Low tunings

shizz

Hey guys, Ive had one of my guitars in drop A# for a while now, just to mess around with some Breaking Benjamin tunes and I've noticed that it goes out of tune very easily.

Now this guitar wasn't the best for holding strings in tune anyway so it may be just that, but I'm wondering if tightening ( or loosining ) the truss rod will help matters?

Im kinda at a loss to figure out which way although I'm pretty sure it needs to be tightened.

Any ideas?

Alanstrainor

Tightening/Loosening the truss rod will only change the amount of "BOW" in the neck. It wont really affect tuning, pick up the guitar and look down along the neck and see if it's slightly bowing upwards, this is the way it should be and loosening it will cause it to bow upwards, and tightening it will "straighten" the neck out.
Tbh i don't think your truss rod is at fault here!

fobster

Assuming you've a six-string guitar, best thing to do would be to get a set of strings for a 7-string and leave the thinnest string aside. Might have to widen the nut on the lower strings to accomodate the thicker gauges.

shizz

Alanstrainor wrote: »

Tightening/Loosening the truss rod will only change the amount of "BOW" in the neck. It wont really affect tuning, pick up the guitar and look down along the neck and see if it's slightly bowing upwards, this is the way it should be and loosening it will cause it to bow upwards, and tightening it will "straighten" the neck out.
Tbh i don't think your truss rod is at fault here!

Ah alright. Thought it may have something to do with it. Yeah it probably is just the guitar. =/

fobster wrote: »

Assuming you've a six-string guitar, best thing to do would be to get a set of strings for a 7-string and leave the thinnest string aside. Might have to widen the nut on the lower strings to accomodate the thicker gauges.

Yeah the lower strings seeme to just be out of the nut, but these are the ones that stay in tune oddly enough. Its generally the G string (as usual) that goes mad out of tune.

Might just have to get used to it anywho. Nt giggin in that tuning so it doesnt matter loads.

Thanks guys.

DesQ2

Prob won't be much help to you but the morpheus droptune pedal is meant to be excellent for drop tuning your guitar at the flick of a switch, theres one for sale on adverts at the moment

rcaz

DesQ2 wrote: »

Prob won't be much help to you but the morpheus droptune pedal is meant to be excellent for drop tuning your guitar at the flick of a switch, theres one for sale on adverts at the moment

No pedal will ever get a guitar in standard tuning close to the sound of a low-tuned guitar. Waste of time.


Get some baritone guitar strings? Baritone guitars are B E A D F# B or A D G C E A. So they're right in your ball park. 12s would be really light baritone strings. I think heavy strings, for a baritone, are something like 17s.

stephenshields2

I have one guitar set up for use in Drop A for In Flames, a few Slipknot songs and so forth.

Only thing I can say is heavy gauge strings! For Drop A, I use a 13-65/70 set, on a 25.5'' scale guitar, nice and beefy.

And the lads are right, dont go randomly adjusting the truss rod, I wouldnt imagine thats where your problem is!!

And obviously, if the guitar was a bit dodgy for tuning anyway, you can expect it to still be dodgy while tuned down!

Maybe invest in a nice new set of Grover locking tuners?

Zombienosh

I'm in drop G on a 7 string right now, Just make sure you set up your intonation and are using the right string gauge. after that the tones all in your gear. I think it helps to have a floyd rose bridge too

rgjmce

stephenshields2 wrote: »

I have one guitar set up for use in Drop A for In Flames, a few Slipknot songs and so forth.

Only thing I can say is heavy gauge strings! For Drop A, I use a 13-65/70 set, on a 25.5'' scale guitar, nice and beefy.

And the lads are right, dont go randomly adjusting the truss rod, I wouldnt imagine thats where your problem is!!

And obviously, if the guitar was a bit dodgy for tuning anyway, you can expect it to still be dodgy while tuned down!

Maybe invest in a nice new set of Grover locking tuners?

I would say he would be better getting nut change first, considering locking tuners are €50/60 and nut change is €25 and also most guitar tuning problems are from worn out nuts.