Playing with guitarists that tuned down a half step was never a problem for Bass players in the good old days when that was a practice. Most Bass players simply stayed tuned where they were, and played in say, Eb when that guitarist was thinking in E but Eb was coming out of the guitar.

So that's what I'd recommend that you do as well, John.

The open string thing is way overrated, especially for Bass, IMO.


--Mac