Drop C Tuning

[pervy_the_clown]

So my band and I wanted to start with Drop C recording, but I can't on my bass because my string gets really floppy and you can't hear anything. I know how to tune it, but what strings should I use so that it doesn't sound like ****?

[bleeding_fingers]

Thicker ones.

[Pluperfect_Arson]

Thicker ones would work, but you are down tuning, so, of course, your strings are going to become loose.

[White_Summer]

alright, move the saddles back farther, that will give a longer neck scale, compensating some for the loose strings, other than that, turn your bass up more and play softer

[MyFriendOfMisery]

.110's or maybe even .115. They do make .115's right?

It helps if you play closer to the bridge also.

[Pluperfect_Arson]

alright, move the saddles back farther, that will give a longer neck scale, compensating some for the loose strings, other than that, turn your bass up more and play softer

You can't necessarily just move your saddles back. You have to think about intonation and whatnot.

Also, turning up his bass would just then make it sound like louder ****.

[funkyhoney]

go and buy a set of 5 strings and restring it BEAD until you're finished recording :p

or just go for a thicker gauge like everyone else has/will said/say

[peeted]

get a light guage b string and tune it up to c

[Akira]

alright, move the saddles back farther, that will give a longer neck scale, compensating some for the loose strings, other than that, turn your bass up more and play softer

All that would do is ruin the bass' intonation.

[faelun]

get a light guage b string and tune it up to c

ftw when my band wants t o play in a drop tuning. i use my 5 string and tune my B string UP

[groundzero]

My band plays in drop C. I have a 5 string and I just tune all the strings up a half step. This gives me an open, low C string and doesn't screw up my patterns.

You could buy a 5 string set, use just the bottom 4 strings and tune up a half step.

[edgebass5]

In addition to using thicker gauge strings, also try to combine that with a string that uses a hex core for better rigidity. DR Lo-Riders come to mind :thumb:

[thelowsoundofbass]

alright, move the saddles back farther, that will give a longer neck scale, compensating some for the loose strings, other than that, turn your bass up more and play softer

Bahahaha, that is one of the funniest things that I have heard on this forum. Don't listen to this guy, and listen to what everyone else has said. Also Edge has a great point. Another thing that no one else has pointed out is that you can't have strings on to play in drop C and then tune it to standard. Either you would have really floppy srings (like you do now) or you would put too much tension on the neck and maybe break a string if you try to tune up. Another thing that will help is if you have a 35" scale bass. The longer scale creates greater tension on thinner strings.

lowsound