Owen Posted September 5, 2014 Share Posted September 5, 2014 Hi all, I am messing with a bottom F# thang. I have just bought a Harley Benton BZ 6000 to see how the whole thing works. It is a 35" 5 piece through neck. I have been keeping a .195 string on one side for the right moment. It turns out that my .195 is a 34" scale. Gutted. It also turns out that .195 is more suitable for towing cars. Or perhaps setting up suspension bridges. Where do I get a (guessing) .165 35" scale string in the UK? I need one ASAP because I have a hugely important major world tour coming up. Obv, that last sentence was not true. I just want one because I want one. But I really want it ASAP. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrismuzz Posted September 5, 2014 Share Posted September 5, 2014 I think Warwick still do Dark Lord strings with a bottom string that's either .170 or .175... Alternatively contact Newtone Strings and ask for a custom wound set. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JTUK Posted September 5, 2014 Share Posted September 5, 2014 [size=5][sub]I would talk to Newtone to see if there are any issues with the tension the neck has to take.[/sub][/size] [size=5][sub]Also, be careful with the cab you are going to put it thru[/sub][/size] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owen Posted September 5, 2014 Author Share Posted September 5, 2014 Ta. I had been wondering around the usual sites looking for singles but there was nothing there. I just googled the Warwick and up it popped. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ambient Posted September 5, 2014 Share Posted September 5, 2014 Circle K do all gauges, and there's a chart on the website that tells you the string tension. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owen Posted September 5, 2014 Author Share Posted September 5, 2014 I had clocked the Circle K stuff but it would mean posting from the US and I need a string NOOOOOOOW. But thanks for the input Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cameronj279 Posted September 6, 2014 Share Posted September 6, 2014 I think bass direct have a set of Circle K F# strings in stock. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annoying Twit Posted September 6, 2014 Share Posted September 6, 2014 How are you finding the BZ-6000 bass? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Jack Posted September 6, 2014 Share Posted September 6, 2014 I reckon you'll find Bottom F# a couple of frets up from Bottom E. That's OK, no need to thank me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Telebass Posted September 6, 2014 Share Posted September 6, 2014 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owen Posted September 6, 2014 Author Share Posted September 6, 2014 [quote name='Happy Jack' timestamp='1410014705' post='2545422'] I reckon you'll find Bottom F# a couple of frets up from Bottom E. That's OK, no need to thank me. [/quote] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matte_black Posted September 6, 2014 Share Posted September 6, 2014 SIT/Conklin are good too. Otherwise, if you like a darker tone, you can use the .175" of the Rotosound D-tune set. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dood Posted September 8, 2014 Share Posted September 8, 2014 Rotosound do a 175 gauge string and as mentioned above, Warwick's Dark Lord set has a 175 in too. A big thumbs up for Newtone in the UK who can wind something of a custom variety too. Great service from those guys. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matte_black Posted September 8, 2014 Share Posted September 8, 2014 I know LaBella made some thicker string but I've never seen them for sale. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CamdenRob Posted September 9, 2014 Share Posted September 9, 2014 Is a low F# even audible? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marvin Posted September 9, 2014 Share Posted September 9, 2014 [quote name='CamdenRob' timestamp='1410251497' post='2547429'] Is a low F# even audible? [/quote] It is, but...it's way down there somewhere. A guy on another forum was asking about tuning to low E which is more or less on the limit of what the human ear can hear. All this assumes you can find cabs designed to handle such low frequencies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CamdenRob Posted September 9, 2014 Share Posted September 9, 2014 (edited) [quote name='Marvin' timestamp='1410256522' post='2547493'] It is, but...it's way down there somewhere. A guy on another forum was asking about tuning to low E which is more or less on the limit of what the human ear can hear. All this assumes you can find cabs designed to handle such low frequencies. [/quote] It must be a seriously flappy string? Also having your EQ set to make the F# audible must compromise the tone over the rest of the strings. I don't mean to be critical of ERBs, I play a sixer myself, I just don't really see a low F# being of any practical use Edited September 9, 2014 by CamdenRob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marvin Posted September 9, 2014 Share Posted September 9, 2014 [quote name='CamdenRob' timestamp='1410257223' post='2547501'] It must be a seriously flappy string? Also having your EQ set to make the F# audible must compromise the tone over the rest of the strings. I don't mean to be critical of ERBs, I play a sixer myself, I just don't really see a low F# being of any practical use [/quote] Apparently one has to have strings of the thickness you'd expect of cables keeping suspension bridges up...and it's all guitarists fault for wanting to dable in very low tunings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matte_black Posted September 9, 2014 Share Posted September 9, 2014 F#? I've made basses with C# and even one with G#... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dannybuoy Posted September 9, 2014 Share Posted September 9, 2014 (edited) I've tuned my 5'er down that low (with standard strings) for fun, and while the string were floppy it sounded cool as, especially for metal. You might not be able to reproduce much of that fundamental, but it's all about the harmonics above that, being produced with bright strings, a growly bass and a bit of distortion. Edited September 9, 2014 by dannybuoy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dincz Posted September 9, 2014 Share Posted September 9, 2014 [quote name='CamdenRob' timestamp='1410251497' post='2547429'] Is a low F# even audible? [/quote] And even it is, can you tell if it's in tune or not? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matte_black Posted September 9, 2014 Share Posted September 9, 2014 Sure. Unless you're using a bass amp with -6db under 70hz. But it's not a string for everybody. Most peoples don't need it at all. I don't need it, for example, but I love listening to music made by peoples able to take advantage of the bigger range. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0175westwood29 Posted September 9, 2014 Share Posted September 9, 2014 There's a really good video of nolly get good talking about his Dingwall that's got the f#, sounds brutal. Lowest I go is on my 4er ATM where it's tuned to A but looking into 6's ATM so a 175 low string could be in my future Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dood Posted September 9, 2014 Share Posted September 9, 2014 I've been using an F# on my Shuker 7 for years! It's a 175 gauge string on that and the tone is very very good. Don't forget that although the fundamental frequency is down in the 20hz region, your ears are picking up on the overtones and harmonics more. Your brain fills in the bits that are missing so you hear the note lower than B for example. As for being flappy, well that's down to bass construction and string design. Yes if you take a B string and detune it to F#, sure it will be flappy and unuseable. If you take a string designed for that tuning and put it on a bass that is also designed to bring out the best of that kinda string then you should get good results. I do for sure. As for the Dingwall, yeah I've played a prototype that Sheldon brought over to the Uk with it's 37" scale F# string. Again the gauge was a custom 175 designed by Circle K and it worked beautifully! So I agree with the post above. It's not for everybody, but it's just really good fun and you can get really creative with using different tunings. Isn't that what music is about? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spoombung Posted September 24, 2014 Share Posted September 24, 2014 [quote name='CamdenRob' timestamp='1410251497' post='2547429'] Is a low F# even audible? [/quote] No. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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