String Help

G-Man

Hey guys,

So I'm wanting to get my bass setup.

It's an Ibanez SRX-705 , which is a 5 string, (still gotta make a NGD/NBD thread ?)

So it's a 34 inch scale with 5 strings, but the tuning is pretty low:

Normal Dropped
B----------------------A
E----------------------C
A----------------------G
D----------------------C
G----------------------F

What string set will support this low tuning and still keep the A string nice and tight? I want to buy a set so I can take it to get setup.

peterleroux

DR DDTs have a good reputation- http://www.musiciansfriend.com/accessories/dr-strings-drop-down-tuning-5-string-heavy-bass-strings#productDetail

I found a taper-wound B string was best when I was playing a five- but the gauge that can fit through the saddle depends on the individual bass

G-Man

Thanks Peter, I'm worried that 135 might not be thick enough, that A string is quite floppy and I think it's a 130 that's on there at the moment ☹

V8

AFAIK, that's the tuning Megaladon uses - so I'd ask Nuri (the bass lord ? - so called as he plays a Warwick Dark Lord). But remember the Dark Lord is a 35in scale length, so he could use a slightly lighter string but still retain some tension.

Peter has a good pint, you'll likely have some work to do on the bridge to get even a .135 to fit - I had to do a lot of filing on my Cort Artisan (5 string) to get a slimmish .130 on there. Oddly, the Warwick (4 string) didn't need much fettling of the bridge to get a .135 in there. Although the nut did need some work.

The B always felt a bit floppy on the Cort but the Warwick feels a bit tighter - with the same string, same scale length. Found that a bit odd.

I'm thinking there are a few paths to victory

1. Experiment with strings...Raru do sell single strings, the fattest bass string they stock is a .145 which I think would probably work. But you'd have to really work the bridge on SR.
2. Trade for a 35in bass, the Ibby BTB's are fairly cheap 2nd hand. Gear Junkie has a entryish level one atm - plays quite nicely. The nut had been widen for a BEAD tuning (I'm observant like that... ?). That with a .145 string would almost certainly work.

And definitely use stainless steel strings, they are a touch stiffer than nickle. I'm loving the Dáddario Prosteels I'm on at the moment (.135), it was that much stiffer and responsive than the .130 Nickle I had been using. The Warwick branded strings arn't bad either. When I went shopping for strings I just tried to find what would be the highest tension and went for that. The prosteels just happened to fit the bill and were on special (R250!).

That said, I really doubt I could drop a whole step on my 34in Warwick and still have a playable A (top) string. I'd probably get the .145 and hope it worked, then find a BTB - Or ask some questions on facebook (Megaldon, Gregory's Garage)?

G-Man

Thanks man, that's some pretty good info that you have given me!

Ah, I see, so a 34 inch scale probably wont handle such low tuning then, that is a pity. Maybe I'll get lucky with the .145 as far as the tension goes. (Thanks for telling me about raru, I hadn't heard of them before!!!)

Regarding the work that needs to be done, I was hoping to take it to Slyd's Axe Workshop and ask him to work his magic on it, it definitely needs a proper setup. I managed to do the basics like tighten the machine heads and stripped the bridge and cleaned out all the gunk and dust, then I set the action as best as I could, but having a professional do it is always best!

Think I'll order the .145 and a normal pack, then hold thumbs and hope for the best ?

(You wouldn't happen to have a picture of the BTB by any chance?)

V8

G-Man wrote: Ah, I see, so a 34 inch scale probably wont handle such low tuning then, that is a pity. Maybe I'll get lucky with the .145 as far as the tension goes. (Thanks for telling me about raru, I hadn't heard of them before!!!)

(You wouldn't happen to have a picture of the BTB by any chance?)

I think with a fat enough string a 34in should be able to hand a A tuning...but I havn't done it, so I really can't be certain. I did some thinking and reckon it could work. Although I wouldn't completely trust my though process...It was like this : If I compare my two 34in basses (EADG and BEAD). E (1st string, .105) to B (1st string, .135), it's a 3 &1/2 step drop (i think), but gauge went up by .30. Tension is a bit less on the BEAD bass, but still very playable. So if I went down a step and went up in gauge by .10 I reckon it could be okay...

I've heard of guys using a .170 in drop tunings...wtf!

Raru are cool, only place I've seen individual strings online locally. But I'm sure Paul Bothners would be able to arrange them too (They are the Ernie Ball distributor). Dáddario also do singles, but I didn't see any phat string stocked locally.

No pic of that BTB, they havn't listed it yet it seems. It's a satin black finish, functional but not exactly striking in the looks department. I did play it yesterday for a bit - It was strung EADG and it felt pretty good sounded okay too. ..But I wouldn't give up my Warwick for it though, the Warwick is sounding soooo good in the tracking we're busy doing.

domhatch

Meron Rigas wrote: Peter has a good pint

:roflmao: :goodtimes: :roflmao:
timeless typo. maybe a few of those will help sort your tension issues out g-man!
dh|

V8

domhatch wrote:
Meron Rigas wrote: Peter has a good pint
:roflmao: :goodtimes: :roflmao:
timeless typo. maybe a few of those will help sort your tension issues out g-man!
dh|

Bwahaha, well spotted! :roflmao:

G-Man

Ok so I jumped in and bought a D'Addario EXL160 50-105 set and a D'Addario XLB145 145 string off Raru.

Gonna take it to The aXe workshop when they arrive and get a full setup done.

Thanks for all the help

G-Man

Ok, I changed my mind.

Went a bit thicker and bought a 5 set for 100 bucks more. So now I'm gonna be jamming with:

.145 A
.135 C (or .110 if that's too thick)
.85 G
.70 C
.50 F

My fingers are going to be strong AF after a few weeks of playing these gauges I think ?

V8

Think that .135 C might be a bit thick, might mess up the feel bouncing between the A, C and G strings- though it'll sound mighty!

Funnily enough, I thought going BEAD on mine would be a struggle...in truth it felt a tad softer than the EADG bass, The EAD strings were the same gauge, perhaps the different brands (Dáddario vs GHS) or just that B string confused me a little bit. Common consensus is that my Warwick plays sweetly (We all play a bit of guitar/bass in the band).

Don't stop playing some guitar though, I have lost a little dexterity (on those puny guitar strings) for the power I gained.

Also curious if you'll ever use that F string. In the course on 10 songs, I never did use that 5th string, so I could go 4 string BEAD tuning. Soooooo much easier to play 8)

G-Man

Yeah I picked up my guitar the other day and was horrified at the chops that I have lost, not that I had much to begin with :?

So I edited my order...

45 - 125 Fender set that was on special ?

I'll see how it works out and post my results lol