String gauges for D G C F A tuning on 5 string?

[operative451]

Hi! It's been a while!

So i was listening and playing to lots of symphonic metal and decided to get a 5 string bass... But i find the flappiness of the low B (even with the heaviest strings i can get) annoying. I've also been playing with a 7 string guitar and while going 'krung krung krung' is kind of fun, it feels redundant because once you start getting into drop-A territory, it's just like yeah, get a bass.

 

I like the sound of a 4 string tuned DGCF and I wondered if going DGCFA on the 5 string would be fun. And it is! But i'm scared of how tight the strings are, so i tuned it back to normal again.  I've been looking at the lightest 5 string set i can get but it still has a 105 low string which i worry would snap and take my eye out! Is there a formula for working out string gauges for tunings? Or has someone here tried this?

 

Thank!

[itu]

Try this one:

https://www.daddario.com/globalassets/pdfs/accessories/tension_chart_13934.pdf

[NickA]

You can get E,A,D,G,C sets.  Then you're just drop tuning a tone, which will be fine.  Tho if you insist on A not B for the top string it might be a bit flappy. 

[tauzero]

A 105 low string should be fine, plenty of E strings are 105 and they're tuned a tone higher than what you're looking at.

[acidbass]

Yeah I'd buy a standard 45-105 set, drop tune it then buy a single extra string from the manufacturer.

[chris_b]

DR make strings specifically for down tuning. . . .

 

https://www.drstrings.com/ddt-bass