Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Because I always get to play with guitarists that secretly want to play bass, I need a solution. I used to play drop D (on a stingray back then) but haven't done it for ten years now. And besides liking the feel and string tension of a standard tuning on my recently bought Ric (yes, me = Ric noobie), I also prefer playing in standard intervals to in a drop D tuning. So I might go one step down for DGCF but what do I have to be aware of?

string gauge?
neck tension?
truss rod adjustment?
dumb idea because of the short scale? (which I wasn't even aware of until today's read in this forum....!)
what else?

Is the Ric even build for lower tunings? Doesn't it get kind of compromised? Not to get religious about it but I got a Ric for what it is. I still have the Stingray and a Squire Jazz as alternatives but I'd be happy not having to take too many basses out on stage.

I've used 4001's tuned to BEAD and C#, F#, E, B. I needed to used heavier gauge strings at the time. When I tuned to BEAD, I used the 4 lower strings of a D'Addario XL-170/5 set: .130 - .100 -.080[ .065. When I tuned to C#, F#, E, B, I used a GHS which had the strings gauges: .115 - .095 - .070 - .050. Both of these 3001's are back to standard tuning now. They set up well then and sounded/played great. They are set up well now and still/sound/play great. I think you 'll want a string set that goes from a .110 E string to a .050 G string. Your 4003 will be fine. It will just have to be setup for the set of strings you use.

I have a 2009 4003 strung with DR Lo-Rider nickels. I do occasional drop D songs. The 105 4th string makes the grade 95% of the time. If my action is a hair too low, it clanks, which can be cool at times, annoying at others. Dane Wilder recommended I try a D'Addario XL nickel 110 4th string, which worked like a champ!

I tune my 4003 DGCF for my band. I have not had any issues whatsoever!

I'll go point by point for you:

String gauge: You will want something a little bit on the heavy side to compensate for the slackness of the string. I used to have a La Bella flat wound set gauged .049, .069, .089, .109 on my bass, and that worked out pretty well. I now have the Circle K Balanced .112 round wound set installed and tuned DGCF, and, after giving it a shot in rehearsal last night, I must say that it sounds fantastic and the action is phenomenal! Much improved over the La Bella set. I can't recommend Circle Ks highly enough.

Neck Tension and Truss Rod adjustment: Given that you have a heavier set of strings that is tuned down a bit, the tension on the neck won't be too much different than a lighter set tuned standard. Any time you change strings your bass will need a neck adjustment, but don't think for a second that your Rick's neck can't handle heavier strings tuned down.

dumb idea because of the "short scale" (quotation marks mine): 3/4" shorter than standard is not nearly enough of a difference to consider it a short scale. Believe me, the difference is minimal. It will have no effect on your ability to drop tune.

From experience, I can tell you that you have nothing to worry about. A Stingray or a Squire Jazz (assuming a standard 34" scale) won't be "built for lower tunings" any more than a Rick is.

Get a new set of strings, get your Rick all set up, and have fun!

+1 on the 112-115s.

Dropping down even a half-step with stock strings will give you some flap at the harmonic position up the neck, if you're an aggressive player. Bad tone, and fret wear are the result. Do increase the string diameters to bring the tension up.

jingle_jangle wrote:+1 on the 112-115s.

Dropping down even a half-step with stock strings will give you some flap at the harmonic position up the neck, if you're an aggressive player. Bad tone, and fret wear are the result. Do increase the string diameters to bring the tension up.

Paul, for a drop D player, would you recommend just leaving a 110~115 in the 4th all the time, and tuning from E to D as needed?

Depends on how you think the low E feels tuned to E. If it feels too stiff to you, there's your answer. It's possible to substitute another brand of strings of the same weight and get a better feel.

However, my experience as a luthier (not a player...) leads me to believe that most bass players are loathe to experiment with strings, and prefer to play.

Notice I said "most", please.

jingle_jangle wrote:Notice I said "most", please.

Good thing, too.

jingle_jangle wrote: However, my experience as a luthier (not a player...) leads me to believe that most bass players are loathe to experiment with strings, and prefer to play.

Ah... yup! One of these days I'm gonna get around to trying all of those different brands of strings I've been accumulating... Or maybe I'll just sell 'em...

cjj wrote:Ah... yup! One of these days I'm gonna get around to trying all of those different brands of strings I've been accumulating... Or maybe I'll just sell 'em...

Got a set or two of TI Jazz Flats JF345s?

jps wrote:

cjj wrote:Ah... yup! One of these days I'm gonna get around to trying all of those different brands of strings I've been accumulating... Or maybe I'll just sell 'em...

Got a set or two of TI Jazz Flats JF345s?

No, but I keep hearing about them and thinking I should get a set to try. Right after the Chromes and Laballa DTF's I haven't used yet...

jingle_jangle wrote:+1 on the 112-115s.

Dropping down even a half-step with stock strings will give you some flap at the harmonic position up the neck, if you're an aggressive player. Bad tone, and fret wear are the result. Do increase the string diameters to bring the tension up.

I guess you've never listened to certain (not all) death metal bands where that, "Bad tone" and "Who cares about wear to the instrument" are the norm.

Some bands take drop tuning too far. I auditioned with a group whose guitarist played in "drop C." It just seemed silly to me. I swear I'm going to come across a band sometime in my life that plays in "drop E." Actually, I read a post on a different forum where a guy was asking if, since his bass player was sick and couldn't make it to practice, he should get one of his three guitarists to drop an octave to try to simulate bass!

jingle_jangle wrote:Depends on how you think the low E feels tuned to E. If it feels too stiff to you, there's your answer. It's possible to substitute another brand of strings of the same weight and get a better feel.

However, my experience as a luthier (not a player...) leads me to believe that most bass players are loathe to experiment with strings, and prefer to play.

Notice I said "most", please.

I find this to be true of myself mainly because bass strings aren't very cheap and even so it may take considerable time for them to break in (if you're using flats for instance).

It's not like a guitar set of strings you can pick up for $6 and just start playing and what you hear is pretty much what you get.

Bass... well, we deal and do the job despite the difficulties.

NFB-418 wrote:I swear I'm going to come across a band sometime in my life that plays in "drop E."

I done that with my Elfin 5. WICKED!!!