Evil Undead Posted October 25, 2012 Share Posted October 25, 2012 So, very reluctantly, I've decided to learn a couple of songs in drop D, despite my aversion to down tuning. I'm wondering if just dropping the tuning on my E string now and then is going to have a negative effect on the neck of my bass? What I mean is, less tension on that one side and then back again all the time. Any thoughts on this? Just don't wanna booger my neck up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dood Posted October 25, 2012 Share Posted October 25, 2012 You'll be fine, I've never heard of a problem with this on a modern bass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fender73 Posted October 25, 2012 Share Posted October 25, 2012 It'll be fine. ps...did you sort out your truss rod issue?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evil Undead Posted October 25, 2012 Author Share Posted October 25, 2012 I swapped back to the rounds and loosened the rod off a bit. Hopefully it's fine and I'm just a weakling and/or too chicken to turn it properly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rOB Posted October 25, 2012 Share Posted October 25, 2012 it'll be fine. If it turns out you need to play in two tunings during 1 set I'd recommend a Hipshot de-tuner. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dingus Posted October 25, 2012 Share Posted October 25, 2012 (edited) To the best of my knowledge, tuning down your E string to D won't cause any damage to the neck of your bass, but be sure to retune back up to E before you put your bass away for any length of time ( i.e. a few hours or more ) to avoid any long-term problems that might arise from an uneven tension on the neck for prolonged periods of time. Edited October 25, 2012 by Dingus Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thodrik Posted October 25, 2012 Share Posted October 25, 2012 You won't damage the neck by downtuning one string down. You would maybe damage it if you started tuning up to G. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosmo Valdemar Posted October 25, 2012 Share Posted October 25, 2012 Done it for years, never had any problems. Why the aversion to down tuning? A P bass in drop D is a brutal experience! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssentialTension Posted October 25, 2012 Share Posted October 25, 2012 [quote name='rOB' timestamp='1351196007' post='1848655'] If it turns out you need to play in two tunings during 1 set I'd recommend a Hipshot de-tuner. [/quote] ^This. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WalMan Posted October 25, 2012 Share Posted October 25, 2012 Ditto. Never had a problem with this using the Hipshot in getting on 20 years on the Wal. Hipshot D Tuners rool Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
L_Bass_Dog85 Posted October 25, 2012 Share Posted October 25, 2012 I have been looking at getting a hipshot d-tuner too. Only thing is that the prices I found are bloody scary! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrTaff Posted October 25, 2012 Share Posted October 25, 2012 I've never had a problem with drop D effecting the neck, I'd guess if you're changing the tuning all the time you'll shorted the life of the string. The price of the hipshot d-tuner was enough to put me off buying one, doesn't seem worth it to save the few seconds that it takes to retune. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WalMan Posted October 26, 2012 Share Posted October 26, 2012 But they're so much fun Mind it knackered me when I got my first 5 & took it to a gig that night. I had all our songs sorted using the D tuner to flick down & back up during songd - need the low D for the chorus, but E is fine for the verse, so flick down for the chorus & back up for the verse. Smashing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hollywoodrox Posted October 26, 2012 Share Posted October 26, 2012 a very good question, I have often wondered this, also one of my bass I have tuned half a step down but still set up the same as for E tuning. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcnach Posted October 26, 2012 Share Posted October 26, 2012 [quote name='Dingus' timestamp='1351196598' post='1848673'] To the best of my knowledge, tuning down your E string to D won't cause any damage to the neck of your bass, but be sure to retune back up to E before you put your bass away for any length of time ( i.e. a few hours or more ) to avoid any long-term problems that might arise from an uneven tension on the neck for prolonged periods of time. [/quote] chances are that the strings you already use are nothing close to being even tension (at least if the data provided on the D'Addario site are representative), so I would not worry about that. A Hipshot bass extender (D-tuner) is soooo convenient and fun, if you think of switching often between the two tunings. Highly recommended. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gafbass02 Posted October 26, 2012 Share Posted October 26, 2012 Used hip shots for years on virtually every bass I've ever had. No worries at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
popoctave Posted October 27, 2012 Share Posted October 27, 2012 I'm sure your other 3 strings will keep the neck straight... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StephenFerguson Posted October 27, 2012 Share Posted October 27, 2012 P Bass at drop D is thunder. No use to you this here statement but it has to be said. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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