Five String E-A-D-G-C What Gauge for the C String?

[EdO.]

This has surely been addressed here before but I did try to search and didn't find anything so... I have a nice fiver I never play (Cort A5 Artisan, my only 5'er) as the bands I play in don't do much of anything requiring anything lower than E, maybe one or two songs where we drop a half step which I can pitch shift down on my HX Stomp no problem. I hate to let it just set, I don't play it enough to get used to the low B (which I'd seldom use) and I really don't want to sell it so I'm thinking I'll try it tuned E-A-D-G-C to see how well that might work out. Probably go 105 - 45 for the top 4, what gauge would be suggested for the C that would keep the set relatively well balanced both tone and (particularly) tension wise? I generally use D'Addario XL's, I see they offer them in .028, .032, .035, .038. TIA for your input.

 

[michael_t]

Probably go 105 - 45 for the top 4, what gauge would be suggested for the C that would keep the set relatively well balanced both tone and (particularly) tension wise? I generally use D'Addario XL's, I see they offer them in .028, .032, .035, .038.

The fact the factory XL Nickel 6-string set offered by D'Addario (EXL1656) is 32-45-65-85-105-135 indicates the .032 would probably be your best bet to be matched up with the EXL165 set, 45-65-85-105.

 

[michael_t]

Here are the actual tension figures...

C 032 - 38.98 (lbs.)
G 045 - 42.52
D 065 - 48.35
A 085 - 45.34
E 105 - 38.08

 

[EdO.]

The fact the factory XL Nickel 6-string set offered by D'Addario (EXL1656) is 32-45-65-85-105-135 indicates the .032 would probably be your best bet to be matched up with the EXL165 set, 45-65-85-105.

Thank you for the quick reply and info @michael_t, sincerely appreciated.

 

[Aidil]

IME, this is one of those you'll need to decide based on your own experience.

I own a few basses with high-C. AAOF, I used to own a Cort Artisan A6 (same 34" scale as the A5), so it had a high C and the factory set was D'Addario EXL170-6 (.032 high C). Later, I had a few other high C's on it: .030 from D'Addario ENR71-6 Half Rounds set; .028 when I strung the bass with GHS Pressurewound; and .032 flatwound when I put on D'Addario Chromes.

One problem with a high C on a bass guitar is that it tends to sound twangy. The tighter it is strung, which can be caused by the longer scale length or the heavier string gauge or both, the twangier it sounds. I'm pretty annoyed by the twangy sound of the .030 Dunlop Super Bright high C on my 35" scale, OTOH the 33.6" scale .032 Elixir high C on my multi-scale bass doesn't seem to suffer much from this issue.

D'Addario XL Nickel high C is available as light as .028w and even .025w. Generally, most players would just be done with .032 high C on a 34" scale like your A4. But, if I'm building an EADGC tuned bass like yours, I'll probably go with a .028w.

 

[Bob_Ross]

I use .030 for all my high C strings except for the EADGC fretless which gets Ken Smith Slick Round (groundwound) strings; those only offer a high C in .028

 

[Watchootognbout]

I have two six stringers.

But I use a seven string bass set.
Because the C string in the set is .025.
Where as most C strings are thicker.

I like a .025.It makes tapping easier.