5 string bass for drop tuning?

[Bukkar]

Hi,

I need a 5 string bass for drop B tuning to use for studio recordings. i would say my price range would be £600-£800. Also what gauge strings would be best?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Plastalmonus]

If it is a 5 string then it'd be better to have B Standard. Drop B is a bit redundant.

Tuning for a standard 5 string s BEADG.

I run 45-130 gauge. I also prefer extended scale for 5 strings and have had good tone from both my Dingwall and LTD B1005MS.

 

[bholder]

DR DDTs are good strings for drop tunings.

 

[chris_b]

I haven't tried any basses in your price range but I know a 5 string bass would do an excellent job for you.

 

[AdamR]

I'm guessing he's going lower than B. I would look for something with a 35" scale.

 

[theduke1]

I play 5 string and our band drops 1/2 step and I help a band that drops a whole step so what I did was purchased a Digitech Drop not cheap but works very well. Standard tuning but the range I need
Duke

 

[bholder]

I'm guessing he's going lower than B. I would look for something with a 35" scale.

Lots of great choices in that price range. The Sire M7 5er is 35", I think at least some of the Ibanez 5ers (BTB?) are, I'm sure there are other competitive choices (especially if you consider used as well).

 

[mesaplayer83]

Lots of great choices in that price range. The Sire M7 5er is 35", I think at least some of the Ibanez 5ers (BTB?) are, I'm sure there are other competitive choices (especially if you consider used as well).

5ers by Spector and Schecter are typically 35"..

 

[mesaplayer83]

I play 5 string and our band drops 1/2 step and I help a band that drops a whole step so what I did was purchased a Digitech Drop not cheap but works very well. Standard tuning but the range I need
Duke

Those are really good to atleast a full step, maybe more - very transparent...

 

[AdamR]

5ers by Spector and Schecter are typically 35"..

Euros and US spectors. Not sure about Legends

 

[AdamR]

Lots of great choices in that price range. The Sire M7 5er is 35", I think at least some of the Ibanez 5ers (BTB?) are, I'm sure there are other competitive choices (especially if you consider used as well).

BTB is 35" there's some Peaveys too

 

[mesaplayer83]

Euros and US spectors. Not sure about Legends

Legends are, too - I had a couple of them...

 

[lz4005]

I need a 5 string bass for drop B tuning to use for studio recordings.
Also what gauge strings would be best?

"Drop B" is a really odd tuning to use on a 5.
Just to be sure, you're talking about tuning BF#BEA with the low B the same as a standard tuned 5 and the rest of the strings up a whole step from standard?

 

[AdamR]

He said 1 bans is a half step low, the other is a full step. So B flat and A standard.

 

[lz4005]

He said 1 bans is a half step low, the other is a full step. So B flat and A standard.

He's only ever made one post and there was nothing about either of those in it.

 

[Lync]

For 1/2 down tuning my MTD's work great. 35" scale and the B string still rings piano clear. I use an Artist 5 and and ZX5's.

 

[Hi-End Basses]

Get a Digitech Drop pedal. That is providing your band doesn't use strange tunings ( which, in my opinion, are completely stupid). The pedal will keep your Bass tuned in 4ths, and you won't lose any familiar intervals.

 

[andruca]

For 800pound you can get a 2nd hand Maruszczyk for sure. Had a Jake 5a+ for a year and it handled drop A great. Also used with a metal band tuning a half step down no problem. Maruszczyk is AWESOME bang for the buck (pound in your case). Also there's plenty to choose from in their lower price range.

 

[DavC]

do you an extra 4 string that could be strung BEAD .. ?

 

[khutch]

He's only ever made one post and there was nothing about either of those in it.

You are 100% correct and the OP would do himself a favor by telling us more about what he wants to do. For example, he may want to tune the top four EADG, as normal, and just have the B string for some "drop B" tunes. In that case any fiver and any standard five string string set would be fine. But that might not be what he wants to do at all....

OP: Tell us more, tell us more, and we could help you. Otherwise you will get dozens of pieces of conflicting advice each based on the respondent's assumptions about what you want to do. Give us the five pitches you want to tune to and give them to us in scientific pitch notation which removes all doubt about what frequency each string will be tuned to. The standard tuning for a four string is E1, A1, D2, G2. The standard tuning for a five string is B0, E1, A1, D2, G2.

For example I use the cello or fifths tuning C1, G1, D2, A2 on my four string basses and I add an E3 and B3 to my five and six string basses.