Members Rogueleader Posted February 16, 2009 Members Share Posted February 16, 2009 I want to know from the downtuning crowd what strings they use. I've been using flatwounds for the past year but they either sound too dead (fender brand flats) or can't take downtuning to C sharp (Rotosound steve harris sigs). So what are the brightest sounding strings you have used that can still maintain high tension when a bass is tuned to c standard, d standard, etc. I prefer the feel and lack of finger noise of flatwounds but like the bright clanky sound of rounds. Plus, I haven't found any falts that can downtune as far as I would like. I play a 2008 fender p bass (4 string) with quarter pounders and would like to get some tones like the following...Some reference tones:Geezer Butler: Heaven and Hell, Live from Radio City Music Hall album (his newer bass tone, I'm a fan of all of his old stuff but I like this tone alot more)Markus Grosskopf: Helloween, Time of the Oath album Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members knuckle_head Posted February 16, 2009 Members Share Posted February 16, 2009 Have you tried D'Addario half rounds? They are a ground-down round wound and are available in standard gauges. Which C are we talking about? A whole step above a standard B? If so then the bottom 4 of a 5 string B set ought to work just fine - .125-ish. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Rogueleader Posted February 16, 2009 Author Members Share Posted February 16, 2009 Yeah I'm talking about the c sharp 1 step above b. I tune every string down 1 and 1/2 steps down from standard. Do you think that the d'addario half rounds can handle downtuning each string down 1 and 1/2 steps and still maintain a high tension. Also are they bright and clanky or dullish sounding? How long do they remain bright? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Rippin' Robin Posted February 16, 2009 Members Share Posted February 16, 2009 D'Addario has a set of 5-string flats. Why not get them and tune up to C? Discard the highest string. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Rogueleader Posted February 16, 2009 Author Members Share Posted February 16, 2009 Won't that require that I file down the nut? Ideally I would like something with a flatwound feel that is bright. Even brighter than the steve harris sigs I use on my #1 axe (tuned to standard). I tried ernie ball slinky before and hated the massive finger noise and coarse feel. What are the least abraisive roundwounds that are made? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Rippin' Robin Posted February 16, 2009 Members Share Posted February 16, 2009 Won't that require that I file down the nut?Ideally I would like something with a flatwound feel that is bright. Even brighter than the steve harris sigs I use on my #1 axe (tuned to standard).I tried ernie ball slinky before and hated the massive finger noise and coarse feel. What are the least abraisive roundwounds that are made? Well, I would then suggest groundwounds. Still, gauge-wise, I think your best bet would be to use a set with a B-string (.125 or .130) and file down the nut. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Rogueleader Posted February 16, 2009 Author Members Share Posted February 16, 2009 I'm somewhat hesitant to try groundwounds because a large majority of the members on another internet bass forum absolutely hate them. I've heard horrible things about them. Mainly that they feel "gritty" and are horrible tonally. I've been researching a bit and read that Geezer Butler uses DR black beauties. Does anyone know if these are the same as these (I don't find the black coating asthetically pleasing and would rather not spend extra money for it). If I used this would that get me closer to geezers tone on Live from Radio City Music Hall?Me: fender p w/ quarter pounders> ampeg svtgeezer: Lakland Joe Osborne>FX ?>ampeg ? Since I'm using the same tuning as Geezer I'm asuming that these strings should perform adequately, right? Do Fender Ps and his Laklands have the same scale (disregarding that some laklands can be strung through body)?> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Death Hands Posted February 16, 2009 Members Share Posted February 16, 2009 To get the proper tension, you will need a higher gauge of string. Sorry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Rogueleader Posted February 16, 2009 Author Members Share Posted February 16, 2009 Death Hands,Are you saying that these will not have enough tension? Because that is also what I initially thought. But it seems everywhere I go people say that these are the strings geezer uses (only the black beauty ones), and I'm 99% sure he tunes to c sharp. Also I've heard that these are good for downtuning. (Although I've heard from some on talkbass that they suck) Does anyone have experience with these.>> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Death Hands Posted February 16, 2009 Members Share Posted February 16, 2009 I'm looking at gauge more than brand. The brand is secondary to the gauge. If you like flatwounds, find higher gauge flatwounds. For C#, I'd say at least a .125, but if you want Geezer, try a .120. Try webstrings.com. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Reverend179 Posted February 16, 2009 Members Share Posted February 16, 2009 Probably not what you're looking for, but a heavy set of DR Hi-Beams (50-110) take C# just fine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Death Hands Posted February 16, 2009 Members Share Posted February 16, 2009 And if you don't like rough rounds, blue steels will kick your ass. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Rogueleader Posted February 17, 2009 Author Members Share Posted February 17, 2009 Thanks for all the help guys I think I'll go with the DRs for now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members georgestrings Posted February 17, 2009 Members Share Posted February 17, 2009 When I used to drop tune, I'd string one of my basses with either a .110, .111, or .115 Boomer - and was able to go down to C without any problems... - georgestrings Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members HumanElement Posted February 18, 2009 Members Share Posted February 18, 2009 I play drop c#. I use DR Hibeams 45-105. no problems tension wise.I used to use 5-110's when I played drop B. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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