Drop D-flat strings?

[Dood]

THESEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!! Absolutely BRILLIANT!

 

https://www.daddario.com/products/guitar/bass-guitar/xl-nickel-bass/exl160bt-nickel-wound-balanced-tension-medium-50-120-long-scale/

 

120-90-67-50 

 

 

That 120 is perfect and, I found on my basses I didnt need to adjust my nut to fit the heavier gauge. (Which may just be lucky) 

[Dood]

2 minutes ago, Dood said:

THESEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!! Absolutely BRILLIANT!

 

https://www.daddario.com/products/guitar/bass-guitar/xl-nickel-bass/exl160bt-nickel-wound-balanced-tension-medium-50-120-long-scale/

 

120-90-67-50 

 

 

That 120 is perfect and, I found on my basses I didnt need to adjust my nut to fit the heavier gauge. (Which may just be lucky) 

 

(I have noted that you're in Eb standard to begin with and drop the 4th string down to Db)

 

You'd also get Drop C out of this set too if your bass creates a good  tight string feel to begin with.

Edited May 24 by Dood

[JLG]

45 minutes ago, Dood said:

 

(I have noted that you're in Eb standard to begin with and drop the 4th string down to Db)

 

You'd also get Drop C out of this set too if your bass creates a good  tight string feel to begin with.

The 120 seems a bit of a jump!

 

I've got a 45-105 set to try out so I'll see how they feel and work from there.

[MichaelDean]

1 hour ago, Dood said:

THESEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!! Absolutely BRILLIANT!

 

https://www.daddario.com/products/guitar/bass-guitar/xl-nickel-bass/exl160bt-nickel-wound-balanced-tension-medium-50-120-long-scale/

 

120-90-67-50 

 

 

That 120 is perfect and, I found on my basses I didnt need to adjust my nut to fit the heavier gauge. (Which may just be lucky) 

I'd wondered about these for use on my backup bass for drop C. Good to hear some real world experience!

[Baloney Balderdash]

I would recommend a gauge .120 string for the Db/C# string as well, it will tension wise be almost exactly the same as a gauge .100 low E string.

 

Keep in mind though that thicker strings will feel and act stiffer compared to thinner strings at same tension (same goes for shorter scale length vs. longer scale length, which is why I am not an advocator of equipping short scale basses with insanely thick strings, but rather adjust your playing style to the fact that you are actually playing a different instrument, unless you really want to go to thud city).

 

Edited May 24 by Baloney Balderdash

[JLG]

I've put a .105 on today and it's better than a .100 but still flaps/rattles.
Think I'll try a .110.
 

Has anyone tried the Rotosound Billy Sheehan Custom set (43-110)?

 

[peteb]

9 minutes ago, JLG said:

I've put a .105 on today and it's better than a .100 but still flaps/rattles.
Think I'll try a .110.
 

Has anyone tried the Rotosound Billy Sheehan Custom set (43-110)?

 

 

I used to use them back for a bit in the 80s when they first came out. The 110 was to accommodate a drop D when in concert pitch and worked well enough, but the higher strings were to light (for me at least). 

 

I currently use 105 - 50 D'addario nickel roundwounds for one bass in concert and for one tuned down to Eb. What you need as a minimum is a hex wound string and I would suggest that a 110 E string, or even a 115, is a good idea if you are regularly going to drop down to Db. Next time I change strings on the bass tuned down 1, I may well try a slightly heavier guage set of strings. 

 

[JLG]

3 minutes ago, peteb said:

 

I used to use them back for a bit in the 80s when they first came out. The 110 was to accommodate a drop D when in concert pitch and worked well enough, but the higher strings were to light (for me at least). 

 

I currently use 105 - 50 D'addario nickel roundwounds for one bass in concert and for one tuned down to Eb. What you need as a minimum is a hex wound string and I would suggest that a 110 E string, or even a 115, is a good idea if you are regularly going to drop down to Db. Next time I change strings on the bass tuned down 1, I may well try a slightly heavier guage set of strings. 

 

Thanks.

Any brand recommendations for hex wound strings?

[peteb]

1 minute ago, JLG said:

Thanks.

Any brand recommendations for hex wound strings?

 

I use the same type of D'addario nickel roundwounds as Dood (although not the Balanced Tension set). I have used DR DDT strings in the past when I've had to detune below Eb in the past, which work pretty well .

 

[JLG]

5 hours ago, Dood said:

THESEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!! Absolutely BRILLIANT!

 

https://www.daddario.com/products/guitar/bass-guitar/xl-nickel-bass/exl160bt-nickel-wound-balanced-tension-medium-50-120-long-scale/

 

120-90-67-50 

 

 

That 120 is perfect and, I found on my basses I didnt need to adjust my nut to fit the heavier gauge. (Which may just be lucky) 

What bass(es) do you use these on?

I have a Spector Euro and I'm very reluctant to adjust the nut (filing was suggested) because it's a gorgeous beast!

[tom.android]

On 24/05/2024 at 10:16, Dood said:

THESEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!! Absolutely BRILLIANT!

 

https://www.daddario.com/products/guitar/bass-guitar/xl-nickel-bass/exl160bt-nickel-wound-balanced-tension-medium-50-120-long-scale/

 

120-90-67-50 

 

 

That 120 is perfect and, I found on my basses I didnt need to adjust my nut to fit the heavier gauge. (Which may just be lucky) 

Tried these myself. Too heavy on the rest of the strings!

 

I’d do 42 60 80 110 for drop C#/Dflat. Or just try adding a single 105/110 to what you’ve already got.

 

I really like the D’Addario EXL170BT for a ready made set

Edited May 29 by tom.android

[JLG]

20 minutes ago, tom.android said:

Tried these myself. Too heavy on the rest of the strings!

 

I’d do 42 60 80 110 for drop C#/Dflat. Or just try adding a single 105/110 to what you’ve already got.

 

I really like the D’Addario EXL170BT for a ready made set

I've got a 105 on  and it rattles/flaps.

I have a 43 65 80 110 set being delivered soon.

If the 110 is problematic, then I'll try a 120 for the E string.

[Dood]

On 24/05/2024 at 15:35, JLG said:

What bass(es) do you use these on?

I have a Spector Euro and I'm very reluctant to adjust the nut (filing was suggested) because it's a gorgeous beast!

 

I used them on my Fender Power Jazz Bass Specials, but I'm back to standard now and haven't touched the nut at all! Maybe I was just lucky as I ahven't tried them on another bass - that said, one of my other basses I had a second nut made and it clips in when I want to change from F#BEADGC to BEADGCF ! 

[Dood]

1 hour ago, tom.android said:

Tried these myself. Too heavy on the rest of the strings!

 

I’d do 42 60 80 110 for drop C#/Dflat. Or just try adding a single 105/110 to what you’ve already got.

 

I really like the D’Addario EXL170BT for a ready made set

 

For sure, those used to really light gauges will find these both a higher tension and, if a bass has been set up for light, it will most likely need adjustment. My geometry is pretty flat with a low action. Lower tension strings tend to flap and rattle about, whereas for faster picking I don't want the string bounding about too much.

[JLG]

I've put a set of Billy Sheehan Rotosounds on today: 43 - 65 - 80 - 110

Raised the action a touch.

Though it's heavy and loses a bit of brightness in the attack, the 110 is good.

Dropped to C#, there's a bit of rattle/flap but it's tolerable.

I'll probably continue experimenting in future, but for the moment, I'll see how it goes.

 

Thanks to everyone for their comments and suggestions.

They are very much appreciated.

More Q's to come...

Cheers!

Edited May 31 by JLG

[Rolf]

I play a lot in drop D and drop Db and I use .110 strings for both tunings. Right now I have Dean Markley Blue Steel for drop Db and Cleartones for drop D. I like the tension of the .110s for E/D# standard tunings too.

Edited June 3 by Rolf