I've been looking at some Dunlop Stainless Steel X-Heavy 115-55 gauge strings, and wasn't sure if they could handle standard tuning. What knowledge do you guys have when it comes to the heaviest strings for standard tuning?
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What's the heaviest string capable of standard tuning?
- Thread starter TheIndieKid
- Start date
There are folks who use a .055 for a G and a .075 for a D. Some of them even use flatwounds, notoriously stiffer but also higher-tension in the strictest sense (lengthways pull), in those two gauges for those open notes, at standard bass long scale (34"). Such gauges are present in sets from Ernie Ball (called "Power Slinky") and other makers.
For reasons outlined here, I'd encourage you to consider .055 for the G and .075 for the D as a hard limit. As for the rest of the set, gauges found in those commercially available super heavy sets are .09 or .095 A and .11 E; if the neck and truss rod can take it, you could in theory go heavier than that, namely up to .1 for the A and .135 for the E (buying single strings of course): the tension for the latter two strings would be in the same ballpark as those of the D and G.
My personal advice for anyone feeling like attempting the experiment, however, is to come down a .005" notch for each gauge, and build a custom set made as follows: .05 G, .07 D, .095 A and .13 E. As the last post in the thread I linked to demonstrates, total tension wouldn't exceed that of the heaviest pre-packaged sets out there, but it would be more evenly distributed (less at the D and G, more at the bass side).
Damn! Now THAT'S heavy!
I know DR has a set that is 125-65. That could work for standard tuning? I'd be drop tuning too but I just want some freedom to drop tune if needs be, as well as playing in standard.
You seem to be more awed at the prospect of using a .135 as an E than a .065 as a G. Read the post I linked to above:Damn! Now THAT'S heavy!
Heavy Gauge Strings and what is too heavy for standard?
A .135 may be unconfortable to some regardless of tuning, and there's even the chance that, if tuned to E, it could break from having a thinner core-to-wrap ratio than a common-gauge, overall thinner E (it would depend on the construction of that specific make and model I guess). However, in case it did not break after all, its tension would be nothing out of the ordinary: it would simply be what you get when using a .055 G or a .075 D, as mentioned. On the other hand, forget bringing a .065 up to G: it will definitely break well before reaching the target pitch.
Good advice, calculate the total tension of the heaviest commercial set intended for EADG (many sets are for dropped tuning so be careful) and create an equal-tensions set with no more tension than that, the balanced tension will be kinder to your instrument.
I'm repeating myself Heavy Gauge Strings and what is too heavy for standard?
It's great advice, but I just don't know where I'd get a hold of individual strings without purchasing them online. It's a lot of hassle to go through with. Maybe I would just be better getting the BEAD bass boomers 140-75 I think
The thickest set that I've personally used for standard tuning on a 34" scale bass was GHS Boomers 50-115 and that felt *very* stiff. This is coming from someone who hasn't put a G string lighter than 0.43 on his own basses in more than three decades. Granted, an awful lot will depend on the bass itself and your own setup preferences. Without knowing any specifics in these areas, it's pretty difficult to give a responsible recommendation.
FWIW, I currently have the aforementioned bass strung BEAD in 70-128, and it's a thing of beauty. I might go with 130 in the future, but for now I'm sticking with what's on there right now.
My $0.02 only...
FWIW, I currently have the aforementioned bass strung BEAD in 70-128, and it's a thing of beauty. I might go with 130 in the future, but for now I'm sticking with what's on there right now.
My $0.02 only...
Your neck is the biggest determining factor to how thick of a diameter of strings you can put on it for standard tuning.
I don't know anything about them TBH.
Here's what you do though, put the strings you want on it & keep an eye on the action & neck relief.
Here's what you do though, put the strings you want on it & keep an eye on the action & neck relief.
Just out of curiosity, why do you want to change over to such heavy gauge strings for standard tuning?
MDBass
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- Nov 7, 2012
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Why are you interested in tuning such a heavy gauge to standard tuning?
I use Daddario Balanced tension 50-120 set for D standard with uptunes to E, it has roughly 50 lbs of tension per string when tuned to E. This is on a Peavey USA Millenium with Graphite rods so YMMV. It is noticeably harder to play and bend.
I'm love heavy gauge strings, and the main reason I want the heaviest possible is because I play for fun at home, and I play a variety of songs in different turnings, from Muse in standard, to RATM in Drop D, to Queens of the Stone Age in C F A# D# to Mudvayne in B F# B E and I kinda want that freedom to tune to anyone of those tunings and not face large issues in stability and tuning. I'd love a five string bass but it'll be a while yet.
My current strings are 50-105 Elixirs, which are great, but not for lower timings, unless I raise my action a lot. I enjoy action like John Entwistle said: "I like my strings on the other side of the fretboard"
My current strings are 50-105 Elixirs, which are great, but not for lower timings, unless I raise my action a lot. I enjoy action like John Entwistle said: "I like my strings on the other side of the fretboard"
A serious problem with this is finding a universal setup. To deal with the occasional lowest string drop, or to habitually move back and forth between two standard (all-fourths) tunings a whole step apart, is one thing: you'd only need to choose gauges and set up the neck, bridge and nut for the average tuning (e.g. Eb... etc. if you oscillated between E standard and D standard).I'm love heavy gauge strings, and the main reason I want the heaviest possible is because I play for fun at home, and I play a variety of songs in different turnings, from Muse in standard, to RATM in Drop D, to Queens of the Stone Age in C F A# D# to Mudvayne in B F# B E and I kinda want that freedom to tune to anyone of those tunings and not face large issues in stability and tuning. I'd love a five string bass but it'll be a while yet.
My current strings are 50-105 Elixirs, which are great, but not for lower timings, unless I raise my action a lot. I enjoy action like John Entwistle said: "I like my strings on the other side of the fretboard"
In your case, IMMO, your best bet is to choose gauges adequate for C# standard, but with a slightly heavier lowest string you can drop if need be, set up the instrument while tuned C F# B E (with the lowest one in between the 2 intended targets), and then use a capo at the 3rd fret for E standard and drop D (after dropping the lowest, of course, in the latter case), resisting the temptation to tune it up to standard. I'm totally serious: capos are somewhat unpopular around here, but if it works it works.
(For C standard you'd have to drop the whole thing a semitone, but it wouldn't throw it out of whack.)
I'd look hard at this set:
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But the idea would be to use 4 strings out of 5, and toss (well, put it away for future use) the .105.
In this case an equal-tensions set is optimum for you as it will help to avoid overly-tight or overly-loose strings in certain tunings.
Try to buy online or at least by mail order, single bass string choice in guitar shops is either non-existent or very poor (rusty old strings below the counter), and you certainly won't find .050 .070 .095 .130 as a set in any shop, such a set has to be built from singles.
