Drop-tuning problem - string is too loose...

[Gunstringer]

hello talk bass
i didn't know if this is for strings or setup so i just wrote it here...
I'm playing an 96' music man stingray and in my band we usually play drop C# tuning (C#, G#, C#, F#) and for some songs we play without the drop but still half step backward (D#, G#, C#, F#)
till 2 month ago I played a regular 45-105 gauge sets.
and because i didn't really want to move to a larger gauge, cause A D G strings were just fine both tunings, and larger gauge aren't really nice to play with. but when we tuned the drop C#, the E strings was just way too loose that you bearly even heard a note... only buzz and fret noise.
i tried to change only the E string to a 110 gauge and leave the others 45-85. i tried to raise my action too. and it got much better, but its still too loose.
someone told me that moving to a 50-110 gauge set will fix the problem, but it really goes against my logic.
can you suggest me what can i do to solve the situation? and 5-stringer isn't an option. not in the near year at least.
Thanks.

 

[shadewind]

Get a tech to file down the slots in your nut and get a 5-string kit without the G string.

 

[Burlington]

I use heavy DRs (50-110). They work great. Also getting a setup for that tuning is a good idea.

 

[HogieWan]

if you want tighter strings at those tunings, you need thicker guages - go with a light set for a 5-string and use the thickest 4.

 

[guy n. cognito]

The logical, practical solution is to trade your bass for a 5 string. Otherwise, install the BEAD strings from a 5 string set and your problem should improve

 

[Burlington]

The logical, practical solution is to trade your bass for a 5 string. Otherwise, install the BEAD strings from a 5 string set and your problem should improve

Not necessarily. My band plays in Drop C and many of the songs would be impossible to play on a 5 string in standard tuning.

 

[ZoneofInhibitio]

i use 120's on my 4 string stingray for drop B. Part of it may be your playing style.

 

[mikeswals]

The issue is mostly your technique, and then your string choice.

I have been playing with drop C# tuning for years, and I won't use anything bigger than a 105. Yes you have to get used to the notion the strings will be looser so you can't hit the strings with funky fingering angles and sloppy heavy attack. Pluck correctly and cleanly and let the amp do the work.

For strings you can get stiffer feeling strings of the same gauge. For instance; DR highbeam round cores feel more loose, and DR lowrider hex cores feel alot stiffer, both strings come in the same gauges, but completely different feel. You definitely have to experiment.

 

[Gunstringer]

but is changing the other strings (A D G) gauge will help?
cause even half a step down, the A D G really sound well, its just the E strings that giving me a headache...
switching to a BEAD is a problem because i do play regular tuning sometimes. but usually the bass is drop C#.

 

[your idol]

Thicker gagues, higher tension string, turn your amp up and ease up off your attack

/thread

 

[sloasdaylight]

Get a tech to file down the slots in your nut and get a 5-string kit without the G string.

This is a horrid Idea.

To the OP. I would go to juststrings.com and order a set of custom gauge strings for your bass. I'd suggest .110 E and then normal gauge (.85-.45) for the rest of them, since you said those are ok.

You might want to do what your idol suggested too, and find some strings with higher tensions normally.

 

[guy n. cognito]

This is a horrid Idea.

To the OP. I would go to juststrings.com and order a set of custom gauge strings for your bass. I'd suggest .110 E and then normal gauge (.85-.45) for the rest of them, since you said those are ok.

You might want to do what your idol suggested too, and find some strings with higher tensions normally.

Actually, stringing a 4 string BEAD is not only a good idea, it's a common technique for those that insist on tuning down. It's certainly a lot easier and more logical than having to purchase custom gauge strings.

 

[MichaelScott]

Not necessarily. My band plays in Drop C and many of the songs would be impossible to play on a 5 string in standard tuning.

I find this hard to believe. And when I say hard I actually mean impossible.

 

[Gunstringer]

This is a horrid Idea.

To the OP. I would go to juststrings.com and order a set of custom gauge strings for your bass. I'd suggest .110 E and then normal gauge (.85-.45) for the rest of them, since you said those are ok.

You might want to do what your idol suggested too, and find some strings with higher tensions normally.

thats what i did, i think i did mention it.
and the E string is much better, but still too loose...
its not intolerable like the .105, but i really would want to fix it. and changing to a .120 will suck when playing E b or even E...

and for the suggesting for BEAD. it would be a good idea if i had money for another bass.
although my main playing is in the band with the drops. i do play on normal tuning too. (mostly to practice and when playing in school band...)
and i dont really got the money to buy 2 basses...

 

[omnimutant]

Why not just stay tuned to D# or C# (or whatever your doing)? If your band tuned up to E for a song it doesn't mean you can't hit all the same notes in D# anyway right? I play C#,F# B, E, with GHS Boomers .115 with my band. However I like to play/learn all kinds of "standard" tuning songs in my off time. I found it's easier to just leave it tuned where it is and adapt. I can still play all the same notes, I simply need to change where I play them. It makes the most sense and covers both worlds.

The .115 Holds the tension without slop just fine, and in the rare cases when I have tuned down to E, it isn't that bad anyway, though Like I said it's easier just to stay wherever you tuned too and play all the same notes you would anyway. Just another Opinion

 

[Fullmetal]

Not necessarily. My band plays in Drop C and many of the songs would be impossible to play on a 5 string in standard tuning.

I find this hard to believe. And when I say hard I actually mean impossible.

I find it perfectly understandable. If you're playing songs that bonce of an open string and work up/down the neck on the same string, it's gunna cause a bit of strain on your fret-hand.

 

[James Judson]

Tune that thing to EADG then find a voicing that works. Recently I have played with a couple bands that tune down half a step. Sucks the tone right out of the bass. I own 7 basses and none of them like it. So now I refuse to down tune. If they want to play in Eb I just play in Eb. Its good exercise too. Oh and playing up on the neck doesn't have to be thin adjust the EQ.

Your mileage may vary.

 

[tdurden]

why not just buy a five sting set and use the b,a,d,g strings.
tune the B to c#, the a to g#,D to C# and g to F#. since you also tune only your 4 th string to D# you will not need to retune just move anything you play on the 4 th string up a whole step. There is not a need to go to and have someone file down the nut and bridge. Take a b string and pass it back and forth a few times and it will file down the nut.

hello talk bass
i didn't know if this is for strings or setup so i just wrote it here...
I'm playing an 96' music man stingray and in my band we usually play drop C# tuning (C#, G#, C#, F#) and for some songs we play without the drop but still half step backward (D#, G#, C#, F#)
till 2 month ago I played a regular 45-105 gauge sets.
and because i didn't really want to move to a larger gauge, cause A D G strings were just fine both tunings, and larger gauge aren't really nice to play with. but when we tuned the drop C#, the E strings was just way too loose that you bearly even heard a note... only buzz and fret noise.
i tried to change only the E string to a 110 gauge and leave the others 45-85. i tried to raise my action too. and it got much better, but its still too loose.
someone told me that moving to a 50-110 gauge set will fix the problem, but it really goes against my logic.
can you suggest me what can i do to solve the situation? and 5-stringer isn't an option. not in the near year at least.
Thanks.

 

[Eric Scholz]

Check out the tensions of the set. If you want to keep the same gauge string but have it feel tighter, you want a higher tension set. Check out the D'Addario website, they have great info about string tension, and composition.

 

[sloasdaylight]

Actually, stringing a 4 string BEAD is not only a good idea, it's a common technique for those that insist on tuning down. It's certainly a lot easier and more logical than having to purchase custom gauge strings.

So you'd tune up a standard D string, or even a light D string, let's say .60 up two whole steps? That sounds to me like a bad idea and an almost guaranteed neck warping.

Now, I'll agree with you that stringing BEAD is a standard practice, and it has it's merits, but for what the OP wants, it sounds like it would be far too much trouble for what s/he wants.

Drop C# is the same as Drop Db, which is Drop D a half step down. For Drop D, you tune D-A-D-G, if you want to tune up a B-E-A-D set to C#-G#-C#-F# be my guest, but to me it sounds like adding up to 2 whole steps worth of tension per string to a neck is a bad idea.