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View Full Version : Any of you four bangers use different tunings?

Smooth
09-23-2006, 09:56 AM
Hi Folks,
I was just wandering if I was the only person that tunes there four string bass to a different tuning. I tune mine to a low D,G,C,F. I started this as I was jamming a long long while back with a buddy that tuned his Gibson ES 335 down a couple notches and he suggested I do the same to make it easier to follow him, I liked it so much the bass has never been tuned up to A=440 again.
So am I the only?
james on bass
09-23-2006, 03:04 PM
I just recently switched to 4 stringers after playing 5s for about 15 years.

Aside from the fact my band tunes down a half step, I keep one bass tuned EADG, and the other BEAD.
BHarris
09-23-2006, 06:07 PM
james
what gauge strings do you use on the BEAD ??
james on bass
09-23-2006, 06:37 PM
james
what gauge strings do you use on the BEAD ??

45-128 5 string set minus the G-string.
hammer744
09-25-2006, 08:09 AM
45-128 5 string set minus the G-string.

Did you change the nut, or just widen the slots for the thicker guages?
james on bass
09-25-2006, 10:13 AM
Did you change the nut, or just widen the slots for the thicker guages?

I have since changed the nut. Initially, I just made the slot for the b string a bit wider by running the string through it a couple of times. Worked fine. Only took a few passes of the string to widen it enough. No need to get chisels and tools involved.
jar240
10-30-2006, 11:46 AM
Although it's simple, I like the harmonic possibilites of DADG. I don't use a special string for the D, just drop the E down. Sometimes I'll go as low as a C, but it's pretty flabby at such low tension.

Chris
hammer744
10-30-2006, 02:39 PM
...Initially, I just made the slot for the b string a bit wider by running the string through it a couple of times. ...

Ahhhh, the LUG method :bow:
dirtdog
10-30-2006, 06:30 PM
Although it's simple, I like the harmonic possibilites of DADG. I don't use a special string for the D, just drop the E down. Sometimes I'll go as low as a C, but it's pretty flabby at such low tension.

Chris

Same here - "drop D" tuning. Effective in tunes where guitars are Open D tuning, DADGAD that kinda thing. That's about as low as I'll go with my bass. C is waaaay floppy.

DD
Sykonatiac
11-28-2006, 11:50 AM
Depends on what I'm playing, playin' punk or the lighter metal(iron maiden, etc) I play standard usually, though I often find myself tuning to a dropped D for punk. And if I'm playing heavier stuff I'll tune DGCF. But no lower, 'cause with my strings and amp it sounds like shit.

:rockon2: :zzz: :rockon2: :zzz: