Downtuning to D and muddy tone

[dave74200]

Hi all,

My current band is downtuning to D for the singer and my tone sounds shit. Really wooly and undefined. I'm using a Terror Bass and Ampeg 410hlf. Even with the bass rolled off it still sounds boomy. Is it the tuning? OK, I've had no setup and literally downtune before a rehearsal but it sounds bad!! Help!!

[Musicman666]

i think you might need to increase the gauge ..half my basses are tuned to standard d and they don't sound muddy but i do use heavier strings ...regular gauge would probably be too loose and floppy. 

[dave74200]

2 minutes ago, Musicman666 said:

i think you might need to increase the gauge ..half my basses are tuned to standard d and they don't sound muddy but i do use heavier strings ...regular gauge would probably be too loose and floppy. 

What gauge do you use mate?

[Musicman666]

i will check when i get home 

[ezbass]

Another option is to only tune the E string down to D and keep all the others standard. It needs a bit of thought in terms of playing, but I find adapting to that not too hard (I often use a drop D tuner for songs that require those extra lower notes).

[Musicman666]

ok ---i'm using 50 to 110 on rounds  ..seems to work ok. i could give you the gauge on d dario chromes if u want?

[Musicman666]

6 minutes ago, ezbass said:

Another option is to only tune the E string down to D and keep all the others standard. It needs a bit of thought in terms of playing, but I find adapting to that not too hard (I often use a drop D tuner for songs that require those extra lower notes).

yeah ...personally i find my brain can't cope so well ...

[mep]

Our band drops a semitone and I also use a Drop D tuner for a few songs. I play a StingRay and use a 105 gauge D'Addario Pro Steel strings and it sounds immense.

[Mudpup]

I've experienced the same when we downtuned to D to suit the singer. Everything just sounded a bit flubby. I have a D tuner on each 4 string and that sounds great usually in normal tuning so could it be something to do with taking the tension off the neck maybe? Maybe get a Digitech Drop pedal or a new singer?

[Musicman666]

2 hours ago, Mudpup said:

I've experienced the same when we downtuned to D to suit the singer. Everything just sounded a bit flubby. I have a D tuner on each 4 string and that sounds great usually in normal tuning so could it be something to do with taking the tension off the neck maybe? Maybe get a Digitech Drop pedal or a new singer?

funniest part is the neck tension jibe ..