked well on a five string that I tuned up to C# F# B E A. I should dig these out and use the lower four and see how that feels.
Has anyone and opinion on the DR DDT sets? These seem to be designed exactly for drop tuning. Seems like the 55-115 set could be a perfect choice to D standard and drop C
DDT's are perfect for this, and they are a stiff, Hex Core, string. They are quite a bit stiffer than Black Beauties (round core), which I love too @MirandM ...but they do feel different.
I agree wholeheartedly, however there is a mistake in this statement. The 50-110 set of Black Beauties are indeed wound on a hex core. It’s the only anomaly of its sort in their coated string lineup.
For clarification...
Black Beauties 50-110 non-tapered (BKB50) = round core.
Black Beauties 50-110 tapered (BKBT50) = hex core.
Speaking of Black Beauties, I've just noticed they've disappeared off of the DR website.
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I just checked the website...man you scared me....they are still there
I just checked the website...man you scared me....they are still there
Ok, I've found them now.
https://www.drstrings.com/blackbeautiesbassstrings
What confused me was the BBs used to show up on this page...
https://www.drstrings.com/bass
...but not anymore.
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Where did you find that info? It's not on their website or did you check the strings yourself?
It's definitely something I've read somewhere on this forum, but I can't remember exactly where. I'll have to check around to see if I can find the info again.
No, I did not check the actual strings myself.
Just following up on our last conversation...
Instead of having to dig around to find the info, I decided to email DR and ask for their confirmation.
Here's what they wrote:
"The information is confirmed, the taper .090 & the .110 are indeed hex core strings. Any of the non-taper strings included in the Black Beauties line are round core."
Following up on my choice to try DR DDT 55-115. They went right on my ‘74 P-bass that had previously had EB Cobalt Flats 45-100, and when tuned to D standard the tension feels close to the same. No need to adjust the truss rod, intonation also seems in place. Overall I am happy with these so far, but still need to hear them with the band. I may find I need to move the pickup a little closer to the D (E) string, as I had it tilted a little away from it to even the volume of the flats.
I will say these are feeling a bit stiffer than I think I like, but it’s good for keeping the action on the low side.
I will say these are feeling a bit stiffer than I think I like, but it’s good for keeping the action on the low side.
