12-56 Strings in Standard E tuning?

[TrainNutter]

Hi,

I'm a bit of a beginner when it comes to guitars (I'd say advanced beginner?)

I ordered 12-56 Strings in order to have a go at playing some Cannible corpse (with A# tuning) and as I like to play songs ina variety of tunings, mostly being D# Standard and E standard. Its kind brutal ik to tune down to A# for a bit then go back up to E.

Is it possible to tune 12-56s in Standard E? (6 string guitar)

This is what i ordered:

 

[Aceman]

Re: 12-56 Strings in Standard E tuning?

Yes. But what guitar?

You will want something you know is built well. My comment here is the bigger issue that going from C# to E will play havoc with the truss. Thus again, you want a well made guitar. Not a task for a Jackson JS32 or a cheap Schecter - well made as they are. Long term compression/flexing of the neck might cause fret issues and who knows what else.

My suggestion here, purely for convenience: Digitech Drop, EHX Pitchfork, or Mooer Pitchbox. Set the guitar up for say D, and you should be able to do C# no problem. But if you want D# or E, just hit the pedal.

Guitars these days are kinda built for 9/10's with E tuning as a max. Not saying they can't and don't endure 11's or even 12's. Just saying that's a lot of tension, and a lot of change. Just not the greatest idea. YMMV.

Easier on the guitar, and way faster for you.

 

[beaubrummels]

Re: 12-56 Strings in Standard E tuning?

12s in standard E? I’d only try that on a short 3/4 scale guitar. Just keep it tuned down and use a capo for E.

That’s huge leap to try and get out of one guitar though. I would just get a cheap second and upgrade the pickups for whichever key you won’t use very often.

 

[GuitarStv]

Re: 12-56 Strings in Standard E tuning?

I play 12-56s in E standard on my acoustics. I've also used them on a semi-hollow, but find that they're a little hard on the fingers so switched back to 11s. Never had an issue with .11s even on my Floyd equipped guitars.

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: 12-56 Strings in Standard E tuning?

12s in standard E? I’d only try that on a short 3/4 scale guitar. Just keep it tuned down and use a capo for E.

Fender's rounds that they installed on guitars from the mid '60s through the '70s were 12s. They were considered mediums back then. Before they started installing rounds in the factory, they used flat wound 12s, which were even higher in tension. Back then, flatwound 13s were considered the standard professional string set. And like I said, flats are higher tension than rounds, so they feel like 14s or 15s in rounds.

When I first learned to play guitar, I idolized Dick Dale. I strung my '85 MIJ Strat up 15–58 to try to emulate him, and left it that way for over 10 years (my only guitar too). No problems at all (other than needing a fret job from using the heavy strings).

Point being, no trouble at all putting those strings on a full scale guitar. And no problem at all tuning them to E standard. That is exactly what they were designed for, originally. They work well for drop tunings with a more modern string feel, but sets like that used to be the norm in standard tuning.

 

[beaubrummels]

Re: 12-56 Strings in Standard E tuning?

Fender's rounds that they installed on guitars from the mid '60s through the '70s were 12s. They were considered mediums back then. Before they started installing rounds in the factory, they used flat wound 12s, which were even higher in tension. Back then, flatwound 13s were considered the standard professional string set. And like I said, flats are higher tension than rounds, so they feel like 14s or 15s in rounds.

When I first learned to play guitar, I idolized Dick Dale. I strung my '85 MIJ Strat up 15–58 to try to emulate him, and left it that way for over 10 years (my only guitar too). No problems at all (other than needing a fret job from using the heavy strings).

Point being, no trouble at all putting those strings on a full scale guitar. And no problem at all tuning them to E standard. That is exactly what they were designed for, originally. They work well for drop tunings with a more modern string feel, but sets like that used to be the norm in standard tuning.

Wasn’t saying you can’t. Just saying what I would do based on my experience.

I have a set of old NOS 1960s Fender 12-52 that the wound strings are actually some kind of nylon core. Interesting kind of dead sound. Tried them on my 66 Strat and they sounded like a couple Hendrix tracks (definitely not all) and some other odd 60’s songs, then I tried them on my Rickenbacker 320 and they sounded like early early Beatles recordings. They were easier to play on the Rick. But for me I couldn’t really use 12s for a variety of everyday playing on anything.

 

[ehdwuld]

Re: 12-56 Strings in Standard E tuning?

I'm with Ace
the action will be all over the place

I have tens on my Martin
I put 12s on by mistake
the guitar was almost unplayable
until I tweaked the truss rod

switching back and forth
will surely require truss rod adjustments each time
possibly intonation adjustments

I second the idea of a second guitar
set up just for the different tuning

 

[DavidRavenMoon]

12-56 Strings in Standard E tuning?

I wouldn’t enjoy playing on 12s in standard tuning. I had 11s on a guitar tuned down to C#.

I grew up playing 9s mostly (actually before EB Slinky’s were common, on some awful Black Diamond strings lol 50 years ago!)

Heavier strings to me lose all the snap, and when you hear people doing bends and vibrato on heavy strings they have to push their whole arm, so they lose all finesse and never quite make it up to the pitch they are aiming for.

Like BB King said to Billy Gibbons; “why work so hard?”

I just switched to 8s with super low action on my Parker. Good enough for Page, Iommi, Gibbons, Kath, etc. [emoji16]

The shift in technique was minimal. I actually went from a 1.14mm pick to 1.5mm. I break less strings because they aren’t at the top of their tension and being stretched too far. Not that ever broke many strings.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[The_Junior]

Re: 12-56 Strings in Standard E tuning?

If you don't mind adjusting neck relief and the action each time you want to tune down and back up.

It's one reason to have multiple guitars is for each to have a different setup.

But sure, you can play 12's in E standard maybe for rhythm applications. I think Malcom Young played 12's or 13's

 

[dystrust]

Re: 12-56 Strings in Standard E tuning?

If you don't mind adjusting neck relief and the action each time you want to tune down and back up.

This. Also plan on changing strings when tuning back down at the very least; once the strings are streched in at standard tuning, they won't hold tune when tuned back down to A#, C#, or whichever.

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: 12-56 Strings in Standard E tuning?

Something else... your current nut isn’t cut for that gauge, I almost guarantee it. What strings are you used to now? If a new guitar isn’t in the cards, maybe try 11-52 first?

I think it’s a good excuse for a new guitar. One whole step is about the max I’d want to go up/down before a full setup.

 

[Aceman]

Re: 12-56 Strings in Standard E tuning?

Oooh - nut cut. Yep. That too...

 

[St_Genesius]

Re: 12-56 Strings in Standard E tuning?

I have a cheap Ibanez hollowbody with an obstinate Bigsby that nearly *requires* 12s to keep its trem spring in check. Have never had any problems with the tension being so high as to cause things to fly apart.

But I'm also not changing tunings. Standard E pretty much all the way on that one.

 

[OKC]

Re: 12-56 Strings in Standard E tuning?

12s in standard E? I’d only try that on a short 3/4 scale guitar. Just keep it tuned down and use a capo for E.

That’s huge leap to try and get out of one guitar though. I would just get a cheap second and upgrade the pickups for whichever key you won’t use very often.

i agree. If you want to go cheap, Ebay has some Charvel Desolation guitars that were made in China and no one ever liked them. They come loaded with SD blackouts and Active EMGs. I bought one that had to have some work, frets crowned and leveled and its great guitar. I keep it tuned at Drop C'. If you want different turnings get another guitar. Its hard enough to keep a guitar accurate in the same tuning.

 

[OKC]

Re: 12-56 Strings in Standard E tuning?

I wouldn’t enjoy playing on 12s in standard tuning. I had 11s on a guitar tuned down to C#.

I grew up playing 9s mostly (actually before EB Slinky’s were common, on some awful Black Diamond strings lol 50 years ago!)

Heavier strings to me lose all the snap, and when you hear people doing bends and vibrato on heavy strings they have to push their whole arm, so they lose all finesse and never quite make it up to the pitch they are aiming for.

Like BB King said to Billy Gibbons; “why work so hard?”

I just switched to 8s with super low action on my Parker. Good enough for Page, Iommi, Gibbons, Kath, etc. [emoji16]

The shift in technique was minimal. I actually went from a 1.14mm pick to 1.5mm. I break less strings because they aren’t at the top of their tension and being stretched too far. Not that ever broke many strings.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

One of my guitars has 9 - 42 and tuned to E flat. I don't play many bar chords on it anyway but if I do I just don't press the strings down as hard

 

[BleedingFingertips]

Re: 12-56 Strings in Standard E tuning?

i agree. If you want to go cheap, Ebay has some Charvel Desolation guitars that were made in China and no one ever liked them. They come loaded with SD blackouts and Active EMGs. I bought one that had to have some work, frets crowned and leveled and its great guitar. I keep it tuned at Drop C'. If you want different turnings get another guitar. Its hard enough to keep a guitar accurate in the same tuning.

I like the Desolation series

 

[BleedingFingertips]

Re: 12-56 Strings in Standard E tuning?

Is it possible to tune 12-56s in Standard E? (6 string guitar)

As others said, it's possible but why bother?

If I were you, I would tune the guitar to Standard D/Drop C as a compromise. Not too low for Standard E, not to high for Drop#A.

But then the question is, do you want to play for yourself or with a band? You don't need to play songs in the same tuning they were recorded for home sessions. I don't have a guitar in B Standard and I played Amon Amarth on Standard C, no problem.

 

[bhr]

Re: 12-56 Strings in Standard E tuning?

I use 13-56 strings on all of my guitars, electric and acoustic. Some are round wound, some are flat wound. Of course the guitars need to be set up for the strings, as is true with any strings. If you change gauges you should expect to change your guitar's setup, and not just the truss rod.

I think it has been generally forgotten that heavier gauge strings used to be the norm. I think it was in the 1960's when lighter gauge strings became popular. I use heavier gauge strings because I think they have a fuller sound, especially on acoustic guitars. But I don't play a lot of music with distortion, where I think lower tones can become very muddy so lighter gauge strings may be a better option.

 

[astrozombie]

Re: 12-56 Strings in Standard E tuning?

Hi,

I'm a bit of a beginner when it comes to guitars (I'd say advanced beginner?)

I ordered 12-56 Strings in order to have a go at playing some Cannible corpse (with A# tuning) and as I like to play songs ina variety of tunings, mostly being D# Standard and E standard. Its kind brutal ik to tune down to A# for a bit then go back up to E.

Is it possible to tune 12-56s in Standard E? (6 string guitar)

This is what i ordered:
View attachment 105047

I would order a set of 10s. Personal preference. You can also use 9s or 11s but I like tens.

Use these for general music making

The gauges you mentioned are basically specialized.


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[jeremy]

Re: 12-56 Strings in Standard E tuning?

so much of it comes down to personal preference and what you are trying to do. there are guys out there that bend the **** out of 13's on a tele in standard tuning and guys that cant bend 10's in tune on a les paul. i put 11s on everything (electrics anyway) and always play in standard tuning unless im doing a specific song in an open tuning. i can get by on 10s and could make it through a gig on 12s but 11s feel right to me. if 9s on a lp feel good, then use em. same with 13s, if you like em then use em.