Drop D gauges for bass?

[IvanHardy]

so i'm considering having one of my balls in Drop D at all times. It's currently equipped with power slinky's but i'd like to have it set with the right gauges for even tension so it feels right and so my neck doesnt twist eventually. on one site i saw where for Drop D the recommended set was:
D-110
A-80
D-60
G-40
does anyone know if this is good set or if anyone else recomends something else?

 

[DCStingray]

It would probably be good if you like the feel of a slinkier G and D string. You can find some tension charts online to calculate your playing tensions.

Here's the one you asked about in Drop D (DADG)

40 - 33.7lbs
60 - 42.9lbs
80 - 42.0lbs
110 - 36.7

If you're looking for a more balanced or progressive tension set, you could try decreasing the two middle strings so that the tension of your thickest is similar to the the A string without getting anything too huge. Here's an example:

40 - 33.7lbs
55 - 35.3lbs
75 - 38.0lbs
110 - 36.7lbs

 

[IvanHardy]

It would probably be good if you like the feel of a slinkier G and D string. You can find some tension charts online to calculate your playing tensions.

Here's the one you asked about in Drop D (DADG)

40 - 33.7lbs
60 - 42.9lbs
80 - 42.0lbs
110 - 36.7

If you're looking for a more balanced or progressive tension set, you could try decreasing the two middle strings so that the tension of your thickest is similar to the the A string without getting anything too huge. Here's an example:

40 - 33.7lbs
55 - 35.3lbs
75 - 38.0lbs
110 - 36.7lbs

i haven't seen an ernie ball set that sells 40's. should the string gauge follow the radius of the neck or should it be even how you or should it be as even as possible to avoid damage to the neck? because my plan for this bass is to leave it set in Drop D at all times and tune up to E whenever i want maybe or just leave it in D and go no lower than C on the most rarest occasions because i also have a Stealth slo that i use for E and D for my band.

 

[DCStingray]

You might wanna check out the Extra Slinky Bass sets if you want a 40 gauge G-string. I'm not sure how much the tension across the neck would potentially damage your guitar, but if you're wanting to get some Ernie Ball bass strings for Drop D, the easiest thing to do would be to buy the typical set you play and just order a replacement bottom string in a slightly larger gauge to swap for the E string.

For instance, if you play Super Slinkys (45, 65, 80, 100), buy a set of those and get a 110 to swap for your 100. This would give you the same tension in Drop D as a set of Super Slinkys in regular tuning. What string set do you normally use? I can do a quick calculation to let you know what gauge to swap the bottom string to keep your tension the same.

 

[strummer]

A very handy rule of thumb is to add .005 per detuning step, meaning in your case that you should add .010 to whatever E string you are currently using.

Using that rule I would suggest
.45
.65
.80
.110

cheers

 

[IvanHardy]

You might wanna check out the Extra Slinky Bass sets if you want a 40 gauge G-string. I'm not sure how much the tension across the neck would potentially damage your guitar, but if you're wanting to get some Ernie Ball bass strings for Drop D, the easiest thing to do would be to buy the typical set you play and just order a replacement bottom string in a slightly larger gauge to swap for the E string.

For instance, if you play Super Slinkys (45, 65, 80, 100), buy a set of those and get a 110 to swap for your 100. This would give you the same tension in Drop D as a set of Super Slinkys in regular tuning. What string set do you normally use? I can do a quick calculation to let you know what gauge to swap the bottom string to keep your tension the same.

That stingray is currently set with Power Slinky Strings

 

[DCStingray]

I don't know if you'd be able to swap your E string to a large enough string to get the same tension in Drop D without doing some work on the nut. It looks like you'd need at 125 or bigger to get a similar tension in Drop D as a 110 tuned to E. I would recommend the same as Strummer of 45, 65, 80, 110 which you can get buy purchasing a set of Super Slinky Bass sets and a single 110 to swap for the E.

 

[IvanHardy]

I don't know if you'd be able to swap your E string to a large enough string to get the same tension in Drop D without doing some work on the nut. It looks like you'd need at 125 or bigger to get a similar tension in Drop D as a 110 tuned to E. I would recommend the same as Strummer of 45, 65, 80, 110 which you can get buy purchasing a set of Super Slinky Bass sets and a single 110 to swap for the E.

how would that work for a C# tuning? i rarely ever tune to that but for whenever i want to play to some Dir en Grey. plus i' nervous of the thinner strings as i got used to strumming like a maniac on power slinky gauges.

 

[cellkirk74]

I already mentioned it in the other thread:

Get a stringset for a 5er and put a BEAD on one of your basses. You will not have to detune anything, but just to learn where the notes are.

Tuning a regular stringset to c# will require at least a 115 E or it will feel far too loose.

 

[DCStingray]

It looks like you can fit up to a 120 on a Stingray, so I'd order a 115. The next size up on EB singles is a 125 which is probably too big to fit in the nut slot without routing it out a bit.

 

[IvanHardy]

i'm thinking of trying the 45-110, 110's are sold in singles right? i could never get my bass to BEAD. i wouldnt want my bass permamently in that tuning.

 

[DCStingray]

Yeah, 110's are sold as singles. I heard of plenty of bass players taking 5 string sets and tossing the G for their 4-string basses and tuning BEAD, but this will probably take a bit a routing for all of the nut slots.

 

[IvanHardy]

Yeah, 110's are sold as singles. I heard of plenty of bass players taking 5 string sets and tossing the G for their 4-string basses and tuning BEAD, but this will probably take a bit a routing for all of the nut slots.

which is what i'd rather avoid. i'll just eventually buy the strings and set it up myself. or maybe just keep it as is. Drop D isnt too off from E so it wouldnt damage my neck i think.