F# string gauge

[ProgSean]

So I'm getting a fretted 7 string bass soon, my guitarist has an 8 string tuned to F# and I want to be on his level, so I'm planning on tuning my 7 two semitones up from E standard, having a low F# wouldn't really add much other than muddy dribble from experience so i feel that if I'm on his level, it'll help, more so with slap sections, the higher strings would be used for chords and tapping and the like to help with having only one guitarist, but what kind of string gauges would i be looking at? My other 7 is B-F and is 135-22 so god knows how thin these strings will be

 

[iiipopes]

Whatever you like for an E string, go one gauge (.005) thinner.

 

[SLaPiNFuNK]

At least a .175

But with some brands .145 is passable

 

[kuys]

So I'm getting a fretted 7 string bass soon, my guitarist has an 8 string tuned to F# and I want to be on his level, so I'm planning on tuning my 7 two semitones up from E standard, having a low F# wouldn't really add much other than muddy dribble from experience so i feel that if I'm on his level, it'll help, more so with slap sections, the higher strings would be used for chords and tapping and the like to help with having only one guitarist, but what kind of string gauges would i be looking at? My other 7 is B-F and is 135-22 so god knows how thin these strings will be

Link Removed
Link Removed

 

[Thomas Kievit]

I would recommend (like Jason / SlapInFunk said) atleast a .175 though a .180 might do it as well

 

[iiipopes]

Folks, did you read? He wants an F# that is above the open E. Higher pitch, not lower.

 

[knuckle_head]

Whatever you like for an E string, go one gauge (.005) thinner.

This would be true but only for the F# string. You don't want to hold to that rule on the treble strings.

 

[ProgSean]

After checking the gauge chart (was very handy!) I looked at gauges for the F# and checked the tension on it, 94 gauge has 43 lbs of tension, a 90 gauge has 39 lbs of tension, CKS do 90 and 94 7 string balanced sets, will the 4 lbs difference really do much?

 

[Jensby design]

having a low F# wouldn't really add much other than muddy dribble from experience

I've used a low F# for since September 1999.
Any kind of muddy dribble is from your equipment :amp,speaker cab,pick-ups,strings,the bass itself
I use circle k strings (182),my bass has a rock maple neck-thru with ebony fingerboard and Carvin HB Alnico-5 pick-ups.
Muddy dribble has to be dialed into my signal
But idk 90 should do.

 

[basehed]

Might want to consult this chart.
Link Removed

 

[knuckle_head]

After checking the gauge chart (was very handy!) I looked at gauges for the F# and checked the tension on it, 94 gauge has 43 lbs of tension, a 90 gauge has 39 lbs of tension, CKS do 90 and 94 7 string balanced sets, will the 4 lbs difference really do much?

Either will work fine - a .106 tuned to E is about 43 pounds, where a .102 is roughly 40 pounds. Running on memory here . . . run with your preference based on what you know.

 

[kuys]

Haha, no one actually even read the original post.

 

[knuckle_head]

Haha, no one actually even read the original post.

Really?

So I'm getting a fretted 7 string bass soon, my guitarist has an 8 string tuned to F# and I want to be on his level, so I'm planning on tuning my 7 two semitones up from E standard, having a low F# wouldn't really add much other than muddy dribble from experience so i feel that if I'm on his level, it'll help, more so with slap sections, the higher strings would be used for chords and tapping and the like to help with having only one guitarist, but what kind of string gauges would i be looking at? My other 7 is B-F and is 135-22 so god knows how thin these strings will be

Whatever you like for an E string, go one gauge (.005) thinner.

This would be true but only for the F# string. You don't want to hold to that rule on the treble strings.

After checking the gauge chart (was very handy!) I looked at gauges for the F# and checked the tension on it, 94 gauge has 43 lbs of tension, a 90 gauge has 39 lbs of tension, CKS do 90 and 94 7 string balanced sets, will the 4 lbs difference really do much?

Looks like asked and answered to me.

 

[kuys]

Haha, well, I meant to say a few people didn't read the OP. I say that because quite a few posts suggest a 175 or 185 for F#.

 

[Thomas Kievit]

I'm confused.. He already has a bass tuned B-F (.135 - .022) and for the 8 string guitars he wants something thinner..?

Haha, well, I meant to say a few people didn't read the OP. I say that because quite a few posts suggest a 175 or 185 for F#.

 

[knuckle_head]

The OP sees no point in going down to 23 Hz F# - it is his opinion that it would not add to the music he and his band makes so he is talking about unison tuning on bass and guitars.

Going to a 90 or 95 set will do what he wants it to.

FWIW - the OP might consider tuning to C# on bottom. It will allow a bit more tonal depth and the bass will carry the pitches that low without mud.

For F# tuning I suggest 90 67 49 35 22 15 10 or 94 70 53 37 26 17 12.

For C# tuning consider 118 90 67 49 35 22 15 or 124 94 70 53 37 26 17.

 

[Thomas Kievit]

Why not doing the same like Dick Lovgren from Meshuggah and tune the E string up to an F?

 

[knuckle_head]

Why not doing the same like Dick Lovgren from Meshuggah and tune the E string up to an F?

Dick plays mostly 5s and when with Meshuggah tunes to C - it's why I suggest C# tuning.

 

[tylerwylie]

The OP sees no point in going down to 23 Hz F# - it is his opinion that it would not add to the music he and his band makes so he is talking about unison tuning on bass and guitars.

Going to a 90 or 95 set will do what he wants it to.

FWIW - the OP might consider tuning to C# on bottom. It will allow a bit more tonal depth and the bass will carry the pitches that low without mud.

For F# tuning I suggest 90 67 49 35 22 15 10 or 94 70 53 37 26 17 12.

For C# tuning consider 118 90 67 49 35 22 15 or 124 94 70 53 37 26 17.

Unison tuning can sound heavier than octave below guitar tuning with the appropriate EQ. I think it sounds awesome in many cases, especially when guitars go down that low but are mostly distorted. Tune up a half step, throw a B3K blended in, some low ratio compression, with a light touch on the right hand it can sound heavy.

 

[knuckle_head]

Unison tuning can sound heavier than octave below guitar tuning with the appropriate EQ. I think it sounds awesome in many cases, especially when guitars go down that low but are mostly distorted. Tune up a half step, throw a B3K blended in, some low ratio compression, with a light touch on the right hand it can sound heavy.

+1