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Lowest of the low?


Mark_Bass
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Hi everyone!
I've been contacted by a couple of bands recently enquiring about recording some tracks for them. Both bands are playing in some really low timings for instance : F A♯ D♯ G♯ C♯ F A♯ D♯ on a 8-string guitar.
I play a 5-string and the lowest I've gone before is dropping by B-string to drop A.
So how's the best way to approach this to ensure my bass is playable?
It's all really heavy stuff that Is aptly named "sludge metal"
If this becomes a regular thing should consider looking for some form of extended range bass or something?

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Circle K strings (http://www.circlekstrings.com/) are probably your best bet to get that low. I play a four string in drop A♯, for which I use the heaviest four strings from a five string set. That works OK, but I could do with a bit more tension in the detuned B string, which is exactly what the Circle K strings are intended for as they provide an even tension across all the strings.

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[quote name='Dave_the_bass' timestamp='1387201731' post='2309235']
In all fairness; a standard E is 31(ish)hz. An octave down is 15.5(ish)hz. Human hearing starts at 20hz. All you would be hearing are overtones so you may as well leave the bass tuned standard.
[/quote]

Actually E is about 41Hz and B is around 30Hz... but aside from me being pedantic you're absolutely right! In this situation it'd be best to stick with standard tuning, otherwise it's going to sound like total sludge ;)

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[quote name='Skol303' timestamp='1387203253' post='2309257']


Actually E is about 41Hz and B is around 30Hz... but aside from me being pedantic you're absolutely right! In this situation it'd be best to stick with standard tuning, otherwise it's going to sound like total sludge ;)
[/quote]

I too am a pedant; and this is the best kind of pedantry, technically accurate. I doth my cap to you good sir ;)

We both agree that trying to play bass in the vicinity of sub sonic frequencies is going to sound(?) awful!

I have seen specialist speaker cabs that are designed to operate down 1hz, but, apart from having fun with an audience/brown note experiment, they very expensive with no point!

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[quote name='Dave_the_bass' timestamp='1387213436' post='2309476']

We both agree that trying to play bass in the vicinity of sub sonic frequencies is going to sound(?) awful!
[/quote]

I guess that's because you'll go out of time with the rest of the band - what with the note moving faster than sound.....

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Thanks guys, especially for the string suggestions.

Id forgotten about the DR DDT line, as this is (as far as i can tell) a temporary thing I'm gonna try some roughish recording and see how it goes, i don't think theres any intention at this point to play live.
Ive dropped to A before on my B string and thats as floppy as i've ever intended to go which was far more successful on my ibanez than my warwick.

I'll have a tinker and see what results i get :-)

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