Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I've got a question for you folks:

I'm just about to start playing with a group that I played with a bit six months ago or so. Anyways, a few of their songs require some lower tuning of the E (mostly D, but one song down to C#). With my old Mexican Fender I didn't really worry, but because I'm significantly more invested with my Rick, I was a bit worried going up and down with the tuning throughout the course of a practice. Am I just being ridiculous, or is there anything to worry about when regularly changing the tuning?

Thanks!

No worries.

Are you going to drop-tune (C# - A - D - G) or tune down three half steps across the board (C# - F# - B - E)? The latter will be easier to adjust to from a playing point of view and should result in more even tension across the neck (using heavier strings). You may need to have the nut slots filed a tad....

I use a hipshot D tuner and I go back and forth drop D to E all the time. No ill effects.

Just drop tuning the E.

I'm not worried about any playing adjustments - I was just worried (probably irrationally, but I love my bass!) about changing the tension of that string up and down repeatedly. You know what I mean?

But it seems the consensus is that I was worried over nothing.

Thanks, guys!

Yep, not to worry!

Or should I say, don't fret?

i used a 110-50 set on my '64 and '68, but we were tuned a semi tone down across the board, then dropping that 110 down to c sharp(D) to play the meanest "D" chord you ever did seed ! never had any problems.