How low would you go?

[Saetia]

Currently have my Modulus Q5 sweet spot strung up drop G0 (GDGCF) with a Kalium balanced .168 set and it’s wonderful, each string literally plays and reacts as the tension is where I’d want any tuning to be with any scale. In this tuning as my good friend and guitarist I’m currently playing with has his highly modified aluminum necked Ed O’Brien strat tuned as so. I will say, if I were going lower I’d probably purchase a Dingwall Combustion 6 or a Spector NS Dimension (wish they came in a 6). With my Moddy in drop G I’m only missing 2 notes on the top end over a standard tuned bass. If I went lower I’d really want a 6 string as ‘d still want a more reasonable range. I don’t find myself using the super low of the G very often as is, but it’s huge and punchy and precise when I want it… thanks graphite

Edit: I wanted to add, I keep a P bass in standard or drop D1 and a G&L JB2 with an L2000 neck that I keep in drop B0 and drop A0.

Edit 2 because I keep filling in between data dumps: I probably wouldn’t go below E0 but if given the chance where a band tuned their guitars double drop D I’d rock the piss out of a 4 string tuned drop D1

 

[Jefenator]

With a hipshot de-tuner on my Dingwall I can hit the low A which matches most pianos. It comes in handy occasionally.
I don't feel like adding it to all my 5-strings (like I've done with many of my for strings to hit low D) and I don't feel a need to go any lower than A0.
If you're enjoying the low F#, more power to ya.

 

[Thumpin6string]

I play 6 strings in standard tuning. So, the low B is as low as I go.

 

[prndltech]

Low B on a 5 or BEAD bass.

 

[iiipopes]

C1, one half-step above the conventional B0 of a typical 5-string bass. I also play church music. The C1 is the lowest note of the pedal board of most church organs; the same pitch as the lowest C on a piano, playing what we call 16' stops, an octave down. For all the music I play, there is never any need for a lower note.

 

[ga_edwards]

Most typical/standard bass cabs and consumer level a.k.a "weekend warrior" PA systems roll off low end around 50hz, even with a sub (here in the UK, most cover bands lug our own PA systems and backlines to pub gigs), Therefore, you don't hear much of the fundamentals of the lowest notes, but rather the 2nd order harmonics - and our brains fill in the rest. Therefore, from a technical signal reproduction perspective, I wouldn't want to go lower than F#0 as that has a second-order harmonic of about 45hz which should be audible and discernable with "typical" consumer-level gear.

But in a musical context, B0 is more than low enough for me. Any lower and it becomes difficult to discern the pitch of the notes.

 

[longfinger]

Overwhelmingly, my basses stop at E1. I do have a 5 string with a B0, but I use it far less. Still, it's an option, so I put B0.

 

[Heiwa]

This low

 

[ole Jason]

B0 is fine for me and about the functional limit of any bass I'd be interested in playing. If someone really wants lower notes I'll play synth.

 

[jasper383]

 

[ravlin]

Once upon a time I thought about "what's the lowest note a bass cabinet will actually produce?" and most of the best cabinets stopped at 35Hz, so I've been tuning D standard for some time. Lately I've strung my spare bass BEAD and am contemplating a switch. Cabinets aren't much better, but 2nd order harmonics and the like make them useful still and having a low fifth from E standard is pretty handy. I don't let B ring out but we do have a song I've been using an octave pedal for C1... There is still utility with B0 but it takes a lot more control and intent than E1 or even D1, there is a fuzzy line somewhere in there.

 

[RGerhart]

For me, B0 is usually the lowest I'll go, and I use it sparingly. C1, C#1, D1, and Eb1 are definitely used more often. I've been in a couple of situations where I had to tune lower playing some Mudvayne, and Staind, where G0 and G#0 were used, but at that frequency it seems it's much more for "feel," as opposed to being able to distinguish the actual pitch. It's also a pain to have to setup with new strings, truss rod adjustment, etc.

 

[Hypocrite]

Been tuning my sixers to A standard since forever. Been playing a multiscale BTB since the beginning of this year, and it is the absolute ****. Couldn't be happier.
I've always preferred the timbre of down tuned strings, especially with a healthy dose of distortion.

 

[Thunderthumbs73]

Florida Georgia Line has a "Country" song called "Cruise" which is in B Flat, so at this time just a low B string, detuned enough to grab B Flat.

 

[Ondoval]

For a brief time I was in a band that tuned down to A (A-drop from B to be precise). I used a dingwall D-rock and it was ok, but I felt that was pushing it. I would not go lower and expect to be heard clearly by any non canine listeners in a live setting.

 

[jdjk7]

I voted B0, but in reality the lowest is probably D1. But I wouldn't prefer to have a bass tuned to D, so I'd just deal with having three notes I rarely use as in a 5 string, 6 string or BEAD bass.

 

[micguy]

Low B on a standard tuned 5 or 6. I'm interested in the impact of the fundamentals of low notes. No, low fundamentals are not "mud" - mud occurs when you try to put low fundamentals through a system that can't handle it - that creates harmonics that are not desirable, and those harmonics are the "mud". I don't play through a bass amp, as they don't really do fundamentals down there well at all - they create mud if you play a 5 or 6 though them without a high pass. I play ampless - in places where the PA's are very capable, and they have enough subs to do a low B justice. If you look up the specs on real tour grade (or big installed) subs, you find the good ones go down to 30 Hz. Try to go lower, you're not going to get support for your fundamental. Hence...Low B.

 

[micguy]

Low E 41hz is good enough for me.

Just about most bass cabs can't go any lower than 41hz.

I know of only one bass cab maker that makes cabs that actually do justice to 41 Hz (Acme) - the rest don't get that low.

 

[BenPlaysBass616]

Low B, standard 5 string, but rarely even use anything lower than low D. Hence the drop D tuner I still need to install.

 

[Killing Floor]

D sounds full and tight. B sounds OK to meh even on a 35” and I have keyboards so I can recreate a better extended range low note if I need it. But that’s just my opinion. If I have to hover with good to great definition for a full song below low D I’d use keys and a sample of my bass.