Custom 9-48 set for drop D?

[h3r3t1k]

I haven’t played too much guitar lately but I’m planning to set up one in dropD permanently. It’s a 25.5” guitar and it came with 10-46s. I wanna put daddario 9s on there and swap the 42 for a 48 as it’ll give me the same tension tuned to D. I’m hoping for increased playability after doing a set up. Or would you say it’s not worth it going to a lower gauge when I mostly play rhythm?

[B2D]

Re: Custom 9-48 set for drop D?

I wouldn't say it's not worth it per se, you'd just have to keep it in mind when changing/buying strings.

Give the Dunlop Heavy Core 10-48 sets a try. I find them to be very stable for Drop-D stuff and they don't feel as stiff as most sets do. They feel like 9 and a halfs or something. If the top strings still feel too big, just buy single strings.

Or.... you can make custom sets here: https://www.stringjoy.com/guitarstri...uitar-strings/

[h3r3t1k]

Re: Custom 9-48 set for drop D?

I wouldn't say it's not worth it per se, you'd just have to keep it in mind when changing/buying strings.

Give the Dunlop Heavy Core 10-48 sets a try. I find them to be very stable for Drop-D stuff and they don't feel as stiff as most sets do. They feel like 9 and a halfs or something. If the top strings still feel too big, just buy single strings.

Or.... you can make custom sets here: https://www.stringjoy.com/guitarstri...uitar-strings/

Will give them a try. Cheaper slightly and no waste. I hate wasting a perfectly good string.

[6stringerguy]

Re: Custom 9-48 set for drop D?

Just use a 10-52 set

[Clint 55]

Re: Custom 9-48 set for drop D?

I highly recommend custom sets. They vastly improve the sound and feel of your guitar over regular packs which have their gauges all over the place for some reason. Use www.stringtensionpro.com to see what the tensions are and make up a custom set. I think a good set of 9s for your 25.5" guitar in drop D would be:

0.0090 in. 13.14 lbs
0.0120 in. 13.11 lbs
0.0160 in. 14.68 lbs
0.0240 in. 15.73 lbs
0.0320 in. 15.50 lbs
0.0500 in. 15.62 lbs

As opposed to a pack of 9s with a 48:

0.0090 in. 13.14 lbs
0.0110 in. 11.02 lbs
0.0160 in. 14.68 lbs
0.0240 in. 15.73 lbs
0.0320 in. 15.50 lbs
0.0480 in. 14.50 lbs

Or a regular pack of 10-52s:

0.0100 in. 16.22 lbs
0.0130 in. 15.39 lbs
0.0170 in. 16.58 lbs
0.0300 in. 24.74 lbs
0.0420 in. 25.60 lbs
0.0520 in. 16.78 lbs

Notice how the tensions are all over the place on the standard pack? Doesn't really make sense.