What bass is good for low tunings

[SlapBass1440]

Hey my metal bands tuning is in drop c ad my fender p bass does not cut it for low tuning. Like a lot of bassists I am on a budget but any help will be appreciated.

 

[Human Bass]

Use a light gauge B (.125) string instead of an E string. C is just a half tone closer to B.

 

[netmics]

The natural reacton is to look at 5 string basses. Also would be good to ask r your luthier if is possible to adjust the action of your precission to lower the E string, but your bass would be restricted to that tuning.

Hope this helps

 

[El-Bob]

Fender P basses are great with low tunings. Any decent bass is. Just get heavier strings.

 

[R Upsomegrub]

The original Music Man SUB basses worked well for me tuned D-G-C-F.

 

[cjmodulus]

some people prefer active basses for lower tunings, though I agree starting with a thicker string gauge would be a good idea before buying a new instrument.
if you're looking to stay with 4 strings, maybe an Ibanez BTB model? as far as I know those have a 35 inch scale, which some believe provides more clarity to lower tunings. Best of luck with your search!

 

[Sijjvra]

Longer scale length helps. Some people say they can get a good low tuning out of a 34 inch 4-string, but even with professional set ups I never could. I tried and tried different strings, different pick up heights, had set ups...nope. Still mud with most of them.

So I suggest picking up a 35 inch or just going with a decent 5 string you can tune to drop C.

 

[Figjam]

Ibanez atk

 

[Ewo]

Circle K strings has an amazing variety of gauges. Maybe all you need to do is get a heavier set. Prolly will help to use a balanced tension set, rather than traditional tension. That's explained on their site.

 

[Korladis]

I think it's more about the strings and setup you use than about the bass itself when it comes to low tunings.

My cheap Peavey sounds just fine tuned BEAD. But I use the bottom four strings of a 5-string set and got a setup for that tuning.

 

[Im_telling_tim]

I play P Basses in that tuning and I love how it sounds. I use a 110 E string.

 

[CauliColin]

The Mothman.

The horrifically satanic sub-warble of it's low B is enough to screw up the Gulf Stream and mess with animals migration.

The Mothman is the main perpetrator of the '2012 apocalypse' hoo-hah.

 

[Duckwater]

P basses are the best for low tunings IMO, those low notes really benefit from that low-mid thickness.