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francric

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I don't see why there should be any problem using a thicker gauge and tuning lower with a proper setup. If JP can do it and umm me, then everyone should. I have to admit though, my tech is the best and only EBMM certifiable in the biz....;)
 

Big Poppa

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francric said:
I don't see why there should be any problem using a thicker gauge and tuning lower with a proper setup. If JP can do it and umm me, then everyone should. I have to admit though, my tech is the best and only EBMM certifiable in the biz....;)
hey kids why dont you want to accept the fact that the lower you go the longer the scale length required?
 

Biggles13

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Just wondering why the g string fluttered. No one can answer. LOL Was hoping that there would be an answer to the question. Above a certain guage i had to go to a wound string of the same guage, would this not rule out needing to open the nuts and needing to set the intonation? I had my guitar setup and the intonation was good so that wasnt the cause either. Just curious what it is about some guitars that would make the string warble. There has to be an explanation and if anyone has it then I would know if it was fixable or if the only solution for my guitar is a wound string. lol
All anybody says is..it needs a setup...might as well just say oh i know whats wrong...it needs to be fixed....LOL well no kidding YEAH i know it needs to be fixed.duhhhhhhhhhhh lol What are the possible reasons that a string could warble or flutter????
 

Biggles13

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Sweet!!! an actual answer!!!!! no one suggested that yet lol.
I still wonder why a wound third alleviated the flutter of the 3rd string?
TY!!
 

francric

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Big Poppa said:
hey kids why dont you want to accept the fact that the lower you go the longer the scale length required?

I'm not saying I'm not accepting this fact. You are correct and the expert. I'm just saying it can be done.
 

Big Poppa

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francric said:
I'm not saying I'm not accepting this fact. You are correct and the expert. I'm just saying it can be done.
how can it be done? explain the tension vs scale length and tell me how you can make viola strings sound good on a violin
 

Shadewalker

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Big Poppa said:
how can it be done? explain the tension vs scale length and tell me how you can make viola strings sound good on a violin

The increased gauge compensates for the lack of tension which would normally occur if tuning down regular strings. Granted, the strings don't sound and feel like e.g. 9-42 in standard E, especially plain strings gauge 20 and beyond, but it's a much better solution than being tuned down to C using floppy strings.
 

Big Poppa

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Shadewalker said:
The increased gauge compensates for the lack of tension which would normally occur if tuning down regular strings. Granted, the strings don't sound and feel like e.g. 9-42 in standard E, especially plain strings gauge 20 and beyond, but it's a much better solution than being tuned down to C using floppy strings.
The increased gauge only goes so far...thats why electric basses aren't 25" scale
 

shamus63

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jongitarz said:
I miss the days when all guitars were tuned E to E *sigh*

I'll see that hand, and raise you a wish for permanent 440 tuning!

I hate having to down-tune and then retune for the sake of playing with different people...I can only hope it doesn't do a number on my neck.
 

Rayan

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LightZ&ZoundZ-TheStarYekGeneRation

Big Poppa said:
The increased gauge only goes so far...thats why electric basses aren't 25" scale
~
On another planet during the time before digicameras, in the KodaChrome epoch, there was a principle known to the sages that 'before you can learn how to break the rules, you must first learn how to live by them' ...

shamus63 said:
... I hate having to down-tune and then retune for the sake of playing with different people...I can only hope it doesn't do a number on my neck.

Funny thing
- last times I saw Eric C in concert, he didn't make Nathan E retune even once
~

/R
 

Big Poppa

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francric said:
Then how far should you only go with Beefy's and Not even Slinky's???


I dont understand your question...but I cant find a way to explain the compromises you make to de tune two + steps on a regular scale guitar. We offer the beefy and not even because too many musicians were having to make these sets up out of the gauge box and were experiencing dificulty getting regular supply. Should we not package sets that customers are demanding? If it was my guitar and I needed to de tune I would use a set with wound third. In other words I would sacrifice the feel that I was used to (plain g) for the better tone of a wound one. With a wound string you can get the proper tension to make the string ring.
 

francric

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First, I just want to say I'm not trying to be a smart a$$ with my questions or comments. I just want to understand and get it right. I'm currently using Beefy's. I'm using them because they are "optimal for detuning". But if I understand you correctly, detuning to C standard, too much, I'm not getting the best tone from the g string? To get the proper tone use a wound g string. Which one of your sets has a wound 22 g string? What I meant before was what would be the lowest you would detune with the Beefy's or Not Even Slinky's so they ring true.
 

Biggles13

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Not even slinkys with a wound third are indeed asolutely the best for tuning to C,
they sound perfect and give just the right amount of tension. BRAVO! P.S. wish they made a set with the wound third :) :)
 

shamus63

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Rayan said:
Funny thing
- last times I saw Eric C in concert, he didn't make Nathan E retune even once
~
/R

I'm not quite sure of the connection between my comment and Eric Clapton/Nathan East, so I'll have to assume that Eric and Nathan don't have their instruments tuned the same...? Given that Nathan usually plays a five-string, he has the option of transposing to hit anything below 440 E; I play a 4-banger.

Anyway, my point is that there are times (as in the case of my current original band) that I have to drop-tune a half step to match their tuning (actually, 1.5 steps for the E string; D-tuned; pun), then retune to 440 for the hired-gun gigs I do (or to woodshed most cover songs).

That constant change in string tension can't be good for the neck. No matter how well-built it is, it's still wood.

When I get the cash for a second Bongo, that'll solve the problem for me. :D
 
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SR5Cam

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shamus63 said:
I'm not quite sure of the connection between my comment and Eric Clapton/Nathan East, so I'll have to assume that Eric and Nathan don't have their instruments tuned the same...? Given that Nathan usually plays a five-string, he has the option of transposing to hit anything below 440 E; I play a 4-banger.

Anyway, my point is that there are times (as in the case of my current original band) that I have to drop-tune a half step to match their tuning (actually, 1.5 steps for the E string; D-tuned; pun), then retune to 440 for the hired-gun gigs I do (or to woodshed most cover songs).

This might be nitpicky, but i was getting confused.

440 = A.

Yeah, i know 440 could be used a reference to standard pitch, but-saying A440 is a reference to the frequency rather than the half step/whole steps. E.g. if someone said "let's tune in Drop D"-unless if you guys really wanted to get weird, A would still = 440, except your tuning would just be different.

Transposing to hit something lower than an E on a 5 string? I have a feeling this is something i'm not understanding since i just came back to these forums. It is my understanding that transposing is when you change to a different key-up or down by step [or more]. Like say someone calls Green Dolphin Street in A minor and you learned it in C minor-you would be transposing the changes from the key that you know them into the key that you are going to be playing them.

A bit of background is in order before the regulars here tear me to shreds for questioning a regular here.....I typically stay over @ Talkbass.com, my user name is CamMcIntyre. I'm 19, play Ray5, and am a jazz major in Chicago. I've been playing Bass Guitar for 8 years or so now, and string bass for 4 years.

I realize i could be completely out of line, except the terminology just didn't line up with what i have learned.

That's all
 
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