I'm putting my 4 string back in use because it's hard on the 5 string to jump massively between tunings.
I ordered a set of 55-120 strings for the 4 string, so now I can keep it in drop C, drop C#, and just leave my 5 string in normal BEADG and save the neck.
@TheComicHunter I like a bit heavier string mostly because I tune to CGCF for metal. My 5 string set is 135,105,85,70,50. It's more comfortable to go thinner but I'm a heavy plucker, and if I go too thin I get too much floppiness. I'm a fan of string tension. 👍🏻
@LowEndMuse My main band covers AC DC, and tuned down half a step, so I may go heavier to keep the tension up. I bang the strings like I'm trying to kill them.
Learned by watching John Entwistle and Geddy Lee.
@TheComicHunter Yeah,Geddy is super heavy handed. Might not hurt to go up a bit. 50-110 should do it for half step down with good tension.
@TheComicHunter I play everything from The Deftones, to Linkin Park, to 311, Bon Jovi, and CCR songs.
My music taste is very broad, although I do tend towards metal if I'm being honest.
I broke an E string in the middle of a song once.
I modified my fingering and continued to play.
It was an annoyance, but for some reason, the audience thought my breaking an E was awesome.
Go figure.
I've never broken an E. Plenty of Gs and Ds from pull and pop but never an E. You must have been thunder slapping that bitch. 😂🤘🏻
@grayman @LowEndMuse I have two basses on stage for all shows, just in case.
It's more frequent for the active electronics battery to die mid song than breaking a string for me.
@LowEndMuse I'm thinking of that for my next change. A little worried about throwing off the intonation.
@LowEndMuse I don't tune down very often, maybe a drop D with the other strings at traditional tuning. At one show I had a separate bass tuned down 1/2 step because the singer was having trouble. 45-10 works well for me.
@LowEndMuse I don't play the 5-string often because of two reasons. 1) it is a kit bass with weak-ass™ pickups 2) not many songs I play need low notes beyond the occasional D.
Maybe once I upgrade it will be more appealing to me.
@Dashdrum Not gonna lie, I mostly use the B on my 5 for octave accents and the occasional fretted E instead of the open E.
I use the B a lot to cheat on stuff I write. Out of laziness mostly. I like to have it all under my fingers instead of making long neck jumps.
@LowEndMuse probably the best use for that low string. I'm hoping that better pickups will let me do that more myself.
@Dashdrum I have to have at least a 50 on the G. It's probably psychological but below 50 I feel like I have to be careful. 😂
@Dashdrum Strangest band I was ever in practiced and learned all our songs in standard tuning at practice, then went half step down for live because of the singer. I was always asking... Why don't we just play them a half step down at practice to start with. The guitarist had reasons. I didn't think they were good reasons.¯\_(ツ)_/¯
@LowEndMuse Do you find thicker strings easier to play? I just put some lighter strings on and notice my fingers get caught on the D string as it feels too thin.