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Drop A or Ab with DR Hi Beams

TOOL460002

TOOL460002

Nov 4, 2004
3,680
9,244
Santa Cruz
#1
I have two Stingrays strung DADG (45/65/85/110) and BEAD (65/85/105/125) with DR Hi Beams. I have a set of DR DDT's (50/70/90/110) coming, as I'd like to have something in drop C (really helpful with C0 as a low note). Then I got thinking about an unbalanced set like I use on my drop D bass, but strung with Hi Beams 70/90/110/135 for drop Ab, and possibly 65/85/105/130-135 for drop A.

Anyone done this? I really like slapping BEAD with the extra resistance. Not sure how musical a low A can be, and I am also not super worried about intonation being a bit off with an unbalanced set of strings. I won't need to play anything high on the neck. It's more for two matching open strings. I have some concerns about cracking a nut filed for a 125 with a 135. That bass happens to be set up particularly perfectly, so avoiding breakage is a must.

Any advice greatly appreciated. Thanks!
 
#2
TOOL460002 said:
I have two Stingrays strung DADG (45/65/85/110) and BEAD (65/85/105/125) with DR Hi Beams. I have a set of DR DDT's (50/70/90/110) coming, as I'd like to have something in drop C (really helpful with C0 as a low note). Then I got thinking about an unbalanced set like I use on my drop D bass, but strung with Hi Beams 70/90/110/135 for drop Ab, and possibly 65/85/105/130-135 for drop A.

Anyone done this? I really like slapping BEAD with the extra resistance. Not sure how musical a low A can be, and I am also not super worried about intonation being a bit off with an unbalanced set of strings. I won't need to play anything high on the neck. It's more for two matching open strings. I have some concerns about cracking a nut filed for a 125 with a 135. That bass happens to be set up particularly perfectly, so avoiding breakage is a must.

Any advice greatly appreciated. Thanks!
Click to expand...

First, for clarification...

"Drop A" = A-E-A-D (B-E-A-D with the B dropped down a whole step to A)
"Drop Ab" = Ab-Eb-Ab-Db (a half-step down from "drop A")

Is that what you're talking about?

Secondly, have you thought about tuning the DDT 65-85-105-125 to A-standard (A-D-G-C). Due to the extra stiffness of the DDT, they would feel fairly close to the Hi Beams 65-85-105-125 in B-E-A-D in terms of overall playing feel.
 
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#3
michael_t said:
First, for clarification...

"Drop A" = A-E-A-D (B-E-A-D with the B dropped down a whole step to A)
"Drop Ab" = Ab-Eb-Ab-Db (a half-step down from "drop A")

Is that what you're talking about?

Secondly, have you thought about tuning the DDT 65-85-105-125 to A-standard (A-D-G-C). Due to the extra stiffness of the DDT, they would feel fairly close to the Hi Beams 65-85-105-125 in B-E-A-D in terms of overall playing feel.
Click to expand...
Yes. AEAD is what I meant by drop A and CGCF by drop C. I didn't realize that an extra heavy set existed. That could make things considerably easier. Thanks!
 
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#4
These work perfectly for CGCF. Feels fantastic. Any lower and I would want thicker strings.
20230531_204806.jpg

Thanks again!
 
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#5
I just discovered the DDTs a few weeks ago. I tune G# C# F# B E on my SIRE P7. using .055 -.135 DDTs these strings sound and feel fantastic in this tuning. I was even able to straighten the neck a bit more and get slightly lower action do to the increased tension.
 
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#6
ThePez said:
I just discovered the DDTs a few weeks ago. I tune G# C# F# B E on my SIRE P7. using .055 -.135 DDTs these strings sound and feel fantastic in this tuning. I was even able to straighten the neck a bit more and get slightly lower action do to the increased tension.
Click to expand...
Ya these things are great. I will continue to use Hi Beams for EADG or BEAD, but I think I'd like to try the 50-110 DDT's for DADG. I am just now trying to get a bass for EADG, as drop D and C are keepers for me for now. I'll keep working my way down. Not sure I'll make it to Ab/G#, but you never know. I'm hoping 55-115 works for drop C#. I need a lot more basses. But ya... DDT's are fantastic. Quite happy.
 
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#7
I used to use the DDTs years ago but found them too stiff for my liking.

I highly recommend and have exclusively have been using Kalium hybrids for low tuning. My main tuning is drop C but I only drop the B string 1 step to A, so ACGCF, to keep it easier when I want to pull an octave on the B and A strings. Low G, even with the right string, never seems to sound right, so this is my best fix so far.

Kalium has lots of good info about what you need on their site, or just email Skip, pretty sure he's on here also. The gauges will 'sound' heavy on paper, but they're like playing Slinkies TBH, but have great tone and retain the lower tunings perfectly. The bassist from Lorna Shore endorses them and on his Ibby multiscale bass, I think they're down to G and his play along videos sound excellent.

FWIW, FYI!
 
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#9
ThePez said:
I tend to play way harder than I should, so extra stiffness works for me. I definitely could see how DDTs aren’t for everyone. variety is the spice of life!
Click to expand...

I honestly haven't played them since maybe 2009, 2010? I wonder if they've changed the characteristics at all, as they really did hold tuning well and did their job so give them props for that. With my new project we're looking at going down to Bb or even A or Ab since my guitarist plays a lot of 7 string, so I may give them a chance on my 4 string I plan to use for that setup.
 
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