Down tuning advise please..

[bubinga5]

Im new to down tuning and changing strings.. hope you guys clear this up... when changing down strings on a five string you change strings right? is it not possible to just tune down/or up, your original strings to the required note.. for example, can you use a normal E string and tune it down to B..ive always used standard tuning so am lost..

Edited July 30, 2011 by bubinga5

[dc2009]

Tuning an E string to a B would be near enough unplayable. You need thicker strings realistically.

[AttitudeCastle]

You "could" but it would be reaaall floppy and as dc2009 said would be almost un playable,

I use a 110 or a 115 for my E (in standard tuning! I like the strings tight ) and getting down to a B is alright on the .115 but still too floppy for my tastes! (I use a .140 B on my 6 strings)

[E sharp]

I detune to a D on about 3 songs , and to a C on 2 .
Never had any real issue . Though I'm lucky , in that my main bass has quite high tension (graphite neck and thru body stringing) .
The E string down to a C is not as tight as it could be , but it's still tighter than many 5 strings I've played and owned over the years , and I have no real issues adjusting to it .
I've found that any drop tuning , regarding success or not , can be down to the bass as much as the strings .

[bubinga5]

thanks for the advice guys.. im a newb to this stuff.. i just tried it on my jazz.. never again..

[Lfalex v1.1]

What are you trying to achieve? (As in note value?) And what gauge strings are you using? What's the bass and why are you downtuning? More specific answers may well follow....

[bobbass4k]

On normal strings you don't want any less than a .115 for low B really, but you may have trouble stringing that on to a 4 string. If you don't want to switch gauge get some DR DDT's, I use heavy gauge now but I used to use standard gauge DDT's and the .105 was playable in low B, not perfect, but definitely playable. The .110 is playable in Low G (the G below low B ).

Edited July 30, 2011 by bobbass4k

[originalfunkbrother]

I tried it once, I was playing along to Stevie Wonder's Master Blaster, the Live At Last version and I noticed that Nate Watts tuned his MTD half a step down and it sounded fantastic but I dont think its my thing.

[charic]

I'm waiting for some newtone strings to arrive. They're making a set for specifically tuning down to CGCF. 110 Low C string.

Will report back when/if they finally arrive....

[thodrik]

[quote name='charic' post='1322174' date='Jul 31 2011, 02:58 PM']I'm waiting for some newtone strings to arrive. They're making a set for specifically tuning down to CGCF. 110 Low C string.

Will report back when/if they finally arrive....[/quote]

I've heard about those strings, very tempted to try them on my 78 Precision, just wondering if this would require a lot more tension than the neck could handle!

With a standard 105-45 set of roundwounds drop D stuff is easy. I can get a 'useable' B out of this gauge on my Sadowsky Metro, but not other basses. Once you try a proper B string though (120-130 etc) you do notice a massive difference though.

[hairyhaw]

[quote name='thodrik' post='1322243' date='Jul 31 2011, 04:16 PM']With a standard 105-45 set of roundwounds drop D stuff is easy. I can get a 'useable' B out of this gauge on my Sadowsky Metro, but not other basses. Once you try a proper B string though (120-130 etc) you do notice a massive difference though.[/quote]

I sometimes tune the bottom string of my Jazz (105) down to C. It's workable but I doubt it'd be much use any lower. I'd tinkered with the idea of getting specific strings but I decided against as I just don't drop down enough to justify it.

[thodrik]

[quote name='hairyhaw' post='1322253' date='Jul 31 2011, 04:30 PM']I sometimes tune the bottom string of my Jazz (105) down to C. It's workable but I doubt it'd be much use any lower. I'd tinkered with the idea of getting specific strings but I decided against as I just don't drop down enough to justify it.[/quote]

Yeah I'm the same. There also doesn't seem much point ordering a specialist drop tuning set if I am only downtuning one string where as the rest are played in standard. I have started using the Billy Sheehan rotosounds that have a heavier E string (110). However to be honest, I don't notice a massive improvement on the drop D than compared to a standard 105. I find that the tension in Rotosounds are the best of the 'standard' off the shelf strings I find in music shops for downtuning on a four string, as usually retain a decent amount of tension.

I have been interested in trying the DR DDT strings, but the expense has put me off.

I have pretty much reverted to five strings now, and trying to keep at least a 130 for the B and 105 for the E, just so I can do drop D or drop A if required.