Heavy Gauge for Drop C# Aggressive Player

[bgavin]

I'm doing setups for Chelsea (Aroarah) before they leave for their summer tour. I need recommendations from the community for optimal strings for her drop-tuned bass.

One of her 4-bangers is permanently tuned at C#-G#-C#-F#. Neck relief is about 0.012". She is a very aggressive player, and gets fret buzz in the 1st to 5th fret range unless I raise the action at the bridge. I increased the neck relief a bit to avoid having too-high action at the highest frets. She lives all over the fretboard, so it is a series of compromises.

At first, I was going to string with EB Slinky 55,75,90,110. Then I got to thinking she might be better off with using strings 2~5 from a five string set instead. This would be 60,75,95 and 125. At first these might be better used as cables for the Golden Gate Bridge, but in a drop-tune situation, they might be just the ticket?

Thoughts?

 

[Dead Seven]

I just switched to 60-80-100-120-145 for a similar tuning, I'll let you know what I think after a few days of playing.

The 110 was still a little too flabby for me at C#...

 

[bgavin]

I decided not to use a 5-string set.

I had a long conversation with Bill Lawrence about string stretching, and he convinced me that once a string is stretched to the point where the modulus of elasticity is destroyed, it will never hold tune. The last thing any bassist needs is a string constantly going out of tune. Bill is vehemently opposed to "string stretching" during installation.

I'm looking at bridge cables, all down-tuned. The biggest I have found so far are GHS Bass Boomers H3045. These are 50,75,95,115 gauge. Her standard .105 E string tension isn't bad at C#, so I figure the .115 will have more tension at the same tuning without stretching.

The closest Slinkies are #2831 sized as 55,75,90,110.

 

[Caca de Kick]

Does she have to have nickel strings? I have a project where I tune C#G#C#F#, I still use stainless 45-105's and have no problem with tensions and I play with a heavy hand too. stainless keeps a great tight feel.
There's no way I could use nickel strings, they're just too floppy and bend way too easy for drop tuning. I would also think going to fatter strings would kinda kill the resonance you're used to having

 

[bgavin]

She has been playing DR Lo-Rider Nickels, which are nickel-plated steel. As an experiment (read: in a hurry, local store out of stock) we installed and setup DR Lo-Rider stainless 0.045~.105. Frankly, they feel nasty to me (and to her), but she is dealing with it for the next two gigs. They are pretty floppy and require a high action to avoid fret buzz.

Some players are using .132 B-strings, and tuning them up to C#. They report having no problems from string stretching, such as failing to hold tuning.

This is new ground for me doing the setup, as I'm not a drop tuner.

 

[n!k]

Use the 5 string set for a show and experiment. I've seen this done and I never heard of tuning problems.

A friend of mine switched to tiny, tiny frets to help down-tune without noise. That's kind of a bold move, but something to consider if that bass is always way down low.

 

[NPKBass]

I am having a similar issue. I just bought a new stingray which was set up when i got it. I have the same buzz issue though i use "standard tuning". I am considering upgrading to 55,75,90,110 EBs from 50-70-85-105. This is the second time i have gone up in gauge w strings on this bass and it seemed to help the first time though the strings still feel a bit floppy. Would you recommend this? Should I give stainless steel a try?
I havnt had this issue on my other basses however the Stingray is by far the highest quality bass Ive purchased.

 

[MrMusashi]

to get about the same tension as a 105 at e, id think a 125 or a 130 for the c# string would be fine. also id recommend that you file new cuts in the nut to accomodate for the thicker strings. unless they can slide easily in the slots strings might end up out of tune. they get pinched in the too tight slots and when they move they dont return to the same point they started from.. aka not in tune anymore

hth!

MrM