• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Is constant retuning bad for your bass?

TonyMontanaSlot

TonyMontanaSlot

Oct 21, 2014
22
0
34
#1
Everyday I practice a couple of songs by Def Leppard and they're almost all require different runing:
Pour Some Sugar On Me: 4th string to C#
Photograph: 1/4 step down from standard (weird)
Let's Get Rocked: 1/2 step down from standard
Hysteria, Rock Of Ages : standard

So I change my tuning alot during the day. Is it bad for the neck or something else?
 
#2
No, but it may throw your set-up off by a bit. If it has not been problematic, I wouldn't sweat it. OTOH, some players are running around with de-tuners on all 4 strings. Michael Manring comes to mind but, then again, he's using a composite-necked Zon. I'll assume you're playing along with the recordings?

Riis
 
#3
Zooberwerx said:
No, but it may throw your set-up off by a bit. If it has not been problematic, I wouldn't sweat it. OTOH, some players are running around with de-tuners on all 4 strings. Michael Manring comes to mind but, then again, he's using a composite-necked Zon. I'll assume you're playing along with the recordings?

Riis
Click to expand...
Yes, I like to play to original studio recordings :)
 
#5
Those tunings aren't radically different from each other. If they were vastly different, there might be an issue, but even then I rather doubt it. You'd probably want to get a few different instruments to keep in those tunings, more for convenience and for a "reason" to get another bass or 12, rather than need.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Chris Hass and TonyMontanaSlot
#6
Haji said:
Those tunings aren't radically different from each other. If they were vastly different, there might be an issue, but even then I rather doubt it. You'd probably want to get a few different instruments to keep in those tunings, more for convenience and for a "reason" to get another bass or 12, rather than need.
Click to expand...
Sounds like a good idea. I'm considering getting a couple of basses and then mark their pickguards with songs to which they're suitable for :D
 
#9
I was watching one of Premier Guitar's Rig Rundowns on YouTube with somebody who has more bass gear than my band has gear, and they had a pretty slick solution for that. Since the basses were in a road case rack, they had the tunings printed on labels and stuck to the flat spot on the top of the headstock. I don't need that yet, but I may do it just cuz its kinda cool. :D
 
  • Like
Reactions: TonyMontanaSlot
#19
Haji said:
Well, then you have three options: continue to retune as you have been, buy more basses to dedicate to specific tunings, or get some guys together to play those songs in whatever tuning works for you. My favorite of those options is #3. Well, combined with #2, because more basses is always good.:D
Click to expand...

Shedua511 said:
I'd get a five string bass and be done with it (in fact, that's exactly what I have done :D )
Click to expand...

These are four options that will work.
If you want to play it exactly as it was done on the record, tune your bass so it fits.
Or just go a half step down and play the songs that are in standard key one fret higher up the board.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back