I've been playing in a band that tunes to D standard (One whole step down) and I can't seem to figure out how to get the punch in my Lowest string (D.) I have a Fender Jazz I play, but it just can't seem to really get the low end out there! Any suggestions to solving this problem? Thanks everyone.
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Good Bass for tuning one whole step down?
- Thread starter ShredTilYerDead
- Start date
Ric5
Inactive
- Jan 29, 2008
- 29,772
- 30,452
- Disclosures
- I like 5, 8, 10, and 12 string basses
I had a MusicMan SUB 4-string for awhile that sounded great tuned D-G-C-F. I strung it with .110-.050.
But it didn't work as well on my j-bass. IMO, IME, etc.
But it didn't work as well on my j-bass. IMO, IME, etc.
- Feb 3, 2005
- 7,331
- 10,197
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- Endorsing artist: Bergantino Audio Systems and GHS Strings
Yeah, the key is the heavier string guage. I curretnly use a Sadowsky Metro Will Lee 4 and Spector Euro 4LX in my band that tunes to D. I've also used a US Spector and some Fender Precisions in this band. All worked fine when using the heavier strings and proper setup.
It's all about strings and setup. I have 3 basses tuned that way and all work great. (Parts P-Bass, Yamaha BB, and an Ibanez ATK)
Unless the bass is incredibly muddy or shorter scale, it's more about getting thicker strings and setting it up than anything else. I'd probably agree that 35" scale can help in this specific department.
A medium-heavy or heavy gauge set of strings will help. Favor the neck pickup slightly and boost your mids, low mids, gain, and cut the extreme lows & highs for major punch with clarity. If you want more growl & clarity then favor the bridge pickup and turn your tone down.
I dont know about string guage? I know its a factor, but I've been doing it for years with a 105. I think its a set up issue. I also use Hipshot D tuners tho
i agree, the strings are most important. a band of mine plays in drop C# and getting a heavy gauge set was key to making it work.
Almost everything I play in dropped tunings is fairly aggressive stuff, and I've found that my active basses tend to work a bit better for that type of music. I love my Rics & my Jazz, but my Spector & Stingray are my go-to basses for the heavy stuff. I've also found that my passive basses sound better on dropped tunings when ran through an outboard preamp.
Yeah, I guess it's all in the setup. I use .105 - .50 gauge strings, but have a set of .110 - .55's I might mess with. Thanks for all the advice everyone!
Any 35 inch scale bass may work. Even then, unless you go to heavier strings, like a 50 on a G string, then it will get floppy. But unless you choose your strings carefully, the larger diameters for the E string will get thumpy. String scale, being logarithmic instead of linear, requires progressively more distance for the lower pitches For example, the equivalent tension of a 36-inch scale bass will get you the same feel as a 34 inch scale bass tuned down 1/2 step, not a whole step, so you have to equalize with the string diameter.
The Circle K company has sets of "balanced" strings of all gauges. I would suggest contacting them once you've figured out the bass you want, and tell them the scale length and the "feel" you want from the strings. They have multi-wrap low E strings that will avoid some of the thumpiness that conventional bass strings can have.
The Circle K company has sets of "balanced" strings of all gauges. I would suggest contacting them once you've figured out the bass you want, and tell them the scale length and the "feel" you want from the strings. They have multi-wrap low E strings that will avoid some of the thumpiness that conventional bass strings can have.
No one has suggested a Five string yet?
That would certainly cure the problem.
Heavy strings on a four banger ought to do , as stated before.
One band that I play with detunes a half step, and I do that with a 4 string with no issues without going up to a heavier gauge, and I use lightish stings to start with.
That would certainly cure the problem.
Heavy strings on a four banger ought to do , as stated before.
One band that I play with detunes a half step, and I do that with a 4 string with no issues without going up to a heavier gauge, and I use lightish stings to start with.
i string my 'Ray with Roto .95-.40 lights, and it stays in D standard. buttah
For all intents and purposes, when I used to tune my Stingray to D, the E string lost crispyness. I use a .100 E, and have tried a .105 with the same result. I then began to keep the Ray in E and use a multitude of 5 string basses for that kind of stuff.
