String tension compensation calculation (low B)

jeff_ulmer · Post by **jeff_ulmer** » Mon Feb 17, 2003 8:42 am

Say that ten times fast!

I routinely tune down a semitone, but find that the low B in particular on my 4003/S5 is too floppy and indistinct (it works, but barely). At A440 tuning the strings have the tension and tone, so I'm wondering how much heavier I'd need the strings to be to keep the same tension as the originals when tuned down, in this case to Bb. Is there a way to calculate the string tension easily, or is someone already using a guage that works for that low B?

Trial and error is a possibility, but the nut would have to be recut to accomodate anything much bigger than the stock sizes, which are pretty light. I don't want to overly stress the neck, just get it so the low B has enough tension not to be floppy.

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Mon Feb 17, 2003 9:15 am

Floppy low b strings are a problem on many basses ... I have 2 4003s5's a 1989 white with black trim and a 1990 midnite blue with black trim. I got the 1989 first, it has a little flop on the B string, then I got the blue one, it has a marvelous neck with a nice b string .... so what's the deal ...

I'll get back to that ...

I also had a made in Mexico 5 string jazz bass, it came with a defective neck, broken truss rod adjustment, So I put an American Fender neck on it. It was ok except for a floppy B string, so I put it aside and didn't play it much. Then I picked it up again and I adjusted the the truss rod so the neck was almost flat .... wow the B string tightened up ... I sold the bass and the guy who bought it loves it.

So why did one of my Ric's have a better b string than the other? Neck adjustment ... The one bass has an almost flat neck the other one has a little curl up at the end ...

The point is when you flatten out the neck on any bass you make it a little longer and that tightens up the strings a little. When you do this you may have to raise the bridge to compensate.

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Mon Feb 17, 2003 9:23 am

Also you can go to a fatter string .... most sets come with a .125 b string ... you can try a .130 or a .135 ... on some basses this will increase fret buzz a lot.

I had a 4 string jazz bass that I detuned to D G C F tunning ... and I used .110 .90 .70 .50 gauge strings ... just a little fatter ... you may be able to use the same nut or maybe just a little sanding will fix it ... you can take a little piece of fine sand paper and fold it over and slip it in the groove and sand out a few thousands ot an inch ...

johnhall · Post by **johnhall** » Mon Feb 17, 2003 11:16 am

Here are a few string tension calculators that might help you figure this out:

Standalone

Javascript/Web Browser

Standalone- Not Tested

jeff_ulmer · Post by **jeff_ulmer** » Mon Feb 17, 2003 12:52 pm

Thanks for the links John.

According to the Rickenbacker site, the S5 ships with 45-55-75-105-115, so the B is pretty light compared to a lot of other basses.

On my bass, the neck is pretty much flat at standard tuning, and back bows when detuned, so the added tension from a larger string guage should compensate for both issues.

I would like to do as littl modifying of the nut as possible for obvious reasons. I'll see if the calculatir yields results I can use. I don't know the density of Ric's strings to use as a baseline, but I'm sure I can get close somehow.

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Mon Feb 17, 2003 2:06 pm

I use these gauges on my 4003s5's

.045 .065 .080 .105 .126

I used to use lighter strings but they were a little thinner sounding ...