Help me find strings with these tension requirements(specific)

[Poor Tom]

Before someone says "find what you like best", I already know what I like best. What I need is someone to point me to a set that will fit my requirements.

I might be joining a band that tunes CGCF. My perfect and preferred string setup(feel and tension) is standard tuning with a set of D'addario EXL220 which is 40-60-75-95. What I need is to find a set that will give me the same tension feel of the 220 set but when tuned down to CGCF. I am thinking about the D'Addario EXL165 set which is 45-65-85-105, but not sure if that will do it.

I have been wanting to try out some Dunlops but I just read their description and it specifically states low tension as one of its highlights. That would normally be wonderful for me, but in this instance might be counter-productive to what I am trying to achieve.

Any suggestions especially from those who tune CGCF would be greatly appreciated. Also note that I play with my fingers mostly and it is important for me to get as close to as possible the tension with the 220 set in standard.

thanks guys!

 

[Mikebass6]

I tune that way from time to time and I always go with DR heavy gauge due to the tension. I am a fingerstyle player as well and those seem to maintain a decent tightness even with the downtuning. Just my .02

 

[guroove]

I think standard gauge (.045 - .105) will do you just about right, but I'd think about swapping a 110 on there for the low C.

 

[insomniac2295]

The OP is looking for even tension across the strings. In drop C, regular sets of strings will not do.
OP- You'll need to order single strings, obviously. I'm actually trying to solve the same problem right now. I ordered a couple single strings a while ago that work out perfect in drop C for me, I just can't remember what gauges I ordered and need to repeat my order.
I think it's somewhere along the lines of .50 .70 .80 .120 for a 4 string, obviously. Don't quote that though.
There was a thread on here a while ago that I'm trying to find where a guy listed out specific tensions for specific tunings. If I find it, I'll post it here.

 

[insomniac2295]

Found it!
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=548500&highlight=drop+tuning

for Drop C I use DR Lowrider Heavy 50 70 90 110, toss the 110 and Buy a single 120

^This works very well!!!

 

[JustDavid]

Unless I've misread the D'Addario string tension chart, 45 65 85 125 gets you as close as possible to your desired tensions; 'D' is 5% low & 'E' is 2% high.

 

[Poor Tom]

thanks for the responses guys! That thread has an interesting suggestion, but there is no way I can know what overall tension type that OP was looking for. It might not match with me.

It seems like JustDavid has done the work for me, thanks man. Can I ask you how you figured out what the tension of those strings would be once tuned down? I could see how many people would find that info useful for situations like this.

 

[insomniac2295]

Unless I've misread the D'Addario string tension chart, 45 65 85 125 gets you as close as possible to your desired tensions; 'D' is 5% low & 'E' is 2% high.

What scale did you use when figuring this out?

 

[JustDavid]

What scale did you use when figuring this out?

D'Addario measures the tension for their Long Scale at 34" scale length.

 

[JustDavid]

I'd downloaded D'Addario's tension chart awhile back. I think it's still on their website.