Advertisement
If you have a new account but are having problems posting or verifying your account, please email us on hello@boards.ie for help. Thanks :)
Hello all! Please ensure that you are posting a new thread or question in the appropriate forum. The Feedback forum is overwhelmed with questions that are having to be moved elsewhere. If you need help to verify your account contact hello@boards.ie
Hi there,
There is an issue with role permissions that is being worked on at the moment.
If you are having trouble with access or permissions on regional forums please post here to get access: https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058365403/you-do-not-have-permission-for-that#latest

11-52 for drop tuning

  • 11-02-2008 5:48pm
    #1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,380 ✭✭✭


    howdy y'all

    i have a few guitars and fancy drop tuning one
    that has a floyd

    i have lots of 11-52's - would these be a bit sloppy for B for example

    i usually play 10-46 at standard tuning
    (or the 11's on a jazzmaster)

    old subject I know, but I cant be arsed re-setting up
    a floyd and them find its not suitable
    (and yis all knew it!!)


    ta

    4


Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 617 ✭✭✭Demeyes


    That will be a bit light for B standard if you're used to 10's. You'll want to get strings a bit heavier. You'll be able to tune down that low but it'll be hard to play on clearly.


  • Moderators, Music Moderators Posts: 23,363 Mod ✭✭✭✭feylya


    If you're tuning to B, I reckon you need 12s, preferably 13's. I know baritones tuned to B take 13's. Don't forget though that baritones have a longer scale to increase string tension while tuned to B so a standard 25.5" Fender scale will be floppy at that tuning no matter what string (within reason)


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 5,756 ✭✭✭demanufactured


    I agree with feylya, i have 12s on a floyd equipped guitar , its sweet.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 11,848 ✭✭✭✭Doctor J


    In B, playing a floyd, using 13-62's. D'Addario have a baritone set which will go down that low but don't feel like spaghetti.


  • Moderators, Music Moderators Posts: 23,363 Mod ✭✭✭✭feylya


    Hee, forgot about the Bacchus...


  • Advertisement
  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,380 ✭✭✭fourmations


    thanks for the feedback guys

    i tuned my jazzmaster down to B to get an idea
    and its sloppy all right, but its not really an accurate test
    as the JM has 4 or five inches of string behind the bridge
    before it hits the tailpiece,
    so 11's feel lighter on the JM than a floyd guitar for example

    i will get me some 13's for sure, i dont think 12's would suit me

    Does the relaxed tension/heavier strings work itself out or
    can i expect to make some truss rod adjusts?

    rgds

    4


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 11,848 ✭✭✭✭Doctor J


    Adjusting the truss rod will only take a few seconds.

    Filing bigger slots in the nut will take you a fair bit longer ;)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,380 ✭✭✭fourmations


    cheers doc

    its been a while since i used it
    but i think the double locking nut has huge clearances?


    rgds

    4


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 11,848 ✭✭✭✭Doctor J


    Depends on the type. With a Kahler locking nut it's very close, with the Gotoh it's ok. When you're getting to 62's and above there are some tuners which don't have a big enough hole in the shaft either. Schaller locking tuners, for example, won't take a 62. If I'm putting something big on the Eggle I have to strip maybe 1cm of the outer winding from the top of the string so I can get it into the tuner.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,231 ✭✭✭Fad


    13-56 seem adequate (i use em for drop c)

    so get a set of ''not even slinkys'' and your set :D

    but i have never seen em in a shop here


  • Advertisement
  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,380 ✭✭✭fourmations


    hi all

    thanks for the tips

    got me that d'd baritone set 13-62
    its all i could find

    I just slapped them on last night
    and everything is cool so far, didnt need to do anything
    with the nut

    It is tuned to A at the moment as
    I did not get around to doing the floyd springs
    and A is the same tension as the 9.5's were at regular pitch
    (i think some truss rod work will be required)

    its pretty cool but a bit too sloppy, good for single string work
    I will adjust it to B or Bflat later

    i have not locked the nut off yet as i was stretching
    out the strings and just sussing things out but
    tuning was fun, when i even fine tuned the 62
    every other string goes way out of tune

    i have to start messing with tunings now as well
    I am oldskool and never use dropped tuning
    (im a slayer, megadeth type metaller)
    but in truth Meshuggah are my sole inspiration
    for trying this, now to transpose eight string tuning to a six!

    the guitar is just tuned to A with the usual concert pitch
    arrangement

    rgds

    4


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,380 ✭✭✭fourmations


    hi all

    have it as a seven at bflat with no high e now
    and its pretty cool

    top string is a bit sloppy still and its a 62
    how do sevens keep good tension with a 56
    at a b flat tuning, i know rg's are not baritones for example?

    rgds

    4


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 861 ✭✭✭deaddonkey


    if i want to tune low i buy a heavy set for a 7 string and shift everything down one place

    ended up with a set of 14-63s in standard tuning.

    (don't even try it)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,380 ✭✭✭fourmations


    hi all

    have it as a seven at bflat with no high e now
    and its pretty cool

    top string is a bit sloppy still and its a 62
    how do sevens keep good tension with a 56
    at a b flat tuning, i know rg's are not baritones for example?

    rgds

    4


    hi all, im dragging this up again

    i have tuned my "faker 7" back to B
    as the B flat was too sloppy on the top string

    but I am still wondering how the RG or jems
    can be tuned that low without sloppy issues
    they have the same 25.5 scale as mine

    my tuning at B has more tension but the
    top string still sounds a bit crap
    its fine for savage metal and distorted tones
    but I fancy messing around with some jazz on my "7"

    I am getting string buzz on the seventh fret
    on the top and bottom strings
    and the top string just sounds dead, no sustain at all
    it sounds like a double bass as in its really muted and percussive

    I have blocked off the floyd to try and make it more solid

    i would prefer it at bflat so I can play 'shuggah stuff

    any thoughts

    thanks

    4


  • Moderators, Music Moderators Posts: 23,363 Mod ✭✭✭✭feylya


    Did you adjust the truss rod after changing string guage?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,380 ✭✭✭fourmations


    hi fey

    i havent gone near the rod as everything seems okay
    with the simple fretting test

    the tension has not increased that much
    (the floyd is giving me a good indication)

    there is actually a bloke on youtube
    who has tuned his strat copy to f# with a .70 top string
    how the hell did that work out!

    some bloke knocking off meshuggah


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,117 ✭✭✭Eoin Madsen


    Going up from 10-46 to 11-52 should allow you to drop a semitone but retain approximately the same tension. I found a formula/calculator for exactly this purpose somewhere on the web last year. Can't remember where it is, but I'm sure it's googleable.


  • Moderators, Music Moderators Posts: 23,363 Mod ✭✭✭✭feylya


    But he's dropping 2 full tones...


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,117 ✭✭✭Eoin Madsen


    I know. That was a subtle way of pointing out that it isn't going to work. :rolleyes:


  • Moderators, Music Moderators Posts: 23,363 Mod ✭✭✭✭feylya


    Useful post there Eoin. He's using 13's.


  • Advertisement
  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,117 ✭✭✭Eoin Madsen


    The translation is not at all linear, and he's dropping 5 semitones.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,380 ✭✭✭fourmations


    I know. That was a subtle way of pointing out that it isn't going to work. :rolleyes:

    well, whadayaknow, it did work! :p....... ;)

    Im renaming my thread...17-80's for drop tuning!

    i am currently in F Bb Eb Ab Db Gb

    i bought a 0.80 bass A string and it went straight on,
    no adjustment at the nut, no issue with the tuning peg width either
    (bass strings have a thinner section for winding)
    no problem at the floyd block either! no real tension/truss issues, its
    a little tenser that it was but not much!

    the set is: 80 - 62 - 46 - 36 - 26 - 17

    the 80 is a medium A bass string as mentioned
    the other 5 are the 5 heaviest off a d'dadarrio 13-62 baritone set

    im delighted with myself, i have been obsessing about 8 strings
    and this is a perfect way to dabble without expense,
    it would be much more stable with a baritone and i do have some buzzing when playing clean but it a great little experiment
    and sounds savage with heavy distortion

    im off to try and play meshuggah songs for the rest of my life..!!

    rgds

    4

    rgds

    4


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,117 ✭✭✭Eoin Madsen


    well, whadayaknow, it did work! :p....... ;)

    Really? Why didn't you just stick with the 11s then? :p


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,380 ✭✭✭fourmations


    Really? Why didn't you just stick with the 11s then? :p

    ermm, youv'e lost me!?
    the 11's were way too sloppy

    i had it at b tuning with 13-62 set
    now i have it at f tuning with 17-80 set
    (8 string tuing with no bottom 2 strings)


    rgds

    4


Advertisement