String and tuning question

[groundzero]

Right now I have a Schecter C5 5 string bass tuned BEADG. I would like to restring it EADGC and tune every string down a whole step to DCGFBb. This will let me hit that drop D and also give me some high notes to use.

What strings would be ideal for this? At first I looked at buying a "5 string bass with high C" pack to tune EADGC and drop down, but I think this may leave the strings a bit floppy for my taste. Would it be better to buy a light gauge regular 5 string set and tune them up 3 half steps from their normal tuning? Would this break strings easily?

I'm looking at these strings for this idea: http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=bass/search/detail/base_pid/105205/

[EADG]

What strings would be ideal for this? At first I looked at buying a "5 string bass with high C" pack to tune EADGC and drop down, but I think this may leave the strings a bit floppy for my taste. Would it be better to buy a light gauge regular 5 string set and tune them up 3 half steps from their normal tuning? Would this break strings easily?



Why not just go DADGC? But if you must... I thought heavy gauges are what you want when downtuning. Correct me if I'm wrong.

And no, don't tune up, they will break easily.

[groundzero]

Why not just go DADGC? But if you must... I thought heavy gauges are what you want when downtuning. Correct me if I'm wrong.

And no, don't tune up, they will break easily.
I prefer staying tuned in fourths all the way across; it means I can keep all the patterns I already know.

Heavy gauges are good. I know they make .135 gauge B strings somewhere, and so if I get a "B" string that's .120 I would think I could tune it up 3 half steps without trouble, correct?

The G is the one I'm worried about; I know .45 gauge G's are common so if I get a .40 gauge one I wonder if I can tune it to Bb without problems.

[EADG]

I prefer staying tuned in fourths all the way across; it means I can keep all the patterns I already know.

Heavy gauges are good. I know they make .135 gauge B strings somewhere, and so if I get a "B" string that's .120 I would think I could tune it up 3 half steps without trouble, correct?

The G is the one I'm worried about; I know .45 gauge G's are common so if I get a .40 gauge one I wonder if I can tune it to Bb without problems.


I don't know about that, I suppose it could work but I would rather downtune than uptune.

[knuckle_head]

La Bella set L-M60 has a .110 E string on 4 string set that you could add a .029 to for your high C.

As well there is another La Bella 5 string set with a .118 B string - L-M40B.

For a decent D I would try to stay at or just under .115. You're thinking right fer sher!

:thumb:

[groundzero]

La Bella set L-M60 has a .110 E string on 4 string set that you could add a .029 to for your high C.

As well there is another La Bella 5 string set with a .118 B string - L-M40B.

For a decent D I would try to stay at or just under .115. You're thinking right fer sher!

:thumb:
I saw that labella set but I couldn't find a place to buy it online. I'll look around a bit more.

[PainKiller8191]

Would it be better to buy a light gauge regular 5 string set and tune them up 3 half steps from their normal tuning? Would this break strings easily?

well, they won't break (on my medium gauge 5 string BEADG i tuned up to CGCFBb)

but you'd have so much tension it's not even funny....

i did it once because i had to, it worked well for about an hour and then i tuned back....never doing that again especially now that i have 2 basses....:chug:


so your answer is yeah you could do it, try it....whats the worst that can happen?

hows your jazz doing btw?

[groundzero]

well, they won't break (on my medium gauge 5 string BEADG i tuned up to CGCFBb)

but you'd have so much tension it's not even funny....

i did it once because i had to, it worked well for about an hour and then i tuned back....never doing that again especially now that i have 2 basses....:chug:


so your answer is yeah you could do it, try it....whats the worst that can happen?

hows your jazz doing btw?
I think if I get a very light 5 string set the tension won't be all /that/ bad.

The jazz is good. I've decided to start playing that in my metal band because I like the tone so much more than the Schecter.

I just restrung it a couple days ago with Elixir nanoweb strings. I keep it in D standard tuning (DGCF) to play in my band and it's working well. I just need to relearn all our songs on a 4 string, haha.

[pitchfork]

I use a extra heavys, 110 90 70 50 great for drop c playing.

[PainKiller8191]

We're not so different u and I :lol:

i also bought a jazz in addition to my 5 string (except don't compare the rockbass to a shecter) and like it more for metal (as well as everything else except 2 handed tapping stuff)

[vashts80]

I've had my bass in EADGC with a normal five string set (minus a .110 and plus a .95) for the last two months or so with no problems. Of course I tune to BEADG every so often for Hypocrisy or something, but other than that it's fine. Maybe nothing's happened because instead of .132-.110-.85-.65-.45 or whatever the gauges are, I have .132-.95-.85-.65-.45?

[groundzero]

I've had my bass in EADGC with a normal five string set (minus a .110 and plus a .95) for the last two months or so with no problems. Of course I tune to BEADG every so often for Hypocrisy or something, but other than that it's fine. Maybe nothing's happened because instead of .132-.110-.85-.65-.45 or whatever the gauges are, I have .132-.95-.85-.65-.45?
I would think .132 would be impossible to tune to E... Maybe not though.

[vashts80]

It's near impossible, but not impossible. It takes me a good 2 minutes of tinkering with the tuning key to tune it up past C