set up for drop A tuning?

[punkrockmike]

Hey everybody. Im starting a new band with some friends and the guitarist tunes to drop A. What setup changes do i need to make to my bass to tune down that low?

 

[BKuettel]

Do you have a 4 or 5 string? Im assuming 4 so I would go with heavier strings so they stay tight and wont be so rattley. Ussing a 5 string would be ideal for tunings drop tunings.

 

[punkrockmike]

Yea all i have are four strings. The thickest they have at my local shop are 110/90/75/55. Will those be thick enough?

 

[J Posega]

No. On a 34" 4 string, a 110 E would be really awesome tunes down to D... Anything more will be flop central. Go to bassstringsonline.com, sign up and tell them you're a Talkbass member, then order a set of strings with at least a 130 low string, if not bigger.

 

[MattS]

Just buy a 5 string set with a 130 and ditch the high G string. Or I think DR or Rotosound might might a 4 string set with a 130 lowest string. You can buy individual strings to make your own sets using something close to 130 100 80 65. maybe try a 135 though I wouldn't recommend anything thicker than a 105 for a tuned E string. Buying individual strings might cost just as much maybe more than buying a 5 strings set to ditch the high string, but it depends on what you want exactly. Best of luck. Rock on!!!

 

[FunkMetalBass]

Check out Circle K Strings. I'd recommend a .150, .158, or .166 drop tuned set.

 

[punkrockmike]

Sweet thanks everybody! I ended up buying a five string set of dr lowriders (i use low riders on my main bass too) and im planning on throwing them on my old '76 ibanez lawsuit p bass. We ended up deciding that we're only going down to c standard.