Strings for E-flat tuning

[Springman]

I play a Fender P bass and find myself doing some work with a guitarist who insists on dropping tuning by half a step to E-flat. The bass sounds muddier and less punchy. I didn't think it would make that much of a difference but it seems to.
My question is, is there a string set that matches E-flat tuning significantly better?

 

[twinjet]

DR makes the DDT set, specifically designed for drop tuning. However, I can't ascertain their effectiveness.

 

[michael_t]

What make/type/gauges of strings are you using right now? It could be just a matter of going up to the next set gauges.

 

[ixlramp]

^ That, stay with the string line you like and use the next heavier string set in that string line, which is likely to be gauges increased by .005. No need to change brands or string line.

 

[Killed_by_Death]

No need to change string diameters, unless you're using something really thin like 0.040" - 0.095".
Just pluck or pick closer to the bridge.

 

[Springman]

Thanks!

 

[Sanchan]

I really like Fender 7250ml but they have very high tension, IMHO. I though they would be perfect for E flat tuning.

 

[bassbully]

I drop a half step allot and the strings are never a factor.

 

[Stevorebob]

No need to change string diameters, unless you're using something really thin like 0.040" - 0.095".
Just pluck or pick closer to the bridge.

This. A half step doesn’t need heavier strings.

 

[ixlramp]

Strictly, it does require larger gauges if you want the same tension so that you don't have to alter your technique, string height or neck relief, and so that the tone doesn't become darker.

The bass sounds muddier and less punchy. I didn't think it would make that much of a difference but it seems to.

And it's clear that the fall in tension is what bothers you.

 

[Stevorebob]

Strictly, it does require larger gauges if you want the same tension so that you don't have to alter your technique, string height or neck relief, and so that the tone doesn't become darker.

And it's clear that the fall in tension is what bothers you.

If one sets up the bass for Eb, there shouldn’t be an issue with string height or neck relief. Lots of peeps play in Eb. I have a bass set up specifically for Eb songs in our sets. As for tone and tension, it’s a negligible difference — otherwise those seemingly ubiquitous drop-D tuners would be simply worthless, making the E-string markedly darker, muddier and less punchy. But larger-gauge strings won’t hurt anything, except maybe the nut.

 

[RNG1]

I played in a rock trio for years with a singer/guitar player doing a lot of SRV etc and we tuned down a 1/2 step. I used my regular strings for a long time but then tried a heavier gauge by default as I just happened to buy the wrong set and it worked great and felt more ”normal” to me so I kept those on that bass and pretty much only used that bass for those gigs.

 

[Springman]

I appreciate the input on my situation.
I don't mind the decrease in tension actually, I'm able to easily get a cool vibrato effect by pulling on the strings with my fretting fingers that I find expressive.
I know, for instance, on a song like "Devil Woman" by Cliff Richards that drops the E string to D, the open tone on that string plunks like a turd. I think there's a good reason drop D turners are a bit of a curiosity. 5 string basses seem like a better solution for anyone who need the D below low E more than I do.
I have tried the kind suggestions offered here except changing strings though I have a set of Fender 7250ml coming. I think these are basically the strings Fenders are shipped with.
Slowly I am making friends with Eb tuning. I'm thinking part of the situation was my ears needed some time to adjust to the sound of our repertoire in general being pitched that much lower.
A thousand thank you's to all!

 

[micguy]

A half step down is 6% in pitch, which gives you that squared in terms of tension - 12% lower tension. To compensate, you need to step up the cross sectional area by 12%, which means increasing the diameter by 6% 9Physics can be funny sometimes).

Anyway, ..if you go from a 100 to a 105 E string, it'll be pretty close to the same tension - just a bit less. Moving from a 40 G string to a 45 will..overcompensate and be higher tension.

 

[markjazzbassist]

i've been dropped a half step for about a decade now (all strings), never had any issues. any string type or manufacturer works.

tell you what, I LOVE THAT low Eb best decision i made was downtuning for a session i did ages ago, i never went back!

 

[bassbully]

i've been dropped a half step for about a decade now (all strings), never had any issues. any string type or manufacturer works.

tell you what, I LOVE THAT low Eb best decision i made was downtuning for a session i did ages ago, i never went back!

I agree love playing a half step down just makes everything so groovy and love the way the strings feel. I also agree string type and make do not matter. It’s a half step from 440 the string won’t matter.

 

[ixlramp]

I don't mind the decrease in tension actually

Yes the lower tension is a good thing in my opinion, however when you wrote 'muddier and less punchy' when detuning by a semitone, that can only be due to one thing: less tension, because less tension is the only change.
But agreed with the others, a semitone of detuning makes only a small difference to tone and setup.

Also true that adding .005 to gauges will overcompensate on the highest strings, so at most i would only add .005 to your E string. E strings are lower tension than the others in a set so only that string would need a gauge boost.

 

[Killed_by_Death]

I'm revising my original statement, because I just returned a SR600 that had a very weak neck on it.
De-Tuning merely a half-step really messed with the playability of it, so it had to GO!

If your instrument is like this, I suggest finding a replacement neck or just a better instrument.
This isn't a put-down of whatever you play, just practical advice.

My *SR Premium OTOH can be down-tuned to C Standard from E Standard & still remain playable, w/o a TR adjustment or action adjustment.
The last time I had a bass with a neck that stiff was a quarter-sawn neck on a G&L ASAT.

Oh wait, I also just had a SR300E with a neck "almost" that stiff, it could go to C# w/o adjustments, but unfortunately the neck was twisted a little.


* The Premium line has Titanium reinforcement bars in the neck:

I actually think the Titanium helps it sound better!

 

[morebass!]

I think the tension difference is significant enough to consider heavier strings. I play in 2 bands, one where we tune to E, one in E flat. I went to 2 BGs (both Fenders FWIW), one set up for each tuning after bottoming out when playing in E flat with my regular strings. I tend to favor heavier gauges because I tend to dig in quite a bit. I'd like to find a string gauge/brand that worked for both but so far haven't. I'd also like to lighten up my touch, but so far haven't.

 

[ixlramp]

The problem is any string line that has gauges in steps of .005.
At around .100 a .005 change is equivalent to retuning by a semitone, but at around .040 a .005 change is equivalent to retuning by 2 semitones. So there is no way to precisely compensate for a semitone of retuning and keep tension unchanged.

What should happen is the gauge steps to get progressively smaller for smaller gauges. Ideally the gauge steps should be calculated to always be equivalent to a semitone of retuning. Only 1 string manufacturer does this: Kalium. If you retune by a semitone you simply move to the next heavier/lighter set and tension remains identivcal.