E flat tuning on stratocaster
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Snake Aces
Singlecut Slut
Re: E flat tuning on stratocaster
I love Eb on a 24.75" scale myself. I always keep one of my Warmoth guitars with a 24.75" scale neck tuned and set-up to Eb standard.
I love Eb on a 24.75" scale myself. I always keep one of my Warmoth guitars with a 24.75" scale neck tuned and set-up to Eb standard.
![orangestratdone[1].jpg](https://forum.seymourduncan.com/data/attachments/22/22050-4f3f065ed9b8188306495c4d2897d5fa.jpg?hash=qg_dRexVAE "orangestratdone[1].jpg")
Davii
New member
Re: E flat tuning on stratocaster
I spent years with everything tuned to Eb, but went down an extra 1/2 step to D to put a bit less stress on the 12 string a little while back. It may be that I've long since been used to the lower tuning, but I don't notice anything specific, and part of the reason in the first place was more in favour of the singer I work with.
That said, picking out the right gauge strings took me a while, and felt a right clumsy numpty for a bit :34:
I spent years with everything tuned to Eb, but went down an extra 1/2 step to D to put a bit less stress on the 12 string a little while back. It may be that I've long since been used to the lower tuning, but I don't notice anything specific, and part of the reason in the first place was more in favour of the singer I work with.
That said, picking out the right gauge strings took me a while, and felt a right clumsy numpty for a bit :34:
Mr. B
New member
Re: E flat tuning on stratocaster
I think a lot of single coil strat pickups sound better in Eb tuning than standard. I can't nail the SRV, Hendrix, or Malmsteen tones I have in my head unless I downtune my strats. It changes the character of the pickups way more than you'd think.
I think a lot of single coil strat pickups sound better in Eb tuning than standard. I can't nail the SRV, Hendrix, or Malmsteen tones I have in my head unless I downtune my strats. It changes the character of the pickups way more than you'd think.
Lazarus1140
New member
Re: E flat tuning on stratocaster
Interesting.
And how would you estimate the feel of the string tension using 10s ... more like standard tuning with 9s?
Interesting.
And how would you estimate the feel of the string tension using 10s ... more like standard tuning with 9s?
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Myaccount876
Amira-Maker
Re: E flat tuning on stratocaster
I tune everything to Eb. It just fits. I've considered moving everything down to either C standard or C# standard because it's a lot easier on my voice and I can experiment more with some of my favorite keys more than I could in Eb. But I hate the idea of tuning changes for different songs. I want every song to be in the same tuning. So I played every song I've written so far and shifted it down to those tuning. Some of them sounded really cool lower, while one or two in particular just fell apart and sounded way off with the key change. So I'm just sticking with Eb standard. It always works for me and I've just become so accustomed to it. It has always just sounded right and feels right.
I tune everything to Eb. It just fits. I've considered moving everything down to either C standard or C# standard because it's a lot easier on my voice and I can experiment more with some of my favorite keys more than I could in Eb. But I hate the idea of tuning changes for different songs. I want every song to be in the same tuning. So I played every song I've written so far and shifted it down to those tuning. Some of them sounded really cool lower, while one or two in particular just fell apart and sounded way off with the key change. So I'm just sticking with Eb standard. It always works for me and I've just become so accustomed to it. It has always just sounded right and feels right.
Re: E flat tuning on stratocaster
Its loser then 9s in standard tuning. I have to go with 11's or 12 now.
Its loser then 9s in standard tuning. I have to go with 11's or 12 now.
iamthesuck
New member
Re: E flat tuning on stratocaster
I read some hippy dippy article about tuning to A=444Hz, so I was trying that on a standard tuned 25.5 scale. Tension is too high so I'll probably drop it down to Eb. I found that low tunings work equally well on shorter scale lengths if you're into loose metal, but it does lose what little brightness remains. It's just too loose for much else besides doom metal IME
I read some hippy dippy article about tuning to A=444Hz, so I was trying that on a standard tuned 25.5 scale. Tension is too high so I'll probably drop it down to Eb. I found that low tunings work equally well on shorter scale lengths if you're into loose metal, but it does lose what little brightness remains. It's just too loose for much else besides doom metal IME
GilmourD
Burritotoneologist
Re: E flat tuning on stratocaster
I run 9s half a step down on my Floyd guitars. Love the slinkiness.
Snake Aces
Singlecut Slut
Re: E flat tuning on stratocaster
Slash is a Eb on a 24.75" scale player. Sounds great to me. Also, these are some improv jams I recorded in Eb standard on a 24.75" guitar (first takes of a improv jam so they are not polished at all but you get the idea):
At some point I will go back and re-record them using a better EQ and have my technique and playing polished. My point is I do not know what the fear of playing downtuned on a 24.75" scale guitar is all about. Hell, Adam Jones from Tool has been playing in drop D on one for almost two decades now. There are plenty of other examples too.
Slash is a Eb on a 24.75" scale player. Sounds great to me. Also, these are some improv jams I recorded in Eb standard on a 24.75" guitar (first takes of a improv jam so they are not polished at all but you get the idea):
At some point I will go back and re-record them using a better EQ and have my technique and playing polished. My point is I do not know what the fear of playing downtuned on a 24.75" scale guitar is all about. Hell, Adam Jones from Tool has been playing in drop D on one for almost two decades now. There are plenty of other examples too.
kramersteen
PowerMetalRaph
Re: E flat tuning on stratocaster
Half step down is a must sometimes.
Half step down is a must sometimes.
DrNewcenstein
He Did the Monster Mash
Re: E flat tuning on stratocaster
I prefer D or C# with 9s for those vintage Sabbath tracks.
Just can't beat the tonnage of Into The Void's opening riff.
I prefer D or C# with 9s for those vintage Sabbath tracks.
Just can't beat the tonnage of Into The Void's opening riff.
Snake Aces
Singlecut Slut
aleclee
Major General GAS
Re: E flat tuning on stratocaster
I'll be the first to dissent. I don't mind the feel of Eb (my main guitars are all 25.5) but I definitely don't prefer it. It's enough of a PITA when trying to play outside my band that the brain damage totally outweighs any potential benefits to me.
I'll be the first to dissent. I don't mind the feel of Eb (my main guitars are all 25.5) but I definitely don't prefer it. It's enough of a PITA when trying to play outside my band that the brain damage totally outweighs any potential benefits to me.
Petrovsk Mizinski
New member
Re: E flat tuning on stratocaster
No, it isn't.
A 10 gauge tuned to Eb has around 14.4lbs of tension.
A 9 gauge tuned to E has 13.13lbs of tension.
A 9.5 gauge tuned to Eb has 13.04lbs of tension.
No, it isn't.
A 10 gauge tuned to Eb has around 14.4lbs of tension.
A 9 gauge tuned to E has 13.13lbs of tension.
A 9.5 gauge tuned to Eb has 13.04lbs of tension.
