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String gauge question

S

slipkorn917

Sep 6, 2010
60
1
#1
i need some new strings for my 4-string that can easily handle tunings like drop B, standard B, and drop A (most importantly) but i have no idea what gauge to get. i currently use .045 hybrid slinky strings by ernie ball. thanks in advance
 
#2
Sounds like it's time for a 5 string bass.

Something like a .130-.65 would be ideal for B and would work okay for A, but when you tune it back up to standard E I can see your neck snapping in half.

On the other hand, a set properly tuned to E would be way too floppy in drop A.
 
#3
mmbongo said:
Something like a .130-.65 would be ideal for B and would work okay for A, but when you tune it back up to standard E I can see your neck snapping in half.
Click to expand...

You have a wild imagination. The heavy strings are likely to introduce a significant bow in the neck, but it won't be anywhere near the fracture point of the wood.
 
#6
You won't be able to go between EADG and A(B)EAD, if that's what you're thinking. Heavy strings will tune to A(B)EAD fine, but will be way too tight if you crank them up to EADG. Strings that work well for EADG will be too floppy for drop tuning.
 
#7
slipkorn917 said:
i need some new strings for my 4-string that can easily handle tunings like drop B, standard B, and drop A (most importantly) but i have no idea what gauge to get. i currently use .045 hybrid slinky strings by ernie ball. thanks in advance
Click to expand...

A .140 or .145 would be ideal for switching between B and A - a .140 at A will be 32 pounds and at B be 41 pounds. A .145 will give you 34 pounds at A and 44 pounds at B. You could go as high as .150 comfortably if you like high tension.

If you insist on switching between drop B and drop A on the high side then the three high strings ought to be in the .105 .080 .060 ballpark, but you ought to consider switching just between B standard and drop A.
 
#8
knuckle_head said:
A .140 or .145 would be ideal for switching between B and A - a .140 at A will be 32 pounds and at B be 41 pounds. A .145 will give you 34 pounds at A and 44 pounds at B. You could go as high as .150 comfortably if you like high tension.

If you insist on switching between drop B and drop A on the high side then the three high strings ought to be in the .105 .080 .060 ballpark, but you ought to consider switching just between B standard and drop A.
Click to expand...

For a 5 stringer, it's ideal, yes! But he's having a 4 stringer, so when it comes to things like Drop B and Drop A, I think he's talking about tunings like B-F#-B-E or B-F#-Cb-E / A-E-A-D and such...

Playing a 5 string bass, does make it easier. But if he wants to stay at his four stringer, I can only recommend string gauges like .050 - .070 - .090 - .120. You shouldn't go too high on a four string neck, if it's not made extra thick for heavy gauges.

The Sandberg Terrabass (signature bass, Oliver Riedel from Rammstein), has a extra thick neck, since it's made for standard BEAD tuning. The neck is about 4 mm thicker then a Fender neck. That might do it for him (if he has the money for it of course :p)
 
#9
Turnaround said:
You have a wild imagination. The heavy strings are likely to introduce a significant bow in the neck, but it won't be anywhere near the fracture point of the wood.
Click to expand...

Don't laugh it off until you've seen it happen. Trust me.

Tuning a .130 to E will produce a little over 60lbs. of tension...about 30lbs. more than normal. Multiply that by 4 strings...120lbs. of extra tension. Will it just snap? No, probably not. But he might snap the truss rod trying to get the forward bow out of it. Plus, imagine all that tension, then dropping the bass on the headstock. Normally nothing would happen, but with all that extra tension the neck could very well snap. It's wood. It breaks.
 
#10
Mr_Music90 said:
The Sandberg Terrabass (signature bass, Oliver Riedel from Rammstein), has a extra thick neck, since it's made for standard BEAD tuning. The neck is about 4 mm thicker then a Fender neck. That might do it for him (if he has the money for it of course :p)
Click to expand...

BEAD shouldn't be an issue on any bass if you pick strings with the same tension, with d'addario nickels,

45-105 EADG is around 175lbs total
65-135 BEAD is around 169lbs total
 
#11
Mr_Music90 said:
Playing a 5 string bass, does make it easier. But if he wants to stay at his four stringer, I can only recommend string gauges like .050 - .070 - .090 - .120. You shouldn't go too high on a four string neck, if it's not made extra thick for heavy gauges.
Click to expand...

The gauges I suggested are for his tuning and put no more stress on his bass than a standard .045/.105 set will at standard pitches - in fact, with a balanced set of strings there will be slightly less stress on the neck.
 

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