Tuning Down for One Show - Reset Intonation or Not

[Pocket Dave]

I got a last-minute bass gig for what should be a well attended indoor blues event tomorrow here in town.

The guy I'm backing, one of the local young guns, tunes down a half step. No problem with either J or P bass in terms of maintaining string tension without buzzing - there won't be a need to raise the action.

Which leaves me pondering, "do I reset the intonation for a short, one-set show?"

What would you do under the circumstances?

Gracias gran colectivo bajista.

 

[JKos]

Have you actually checked to see just how much it changes your intonation in the areas of the neck you’ll be playing? Is it any more than the change due to normal variation in fretting pressure?

 

[Pocket Dave]

Have you actually checked to see just how much it changes your intonation in the areas of the neck you’ll be playing? Is it any more than the change due to normal variation in fretting pressure?

Good point.

I can HEAR a noticeable pitch difference between fretting & harmonic at the 12th fret when tuning down that's not there when tuned to A440.

 

[JKos]

Some exacting bass players use drop tuners (even on multiple strings) so it must not be that bad.

 

[Les Fret]

No, not necessary when down tuning a half step. Especially not for just one gig. Safe yourself the trouble.

 

[Roxbororob]

Absolutely not.

 

[StereoPlayer]

Our band drops tunes a half step. I absolutely hate it.

Then capos are put on for songs with a harmonica. Then they make mistakes…

 

[Pocket Dave]

Since it was a short set, there were two more songs in standard E/G/A/B/C/D keys than not, and NO songs in Eb.

I elected to hang in standard A440 tuning. All was well.

 

[P. Aaron]

In the later years of a Country band I was in we did this for the vocalists. The tonality was strange for the 1st few shows but we gelled with it.

I made no other adjustments to either 5-string I was playing.

 

[buldog5151bass]

Unless you are soloing high up on the neck a lot, no. Never been an issue the times I've needed to do it.