Drop tune and string gauge

[hydro]

Is there a "rule of thumb" here, to keep string tension close to standard tuning by increasing the string gauge?

I'm looking at D standard and C standard tunings. Moved up to 11-48 from 10-46 and they are still pretty slappy. Actually like the 11s, even in E standard tuning.

Second, related - anyone try the "skinny top/heavy bottom" type sets? Or put together a custom set?

I really don't want a wound G. Bleah.

 

[Empty Pockets]

Re: Drop tune and string gauge

I would at least do .012s for those tunings. I keep two Gibsons in drop Bb with D'addario Baritone Light strings, .013-.62. You'll get used to the wound G.

 

[Chad]

Re: Drop tune and string gauge

Spend some time here:

http://stringtensionpro.com

I find the exact tensions for what I have with my normal strings/tuning. Then find what gauges are needed for the new tuning. Then experiment from there.

I don't like a wound G. But at the same time I rarely find one necessary on D or C tuning. Only around A tuning does a wound G become a consideration for me.

 

[Johnny the Kid]

Re: Drop tune and string gauge

You really don't need to go super heavy. I've done drop C with an 11-50 set. For D Standard, you'll be fine there. For C Standard, you may want something more like a 10-52 hybrid set.

 

[greekdude]

Re: Drop tune and string gauge

Wound G IMHO kills the whole purpose of having an electric guitar. I am on drop A on my 7-string, so no worries about wound G.

 

[baritone]

Re: Drop tune and string gauge

I used to use EB Skinny Top Heavy Bottom strings for drop-D tuning on my Strat. Those strings were awesome for that setup. These days, since I only tune to B-standard, I select custom sets from Ernie Ball.

It sound like you like high tension to go with your low tunings. The Ernie Ball 12-56 set has a plain 3rd string; it's really fat & hard to intonate, but I got used to it. That set could work well for C-standard, but it may get a little tight for D-standard.

 

[Demanic]

Re: Drop tune and string gauge

Light top Heavy bottom EB Cobalts work just fine for D standard or even C standard.
For lower I would try Dunlop Heavy Cores.

Sent from my MotoE2(4G-LTE) using Tapatalk

 

[greekdude]

Re: Drop tune and string gauge

Spend some time here:

http://stringtensionpro.com

I find the exact tensions for what I have with my normal strings/tuning. Then find what gauges are needed for the new tuning. Then experiment from there.

I don't like a wound G. But at the same time I rarely find one necessary on D or C tuning. Only around A tuning does a wound G become a consideration for me.

+1 for http://stringtensionpro.com . This is daddario sponsored.

 

[SirJackdeFuzz]

Re: Drop tune and string gauge

All my guitars have 12's on em.

I play Std and C std.

Works fine for me, even on my Tele.

 

[darthphineas]

Re: Drop tune and string gauge

I use 9-42 and 10-46 for standard E and Eb, depending on the guitar.

I go with 10-46 on Eb and D, depending on the guitar.


just play around with it and see what works best for you.

 

[Rand-O-Monium]

Re: Drop tune and string gauge

Prolly one of the few occasions I wouldn't TopWrap...

 

[SirJackdeFuzz]

Re: Drop tune and string gauge

Is there a "rule of thumb" here, to keep string tension close to standard tuning by increasing the string gauge?

I'm looking at D standard and C standard tunings. Moved up to 11-48 from 10-46 and they are still pretty slappy.

Actually like the 11s, even in E standard tuning.

Second, related - anyone try the "skinny top/heavy bottom" type sets? Or put together a custom set?

I really don't want a wound G. Bleah.

11's ?

I s'pose you are not using these 11 :wave:

 

[probo_squad_henry]

Re: Drop tune and string gauge

I use 10-52 in standard/drop D, but I've gone to drop C with it a few times. It feels a little slack to me, but you might like it.

 

[Raoul Duke]

Re: Drop tune and string gauge

A good guideline to follow is going up a gauge for each semi tone down. It is all a matter of preference and can vary from guitar to guitar. I generally find 11-49 perfect for e flat but not so good for d standard.

A good place to start for d standard is 11-52 like daddario exl 116, from there you can usually determine if you need to go heavier or not. These days I more or less use the exl 117 which is a slightly heavier 11-56. For drop c I feel I could probably beef up the lowest string to a 58-60 tho.

I haven't really gone down c standard but I've used 12-54 with great success in c sharp std. And if I was to go c std I'd probably go the daddario 12-60. Ymmv.

 

[Chad]

Re: Drop tune and string gauge

So subjective, but for me good starting points on 25.5" scale are:

E standard: 9-46
Eb: 9-46
D: 10-46
C#: 10-52
C: don't use this tuning, but would probably try 11-52 or 11-56
B: 12-56

And if I tune the low string down another whole step (like for drop A), I add around .004" to the low string. For drop A, I use 12-60. I use a plain third string for all of those tunings.

 

[AlexR]

Re: Drop tune and string gauge

There are a few 12's that come with wound G.....its either d'addario or ernie ball that I got sets from that were fine. But you can simply buy a plain 20 G separately should you choose to go that way and are able to find nothing about to your liking.

 

[Coma]

Re: Drop tune and string gauge

Boomers Low 11 - 53 work well for me in C std, at least on a 25.5. Low C gets flabby on my 24.75, but it's manageable with proper palm muting and EQing. Mind you, MANAGEABLE - not good.

 

[GEC]

Re: Drop tune and string gauge

I use 11's in standard, and my rule of thumb for standard-interval tunings is pretty much this:

11's: Standard or Eb standard
12's: Eb standard, D standard, or C# standard
13's: C# standard or C standard.

If 11's feel good in standard for you and too loose in D, then go for some 12's! Ernie Ball's Not Even Slinky sets have plain G's. I prefer a wound G on 12 sets because a plain 23 or 24 gauge just feels weird to my hands, but whatever works for you!
IMO, skinny top/heavy bottom sets are best for if you want to switch often between standard and dropped tunings. That way the lowest string will be manageable in standard but retain some tightness if you drop it down.

 

[DeadandBuried]

Re: Drop tune and string gauge

I play in a dropped version of D standard (CGCFAD) and currently use 12-56's. Its just about right for a hard-hitting thrasher that likes to play powerchords a lot.

I use another guitar in drop D sometimes and I have 10-52's on that. If I go lower than D then I'd use at least a 54.

For C standard I'd be looking at 12-60 perhaps, though you could get away with the 12-56's. For standard tuning play 10-46's so I want the same tension in another tuning if its lower as it'd be in standard.