drop tuning on a 33" scale bass

[Oddacious]

I'm playing almost all guitar right now doing originals(melodic hard rock) at local venues and we drop tune our 6 string guitars to drop C. So essentially drop D tuning, then a whole step down on all the strings. I've written some material that we'll be recording that is on my 7 string and it is tuned down to drop G. Our current bassist uses a 4 string with drop D tuning as well. For the 7 strings stuff, he's going to probably use a 5 string.

I'm doing some initial recordings and will need to buy a 5 string bass. I will be tuning it down from B-E-A-D-G to G-D-G-C-F

I'm looking at the ibanez btb845V basses(33" scale), and was wondering if a low G would be a problem for the 33" scale. I have les pauls and LP type schecter guitars with heavier gauge strings for drop C tuning on a 24.75" scale and I haven't been able to tell much of a difference from my 25.5" scale guitars.

does anyone have real world experience doing this, and would you be willing to share your learnings?

 

[Killing Floor]

Try it. You’re introducing a lot of slack to strings but you won’t know until you try.

 

[urkel3000]

It would be too floppy for me. A with 140s on a 34 is about as low as I can go

 

[erratick]

I'm playing almost all guitar right now doing originals(melodic hard rock) at local venues and we drop tune our 6 string guitars to drop C. So essentially drop D tuning, then a whole step down on all the strings. I've written some material that we'll be recording that is on my 7 string and it is tuned down to drop G. Our current bassist uses a 4 string with drop D tuning as well. For the 7 strings stuff, he's going to probably use a 5 string.

I'm doing some initial recordings and will need to buy a 5 string bass. I will be tuning it down from B-E-A-D-G to G-D-G-C-F

I'm looking at the ibanez btb845V basses(33" scale), and was wondering if a low G would be a problem for the 33" scale. I have les pauls and LP type schecter guitars with heavier gauge strings for drop C tuning on a 24.75" scale and I haven't been able to tell much of a difference from my 25.5" scale guitars.

does anyone have real world experience doing this, and would you be willing to share your learnings?

This isn't really going to work. For practicum- I've got a couple usable 5 strings, and even tuning down to A0 kinda is meh.

Links to information:

piano

Equal-loudness contour - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

For standard tuning - EADG on a bass the E is E1 per the diagram linked. 41hz fundamental.

Five string B is B0. 30.86 hz. Most people really don't hear that fundamental as much as feel it. Many bassists here complain about weak B string even sometimes on a longer scale bass (34")- partially because it's hard to replicate- most gear doesn't. And partially because to actually hear it, you'll need more harmonic (actually B1 or other harmonic series information- already on a bass at a much more hearable 61hz). Also there are some physics problems with some basses and B0.

If I'm reading you correctly you want the bassist to tune to G-1 or something like 24hz.

It's a practical problem that is really a physics problem. There is a reason even the A0 on a piano sounds like garbage on most piano and is not used often. For G-1, not much is going to hear or reproduce the fundamental at 24hz. It's just thud- lower than a kick drum fundamental. You're past the limit of average human hearing- you'll only hear that fundamental on systems designed to reproduce it, if you can even hear it. Subs only basically.

Even synths and electronic drums don't do much of this range- I mean they can, just people can't really hear it, nor does most gear reproduce it.

In addition, tuning keys tend to not be precise enough down there as a very small adjustment will rip through a couple hz. The scale of the bass and diameter of the string will be a limiting factor. You really just want better tone on the overtones/harmonics than fundamental in this kind of hearing range.

You will potentially have bass setup problems at the nut or string height that will need to be fixed.

My advice:

Your guitar is already tuned into bass range. Fire the bassist.

 

[Oddacious]

This isn't really going to work. For practicum- I've got a couple usable 5 strings, and even tuning down to A0 kinda is meh.

Links to information:

piano

Equal-loudness contour - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

For standard tuning - EADG on a bass the E is E1 per the diagram linked. 41hz fundamental.

Five string B is B0. 30.86 hz. Most people really don't hear that fundamental as much as feel it. Many bassists here complain about weak B string even sometimes on a longer scale bass (34")- partially because it's hard to replicate- most gear doesn't. And partially because to actually hear it, you'll need more harmonic (actually B1 or other harmonic series information- already on a bass at a much more hearable 61hz). Also there are some physics problems with some basses and B0.

If I'm reading you correctly you want the bassist to tune to G-1 or something like 24hz.

It's a practical problem that is really a physics problem. There is a reason even the A0 on a piano sounds like garbage on most piano and is not used often. For G-1, not much is going to hear or reproduce the fundamental at 24hz. It's just thud- lower than a kick drum fundamental. You're past the limit of average human hearing- you'll only hear that fundamental on systems designed to reproduce it, if you can even hear it. Subs only basically.

Even synths and electronic drums don't do much of this range- I mean they can, just people can't really hear it, nor does most gear reproduce it.

In addition, tuning keys tend to not be precise enough down there as a very small adjustment will rip through a couple hz. The scale of the bass and diameter of the string will be a limiting factor. You really just want better tone on the overtones/harmonics than fundamental in this kind of hearing range.

You will potentially have bass setup problems at the nut or string height that will need to be fixed.

My advice:

Your guitar is already tuned into bass range. Fire the bassist.

This has been very insightful, thank you so much for the reference links. It all makes sense. my hearing peters out at about 35hz. I don't hear anything past 32hz. This is through high fidelity studio monitors that can reach 20hz, not that its necessary. I do "feel" the air moving as well as the pressure in the over-the ear phones, just can't hear it.


I guess we will refactor. thanks again!