strings

[DAIZSECONDSKIN]

i play metal, basically batter the life out of my guitar, i have a crazy tuning set up for 5 string , it's c g c(octave higher), c octave hiigher same as previous) and f, what strings and gauge should i use for my sr? i want low end think massive attack and activey rattle, think primus,

 

[shaver]

wow

 

[bovinehost]

I guess I'm with Shaver on this one.

 

[midopa]

Cheeeater~~~

 

[fifthorange]

damn
that is very interesting. um, i would have to say that you should go for a really heavy gauge. i would probably go with dr strings, heavy gauge of those with boost up you volume a little bit, give you a very, very deep tone, especially with your tuning, and give you a good attack. try them out.

 

[dlloyd]

i play metal, basically batter the life out of my guitar, i have a crazy tuning set up for 5 string , it's c g c(octave higher), c octave hiigher same as previous) and f, what strings and gauge should i use for my sr? i want low end think massive attack and activey rattle, think primus,

Okay, let's see if I understand this right...

You use, from low to high:

C, one semitone above standard B
G, three semitones above standard E
C, three semitones above standard A
C, two semitones below standard D
F, two semitones below standard G

I'd use something like this:

.130, .090, .070, .070, .050

You'll probably need to get a nut custom cut for that.

If you're wanting to know what type of strings to use... For metal, you'll really want roundwounds, probably stainless steel if you've got a rosewood fingerboard on the bass. I'd go with Rotosounds, if only because you're in the UK and Rotos are cheapest to assemble custom sets from.

Check out www.stringsdirect.co.uk

I've bought strings from them on several occasions, they're quick, cheap and have a huge range compared with all Glasgow guitar shops.

They'll also order stuff for you that they don't list on their website. Ernie Ball singles work out a bit more expensive than the Rotosound singles.

 

[cgworkman]

i have a crazy tuning set up for 5 string , it's c g c(octave higher), c octave hiigher same as previous) and f

Why?

 

[DAIZSECONDSKIN]

strings and things

i don't know musical theory at all, i' cant read music and i don't really know about semitones etc, the only way i can describe it to u is, the heavyest string is c which is higher than the standard b then it's like normal tuning for downtuning to c u know c g c then the next strings the same then it an f.

 

[dlloyd]

i don't know musical theory at all, i' cant read music and i don't really know about semitones etc, the only way i can describe it to u is, the heavyest string is c which is higher than the standard b then it's like normal tuning for downtuning to c u know c g c then the next strings the same then it an f.

A semitone is the difference you can hear between adjacent frets.

Play an open string... then play the first fret on the same string. That's a semitone difference.

So what I described would be:

5th (heaviest) string: C, like the 1st fret on the 5th string of a standard tuned bass.
4th string: G, like the 3rd fret, 4th string of a standard tuned bass.
3rd string: C, like the 3rd fret, 3rd string of a standard tuned bass.
2nd string: C, like the 3rd fret, 3rd string of a standard tuned bass.
1st string (lightest): F, like the 3rd fret, 2nd string of a standard tuned bass.

Is that right?

 

[DAIZSECONDSKIN]

thats right, i know it's a bit mad isn't it, but it was the way my singer/guitarist suggested would worka few years ago, cause we play in c a few years ago, said it would be the only way to do it if i wanted the top string to be c, because of string tention. i know it's a bit restrictive cause of the 2 strings the same but i cant really play the bass any other way now ... is this right tho, or is there another way i could set up but keeping c as top string? would like to have 5 differant strings.

 

[midopa]

So you're a metal head, eh? I have a metal head friend and I've been trying to convert him to MM basses (he refuses to pick up the Bongo, however ), but everytime we drop by a guitar place, there are no MM basses in sight! Only OLPs! Anyway, how has your experience been with MM basses for the metal genre?

 

[dlloyd]

thats right, i know it's a bit mad isn't it, but it was the way my singer/guitarist suggested would worka few years ago, cause we play in c a few years ago, said it would be the only way to do it if i wanted the top string to be c, because of string tention. i know it's a bit restrictive cause of the 2 strings the same but i cant really play the bass any other way now ... is this right tho, or is there another way i could set up but keeping c as top string? would like to have 5 differant strings.

You could tune to C,F,Bb,Eb,Ab... which would be a standard five string tuning up a semitone.

(I assume by top string you mean the heaviest string?)

 

[DAIZSECONDSKIN]

mm is the only way to go with metal, i had a yamaha b4 i saw the light, but i can't speak highly enough about my guitar, amazing amazing sound, so rich, the thing that impressed me the most is as soon as you hit a note, u realise the differance instantly and the volume of the notes u play is the same all over the neck any of the strings. buy the way even th i play in a metal band i'm more into more chilled out stuff, massive attack r my favorite.

 

[DAIZSECONDSKIN]

cheers mate, i'll give that a bash, will have to transpose everything i've done in the last 3 years , but it might b worth it to have that extra differantly tuned string, what do u think??do u thnk it'kl b worth it? also will it not be bad for the tention of the neck?that was the advise way back then? and sorry about my delayed responce , sneakin shot of internet at work man.

 

[dlloyd]

cheers mate, i'll give that a bash, will have to transpose everything i've done in the last 3 years , but it might b worth it to have that extra differantly tuned string, what do u think??do u thnk it'kl b worth it? also will it not be bad for the tention of the neck?that was the advise way back then? and sorry about my delayed responce , sneakin shot of internet at work man.

No worse than putting on a heavier set of strings. You'll need to set the truss rod. If you're getting a tech to do it you'll have to specify the tuning.

 

[DAIZSECONDSKIN]

i'm torn between the fact that i'll have an extra string if i do that and the fact my guitarists is saying "remember we have a dropped string daiz" and "everything i play would be entirley differant from them and it will take ages to figure new stuff" they tune to ...is it "drop c" it's called? and we usually just look at each others guitars when trying to teach each otherr new stuff. i think i could adapt tho, but do u think it would be a big benifit having that extra differant string?

 

[midopa]

Think of it as a kind of training on the bass. Instead of just looking at fret positions and mimicking guitarists, you'll be listening to the notes instead and play your own thing.

 

[skabassist13]

if your guitarist is using drop c tuning(which would basicly be drop d but two semitones lower) then the tuning would be C G C F A. but if youve got a 5 string why tune up when you can tune down and be able to get that much lower than your guitarist and add way more bottom. you could tune like ryan martinie from mudvayne. they use a drop c tuning. when he plays a 4 string he uses CGCF tuning. but when he plays a 5 he uses G C G C F. just think of the bottom you could get doing it that way. or to make things simple sell your 5, get a four, and then tune to C G C F. that ought to do you very well. ohh, and a trick i learned from shavo (system of a down) is to use a 5 string set on a 4 string. use the B string in place of the E, get rid of the E and use the other 3 like you normally would. so basicly its taking the B string, putting it on and tuning it up to C and then taking the normal three stings and tuning them down to G C F. just a few thoughts.
Travis

 

[DAIZSECONDSKIN]

aaargh the possibilities.dunno, wouldn't want to sell my mm, ever. and if i tune dow to g, would i lose a lot of note definition? WOULD THE STRING NOT BE REALLY HANGING OFF MAN?

 

[dlloyd]

aaargh the possibilities.dunno, wouldn't want to sell my mm, ever. and if i tune dow to g, would i lose a lot of note definition? WOULD THE STRING NOT BE REALLY HANGING OFF MAN?

It's all to do with set up. You've got to start with the right string. Check out Jaquo III-X. I know nothing about his music, but he's got a four string (amongst even dafter instruments) that's tuned to C#, F#, B, E, going from low to high. That's with his highest two strings being the same as the lowest two on a standard five string:

http://www.jauqoiii-xreality.com/jauqo-gear.html

He uses .185, .165, .145, .120 strings. Them's big.

To go to those extremes you have to get the strings custom made... but you should be able to find (mail order) a string that would cope with a G. Then you have to get the bass set up, which will definately require a new nut.

The question then becomes one of whether your amp could accurately reproduce a note that low. And, further down the line, if you ever get into putting out recorded material, can any standard hi-fi reproduce it? Is there any point in bothering?