Heavy Gauge String on Bongo??

[BongoPeg]

I have a 6 String Bongo HS, and it is currently stringed with 130 - 35 gauge Rotosounds (just trying them out, normally string with Ernies which are 130 - 32 gauge I do believe).

Now for some of the music I want to play I need to tune down to A (Symphony X, some Dream Theater) and 130 gauge will do. The strings are a little loose but it works fine.

Recently I have run into a few bands that tune down to G
130 - 35 does not provide enough tension for tuning that low.

I was wondering what gauge strings would be appropriate and whether ESPECIALLY if the Bongo can handle the tension of a heavy gauge like 140.

I know there are 135 ernies but does the long scale of Bongo 6s matter?

I don't profess to know a lot, which is why I seek advice from you guys

 

[BongoPeg]

No one has an answer for me on this? I figured someone would know.

 

[MK Bass Weed]

I've used 140s in the past, to tune down to an A with a 34" scale bass no problem...

I ditched the idea as I had to widen the nut on the bass, which...is something I'm not doing with my EBMM... So to answer your question with no scientific evidence to back it up:

To me...the larger the gauge...the more fundamental you get out of the string, the less 'flop' you get when you tune down...you can find Whopping big strings out there on the web...and you're looking at $7 bucks...just try it!


Hope this helps

 

[BongoPeg]

Thanks, I was pretty sure it would be fine. I just am just very cautious... I'm a young guy with not a ton of money so my Bongo 6 is like I had a daughter... I would go out of my way to make sure no harm comes to it. lol

 

[kamakazee]

I tune to drop A sometimes on my Bongo 6 on Ernie Ball Mediums and it works just fine. I'm assuming you mean detuning all 6 strings a full step? If you balance out gauge vs tuning, you can achieve close to standard tension ( like MK Bass Weed said, I'd also be afraid of boring out the nut - it would be a somewhat permanent modification). Call customer service and see if you can buy an extra nut in case you change your mind later. Hope that helps!

 

[Golem]

`

A 130 or 140, or ANY low-B for that matter, is a low-tension
string ....very low. So have no fear, neck-wise, of the the
"higher tension" of a thicker low-B, cuz it's still very low.

The rest of the string set will tune down a whole step quite
easily, even if it's in the 100/105 range [E-string], and you
are asking only for a half step down. I tune all my 34" 4's
to DGCF [whole step down] as my normal tuning.

So don't worry about tension on your neck, but, as others
have advised, DO get a spare nut ! [or 2 or 3]


`

 

[BongoPeg]

Ackkkk That's too bad. I am not going to change the nut on my bass. I might have to try it on my crappy old F****r Squire because I don't really care about it much, just that I won't have the amazing tone and playability that my Bongo has

And yea, when I tune down to A, I tune all my strings down a whole step (ADGCFA#)(I'm pretty sure that is right), and with G, 2 whole steps :O

Good to know before I did permanent damage though

 

[kamakazee]

If you're just playing those super low tunings for fun, try a pitch shifter Or become famous, endorsed and ask EBMM to make a 7 string bongo with a low F# !