Help on tuning

Basszilla · Not So Newbie Joined: 20 Aug 2003 Posts: 5

I play in a very heavy band and the guitarists tune to a weird A# one finger chord type tuning. I have a 5 string Amercian deluxe Fender how should my tuning be set up?

supermau · Posted: Wed Aug 20, 2003 11:24 am Post subject:

First of all, get a good chromatic tuner if you don't already have one. The Boss TU-12 or TU-2 are nice.

Find out what the exact notes are that your guitarists are tuned to. Tune your 4 thru 1 accordingly and find the 5 after that. Or, if your tuning to a lower register as most 'heavy' bands do then tune just like them starting with the 5. Match the 5 string to the guitarists 6 string and so on. Either way should work out. But if you go too low you might have too much slack and it might sound like crap. Experiment.

The non-standard tuning might require some set-up and intonation adjustments as well.

Basszilla · Not So Newbie Joined: 20 Aug 2003 Posts: 5

I got a toneworks rack tuner. Im gonna try to remember this offhand the tuning i think its A#, D# for the 5th and 6th. I will get the exact note they tune to. What im really concerned is about my neck and the frequent adjustments i may have to make. My bass handles the tuning really just fine I was just wondering if I should be matching their exact tuning up until the 1st string ( 1st being the highest string ) or have a different tuning setup. I have great gear and tone sounds great.
Heres my gear:

Ampeg 8X10
Ampeg SVT 4Pro
Toneworks Tuner
Furman Power Conditioner
Fender Amercian Deluxe PBass - customized with a double humbuker at bridge Bill Lawrence style