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Drop G Tuning

O

oniman7

Jun 1, 2010
2,490
10
Saint Augustine, Florida
#1
We used to play a song where I used a low Open A (tuned down from a Low B) and I loved the huge whole notes.

We had to tune that song down a whole step for a new vocalist, and I hate having to move that lowest note up an octave.

I also think it would be cool being able to move some lines down an octave without changing fingering.

I'm getting an Ernie Ball Stingray 5 soon. When I recorded with it most recently, it was tuned ACGCF, and the action on all of the strings was great. A and C maybe could've been a little tighter, but the other strings were in my comfort range where I could have played looser or tighter.

I would be tuning the bass to GDGCF, and for many songs drop tuning it to GCGCF. Is this a feasible tuning without affecting the action and intonation too much? I imagine I would have to have a mildly larger string gauge, and I wouldn't mind going a little thicker on all the strings (fatter tone) but I don't want to have to make too many adjustments to the bass itself.

When I get the bass, it will already have new strings on it, and I'll see how it handles with those to make the decision.

Right now, I'm using the D'addario XLs on an Ibanez BTB. Because my Gallien Krueger 400RB head is about to be sent in for work, I'm I'm finding the combination bright, but tinny rather than full and aggressive. I want something mid-rich (like I know the Stingray is) so that I can switch from growly low mid grooves to aggressive high mids. Something very big, powerful, and filled with harmonics. Piano-y if you will (especially if you've seen my last thread in this forum :D)

People have suggested Rotosounds, and I've heard good things about DR. What would Talkbass suggest?
 
#2
The best strings IMO for sub-A are Circle K Strings Link Removed these are nickelplated rounds, top load bridge only.
A .158 / .160 G will be at an extra-light tension of around 30 pounds, my experience is this is the minimum practical tension and CKS recommends 30 as a minimum.
For switching between GDGCF and GCGCF you could build a custom set from singles that is tension balanced in the average tuning GC#GCF (while keeping the low C above 30 pounds), this will minimise the tension imbalances in either tuning.
Use the CKS tension chart Link Removed
For example a light tension set balanced at around 35 pounds (to keep the low C just above 30 pounds) would be .166 .112 .079 .059 .043

If you don't want a tension balanced set: For each string, use that chart or the Daddario one here http://www.daddario.com/upload/tension_chart_13934.pdf to discover your preferred tension, then choose a gauge that gives you that tension in the new tuning. Choose a compromise gauge for the retuned low C/D.

EDIT
Conklin sell steel .165s here [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Pyramid sell steel and nickelplated .160s here http://schneidermusik.de/shop1/advanced_search_result.php/manufacturers_id/22/categories_id/1000256/cPath/397_66_100_1000256/search_in_categories/1/search_in_manufacturers/1?osCsid=4ff5cad81c17294bf5ee43da4d0ae9c7
 
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#4
I do something similar, keeping my "standard" tuning of ACGCF on most of the time, and going up to D standard which is ADGCF.
I use the .124 drop set from Circle K plus a low .158. I've at times tuned the B down to G (tuning GCGCF) and that string set works great and isn't too tight when going up to D (on the E string).
So that's what I'd probably recommend.
 
#5
ixlramp said:
The best strings IMO for sub-A are Circle K Strings Link Removed these are nickelplated rounds, top load bridge only.
A .158 / .160 G will be at an extra-light tension of around 30 pounds, my experience is this is the minimum practical tension and CKS recommends 30 as a minimum.
For switching between GDGCF and GCGCF you could build a custom set from singles that is tension balanced in the average tuning GC#GCF (while keeping the low C above 30 pounds), this will minimise the tension imbalances in either tuning.
Use the CKS tension chart Link Removed
For example a light tension set balanced at around 35 pounds (to keep the low C just above 30 pounds) would be .166 .112 .079 .059 .043

If you don't want a tension balanced set: For each string, use that chart or the Daddario one here http://www.daddario.com/upload/tension_chart_13934.pdf to discover your preferred tension, then choose a gauge that gives you that tension in the new tuning. Choose a compromise gauge for the retuned low C/D.

EDIT
Conklin sell steel .165s here [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Pyramid sell steel and nickelplated .160s here http://schneidermusik.de/shop1/advanced_search_result.php/manufacturers_id/22/categories_id/1000256/cPath/397_66_100_1000256/search_in_categories/1/search_in_manufacturers/1?osCsid=4ff5cad81c17294bf5ee43da4d0ae9c7
Click to expand...

^^^this!! Circle K's are pricey, but you can't beat the tension! Skip knows his ****!!
 

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