D Standard Club (DGCF)

[Ringhammer]

Yeah, I put together a set of Ernie Ball flats (not Cobalt) in 50-60-80-110, and did in Eb standard and am not liking it. It also seems to me that flats of the same gauge are a bit stiffer (typically) than their roundwound counterparts. It plays well, but I think I want more bright. I wish these were the cobalt. I will definitely take your suggestion and go with the Stringjoy and see how I like it.

 

[michael_t]

Now rick has these weird gauges so it's bit complicated to get a compatible set that will work well.
Default they have 45-55-75-105
since I use my rule-of-thumb to go +5 up for DGCF this leads to: 50-60-80-110
now guess what... Stringjoy makes custom sets exactly as you want them and they are just GREAT.

Since you mentioned Stringjoy, here are the tension figures for those two sets of gauges...

45-55-75-105 in EADG:

50-60-80-110 in DGCF: (NOTE: I don't think the figure for the .110 is correct; it should be higher.)

 

[RodRy]

I do, tuned in D standard the next day I received it. I played the standard setup for the first day just to get a feel of the sound, before changing to D.

Now rick has these weird gauges so it's bit complicated to get a compatible set that will work well.
Default they have 45-55-75-105
since I use my rule-of-thumb to go +5 up for DGCF this leads to: 50-60-80-110
now guess what... Stringjoy makes custom sets exactly as you want them and they are just GREAT.
I had them already available so after replacing the strings and adjusting the intonation I found I didn't need to adjust the neck, which was what I expected after checking with their string tension calculator, I got within 10% of the original total tension, so spot on.
These strings don't lose their tuning, right from day one and sound equal or even better then the original Rick strings and not expensive at all.
I can recommend them 100%.

Adding my support for Stringjoy. They are mighty fine strings, and good folks to deal with, in my experience.
I have two bass sets and one for my electric guitar. So far, all have been sounding great and lasting long.

 

[MirandM]

Since you mentioned Stringjoy, here are the tension figures for those two sets of gauges...

45-55-75-105 in EADG:

View attachment 4720512

50-60-80-110 in DGCF: (NOTE: I don't think the figure for the .110 is correct; it should be higher.)

View attachment 4720527

Thanks Michael, you only forgot to adjust the scale to 33.25" which is for Rick.
Indeed one could go for a 115 gauge, which also does the job and since this is a custom set, no problem.
As I said, it's a rule of thumb, which can always be adjusted to something more precise. In fact I have some basses with 120 gauge, usually fretless ones because I prefer a bit more stiffness on fretless, my own project Peavey Orion FL has 125, so go figure.

 

[michael_t]

you only forgot to adjust the scale to 33.25" which is for Rick.
Indeed one could go for a 115 gauge, which also does the job and since this is a custom set, no problem.

50-60-80-110 in DGCF on Rick (33.25"):

50-65-85-115 in DGCF on Rick (33.25"):

45-55-75-105 in EADG on Rick (33.25") = 151.3 lbs. in total tension.
50-60-80-110 in DGCF on Rick (33.25") = 142.5 lbs. in total tension.
50-65-85-115 in DGCF on Rick (33.25") = 152.0 lbs. in total tension.

 

[Wibble666]

my standard D 's ...50 to 110.

 

[Yahboy]

Drop down to D standard on my Squier CV 50P with Labella LTF4A along with mute foam. I can't believe this flatwound still has great playing feel without tonal change much. The E string still has clarity instead muddy tone.

Neck relief.014,. String action 2.0mm on E, 1.9mm on A, 1.75mm on D and G string.
Surprised that no fret buzz with medium plucking hand.

Lot of fun !!!

 

[Yahboy]

I tune back and compare between E vs D std tune on this bass, i found myself prefer D std tune more.
Beside well balance string to string tonal , healthy E string tone , retain the upper mid voicing and no floppy string issue on this LTF4A , the fretting feel are truly smooth, light and comfortable .
On plucking hand, those stiffness pretty a like Dunlop SBN40-100.

Here how she sound...

 

[RodRy]

Hi folks!
I just created a thread to post about my DGCF bass, in case anyone is interested. I'll fill in more details as I go.
NBD - Squier Affinity Jazz (dateline 30-Sep-2018)

 

[Crawforde]

I’m thinking of building a 5 string, hollow body archtop this winter. I would like it DGCFBb as I am enjoying D standard on my other bass.
Hopefully someone here can help me out a bit with a string recommendation. It will be a short scale, but I’ll need long strings to go over a floating bridge and to the tailpiece. I would like flats, or ground wound strings for it. I have GHS Brite flats on my short scale tuned to D, and they feel good but I wouldn’t be averse to trying other strings if I can’t get a good Bb that way.

 

[Will_White]

I’m thinking of building a 5 string, hollow body archtop this winter. I would like it DGCFBb as I am enjoying D standard on my other bass.
Hopefully someone here can help me out a bit with a string recommendation. It will be a short scale, but I’ll need long strings to go over a floating bridge and to the tailpiece. I would like flats, or ground wound strings for it. I have GHS Brite flats on my short scale tuned to D, and they feel good but I wouldn’t be averse to trying other strings if I can’t get a good Bb that way.

I would just use a standard light 5 set, the shorter scale will compensate for the heavier gauge. I usually use a .120 or .125 for my D standard basses.

 

[MirandM]

I’m thinking of building a 5 string, hollow body archtop this winter. I would like it DGCFBb as I am enjoying D standard on my other bass.
Hopefully someone here can help me out a bit with a string recommendation. It will be a short scale, but I’ll need long strings to go over a floating bridge and to the tailpiece. I would like flats, or ground wound strings for it. I have GHS Brite flats on my short scale tuned to D, and they feel good but I wouldn’t be averse to trying other strings if I can’t get a good Bb that way.

Be aware of a higher overall string tension as you step up on the lowest string from standard B to D.

What I did on one of my 5 stringers is ADGCF, it gives you the normal (to us) DGCF plus the even lower A which act just as our D, one full tone lower as B. This way you keep the forth string relation just as with DGCF.

 

[Crawforde]

String tension will be a factor. Especially with this having a floating bridge on a thin top.
The ADGCF sounds fun, but the high Bb string set will have lower tension and be more useful. If I can make it work.

 

[michael_t]

I’m thinking of building a 5 string, hollow body archtop this winter. I would like it DGCFBb as I am enjoying D standard on my other bass.
Hopefully someone here can help me out a bit with a string recommendation. It will be a short scale, but I’ll need long strings to go over a floating bridge and to the tailpiece. I would like flats, or ground wound strings for it. I have GHS Brite flats on my short scale tuned to D, and they feel good but I wouldn’t be averse to trying other strings if I can’t get a good Bb that way.

Here's just an idea...

GHS Brite Flats 49-108 are available both in "medium scale" (35.5" winding) and "short scale" (32.75" winding). Also, a .027 is available as a single in "long scale plus" (38" winding) for the high Bb. You should be ok cutting down the .027 to fit the new archtop.

If you want slightly different flavors between the two basses, you can always try the GHS Balanced Nickels 44-106 on the 4-string, which come in "short scale" (32.75" winding) but not in "medium scale" (35.5" winding).

Brite Flats 49-108 in DGCF on short scale = 118.5 lbs. in total tension.
Balanced Nickels 44-106 in DGCF on short scale = 113.8 lbs. in total tension.

 

[MirandM]

And if you're not against using roundwounds you could check out the custom sets of stringjoy. With their tension calculator Stringjoy Guitar String Tension Calculator you can check out any weird combination you can think of.

 

[Will_White]

Here's just an idea...

GHS Brite Flats 49-108 are available both in "medium scale" (35.5" winding) and "short scale" (32.75" winding). Also, a .027 is available as a single in "long scale plus" (38" winding) for the high Bb. You should be ok cutting down the .027 to fit the new archtop.

If you want slightly different flavors between the two basses, you can always try the GHS Balanced Nickels 44-106 on the 4-string, which come in "short scale" (32.75" winding) but not in "medium scale" (35.5" winding).

Brite Flats 49-108 in DGCF on short scale = 118.5 lbs. in total tension.
Balanced Nickels 44-106 in DGCF on short scale = 113.8 lbs. in total tension.

Yes the tension will be higher then a de-tuned set, but that set and the bass is designed for that same set tuned up to standard tuning or about 140lbs for a 4 or about 170lbs for a 5. A .120, .090, .070, .055, .040 set is a balanced set with about 170 lbs of tension.

 

[Crawforde]

Ok thanks. The feel of a balanced set may be better than taking a risk mixing and matching.
I’m assuming about 170lbs string tension (actually lower because I’ll tune it properly at DGCF) on the 4 string acoustic I’m working on, but the intention on that one is to make the top as weak and mobile as possible. The 5 I can overbuild as it will have a small body and magnetic pickups and the acoustic tone will just be for me.

 

[bassmanbret]

Greetings, I just found this group. I'm not what you'd call tech savy. I'm a long time D Standard tuning user. I find the Labella 760FS (45-105) flatwounds on my 1961 PBass work great. Get a dark, thumpy growl as the bridge cover still has the foam mute attached.

 

[klejst]

I used D'Addario's Regular Light Gauge (45-100) nickel plated strings when tuning to D standard as well and they sounded great.

 

[Ralph Manak]

Hello everyone. In the last couple of years of my bass journey I've committed to mainly 5-string, 32" or 33" scale basses. However, I have a G&L LB-100 that I've made into a fretless PJ, and have been playing that bass (w/ TI flats) with an improvisational project based on Middle Eastern, Latin, and African grooves (three percussionists!).

We added a couple of compositions in which low Eb and D would be helpful. I had a set of 50-110 DR Sunbeams (no longer made) that I purchased on sale years ago, thinking they might be useful one day. That day arrived this week with the decision to used them on the G&L, tuned DGCF, and it's been terrific. Along with the benefits of the tuning, I'm noticing better string-to-string balance in tone, and a slight dead spot has shifted to a less noticeable place.

I have a CA coating on the fingerboard, and worrying about it too much I am also testing using a capo for EADG, or any other tuning for that matter. As noted elsewhere in the thread, this also yields a short-scale bass of sorts.

This is making me re-think how I want to move forward with the 5-strings. I'll start with another G&L, an MJ-5 on which the truss rod weld failed, and which I am converting to fretless as well (along with some other modifications, e.g. one pickup, different bridge, changing scale length). It's actually becoming a testbed for some basses I am planning to build when my shop is back together next year. Thinking I'll set this one up DGCFBb and go from there.

So, thanks for this thread, which has a lot of good information and is really helping my thought process, such as it is.