Strings and tuning issues in question.

[papersoul]

Hi guys,



My new McCarty has got me thinkging of string gauge and tuning, etc. My LP has 11-54 GHS Boomers in Eb (actually dropped C#), but I have the McCarty set with D'Addario 10s in Standard E. I have been boouncing around between band projects so I haven't settled on a specific tuning and that is why both are remaining as is for now.



I was wondering, do most of you use heavier gauges and what tuning?? Do you notice a deeper tone, warmer tone, with EB tuning compared to Standard? What about gauge? I find tuning is more stable with heavier gauges and als more resonant.



Am I nuts?



ps

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: Strings and tuning issues in question.

I always tune to standard 440 and use D'Addario EXL .010s....You have to make sure to use a heavier tension string if you tune down...I've found Fender's strings in the same gauge to exert more tension than the D'Addarios and GHS Boomers...You will always hear more tone because when you tune down,the strings have more vibration...You aren't nutz! LOL

[theboatcandream]

Re: Strings and tuning issues in question.

I play rhythm and use 12's..... they're D'addario though, so they equate to something heavier compared to Ernie Balls. I tune to standard.

Once I order in my next batch of strings though, I'm going to switch to DR. I might go down to 11's though, or have 11's on one guitar and keep the 12's on another. It would be nice to have two guitars with different string sizes, so that when I do play lead I could switch to the lighter feel during performances or recording sessions. I'd never use 10's though if I had the choice, and it isn't physically possible for me to use 9's.

[some_dude]

Re: Strings and tuning issues in question.

I play rhythm.

In E Standard I use EB 11-48 on a 25.1" scale guitar.

In E Standard/Drop D I use EB 11-48 on a 24.75" scale guitar. I've ordered a few sets of GHS Boomers MED (11-50) and ZW (11-60). I play mostly rhythm, and after playing with the big stings on the guitar I've listed below, I'm experimenting with bigger low strings. I think 11's sound nice, I'm just looking for the extra girth those .050+ 6th stings give.

In D Standard/Drop C I use GHS Boomers DYM 13-56 on a 25.5" scale guitar. I originally used the EB 11-48 set, but found them too loose and the 6th string was really unstable. The GHS set sounds great and has excellent tension (along with the tuning stability that goes with that). The only draw back for some people is the .036 wound third string. It's hard to bend and not as smooth as a plain. I play rhythm though, and I enjoy how thick it makes the chording sound.

[papersoul]

Re: Strings and tuning issues in question.

I always tune to standard 440 and use D'Addario EXL .010s....You have to make sure to use a heavier tension string if you tune down...I've found Fender's strings in the same gauge to exert more tension than the D'Addarios and GHS Boomers...You will always hear more tone because when you tune down,the strings have more vibration...You aren't nutz! LOL

Actually you shouldn't hear more tone if you tune down assuming you use heavier strings which I always do. I just find Eb way warmer and toneful than Standard 440 E. I don't even know what 440 indicates. LOL.

[papersoul]

Re: Strings and tuning issues in question.

I play rhythm and use 12's..... they're D'addario though, so they equate to something heavier compared to Ernie Balls. I tune to standard.

Once I order in my next batch of strings though, I'm going to switch to DR. I might go down to 11's though, or have 11's on one guitar and keep the 12's on another. It would be nice to have two guitars with different string sizes, so that when I do play lead I could switch to the lighter feel during performances or recording sessions. I'd never use 10's though if I had the choice, and it isn't physically possible for me to use 9's.

Why DR?

Also, you could use a light top/heavy bottom set so you can have the rhythm and lead you desire in one ax.

I have 10s on my McCarty but can see myself honig to at least 10.5....or 11s in Eb.

[ArtieToo]

Re: Strings and tuning issues in question.

Actually you shouldn't hear more tone if you tune down assuming you use heavier strings which I always do. I just find Eb way warmer and toneful than Standard 440 E. I don't even know what 440 indicates. LOL.

440 hz is the frequency of A, below middle C on a piano.

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Strings and tuning issues in question.

Papersoul, if your McCarty has the standard wraparound bridge, you can only use 9's and 10's in standard tuning, since that preset intonation was dialed in for ONLY that.
If you plan on using 11's dropped half a step, you've got to have the PRS or Tonepros adjustable bridge. I know for a fact that it's the only way to get alternate tunings and gauges intonated on McCarties. I have one McCarty with 11's half step down with a dropped C#, and you can tell by looking at the saddles that it wouldn't have been possible to intonate on the preset bridge.

[papersoul]

Re: Strings and tuning issues in question.

I checked on the PRS forum and a few people had contacted PRS and got the response that 11s should be fine as long as you use an unwound G string. I may end up just ordering the PRS intonable bridge to be safe.

I was going to switch to 10.5-48 or 10-50 in standard and if I go Eb, I'll have 11-50 or 11-52.

On another note: do any of you prefer Eb to Standard E? I have been using E for the last week and seems to help with re-learning some theory....but I miss that deep tone of Eb.

[Metalman_666]

Re: Strings and tuning issues in question.

For some reason I personally gravitate toward Eb tuning... never understood it, but I just like that particular range of tones that are different than E. I use DR 9-46

[papersoul]

Re: Strings and tuning issues in question.

Papersoul, if your McCarty has the standard wraparound bridge, you can only use 9's and 10's in standard tuning, since that preset intonation was dialed in for ONLY that.
If you plan on using 11's dropped half a step, you've got to have the PRS or Tonepros adjustable bridge. I know for a fact that it's the only way to get alternate tunings and gauges intonated on McCarties. I have one McCarty with 11's half step down with a dropped C#, and you can tell by looking at the saddles that it wouldn't have been possible to intonate on the preset bridge.

Gear, I checked and you can use 11s on the standard PRS wrap around bridge. We also checked my friend's CU22 with 10-52 (lt/hvy set) in EB with dropped C# and intonation seem almost dead on.

[Benjy_26]

Re: Strings and tuning issues in question.

I play everything in standard tuning and use 10-46 Everly B-52's (great string) on my fender style axes and Carvin and 10-52's on my Paul and Sheraton. I tried the regular 10-46 on shrt scale guitars, but found the bass strings to be too floppy.

[Zerberus]

Re: Strings and tuning issues in question.

I play something between rhythm and lead.

Guages (All DR tite Fit unless otherwise noted)
12-52 in standard/ Dropped d, 13-60 in D /Dropped C, and LaBella(11)14-80 on baritones, seven strings, or anything tuned B or lower

[Bludave]

Re: Strings and tuning issues in question.

I use D'addario XL 115's on all my electrics, and they are all tuned to 440. My acoustic guitars are tuned in a variety of tunings using J17's (13 thru 56). If you are planning on tuning down I would recommend going up in thickness. If you go to Eb and you use 10's, go to 11's you wont notice much of a difference. If you go fro E to D, use 12's, you won't notice much of a difference in tension. Of course the tone will be much deeper.

[theboatcandream]

Re: Strings and tuning issues in question.

I like DR because they last like D'addarios but feel more comfortable like ernie balls. I might be daydreaming here, it's not like I've experimented by going out, buying one pack of each brand, then stringing up a bunch of guitars and playing them side by side.