D tuned SX PJB62

[Evil Laugh]

Easy.....

New to the forum so "Hi" first!

Just got my first bass (Play guitars and synths already) yesterday, SX PJ. Very nice.

Wondering if any of you kind people can advise me on a few things, here goes............

I bought the bass as I record all my own music, on me todd and want some real bass. I play guitar completely tuned down to D. Therefore i need to tune the bass down likewise.

The strings that come on the SX are IMO far too light a gauge even for E tuning so I need something heavier so I can detune without fretbuzz etc. So I'm looking for some advice on gauges and makes/types of string as have never bought bass strings.

I've read the type of string drastically reduces the tone so I'm after deep, warm sustained lows/subs rather than a bright "seinfield" slappy sound, if that makes sense. I'm making electronic Radioheady stuff so the bass has to have some substance. I have no idea about flats/rounds nickels etc and how they affect the sound so any advice welcomed.

Also I'm gonna need a setup to get rid of my e string buzz and maybe a new bridge to accommodate the thicker strings so any recommended techs that would do this around SE London?

I've seen the 2 in Croydon in the sticky, they're luthiers though so would they do setups too?


I know that's a lot of Q's.

Many thanks in advance,

Elliott

[Mr. Foxen]

Bigger strings will sort you, and bit of playing time so they lose the new string zing. Bridge should be fine, thicker strings aren't that much thicker. Only thing is you need to file out the nut a little wider so they fit, then draw in the slot with a soft pencil. Make sure you make the slot wider not deeper. As for buzz, thats an allen key job, can do it on your own much cheaper than a tech, pm me and I can talk you through on msn or something if you like.

Oh, mickel strings probably what you want, if you don't play regular, steels will eat your fingers. Nickels are warmer generally too.

[Evil Laugh]

[quote name='Mr. Foxen' post='143666' date='Feb 20 2008, 01:32 PM']Bigger strings will sort you, and bit of playing time so they lose the new string zing. Bridge should be fine, thicker strings aren't that much thicker. Only thing is you need to file out the nut a little wider so they fit, then draw in the slot with a soft pencil. Make sure you make the slot wider not deeper. As for buzz, thats an allen key job, can do it on your own much cheaper than a tech, pm me and I can talk you through on msn or something if you like.

Oh, mickel strings probably what you want, if you don't play regular, steels will eat your fingers. Nickels are warmer generally too.[/quote]

Cool i might well do that then.

That's really nice of you!

[bass_ferret]

There is some good stuff on flats in the wiki. I believe Labella do strings specially for de-tuned basses. I have 3 basses tuned D-G-C-F all with 45-105 half rounds on.

[Evil Laugh]

[quote name='bass_ferret' post='144107' date='Feb 21 2008, 12:16 AM']There is some good stuff on flats in the wiki. I believe Labella do strings specially for de-tuned basses. I have 3 basses tuned D-G-C-F all with 45-105 half rounds on.[/quote]

Cheers man, that's my tuning. I'll look into it.

[Evil Laugh]

If anyone else needs help with this I found this on another forum....


Tuning down to D is perfectly possible on a 34" scale bass, but you need to up your string gauges. The trick is to match the tensions as closely as possible to the tensions of your preferred set in standard tuning.

Let's suppose you're using a regular 45-105 set, like the D'Addario EXL165 set, which gives you 105/85/65/45 gauges low to high. Looking at the chart for D'Addario XL's, find the row for each string gauge in turn and read off the tension at the normal pitch. In normal tuning, the tensions are as follows (in lbs):

E - 105, tension 40.3

A - 85, tension 48.4

D - 65, tension 51.3

G - 45, tension 42.8

Because you're tuning down, you're losing tension on each string. This changes the feel and risks the string becoming too 'sloppy' (a lot of this depends on how hard or soft you pick - it's a personal thing how much tension you like to feel). Lower tension usually also means duller tone, intonation problems (it's easier to push or pull the string out of tune) and more rattles and buzzes. At your new low tuning, you'll need to increase tension back up to something near the original tensions to keep roughly the same feel and tone. You do this by picking heavier gauges of string.

Looking at the chart, find the row for each string in the standard set and follow it across until you reach the new note you intend to tune to. Then follow that column down until you reach a figure that is as close as possible to the original figure. Then look back across to the left to find the new string size. Tuning down only a whole step, this is going to be one, or at most two gauges heavier than the original string.

If we do this for the standard 45-105 set, we find as follows:

E down to D - 120, tension 40.3 (compare 40.3 for 105/E)

A down to G - 95, tension 48.7 (compare 48.4 for as 85/A)

D down to C - 70, tension 47.7, or 75, tension 53.7 (compare 51.3 for 65/D)

G down to F - 50, tension 42.4 (compare 42.8 for 45/G)

This gives a custom set of 120/95/70 or 75/50 for your downtuned bass.

In fact, I use a 'heavy' 50/70/90/110 set of Elites Stadium Stainless on one 34"-scale bass in standard E tuning, and as an experiment I tuned it down to D. The string tensions seemed fine, so you may not have to go to 120/95/70/50. If you want to try different gauges for feel, buy individual strings and experiment. Try to keep the tensions in the ballpark indicated by the chart, using the standard set as a guide. If you want to try a set, have a look at D'Addarios' EXL230 long scale set, which gives you 110/90/75/55 with a low of 36.7 lbs and a high of 50.0 lbs when tuned to D.

If you're careful to match the new tensions in D to the tensions of your existing set in E I don't think you should have any problems, but you may find you have to adjust the truss rod and string heights slightly. If you don't know how to do this yourself, get someone who does to do it for you. The adjustments will be small.

Obviously, the 34" instrument was not designed to be tuned to D, so it will always be a bit of a compromise, but it's not like trying to tune a 4-string down to low B. In future, if you want to tune down to D but still play a 4-string you might want to look at a 35"-scale instrument. The longer scale gives you more tension for the same gauges, so you might not even have to increase the standard gauges if you're only tuning down a whole step.