anybody fooled around with gauges for low tunings?

fmilktoast · 9th May 2007

does anybody have any suggestions for a string gauge to use when you're tuning to A one octave below the A on a guitar? i tried a 60 and it doesnt have nearly enough tension and now i'm kind of concerned that a 70 won't have enough, either.

Natural Mystic · 9th May 2007

A full octave down puts you at the same pitch as a bass guitar, why not just play a bass?

see this thread... http://www.gearslutz.com/board/guita...all-piano.html

zaczac · 9th May 2007

Sorry can't help you on this one as I've never done it, but I really like the sound of a baritone guitar. It gets as low as a bass, but that doesn't make it a bass (in a good way).

AlexLakis · 9th May 2007

My songwriting partner and I usually write in drop B (guitar is tuned down three half steps, then dropped.) We've written a song or two in drop A before...

All in all, I agree with Natural Mystic. Those tones down there are for bass. It's too low for me, but I've gotten used to it over the years.

I use regular gauge 13 strings. When you tune that low it becomes difficult to rock out, because even the slightest movement will bend the strings, so you have to play like a nancy.

I would recommend one of two things. First off, if it's within your means, consider picking up a baritone guitar as zaczac suggested, or putting a baritone neck on one of your existing guitars. That's the real way to do it (if you don't wanna go 7-string...YUCK!) If that is not an option, consider getting a guitar permanently set up to be in that tuning. Once it has been properly adjusted, it will hold tuning a lot better, be less buzzy, and have a little more tension. What gauge are the rest of your strings? Putting just one reeeally fat string on a guitar hasn't sounded very good for me in the past...

For an example for people who are curious in hearing Drop A in a great mix, check out Foo Fighters' "Stacked Actors," the first track off their third album.

fmilktoast · 9th May 2007

none of you are any help

Gear Tramp · 9th May 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by fmilktoast

none of you are any help

Then get the **** out of here.

big country · 9th May 2007

thats funny shit . by no means am I advocating being a dick but that was funny

billgennaro · 10th May 2007

.......and deserved.

Gear Tramp · 10th May 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by big country

thats funny shit . by no means am I advocating being a dick but that was funny

In no means am I advocating advocation of being a dick, but you're right. I felt he had it coming.

rob S · 10th May 2007

just tell him what he wants to hear.
make up an answer.
try a .70.

fmilktoast · 14th May 2007

i've tried using a baritone guitar and the frets are too far apart for my taste. compromising scale length is not something i'm willing to consider at this point. if anyone here has actually had any experience tuning to octave A on a fender scale guitar and using a larger string to compensate, i'd like to hear their input.

fmilktoast · 14th May 2007

also, i'm only concerned with the lowest string at this point, A. i'm utiizing a tuning in which the other strings have adequate tension, so consideration of the other strings is not necessary.

AlexLakis · 14th May 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by fmilktoast

if anyone here has actually had any experience tuning to octave A on a fender scale guitar and using a larger string to compensate, i'd like to hear their input.

All ready gave it!

If a thin string flapping around and buzzing doesn't do it for you, what makes you think a thick string flapping around and buzzing is going to do it for you? Adjustments will need to be made if you want to do it right, whether you like it or not.

You might wanna consider the consequences of putting an abnormally large-gauge string on one side of your guitar and how it is going to effect the other strings, because there is reason for concern...

Sorry there isn't an easy answer for you, dude. Honestly, I've gotten decent results just dropping a regular gauge .12 6th string and playing it very lightly. It depends on the guitar whether or not it will sound useable (and the player.)

Gear Tramp · 14th May 2007

The only guitars I have played that are playable with a low A are 7 strings and baritones, that's it.

Your string is flapping and buzzing because the scale is too short.

What tuning are you using? Putting one heavy gauge string on a 6 string creates very uneven neck tension, and still will not intonate properly, but you can do it if you change the nut and you'll probably want to raise the bridge. Your guitar will now play like shit, congratulations, and good luck playing anything worth a shit on the higher strings.

FFTT · 14th May 2007

I keep my Epiphone Skunk Baxter acoustic tuned down to B permanently for voice matching and I'm using D'Addario heavies .

It takes the neck a while to adjust to the lower tension and I had to tweak the truss rod just once, but she's fine. Tuned BEADF#B

SoundClick song info: Dont' Blame Me by Robb Michael Inglis - Song info page with free MP3 music downloads
SoundClick song info: Golgotha by Robb Michael Inglis - Song info page with free MP3 music downloads

I'd love to buy a baritone acoustic, but it's hard to find a good one for recording for
under $2000.00

fmilktoast · 14th May 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gear Tramp

The only guitars I have played that are playable with a low A are 7 strings and baritones, that's it.

Your string is flapping and buzzing because the scale is too short.

What tuning are you using? Putting one heavy gauge string on a 6 string creates very uneven neck tension, and still will not intonate properly, but you can do it if you change the nut and you'll probably want to raise the bridge. Your guitar will now play like shit, congratulations, and good luck playing anything worth a shit on the higher strings.

thats interesting because the most common 7 string scale, 25", is actually shorter than standard fender, 25.5.

also, i'm attempting to find a string gauge which will yield the same amount of tension, tuned to A, that a 56 gauge string yields when tuned to E. the effect on the neck should be minimal.

Gear Tramp · 14th May 2007

Try a .70

el cochino · 14th May 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gear Tramp

Try a .70

That's what I wanted to suggest, too. I mean it's not like a set of GHS Boomers is gonna put him in dept or something.

Gear Tramp · 14th May 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by el cochino

That's what I wanted to suggest, too. I mean it's not like a set of GHS Boomers is gonna put him in dept or something.

I know, I was going to say that earlier, but... refrained. Why not buy some different single gauges and see which one works best for you?

King Oliver · 23rd May 2007

i used to have an ibanez set to standard A for a few years... too low if you ask me now thumbsup if you were to put that in dropped LOW G, you might need a thicker string

what i used was a pack of 13's and a 60 for the low E, it wasnt floppy for me, and the intonations was as low as it could possibly go. You should be fine with that tension, maybe take it in and get it set up by someone you trust.

Also, when you put a larger set of strings on the guitar, they sit too high on the nut and it needs to be filed down so the proper height of the string is achieved.

Hope that helps some

9th May 2007	#1
fmilktoast Gear interested Join Date: May 2007 Location: Atlanta Posts: 16 Thread Starter	anybody fooled around with gauges for low tunings? does anybody have any suggestions for a string gauge to use when you're tuning to A one octave below the A on a guitar? i tried a 60 and it doesnt have nearly enough tension and now i'm kind of concerned that a 70 won't have enough, either.

9th May 2007	#7
big country Lives for gear Join Date: May 2006 Location: (visiting) Lake Elsinor Posts: 7,874	thats funny shit . by no means am I advocating being a dick but that was funny __________________ matt H. think ... it will help with the stupid problems. boom boom is not Rhythm spinny mic tecnology http://www.gearslutz.com/board/high-...pinny-mic.html

14th May 2007	#15
FFTT Lives for gear Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: A stoned throw from ground zero Posts: 5,577	I keep my Epiphone Skunk Baxter acoustic tuned down to B permanently for voice matching and I'm using D'Addario heavies . It takes the neck a while to adjust to the lower tension and I had to tweak the truss rod just once, but she's fine. Tuned BEADF#B SoundClick song info: Dont' Blame Me by Robb Michael Inglis - Song info page with free MP3 music downloads SoundClick song info: Golgotha by Robb Michael Inglis - Song info page with free MP3 music downloads I'd love to buy a baritone acoustic, but it's hard to find a good one for recording for under $2000.00 __________________ Don't look at me in that tone of voice

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9th May 2007	#2
Natural Mystic Gear maniac Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 209	A full octave down puts you at the same pitch as a bass guitar, why not just play a bass? see this thread... http://www.gearslutz.com/board/guita...all-piano.html

9th May 2007	#3
zaczac Gear maniac Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Australia Posts: 277	Sorry can't help you on this one as I've never done it, but I really like the sound of a baritone guitar. It gets as low as a bass, but that doesn't make it a bass (in a good way).

9th May 2007	#4
AlexLakis Lives for gear Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Annapolis, MD/L.A. Posts: 3,631	My songwriting partner and I usually write in drop B (guitar is tuned down three half steps, then dropped.) We've written a song or two in drop A before... All in all, I agree with Natural Mystic. Those tones down there are for bass. It's too low for me, but I've gotten used to it over the years. I use regular gauge 13 strings. When you tune that low it becomes difficult to rock out, because even the slightest movement will bend the strings, so you have to play like a nancy. I would recommend one of two things. First off, if it's within your means, consider picking up a baritone guitar as zaczac suggested, or putting a baritone neck on one of your existing guitars. That's the real way to do it (if you don't wanna go 7-string...YUCK!) If that is not an option, consider getting a guitar permanently set up to be in that tuning. Once it has been properly adjusted, it will hold tuning a lot better, be less buzzy, and have a little more tension. What gauge are the rest of your strings? Putting just one reeeally fat string on a guitar hasn't sounded very good for me in the past... For an example for people who are curious in hearing Drop A in a great mix, check out Foo Fighters' "Stacked Actors," the first track off their third album.

10th May 2007	#8
billgennaro Lives for gear Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 566	.......and deserved.

10th May 2007	#10
rob S Lives for gear Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: silverlake Posts: 1,181	just tell him what he wants to hear. make up an answer. try a .70.

14th May 2007	#14
Gear Tramp Lives for gear Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 660	The only guitars I have played that are playable with a low A are 7 strings and baritones, that's it. Your string is flapping and buzzing because the scale is too short. What tuning are you using? Putting one heavy gauge string on a 6 string creates very uneven neck tension, and still will not intonate properly, but you can do it if you change the nut and you'll probably want to raise the bridge. Your guitar will now play like shit, congratulations, and good luck playing anything worth a shit on the higher strings.

23rd May 2007	#20
King Oliver Gear nut Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: So Cal Posts: 107	i used to have an ibanez set to standard A for a few years... too low if you ask me now thumbsup if you were to put that in dropped LOW G, you might need a thicker string what i used was a pack of 13's and a 60 for the low E, it wasnt floppy for me, and the intonations was as low as it could possibly go. You should be fine with that tension, maybe take it in and get it set up by someone you trust. Also, when you put a larger set of strings on the guitar, they sit too high on the nut and it needs to be filed down so the proper height of the string is achieved. Hope that helps some