Super Low Drop F# bass tuning on Lakland 5 string bass

Lakland 5 string basses handle the low B strings really well with maximum sustain and piano like clarity. I think it has to do with the string through body bridge design, the extra long 35" scale length, and the reinforcement bar right before the nut on the headstock. So I drop tuned the 5th string down to F# like on extended range sub contra basses and the string was still tight and boomy. On other 5 string basses with a standard 34" scale length, the B string even at normal tuning is usually a bit floppy. Fieldy of the band Korn pops and slaps for their trademark loose A string percussive bass sound.

The B string would be even clearer if it were of the taper core type. Taper core strings have the exposed core extending from the ball end all the way to the bridge saddle which is where the winding starts tapering from the string's normal thickness. These strings work best for stringing though the body. They reduce B string flop.

This video was filmed using my brother's GoPro HERO3+ camera with head strap mount and an iPhone 4 app used as a remote monitor screen. All other shots were taken using my iPhone 5.

[edwardelric]

I can feel it vibrating my entire body (and everything in the room) lol

[hhouse]

what makes a bass? mine sounds like a ukelele in comparison to this

[kybalerton]

That was so low pitched i could feel it in my soul

[SuperMarioNickB]

Lower than a regular piano's lowest note

[bmiranda]

Thank you. I researched other videos on low bass tuning and extended range basses that go below a 5 string's low B and I wasn't impressed with the floppy sounds even of the 35" scale Warwick's Dark Lord 4 string bass with a really fat low F# string. The 35" Lakland bass handles a low tuning regardless of string gauge because of their unique string-through body bridge that require taper core strings for optimum clarity and tautness (ball-end sets where the winding of the B string doesn't begin until after the extended core goes over the saddle).

[brCharlieNagy]

really awesomme ! Thank you for using and demonstrating the F# string (unlike other people's videos)

[phantomtoast]

It’s really hard to get an F#0 to sound good, but this sounds great and really clear. Is this just a .130 or did you put like a .175 on the bottom?

[hell_march]

For a standard B string you are getting some surprisingly good tone. Still sounds just a slight bit floppy though. But, Viable. They do make the .175 gauge strings.

[Raytownian]

I have a Cort Curbow 6 string, a Music Man Bongo 6 string and a Conklin 7 string all tuned down to low F#. I'm not sure about the others, but my Conklin uses a .135 B string and a .165 F#. It's like a bridge cable.

[supershiva]

gonna try to tune a 6 string agile bass to low E, you make it seem tonally viable. Before i thought it would be farts

[naruto]

The sound is very similar to fieldy's from korn he uses light gauge strings tuned to A and has the active EQ set a certain way you can search it

[srs]

Peavey's Grind 5 strings are built similarly. I'm looking into getting one.

[speedracer]

Dude your just putting chocolate syrup on top of a Hershey bar. At some point you got to say enough is enough.

[rockshow]

Typed low abss tuning, and your f# sound amazing, As a guitarist, my friend and me want to get bass, 5 string but should we get 35" scale for better sound? We wannt to get G standard or g# standard foralbum

[HalJikaKick]

I'm looking to convert one of my 6 strings to the low F#. I rarely use the high C string. While I dont really want to sound a note below theLow B I do want to be able to play in position above the 5th fret and be able to finger the low B at the 5th fret.

[jeffarburola]

Go for a custom set at kallium strings. Seriously, I have a 4 string bass tune down to a low A (0.158) and a 5 string bass tuned down to a ground shaking low E (0.200!), a whole octave down from a regular E on a standard bass!

[ROckgrunge]

Did you tuned all the strings? Or you just only tuned the Low B string?

[kutyaember]

As of now I have F#0 B0 E1 A1 tuning on my 32 inch bass.
Using .165, .130, .105 and .085 strings.

[samuelsangster]

For some odd reason the tone sounds like Fieldy’s.

[OlegSpb]

that sounds so pleasing to my ears)))) the bass))) really sounds good! I have a yamaha rbx375 and look for something better currently.. I tuned it into low G since i like being that low.. but strings are flappy))