Will my strings break if I tune up?

A

Alexandurrr

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Aug 23, 2017
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#1
Hi,
I have a 5 string bass with Ernie Ball Power Slinkies on it. The guages are 50 - 70 - 85 - 105 - 135. I want to tune to drop A#, but I'd have to tune the bottom 4 strings up a half step. Would this break a string? Also, I'm trying to make the tuning match the guitars because that makes sense to me, but I keep seeing people say that tuning doesn't matter with bass, the notes do. I see how that makes sense, but wouldn't that make it harder to play certain riffs? I don't want to only play root notes as a bassist, I want the bass to closely follow the guitars in certain situations.
 
#2
Alexandurrr said:
Hi,
I have a 5 string bass with Ernie Ball Power Slinkies on it. The guages are 50 - 70 - 85 - 105 - 135. I want to tune to drop A#, but I'd have to tune the bottom 4 strings up a half step. Would this break a string? Also, I'm trying to make the tuning match the guitars because that makes sense to me, but I keep seeing people say that tuning doesn't matter with bass, the notes do. I see how that makes sense, but wouldn't that make it harder to play certain riffs? I don't want to only play root notes as a bassist, I want the bass to closely follow the guitars in certain situations.
Click to expand...
Wanted to suggest you swap them out for the next gauge down so I looked and saw there's only the Regular (45-65-80-100-130) but no 5-string set based on Hybrid gauges (45-65-85-105); well, there is one, but superlong-scale only, and with a .13 B. Uuugh, I hate Ernie Ball's choice of gauges within sets!

The .05 may hold up at G# (about 60# of tension); the .07 may or may not break at D# and ~63 [EDIT - make that ~67] pounds. Both are definitely not 100% safe at that tonnage/tunage. Worry not about what other people think of your tuning of choice, but my advice is to use a different set as a platform, with lighter top strings.
Or just buy singles:
Ernie Ball Nickel Wound Slinky Bass String Singles & Build your own Custom String Set!
If buying singles is an option, you might as well choose less tension-imbalanced gauges - my suggestion is .135 .09 .07 .055 .04. For more balance and heavier bottoms try a .095 F and replace the .135 with a D'Addario .145 (also available at the same store).
 
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#3
@Alexandurrr:
If you feel you're gonna be happier with heavier gauges (still keeping the intended tuning in mind), you might consider trying the second-tightest of the three D'Addario nickel-plated steel balanced sets, i.e. the EXL170BT (45-60-80-107)
D'Addario Nickel Plated Steel Round Wound Electric Bass Strings Long Scale Set - 4-String 45-107 EXL170BT Balanced Tension
with an added single .160
D'Addario XL NICKEL ROUND WOUND Single Bass Strings - Long Scale
which is a near-perfect match for a drop-tuned set with those other 4 strings: having twice the diameter (4 times the volume—thus probably about 4 times the mass—per length unit) of the .08, it has roughly the same tension as the latter when tuned an octave apart.
 
#4
Alexandurrr said:
Hi,
I have a 5 string bass with Ernie Ball Power Slinkies on it. The guages are 50 - 70 - 85 - 105 - 135. I want to tune to drop A#, but I'd have to tune the bottom 4 strings up a half step. Would this break a string?
Click to expand...

Tuning up a half step will not damage the string or your bass.
You might need a small truss rod adjustment to keep the neck relief exactly the same.
 
#5
Your set is already top-heavy, so the D and G will become very tight (and less playable), but can probably take it, don't tune up any further though.
The set will become even more tension-imbalanced.
To keep EADG tension as before, drop the EADG gauges by .005, you could buy a .045-.100 4 string set and add a single .135 B.
If you change brand, try a .145 for A# / B to not be as loose.
 
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