Looking to put some new strings on my VM Jazz bass to tune to Drop C (C-G-C-F). Figured I'd use the Killswitch Engage (since I'm gonna be playing a lot of metalcore with my friends) bassist's tactic of tuning up the B string of a 5 string set to C for a tight mid range tone. The string setups I'm looking at are either: A) a set of D'Addario EXL160XL strings with the E string swapped out for a single D'Addario .120 (basically a .50 .70 .85 .120 setup) B) D.Addario EXL220-5 set with the E swapped for the B string (.40 .60 .75 .125) C) Same as B but with Ernie Ball Super Slinky strings instead of D'Addario. Are D'Addario or Ernie Ball best for metalcore (or in general any metal and hardcore punk genres) bass or is it just preference? And which gauge setup would be better for the Drop C tuning (or is there a better setup I should consider)?
You only mention D'Addario and Ernie Ball, but let me use the GHS Boomers to illustrate how the tension numbers work out with them. F 050 - 40.9 (lbs.) C 065 - 39.8 G 085 - 39.2 C 125 - 38.8
It is 100% just preference. Any of the strings you listed will work, it's down to which ones you like the sound and feel of better. To start, tune your current strings DGCF and see how the GCF strings feel. That will let you know if you want to go thicker/thinner/same gauge on those.
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