What strings for 5 string?

[G On Bass]

I'm curious as to why the tuning down on a 5. I've have to play all those bands genres you listed and and have never had to tune down my 5's. Not having to downtune is the primary reason I own a 5. Just curious as I am always interested in different players' approaches.

On the strings question, I use TI Jazz flats one one bass and light gauge Pure Blues on another. For stainless I use the Dunlop Marcus Millers with a .125 Band I like a low action. I've found that the bass/frets has the most to do with whether or not I can get there.

 

[Jhalb]

My B string sounds great. Music Man Classic 5 and Elixir.

 

[DJ '65]

Thanks for all the replies folks, I’ll have a proper read through this evening as I’m at work. So ref tuning down to Eb…. Unfortunately I’m the singer and without tuning down it’s just too much of a stretch vocally…. So I am very limited.

I'm curious as to why the tuning down on a 5. I've have to play all those bands genres you listed and and have never had to tune down my 5's. Not having to downtune is the primary reason I own a 5. Just curious as I am always interested in different players' approaches.

On the strings question, I use TI Jazz flats one one bass and light gauge Pure Blues on another. For stainless I use the Dunlop Marcus Millers with a .125 Band I like a low action. I've found that the bass/frets has the most to do with whether or not I can get there.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

Hi all, I have the use of a 5 string P bass, 34” scale which I believe currently has EB slinky’s. I’m curious as to what strings will give a lower action with minimal fret buzz. The strings feel a bit loose (I guess that’s why they’re called Slinky’s) and buzzy but the B string is just plain annoying as even with a high action and some neck relief it just flaps about to the point of killing any hope of sustain. I have tried adjusting the string height and truss rod with little success. I haven’t had the chance to get a vernier to measure the string gauge but the B feels pretty thick and at a guess .135. I’ll admit that it’s the first time of using a 5 string and I expected that the B string height would need to be higher than I’m used to but it seems to be unusable above the 7th fret so I was thinking I may need a lighter gauge of stiffer/ less flexible strings.

Can you guys offer some much needed advice and guidance when going from 4 to 5 strings? I do tune down half a step and will be playing blues rock ala ZZ, Gary Moore, Black Crowes along with some classic rock. I don’t mind trying flats or rounds, so any info will be a big help.

Many thanks.

Fret buzz not likely caused by strings. Fret buzz is usually a symptom of a bass that is not set up properly for the strings being used.

Where I would start is to use a set with higher tension. The historical name “Slinky's”, was to describe a guitar string that you could bend easily, meaning very low tension. I’m guessing these are not the stiffest strings on the market.

I’m sure there will be other on this thread that know what the highest tension strings are and hopefully they share a few recommendations, but I do know that GHS bass boomers are pretty stiff and won’t cost you an arm and a leg to try out.

Once you find the proper tension, then have your bass professionally set up. Best wishes.

 

[hrbassji]

I second DR Pure Blues and the Dunlop Super Brights (Nickels or SS). However, I may favor the Dunlops because you can find them with a tapered B string which helps with low action and note definition.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

Tuning down a half step should be fine with any strings. Are you sure everything is set up well?

 

[DJ '65]

I have set my other guitars and basses up without any problem and I have adjusted saddle height and made truss rod adjustments (quarter turns) and spent literally hours. As this is not my bass (yet) I have been more careful than ever and have had my mates permission to swap strings. Set up I’ve started from a dead straight neck to more relief than I would expect to have to try. I’ve lowered the pick ups to eliminate any magnetic pull from the poles. On my other basses I have TI flats, NYXL’s and LeBella’s. With all of those basses I started from scratch setting string height, truss rod and intonation…. But they’re all 4 strings. I think realistically I’m going to have to splash out on 2 or 3 different sets to start with so I’ll read through everyone’s recommendations and start from there.

Many thanks for your replies, I’ll update this post a bit further down the line when I’ve tried a few.

 

[MynameisMe]

I had Ernie Ball Slinkys on my fiver but recently switched to DR Pure Blues. Can't remember the gauge. Very smooth and sweet sound! It would depend on the bass about how floppy with the detuning.

 

[DJ '65]

A quick update.
The first strings to turn up were a set of LaBellas, I’ve just dressed and polished the frets, fitted the strings, set the intonation and a quick tweak of the truss rod, straight away I can tell they suit this bass better. Less fret buzz, lower action, much smoother and easier to play and a really nice, deep sound. I’ll leave these on for a while and see how I go.