String gauge for BEAD on 34"

[isnthestrange]

So I'm looking to tune my 34" four string to BEAD tuning, but I have no reference for bass gauges and tension(I'm a filthy guitarist). I like a heavier feel for my strings, when I tune Eb on guitar I use 10-54, and when I tune B-standard I use 14-68.
With that said, if I want kind of a heavier feel on the bass(no floppy strings plz), and also a thicker feel, what gauge should I use?

I would buy different ones and compare but bass strings are expensive, I have however been looking at the daddario EXL160BT 50-120 set.

Any help is appreciated, thanks!

 

[Ricky Rioli]

To give you an idea, Rotosound Swing Bass steel strings in their BEAD set are 65–80–105–130:

Drop Zone | RS66LH 65-130 • Rotosound Music Strings

Daddario intend that 50–67–90–120 set as a fairly heavy EADG set. Although XL Nickels are relatively stiff, I think down at BEAD you would be into floppy territory.

 

[isnthestrange]

To give you an idea, Rotosound Swing Bass Steel strings in their BEAD set are 65–80–105–130.

Drop Zone | RS66LH 65-130 • Rotosound Music Strings

Okay, interesting

The reason I am so confused is because I have a Harley Benton 5 string tuned in BEADG, which has a 45-130 set on it, and that B string is pretty floppy, at least too floppy for me cause I play pretty hard with a pick.

I also read somewhere that Peter Steele of Type O used a 110 on his four string, which was also tuned down to BEAD. I love their live sound, and his cleans sound so damn crisp(of course his cab and pedals are gonna affect his tone but when you see the live videos his strings don't look very floppy to me).

 

[isnthestrange]

I just realised I posted this in the basses forum instead of here, so I'm posting it here instead(correct me if this doesn't follow "posting rules", I just made my account yesterday).

So I'm looking to tune my 34" four string to BEAD tuning, but I have no reference for bass gauges and tension(I'm a filthy guitarist). I like a heavier feel for my strings, when I tune Eb on guitar I use 10-54, and when I tune B-standard I use 14-68.
With that said, if I want kind of a heavier feel on the bass(no floppy strings plz), and also a thicker feel, what gauge should I use?

I would buy different ones and compare but bass strings are expensive, I have however been looking at the daddario EXL160BT 50-120 set.

I also read somewhere that Peter Steele of Type O used a 50-110 on his four string, which was also tuned down to BEAD. I love their live sound, and his cleans sound so damn crisp(of course his cab and pedals are gonna affect his tone but when you see the live videos his strings don't look very floppy imo).

Any help is appreciated, thanks!

 

[michael_t]

I would buy different ones and compare but bass strings are expensive, I have however been looking at the daddario EXL160BT 50-120 set.

D'A EXL160BT is specifically designed to have the same tension in DGCF as the EXL170BT (45-60-80-107) in EADG. Those gauges might be a bit too light for BEAD if you like "heavier feel".

Some manufacturers do offer 4-string sets specifically designed for BEAD. I would look for something close to 60-80-105-135.

 

[isnthestrange]

D'A EXL160BT is specifically designed to have the same tension in DGCF as the EXL170BT (45-60-80-107) in EADG. Those gauges might be a bit too light for BEAD if you like "heavier feel".

Some manufacturers do offer 4-string sets specifically designed for BEAD. I would look for something close to 60-80-105-135.

Oh I didn't know, thanks!

 

[michael_t]

A typical standard 5-string set would be something like 45-65-85-105-130/135. So, the simplest way is to find a 5-string set and ditch the 45G and use the rest for BEAD.

For example... D'Addario EXL165-5 = 45-65-85-105-135.

 

[michael_t]

By the way, if the nut on your bass was originally cut for EADG, you probably will need to widen the nut slots for BEAD, or have a new one cut for that specific tuning.

 

[michael_t]

I just realised I posted this in the basses forum instead of here, so I'm posting it here instead(correct me if this doesn't follow "posting rules", I just made my account yesterday).

When you realize you posted a new thread in a wrong subforum, DO NOT start another one in the right forum. Instead, click on the "Report" link at the bottom of your original post and submit a request for it to be moved to the right one lest we should end up with two threads of the same topic.

 

[Katoosie]

I was using the DR Drop Down Tuning set on my 4 in C standard. These strings are extra stiff, made specifically for drop tuning. I would recommend them to anyone looking for stainless steel strings meant for heavier music. Never had an issue with DR and I've used the Fatbeams, Black Beauties and DDTs.

 

[scuzzy]

i did this for a friend with his thunderbird. excellent results with DR DDT's. and it sounds great with great feel.

 

[Deleted member 271037]

Okay, interesting

The reason I am so confused is because I have a Harley Benton 5 string tuned in BEADG, which has a 45-130 set on it, and that B string is pretty floppy, at least too floppy for me cause I play pretty hard with a pick.

I also read somewhere that Peter Steele of Type O used a 110 on his four string, which was also tuned down to BEAD. I love their live sound, and his cleans sound so damn crisp(of course his cab and pedals are gonna affect his tone but when you see the live videos his strings don't look very floppy to me).

Unfortunately the B-string tends to be a bit floppy with 34" scale. You will always have to make a compromise between too floppy if you go too light or problems with intonation and tonal issues if you go too heavy. But some 34" basses will have a tigher B-string than others. I guess the rigidity of the neck plays a part. Expensive basses generally handle a B-string better than cheap ones in my experience (but I'm sure there are exceptions).

 

[taketwo]

If you are not afraid of large gauges, check out the sets from Kalium. A .148 B string will be about 46 lbs tension on a 34".

Also, String Tension Calculator will let you compare gauges and tensions. The tensions are specific to Kalium, but will be close to most any similarly gauged string.

 

[2strings2frets]

Dunlop 60-120 set is made for B E A D, it worked on my SUB before I sold it. I did not have an issue with the nut, just did a truss rod adjustment.

 

[Not_Shane]

I was using the DR Drop Down Tuning set on my 4 in C standard. These strings are extra stiff, made specifically for drop tuning. I would recommend them to anyone looking for stainless steel strings meant for heavier music. Never had an issue with DR and I've used the Fatbeams, Black Beauties and DDTs.

I use ONLY DR DDT for both my basses. The 4 string has 50-110 gauge and i am tuned to B standard and go down to A comfortbly.
These strings are specifically made to be de-tuned as well as be comfortable in standard tuning.
I often play in drop A, B, C, and D with this one set.

I am a strong believer (after playing 4 strings in many death metal bands) that a larger gauge DOES NOT mean more tension. The DR DDT .45-.105 have more tension in B than a standard .65-.125 5 set would in my personal experience.

I exclusively used to use a 5 string set and toss the G string and put that on a 4 string bass. File the nut and the whole 9 yards. Until i found the DR DDT have great tension at any tuning and you don't have to get hotdog diameter gauges.

 

[2strings2frets]

I use ONLY DR DDT for both my basses. The 4 string has 50-110 gauge and i am tuned to B standard and go down to A comfortbly.
These strings are specifically made to be de-tuned as well as be comfortable in standard tuning.
I often play in drop A, B, C, and D with this one set.

I am a strong believer (after playing 4 strings in many death metal bands) that a larger gauge DOES NOT mean more tension. The DR DDT .45-.105 have more tension in B than a standard .65-.125 5 set would in my personal experience.

I exclusively used to use a 5 string set and toss the G string and put that on a 4 string bass. File the nut and the whole 9 yards. Until i found the DR DDT have great tension at any tuning and you don't have to get hotdog diameter gauges.

Just ordered two sets, I will try them on my Schecter. Enjoy the day

 

[micguy]

There's a simple way to figure out the string gauges you want for a BEAD tuning. The E, A and D you use the same gauge that you'd use of a 4 string for the E, A , and D. For the B string, assuming you want the tension to be in the same ballpark as your E string, you multiply your E string gauge by 1.33 - if your E is a .100, you want a .133 (round up to .135).

Yes, a .135 sounds big, but it's correct. All the talk about floppy B string being related to the bass somehow "having a floppy B" is a red herring - the string gauge and scale length dictate whether or not the string is floppy. Most string manufacturers undersize their B strings - 40-60-80-100-120 somehow seems "right",..... but it isn't. Your strings are tuned in a geometric sequence of frequencies - each bigger string is 3/4th the frequency of the skinnier one next to it (tuning in 4ths), so your strings (doing a bit of math, and there's a square root and a square that cancel each other out, and....that 1.33 (or 4/3rds) rule is the right math.

Physics rant over. I spent a lot of years studying this stuff, hoping you can forgive the intrusion of science and math into a bass guitar forum.

 

[WillyW]

I like skinny strings, and I wouldn't go below 120-125 for the B, I'm at 95-100 for the E.

 

[Not_Shane]

Just ordered two sets, I will try them on my Schecter. Enjoy the day

curious to know how you like them as well. I have them on both my 4 and 5, and i use 50-110 on the 4 and 45-125 on the 5.
I have even used 45-105 on the 4 and kept it totally in Drop B

 

[Dincrest]

I generally like a 120-125 B string, so I think the D'Addario 50-120 could work. I currently have them on a bass tuned DGCF with a Hipshot Xtender to drop into CGCF, and that 120 is plenty stiff (for me) on the C.

And, yes, said bass (like all my basses) is 34" scale.