So I have a Precision that I tuned down a half step to play a song. Turns out it sounds better tuned down a half step. Would I be able to reproduce that difference by tuning normally and using lighter gauge strings?
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Question about tuning down and string tension
- Thread starter atquinn
- Start date
lol no...you still gotta tune down.might need to adjust your saddles on some basses and some strings will have a "floppy lose" feel if you dont make a few minor adjustments.
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I think its that feel you are talking about?
I played for decades in bands tuned 1/2 step down, I used 45-105 sets.
When I joined the casino circuit, especially with sub work, they all tuned normal, so I went to 40-100 sets to keep that same bouncy feel.
I played for decades in bands tuned 1/2 step down, I used 45-105 sets.
When I joined the casino circuit, especially with sub work, they all tuned normal, so I went to 40-100 sets to keep that same bouncy feel.
I’m such an outlier….
I don’t care for the way a bass sound or feels when tuned down.
A few years ago, I took a gig with a country music artist that preferred us to tune down 1/2 step.
I experimented with heavier strings, higher action setups, etc. I even bought a bass to leave set up for that artist. Didn’t like any of it.
A Helix Stomp set to transpose down a half solved all those issues for me. Well, 99% of them. It all sounds fine when transposed, except for some funny artifacts when playing major third double-stops up high, around the 10th fret. And very little of that sort of thing in country music…..
.
I don’t care for the way a bass sound or feels when tuned down.
A few years ago, I took a gig with a country music artist that preferred us to tune down 1/2 step.
I experimented with heavier strings, higher action setups, etc. I even bought a bass to leave set up for that artist. Didn’t like any of it.
A Helix Stomp set to transpose down a half solved all those issues for me. Well, 99% of them. It all sounds fine when transposed, except for some funny artifacts when playing major third double-stops up high, around the 10th fret. And very little of that sort of thing in country music…..
.yes, selecting your strings by tension LBs instead of package gauge will get you there. I use to do this with CircleK sets as they were one of the 1st to promote custom extended range strings, D'addario then started offering their "Balanced Set".
I find that so many sets even lights sound and feel great 1/2 - 1 step down. It's all personal preference. Check the weight of the set you like, and select strings that are approx 5-8lbs lighter per string and they should feel the same at standard tuning. (IIRC correctly I did a generalization across many brands to find my sweet spot, YMMV)
I find that so many sets even lights sound and feel great 1/2 - 1 step down. It's all personal preference. Check the weight of the set you like, and select strings that are approx 5-8lbs lighter per string and they should feel the same at standard tuning. (IIRC correctly I did a generalization across many brands to find my sweet spot, YMMV)
Yes, I think that's part of it. I suppose it's a bit of a moot point since, for a given song that's done 1/2 step down, I can't play it in standard tuning anyway
But lighter strings would at least give me a similar feel. I guess I should get some lighter strings and do some recording to see how much of this is just in my head.def, if your not gonna go back up to Standard tuning with the lighter tension, its kinda irrelevant.
But in regards to 'a placebo effect' or just for 'the feel'; the FEEL of the strings has alot to do with how you feel about playing them (hence all the choices in rounds/flats/tension etc). Sometimes finding the right balance between the feel and the sound you're looking for can be a deep rabbit hole. TBH, if you didnt care about the feel and how it affects your playing/sound, you wouldn't have headed down this road of inquiry.
But in regards to 'a placebo effect' or just for 'the feel'; the FEEL of the strings has alot to do with how you feel about playing them (hence all the choices in rounds/flats/tension etc). Sometimes finding the right balance between the feel and the sound you're looking for can be a deep rabbit hole. TBH, if you didnt care about the feel and how it affects your playing/sound, you wouldn't have headed down this road of inquiry.
