How many tunings do you guys think is a feasible amount to have on hand? I have 4 basses (and 4 guitars) and want to tune them all differently to have a bass/guitar matching set for writing stuff. Right now, the basses/guitars are split evenly between extended range (5 string basses and 7 string guitars) and standard range instruments. Ideally, this would also allow me to learn various other songs easier as well. Here's what I'm thinking, and these three are pretty set for me:
Standard - 5 string bass and 7 string guitar - obvious reasons. Most stuff is in standard, and this will give me the heaviness of the lower ranges and still allow most other things to be played.
Dropped 1/2 step - 5 string bass and 7 string guitar - some of my favorite bands use this, and it's just different enough that I like it. The lower strings don't get too floppy, either, which is good.
Dropped Whole Step - 4 string bass and 6 string guitar - another favorite band, but also, the more I play this tuning, the more I really like it. Seems a little looser, but not muddy, and it's really growing on me
4th Tuning - 4 string bass and 6 string guitar - not really sure what to do with it. Drop D? It's common, but really only one band I can think of that I like (Rammstein) uses it, and I feel for their occasional song, I'll retune. I'm a huge fan of old Swedish death metal, both melodic and not, and know that Drop C tuning is common there. I feel that will be really loose on a 4 string. Should I buy a 5 string set and get rid of the G? Would tuning a "Low B" to "C" (as well as tightening the other strings too) add extra tension on the neck and possibly harm the guitar/bass?
TL
R - What's an idea for a usable tuning to learn (and write) plenty of heavy stuff besides standard, dropped 1/2 step, and dropped 1 whole step?