Tuning To Drop C

[PrentissCarr]

I am in a project that tunes and plays in Drop C. I also do a lot of writing in standard tuning though. Is it going to mess up my Rickenbacker Bass if I tune back and forth from standard to drop C? (the drop C tuning I use on my bass is CGCF). I know it is best to just have one of my basses tuned standard and the other in drop c and just keep them in their respective tunings and use the one I need for the given tuning but now that I have a Rick I don't want to play the other bass I want to use the Rick for all my playing.

[JackTheRipper]

I play in Drop C (CGCF), Drop D (DADG) and standard tuning and use separate basses for each tuning. You wouldn't be able to tune to Drop C and standard tuning with the same set of strings and maintain acceptable string tension. The drop tunings will require larger gauge strings to maintain an acceptable string tension. And you may have to file the nut to accept the larger gauge.

For Drop C, I use DR DDT strings (.115, .095, .075, .055)
For Drop D, I use D'Addario ProSteels (.110, .085, .065, .45)
For standard tuning, I use Circle K (.106, .076, .055, .045)

I like the DR and D'Addario for the drop tunings because the tone is fine and they are much cheaper than the Circle K's. I get them from BassStringsOnline.com and have had excellent service from them. If you were to go with Circle K strings for the drop tunings, this is what Skip recommended:

Drop C: .130, .086, .065, .047
Drop D: .118, .079, .059, .043

--jack

[Kopfjaeger]

Question, do you do anything in drop D? Here is why I ask. You need to drop 4 semi tones on the first string but only 2 on the other 3. If you did anything in drop d you could use a Drop tune pedal to get you where you need to be by dropping everythign two semi tones. Just a thiought.

Our band does a bit of alternate tunings but many in EADG (all flat). I use a drop tune pedal to get me there since I use a balanced tension string and I'm very happy with the tension. I don't think I'd like the floppiness of a half step down. For me, it's the best of both worlds.

Sepp

[kennyhowes]

I have a 330 that I think I might set up just for Drop C. Not for playing metal (eww!) but more to play stuff like this:

[JackTheRipper]

Question, do you do anything in drop D? Here is why I ask. You need to drop 4 semi tones on the first string but only 2 on the other 3. If you did anything in drop d you could use a Drop tune pedal to get you where you need to be by dropping everythign two semi tones. Just a thiought.

Our band does a bit of alternate tunings but many in EADG (all flat). I use a drop tune pedal to get me there since I use a balanced tension string and I'm very happy with the tension. I don't think I'd like the floppiness of a half step down. For me, it's the best of both worlds.

Sepp

I didn't do anything for drop D (DADG) except use a larger gauge D string. Neck is fine and I didn't have to file the nut. I tried it with the .106 gauge, but didn't like the string tension.

If I had known much about the pitch shift pedals when I was learning the songs in drop tuning (Godsmack stuff), I would probably have gone that route with a DigiTech Whammy.

--jack

[edski]

I've dropped my low E a minor third to C# at the most, but as Jack mentions it get's floppy if you expect to go down that far with the same guage string.

If you are going to do just drop the E to D I think that a little heavier string would accomodate both tunings well.

I recall reading about a guy who tunes his bass like a cello, in fifths from low C, and he used a 5 string bass set of string to get his 4 strings (as well as a custom cut nut). Tuning C-F-Bb-Eb (which what I think you mean by "Drop C") might require modding the guages enought to use the low 4 strings of a 5 string set, and cutting the nut differently also.

[Kopfjaeger]

Yup, when I dropped my E to D I went with a .112 string and I was very pleased with the tone and feel of the string. The Whammy DT is a decent pedal but quite pricey. I've yet to fully put it through it's paces but it works fine at a semi tone or two dropped. Anything more and it gets muddy. That's my initial impression. That and it takes up a huge amount of space on my board.

Sepp

[w3stoner]

I'm the tunes like a Cello guy...

It started when I was looking into getting a five string and couldn't find one I like, nor could I have afforded one had I found it.
I got the idea from a bass player magazine article by Michael Manring which was talking about his brother Doug who tunes CGDG.
As I also play cello it was a no brainer. $30-ish bucks for a string, file out the nut a bit and viola! (Which is tuned an octave above
cello CGDA). Before I went this route I tried a hipshot d-tuner on my Jazz. It wasn't low enough. So On the Jazz with the hipshot I
now have A/C,G,D,G (I occasionally tune the high G up to A for the full on cello tuning but only occasionally).

In 2001 I was fortunate enough to buy a 4002FL (Walnut) and after a brief moment filed the nut and the tailpiece to accomodate
the larger string. I've not put a hipshot on it, I just tune down to A when I need to. It's a bit thin with the A alone but add an octave
on the G and it's a glorious pedal tone.

At any rate I use TI Jazz flats on the Rick and GHS Progressives on the Jazz. And I have a whole box full of unused E strings.

Thomastik-Infeld T-I JAZZ Flatwound - 5 String Set
34" Long Scale:
.136 - Tuned to C (sometimes down to A)
.070 - Tuned to G
.056 - Tuned to D
.043 - Tuned to G (Sometimes up to A)

.100 - put in a box

[coolingitdown]

I'm very intrigued by tuning in fifths. I'm just not sure I could wrap my head around it. I would also think the physical aspect of it would be tough given the scale length.

Maybe one day I'll tune one of my basses that way and give it a shot.

[w3stoner]

It's not too bad scale length wise, it's basically the same scale cello itself.
Though I do admit that that is why I tune CGDG not full on CGDA. It does
save on some shifting.

[psychomatthias]

I like to tune my 8 string Rick in fifths.... the fundamentals anyway. Currently, it's tuned (low to high): cC gG aD eA.

A good tuning in fifths article: http://www.dennismasuzzo.com/bassinfifthsarticle.htm

[iiipopes]

And why not just a conventional 5-string?