• 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 freeLog in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Stoner/Doom Bassists Thread, Part 90: Maxed Out

I haven't been playing for very long and have tried several things, but right now I really like standard tuning but dropped a whole step. So, I have my Dingwall five-string in A standard and my Ibanez headless multiscale five-string in D standard. I've tried drop tunings and found I didn't like getting away from the shapes and patterns that are pretty intuitive in standard tunings.

I also have my Mikro five-string in fifths, but I don't play that one very often. I sometimes think that if I'm not going to play a six-string (I've tried a few in shops and I think six strings is maybe one more string than I can realistically wrangle), the be-all-end-all for me is probably a five-string in fifths but I haven't had the stones to go all in on it yet. And still being relatively new to the instrument, I feel like I'd be best off sticking to either standard or fifths rather than trying to switch back and forth.

Oh and to another question, I have Chromes on my headless and love them on it. I think they complement the Nordstrand pickups on that perfectly. I'd love to try Chromes on my Dingwall but they're not long enough for it.
 
  • Like
Reactions: instrumentalist
I have Chromes on half my basses, generic rounds on the other 5 string (purchased a few months ago) and DR Black Beauties (mostly for aesthetics but I have no tone complaints) on my 2nd 4 string. I definitely feel the flats do better for stoner\doom than rounds. I prefer flats for almost everything, except for some speedier stuff (and flats are still preferred for some of that!) and slap. Of course, I have no need to slap, but I pretend I'm capable sometimes.

Realistically, I think I'd go with some sort of C tuning. Likely whatever either Dismember\Amon Amarth\(old)In Flames uses. Suggestions on gauge for a 4 string (and complementary 6 string guitar)?
 
  • Like
Reactions: instrumentalist
I wouldn't recommend using a regular 5 set minus the top string for drop C. Tuning the B string to C is feasible, but you're tuning the other strings up three semitones, I think that's too much, but I'll admit I never tried this.
I think it may be C standard. Clearly I need to do more research. And buy thick strings. I hate floppy strings.
I have two somewhat related questions: I'm setting up s bass for Stoner, it'll be in D Standard. Do I need heavy gauges like 50-110, or will a normal 40-100 work?

My other question: can you play Stoner on flatwounds?
 
Chromes, Sadowsky Flats, and Fender Flats are all similar too me. Mellow with a touch of brightness, super smooth. Roto 77 Flats are pretty bright for flats, a little rougher to the touch than those previously mentioned. The Steve Harris Rotos are 50 - 110. I used those in drop C for a year. Crazy tension on those. He plays those in standard E, crazy.
I kind of want to check GHS and Ernie Ball Flats some day.

I'm finally going to try some Roto Swing 66 stainless steel rounds on my Squier P. I'm taking it back to standard tuning from Drop A. Going to solder in a Dimarzio PAF Model P I bought years ago. Excited to get that set up as soon as my nut comes in.
 
Everyone, many thanks for the useful responses!


I revisited this one:
You can drop the bottom string ten whole steps to to make the standard power chord shape an octave instead.
You meant five steps, unless I misunderstand you completely.
Now I see! You meant ten steps, ten semitones, between the lowest string and the next one. And seven semitones between that one and the next. So now the standard power chord shape (e.g. 1st fret on the lowest string, 3rd fret on the next two strings) becomes the Big Power Chord.
Cool.
 
  • Like
Reactions: YawningJorin
EB cobalt flats are about the only flat I've spent time with. Love em for all the harmonics and highs they bring. Almost like worn in rounds. Been meaning to try other flats, the Steve Harris ones just moved high on the list if the tension is really that high.

I love me some HM-2.
Speaking of dirt. I haven't been around much in a few years. Have any cool fuzz pedals come out? Like interesting stuff? Not more rat or muff clones.

The two I've been messing with have been an EQD Spires and a Ron Swanson super fuzz. The spires goes all over the place in tone, splatter and tightness. There's more than a few settings where you don't lose any lows and some where you boost em.

@br1qbat turned me on to the super fuzz. Real bad ass all around, can't wait to try with a blender.

The new hotness may be the Bliss Factory or Boss tone bender. Maybe not for bass, but those two seem to be getting tons of hype lately. The boss one I'm interested in, but will probably wait for used. I think the run will be big enough to keep scalpers from inflating price. Otherwise both may be a bit rich for my blood.
 
  • Like
Reactions: dozicusmaximus
Chromes, Sadowsky Flats, and Fender Flats are all similar too me. Mellow with a touch of brightness, super smooth. Roto 77 Flats are pretty bright for flats, a little rougher to the touch than those previously mentioned. The Steve Harris Rotos are 50 - 110. I used those in drop C for a year. Crazy tension on those. He plays those in standard E, crazy.
I kind of want to check GHS and Ernie Ball Flats some day.

I'm finally going to try some Roto Swing 66 stainless steel rounds on my Squier P. I'm taking it back to standard tuning from Drop A. Going to solder in a Dimarzio PAF Model P I bought years ago. Excited to get that set up as soon as my nut comes in.
Those Steve Harris flats sound great for my "C" needs (whatever type of C tuning I go with). I definitely like the higher tension of flats in general, and if these are really that much more tense, than I think that would work well to down tune so much. Thank you!
 
I have now Chromes and TI Flats on my basses. The TI haven't convinced me yet, but I do love the Chromes.

How do you like the TIs? They are round core and the largest string only goes to 100. Can they even handle E standard with a heavy hand?


EB cobalt flats are about the only flat I've spent time with. Love em for all the harmonics and highs they bring. Almost like worn in rounds. Been meaning to try other flats, the Steve Harris ones just moved high on the list if the tension is really that high.

The two I've been messing with have been an EQD Spires and a Ron Swanson super fuzz. The spires goes all over the place in tone, splatter and tightness. There's more than a few settings where you don't lose any lows and some where you boost em.

@br1qbat turned me on to the super fuzz. Real bad ass all around, can't wait to try with a blender.

The new hotness may be the Bliss Factory or Boss tone bender. Maybe not for bass, but those two seem to be getting tons of hype lately. The boss one I'm interested in, but will probably wait for used. I think the run will be big enough to keep scalpers from inflating price. Otherwise both may be a bit rich for my blood.

Ahh, the Spires. Looks like it's out of production now. Looks like all the fuzz pedals of theirs I wanted are out of production now. Guess I wont ever get to try them. I knew I should have bought them when they were 90 bucks used.

Yeah, that Swanson fuzz looked cool. I've had an FZ-2 for a long time, the boost on that sucker pushing a tube amp is pretty great too.

Never heard of the Bliss Factory. Boss makes a Tone Bender? I'll have to look into these! I've always wanted a Tone Bender. I think I have a few silicone circuits based off of it from Basic Audio.

Edit: oof $350 for the Boss. The blues lawyer/classic rock dads will kill the used market. I don't think you'll see it lower than that. Sola name attached, high price, and limited. I don't see a lower second hand price happening.

double edit: Ohhh Chase Bliss.... yeah, never owned a pedal of theirs. Most of my basses cost less than their pedals. hahahaha


Those Steve Harris flats sound great for my "C" needs (whatever type of C tuning I go with). I definitely like the higher tension of flats in general, and if these are really that much more tense, than I think that would work well to down tune so much. Thank you!

I hope they work out for you. They are pretty stiff. I don't think I would have gone any lower than C. I had them on a 34" scale Fender.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Novarocker