dude, downtuning basically ruins the string tension (if you play in standard tuning at a normal tension) to the point where the strings just flop and rattle.
to fix that, buy some stiffer, you can buy some long scale strings (i use DR Lo-Riders 5 set, they work perfect because they are compressino wound around a hexagonal core) and when your changing strings, while winding the peg manually, just dont let the string have any slack.
it worked perfectly for me. i use a five string, and i normally play tuned
Standard What I PLay
G F
D C
A G
E C
B G
(which is everything down a whole step, but the bottom two strings down an ADDITIONAL whole step, much how Ryan Martinie plays)
just by changing the strings with little or no slack on my bass (and help from a friend while i changed strings) it completely helped the tension. even at two whole steps down, my bass' tension is like normal in standard tuning. its awesome.
however, if you change tunings rather frequently and if your tuning down that much, you might have to re-set up your bass more frequently than you change socks, but my bass is a double truss rod, so i dont even have to deal with that. you will have to adjust the neck truss and saddle height a little after you first change the strings.
also, you might want to try changing out the tuners to stay accurate while tuning down. a new bridge would help too. i suggest a badass or a hipshot.
hope it helps
the only strings i use anymore are DR LO-RIDERS. they are compression-wound around a hexagonal core. not only are they long, but they sound AMAZING a five string set at a local music store is about forty bucks, but these strings are worth it. hands down the best ive ever played.
they also work really well for down-tuning (if you wind em on the peg nice and tight) even all the way down to drop C.
anyway, they rock, hope it helps.
again, just to re-itterate
DR LO RIDERS
5 SET=ABOUT 40$
BUY THESE IF YOU PLAY DOWN TUNED OR LIKE A CLASSIC METAL SOUND
to fix that, buy some stiffer, you can buy some long scale strings (i use DR Lo-Riders 5 set, they work perfect because they are compressino wound around a hexagonal core) and when your changing strings, while winding the peg manually, just dont let the string have any slack.
it worked perfectly for me. i use a five string, and i normally play tuned
Standard What I PLay
G F
D C
A G
E C
B G
(which is everything down a whole step, but the bottom two strings down an ADDITIONAL whole step, much how Ryan Martinie plays)
just by changing the strings with little or no slack on my bass (and help from a friend while i changed strings) it completely helped the tension. even at two whole steps down, my bass' tension is like normal in standard tuning. its awesome.
however, if you change tunings rather frequently and if your tuning down that much, you might have to re-set up your bass more frequently than you change socks, but my bass is a double truss rod, so i dont even have to deal with that. you will have to adjust the neck truss and saddle height a little after you first change the strings.
also, you might want to try changing out the tuners to stay accurate while tuning down. a new bridge would help too. i suggest a badass or a hipshot.
hope it helps
the only strings i use anymore are DR LO-RIDERS. they are compression-wound around a hexagonal core. not only are they long, but they sound AMAZING a five string set at a local music store is about forty bucks, but these strings are worth it. hands down the best ive ever played.
they also work really well for down-tuning (if you wind em on the peg nice and tight) even all the way down to drop C.
anyway, they rock, hope it helps.
again, just to re-itterate
DR LO RIDERS
5 SET=ABOUT 40$
BUY THESE IF YOU PLAY DOWN TUNED OR LIKE A CLASSIC METAL SOUND
