Considering that my other flat wound strings have been on a different bass for over 20 years now, I'll worry about the next set of strings in another 20 years.
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So you don't suffer from SND ( string neurosis disorder) like I do he he
Just in case someone has done this...I tried tuning my 32" scale acoustic fretless bass to DGCF, but the La Bella 40-100 Low Tension Flats it has on don't like that at all. La Bella produce so many other varieties of bass string - any ideas where I could start in finding strings that feel and work similar to L.T.Fs at EADG, but when tuned DGCF?
Try the LaBella 45-105 Deep Talkin’ flats. They feel similar, but they might work better for D Standard than the Low Tension Flats.
I just realised LTF not in medium scale so winding lengths of the 42-118 set would be problematic as far as silks and the nut go I guess.
The 45 65 085 105 in medium scale DTF set 760FS-M downtuned to DGCF on a 32" would have similar tensions to to the LTF 42 056 and 075 and 100 tuned to EADG on a 34" scale. Bearing in mind the LTF's are round core and DTF set 760FS-M is hex core, so the feeling would be a bit different . But a candidate for sure
That's very likely. I've also done what you said in your previous post (the one you just deleted) in the sense of using a 5 string pack discarding the high string. Thing is these are based on Eb so usually the lowest string (Eb which will be tuned to D) is quite a bit thicker than what I like for D.
From my personal experience I find .110 to be most suitable in terms of tension and thickness for D, but of course it totally depends on one's own preference. Anything heavier will require more nutwork.
La Bella publish tensions for LTF's and via a bit of arithmetic it is not hard to see why the 42-100 set on a 32" bass downtuned to DGCF would be a trainwreck
La Bella LTF gauges 42-100 tuned to D standard on a 32" scale bass
D1 .100/23.89 lbs
G1 .075/21.45 lbs
C2 .056/ 23.91 lbs
F2 .052/25.44 lbs
Total Tension = 94.69 lbs
La Bella LTF gauges 42-100 tuned to D standard on a 32" scale bass
D1 .100/23.89 lbs
G1 .075/21.45 lbs
C2 .056/ 23.91 lbs
F2 .052/25.44 lbs
Total Tension = 94.69 lbs
Ahh you caught my deletion he he. I read it and then the penny dropped that no medium scale LTF. But I spose people use the long scales on a 32" bass where the silks don't extend onto the nut and beyond. 37" from ball to start of silk. OP hasn't mentioned the distance of his bass string anchoring to the nut. Perhaps providing it would make choices more apparent
Exactly, I get your point.
I have a project build short scale and I purposely decided to use a reverse headstock so the winding post of the D string would have the longest distance to the nut. This avoids the problem of not being able to use medium or even longscale strings for the D as you're likely to have the tapered part starting just before the post.
Thanks all - I'm not with the bass at the moment, but I remember that La Bella Low Tension Flats are exactly the right length in Medium Scale - the silk starts 1/2 to 3/4" past the nut and where the E string thickens up is South of the tuner pin. Tuners are 2 a side on this. I assume their Medium length sets are all the same length.
I didn't know this group was in TB! I've been doing D std for a couple years and it's been a challenge on basses and guitars. I don't and won't use flats for the sound I'm after. What I have learned for bass is that:
1: Basses with a more solid build take it better. I have to MIJ Sadowskys and I think they are just super rigid, but they aren't the basses I want to be D Std. One is Eb std without issues and with low action. I'm using an MIJ Geddy for D Std and it's more of a challenge.
2: DDT 50-110 seem to be the best option. I have not found a perfect set of strings after trying MANY different sets. Larger E strings rattle, too much mass. Smaller are too floppy.
3: I tone like a classic P tone on a solidly built bass will work with good technique and 105s /108s.
4: A Geddy type tone is the toughest 'cause the treble accentuates the tendency to clank and pick up fret noise/ clacks with rounds. Higher action is needed and the technique becomes a chore.
5: Fretless basses seem to take it relatively easy except sometimes the low string "clacks".
Ideal would be if someone could make 105s or 108s with the same tension at D std that normal strings have in E std. Seems like the drop strings just make them heavier, they vibrate wider and still need higher action. to Anyone with any further tips, I'd appreciate it. Eb standard is alot easier but I record in D std alot.
1: Basses with a more solid build take it better. I have to MIJ Sadowskys and I think they are just super rigid, but they aren't the basses I want to be D Std. One is Eb std without issues and with low action. I'm using an MIJ Geddy for D Std and it's more of a challenge.
2: DDT 50-110 seem to be the best option. I have not found a perfect set of strings after trying MANY different sets. Larger E strings rattle, too much mass. Smaller are too floppy.
3: I tone like a classic P tone on a solidly built bass will work with good technique and 105s /108s.
4: A Geddy type tone is the toughest 'cause the treble accentuates the tendency to clank and pick up fret noise/ clacks with rounds. Higher action is needed and the technique becomes a chore.
5: Fretless basses seem to take it relatively easy except sometimes the low string "clacks".
Ideal would be if someone could make 105s or 108s with the same tension at D std that normal strings have in E std. Seems like the drop strings just make them heavier, they vibrate wider and still need higher action. to Anyone with any further tips, I'd appreciate it. Eb standard is alot easier but I record in D std alot.
Be careful not to over-generalize your post.
For example in point 1. Basses with a more solid build take it better....
I happen to have 40+ basses. All of them are in D-standard and I can asure you there are rigid ones and less rigid ones, but I have yet to find that statement even close to true. I also build basses myself so I think I do have some knowledge accumulated.
The perfect set of strings for D-standard (or any tuning for that matter) doesn't exist. It all depends on so many factors, while DDT's may sound perfect on one, they probably sound horrible on another.
The correct setup for your bass is HIGHLY dependent on the strings, playing style and pup's used. And with that I mean every part of the setup, bridge, height, intonation, clearance, nut depth, everything! There's just NO golden rule but trial and error for that.
Theoretically, you could have a plain strings tuned to D standard with roughly the same gauges and tension as a standard 45-105 set tuned to E but with less of a pulse and you could have a lower action. But the string would be incredibly stiff and less sustain. The compromise is to have wound strings but a thicker core. To have similar gauges, but more stiff, less pulse width = lower action with a bit of a loss in sustain but not as much as a plain string would entail
He he . That's funnyThat's what happens when your neck gets warped
Well, #1 I'm not making laws, so I'll stick to sharing my experience, as I have experienced it. But to clarify, in my experience, some basses deal with D std with alot less adjustment to truss and action than other basses do if you're looking for them to play like E std. The ones that have an easier time seem to be the more rigidly /solidly built basses with good hardware.
Also to clarify I spend alot of time on action for playability, I prefer relatively low action (1.7-2.0mm at the 12th). Taking D std well have very much seemed to be a bass-to-bass thing so I don't know how you have 40 basses that all do the same thing. I've never had multiple basses that all respond the same way to strings, setup and playing technique. That seems less probable than what I'm saying but congrats. I also talked about technique and sonically what makes playability better or worse. I can't speak for you or what you do, but this is my experience.
My bad in a previous post. You right. La Bella do offer a medium scale LTF set 42-100.
The set that would have been good for you to try is the LTF 5 string set 42-118 and using the 56-118 gauges for DGCF. But la Bella doesn't do a medium scale LTF 5 string set, and the 37" winding length of the long scale set would mean silk gets wrapped around the E post and the G post on your 2x2 headstock. It wouldn't matter on the G, given the gauge is small, but it might matter on the E post. But given the LTF are round core and more flexible than the DTF hex cores, maybe it doesn't matter so much. Perhaps anyone who has used LTF long scales on basses other than long scale could give their opinion. If you could use the LTF 5 string long scale set on your bass, the tensions would be in a very usable range
La Bella LTF gauges 118 100 075 056 tuned to D standard
D1 .118/35.82 lbs
G1 .100/ 42.85 lbs
C2 .075/38.20 lbs
F2 .056/42.60 lbs
Total Tension= 159.47 lbs
