Drop C for Bass... which strings should I get?

[rockskate4x]

Hey everybody, I might get a gig playing bass with some guys who mostly do drop C tunings on their guitars, and though I have an available 5 string that can hit those low notes, I hear that it's better to tune a 4 stringer to drop C using the thickest strings from a 5 string set. I tried this setup and the highest strings were too heavy (one of them actually snapped before it reached the desired pitch, which makes perfect sense to me, because CGCF is very different from BEAD. Apart from the low C, all strings need to be a minor third higher than their usual tunings.

So, the question is in the title, which strings should I get?

 

[Dan025]

do they make a capo heavy enough for bass strings?

 

[baskruit]

Hey everybody, I might get a gig playing bass with some guys who mostly do drop C tunings on their guitars, and though I have an available 5 string that can hit those low notes, I hear that it's better to tune a 4 stringer to drop C using the thickest strings from a 5 string set.

I don't see why that's better when a 5-string bass can cover all grounds.

 

[Funky Phil]

You may fing this helps...
http://www.daddario.com/upload/tension_chart_13934.pdf

 

[Super Turbo Deluxe Custom]

For a 5 string tuned B-E-A-D-G, without the 1st string it would be B-E-A-D.  Tune each of those up 1/2 step and you have C Standard.  But, like posted above, I don't know why a 4 string tuned down with a larger gauge is better than 5-String for this.  It's a preference thing, do you want to play low on a 4 string or 5?

 

[Funky Phil]

I've just noticed that you want to tune to CGCF...

I set up a couple of basses for a customer last year using this tuning.
I used -
C  120  (32)
G  80    (33)
C  60    (34)
F  45    (34)

(numbers in ( ) = tension in pounds, based on a 34" scale (I think))

As you can see, the tensionis very well matched with these strings.
You would have to buy the strings individually...

 

[rockskate4x]

Thanks Phil, that chart and your most recent post have been very helpful.

 

[tubby.twins]

Phil, that's pretty close to what I would recommend as well.  Thanks for providing the link to the string tension chart.

However, I have noticed that in normal sets (E-A-D-G tuning) the D and G strings usually are set at higher tension than the lower strings.  It's not always common to balance the tension of all the strings on the bass.  Short of LaBella, I can't  think of any string vendors who sell sets that are balanced.

If rockskate4x wanted a tuning that kept the same "feel" (with higher tension on the two higher strings) then I would recommend using slightly thicker strings for the higher C and F strings.

Let's work from the D'Addario XL "medium light" long scale set, since that's usually what I play.
XLB045 G 0.045 42.8
XLB065 D 0.065 51.3
XLB085 A 0.085 48.4
XLB105 E 0.105 40.3

If you wanted the same "feel" (i.e. tension) on the same strings with a C-G-C-F tuning, here is what I would recommend:
XLB050 F     0.050      42.4
XLB070 C    0.070      47.7
XLB090 G    0.090      43.2
XLB120 C    0.120      32.0

And yes, the low C string is going to feel a bit looser than the others.  I don't think I'd be comfortable taking a 0.125 string up to C.  Last time I tried overtightening a string, it broke and flew off the bass with such force that it left a groove in my wall.  (Safety goggles are not a bad idea.)

Disclaimer: I haven't actually tried this yet.    But I have used the same principles to determine string gauges for several wacky tunings, including all fifths (Bb-F-C-G-D).

 

[Funky Phil]

I have always thought that the standard sets (guitar and bass) have a very odd mix of tensions.
Look at the normal 40's bass set...100 80 60 40
I can't help thinking that not very much thought went into those numbers!
My experiments (mostly with guitar) have provided some interesting results.

I was concerned that by choosing matching tensions, the tonal balance/ volume balance would be out.
In fact, if anything both are slightly better than the standard sets.

I can't help but conclude that sometime in the distant past, the sets were "designed", perhaps to make best use of available wire gauges?
The sets stayed the same, and we have all got used to them.

Having said all that, I tend to go with D'Addario EXL110's (very unbalanced), because I can't be bothered to make custom sets up!
If you want a nicely balanced set of 10's, change the B (13) for a 13.5, and the E (46) for a 49.
The difference is subtle, but may be worth the effort if you like the results.

 

[Super Turbo Deluxe Custom]

DR can sell individual string gauges as well.

 

[rockskate4x]

Awesome. All this information has been really helpful. I'll be using that chart when I do strange tunings on all of my instruments.

 

[MUYFUE]

For a 5 string tuned B-E-A-D-G, without the 1st string it would be B-E-A-D.  Tune each of those up 1/2 step and you have C Standard.  But, like posted above, I don't know why a 4 string tuned down with a larger gauge is better than 5-String for this.  It's a preference thing, do you want to play low on a 4 string or 5?

Yeah, total Preference. In my old band, the guitar players played 1 1/2 steps down, drop B.
I tuned my 5 string B, F#, B, E, A!
I used a Roto-Sound 135 for the low B and for the other 4, I used the 40 to 95 set. Nice even tension across and good feel down the neck, It's a 35" so "one more inch of wood!"

 

[tubby.twins]

In my old band, the guitar players played 1 1/2 steps down, drop B.
I tuned my 5 string B, F#, B, E, A!

That's a pretty cool idea!  I will have to try that.

It's fun to try new tunings, if only to shake me out of my comfort zone and experiment with something new.

 

[metalman22105]

I play in drop C, both guitar and 4-string bass, as far as bass strings go, I actually buy a 5-string bass set, and throw away the highest string, and use the 4 heavy-bottom ones for the drop-C tuning on the bass

 

[rockskate4x]

to metalman, this is what i tried and the higher strings were too tense, and one actually broke, but if this is what you've been doing successfully, what brands/string sizes have you been using?

 

[metalman22105]

I use the Ernie Ball power slinky-5's, gauges: .050 .070 .085 .105 .135 (I just throw away the .050) tuned down (low to high) CGCF, I've never had any break, and they sound super good, they definitely keep their tension with the drop C tuning better than regular 4's

 

[rockskate4x]

Thanks Phil and metalman! I'll be seeing what strings I can end up with now that you two have sorta given me a range of what works.