Might need a Drop Tune Pedal

[SAlcott]

if the problems one song that needs a low Eb, put a hipshot on the E string, set it to d and you're good to go. Another option is to be able to play in all keys.

 

[2thAche]

I have gone through all this because we play almost half of our songs in Eb. I like 4-strings, so using a 5-er and transposing is not what I want. I have drop tuners on my E strings, but TBH it's no fun transposing to Eb especially if you're on vocals.

1: Drop pedals cause a weird warble on low notes, expecially below A. They also change your tone. If you're one of those guys who doesn't change tone (pedals etc), and just sounds like bass notes in the mix (don't laugh, this is what most bassists sound like who run through PAs in bands I see), they'll be acceptable. If you like that piano-like round wound tone, it's gonna take away from that.

2: If you want to have tone and the warble makes your brain sad, just bring 2 basses. That was best for me. We try to group Eb songs together so there's not too much switching back and forth.

 

[Nebadon2000]

IDK. when I A/B'ed my Stomp setting on/off with just my bass I could tell a little difference, but when mixed in with everything else, for 5-6 songs, I think I'd rather do this than swap as those songs are NEVER together on the set list.

If it sounds terrible tonight, I'll have to either use a 2nd bass or just do it all on my 5.

Awful may have been to strong but on there own with light background mix changed tone to much for me and there seemed to be some latency BUT in a live band mix at Venue may be workable for a few songs and anomalies only known to user. HX Stomp Poly Capo seemed best to me.

 

[Egg250]

That is what I use my Lo B five string with a handy capo.
Pitch shift pedals always sound a lot fake, unless that sound is acceptable.

You use a capo on a bass? Not judging, it's just unusual.

 

[KevInDaBassment]

Hipshost Bass Xtender on your E-string? If you just need an Eb available to play, that's all the range you'll need by flipping a lever. If there's a lot of open strings played in the song, that may cause some technique difficulties, but this would at least have all the notes needed available to you.

 

[Runlikegregg]

The Digitech Drop will be totally fine for just going down half a step, especially in the context of a mix with guitars.

My guitar player has used this pedal with great results.

 

[Altitude]

I've done this both ways, and IME it depends on the music:

If you're playing typical I-V-vi-IV or blues tunes where the bass is mainly supplying the root of the chord, I think it's easier to use a Hipshot drop tuner and learn the tune that way. Especially if it's just a few songs. You can play "Mary Jane's Last Dance" in just about any key if you think of the bass part as intervals like a jazz player or like the Nashville system.

On the other hand, if you're playing a bunch of tunes with iconic bass parts, there's no transposing those without affecting the way they sound. You can't play "Rapper's Delight" in Eb on a bass tuned traditionally without it sounding weird and being really hard, for example. Even if it's a 5 string and you have access to the Eb. For that I would tune the whole bass down and play it normally.

I play in one group that does the whole night dropped a half step, just for the convenience of the singer. In that situation it's perhaps obviously easiest to tune the bass down a half step.

No experience with drop tuning pedals, though I'm sure they deliver output as some sort of waveform that will not sound like a bass. Maybe that's OK. Again, depending on the music.

 

[bassbrad]

You use a capo on a bass? Not judging, it's just unusual.

Whatever works right. No less unusual than using a drop pedal.

 

[cxc]

I use a Digitech Drop to drop down a half step on a few songs. No issues or complaints.

 

[Water buffalo]

I keep a Digi-Drop on one of my pedalboards, I use it on occasion and I am happy with it.

Would I use it to record with? Of course not, but in a Nashville bar full of drunken bridesmaids it works just fine.

I rarely go lower than Eb. If you go lower than a whole step, the tone definitely deteriorates quickly.

 

[kmon]

I hate the way the drop sounds on its own. In a live mix it's fine.

It's convenient and that's about the only good thing I can say about it.

 

[Hyoga]

Just adding more of the same...
I have used both capo (remove when switching to detuned song), and the digitech drop which works fine for half a step, it doesn't alter the tone much.

 

[SteveC]

Drop tuning worked great tonight. Playing an open E (Eb) instead of a fingered Eb was night and day. So awesome. Starting to really appreciate what my Stomp can do - and I don't even really use it to its potential. It's taken a few months but is really growing on me.

 

[LowActionHero]

I use a Drop pedal. Used it the other day with some guys who tuned to Eb, they didn't notice. I've also used it many times to drop 5 steps to make a 4 string into a 5 string (low B). And I've dropped a low B to Bb. It actually tracks very well. The tone changes slightly but it's not noticeable with the band playing. Most people I've used it with had no idea.

 

[chuck65]

My .02 cents…..fwiw
I run Digital Drop on both of my pedalboards. I use drop tuners on all of my Basses ( JB4 ).
I prefer the feel of my Bass in standard tuning. A half down plus a drop tuner yields a floppy E ( to me ). Between the pedal and Drop tuner , I'm good to go for whatever….. standard , drop D , half down , drop c , c standard.
Sacrifices ? You bet ! The warble after three semitones is the real deal and if you have real low action , that hint of fret buzz is also a dream killer with the Drop Pedal. YMMV
Ps… while in standard , the Digi Drop is a pretty cool octaver as well

 

[Hawk256]

With one Band I joined; Singer wanted to drop key 1/2 step on about half the songs so they decided to just tune to Eb and play every song 1/2 step down.

That has been my experience. Was very common in my gigging days. Singers tend to like the change as well.

 

[sxaxsx]

If it's only half a step, why not just learn all your parts half a step down.

 

[nitrofix]

If it's only half a step, why not just learn all your parts half a step down.

Because there is no Eb on the E string..Look I get it, use 2 basses, learn the parts a 1/2 down ect..I was just asking about the 2 pedals I mentioned

 

[thisSNsucks]

Another Stomp user here that uses the Simple pitch function to drop down 1/2 step.

Yes you can hear some digital artifacts solo, but live setting they go away.

Heck I even messed with dropping 5 steps to BEAD tuning and it wasn't terrible.

the Digi tech drop is probably the most popular stand alone pedal for this kind of thing, and probably your best bet.

 

[Ulf Buck]

That is what I use my Lo B five string with a handy capo.
Pitch shift pedals always sound a lot fake, unless that sound is acceptable.

Quad Cortex sounds great, Line 6 stomp sounds acceptable, digitech drop is rough(half step is marginal, below that is horrible) for bass