Guitar tuning issue

Nsatke81

Nsatke81

New member
Hi all,

I’m hoping somebody on here might have a little experience with setting up guitars tuned below standard. I often tune to C# or drop B. My fifth to first strings tune and intonate fine. But the sixth string I just can’t seem to get right. When I pick the string the note will rise in pitch 40 cents and then fall 60 cents or so from there. I can even get the intonation to match with this swing and stretching out the string isn’t a huge help either. Does anyone know what could be causing this?


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Are you using a heavier string when tuned down? When tuned down really low, a lighter string will sag under the pull of the magnets in the pickups...
 
I usually use a 12-60 set for drop b, and it happens on guitars regardless if the pickups are active or passive. Actives should have less string pull...right? At least it is a point that EMG uses in their marketing. Would the blackouts be the same?


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Not only the pull of the magnet, but the lighter string will be flubby when tuned low, allowing for more displacement of the string when you pick. When you pluck it, you increase string tension, that's why it goes sharp. If it's flat when settles, then I think it is tuned flat to begin with. To test this, try plucking it very lightly. If I am right, the lighter you pick, the less sharp it will go.Also, what about your scale length? Short scale will make things worse... A 60 gauge string tuned to B is about the max a 25.5 scale guitar will take without issues, at least in my experience. Not sure I would try it on a shorter scale. Anything lower than that I would increase the gauge for the 6th string or try it on baritone scale length. Maybe take a look at some 7 string sets and use the heaviest string for the 6th string on your guitar. That way you'll get the increased tension on your lowest and avoid going to 13s or 14s for the other 5 strings... I even recall some companies (Dunlop and Cleartone come to mind) making "drop tuned" sets with a heavier gauge for the lowest string
 
nexion218 said:
Not only the pull of the magnet, but the lighter string will be flubby when tuned low, allowing for more displacement of the string when you pick. When you pluck it, you increase string tension, that's why it goes sharp. If it's flat when settles, then I think it is tuned flat to begin with. To test this, try plucking it very lightly. If I am right, the lighter you pick, the less sharp it will go.Also, what about your scale length? Short scale will make things worse... A 60 gauge string tuned to B is about the max a 25.5 scale guitar will take without issues, at least in my experience. Not sure I would try it on a shorter scale. Anything lower than that I would increase the gauge for the 6th string or try it on baritone scale length. Maybe take a look at some 7 string sets and use the heaviest string for the 6th string on your guitar. That way you'll get the increased tension on your lowest and avoid going to 13s or 14s for the other 5 strings... I even recall some companies (Dunlop and Cleartone come to mind) making "drop tuned" sets with a heavier gauge for the lowest string
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25.5 scale length on an old 98 jackson Kv-1 with a Kahler fixed bridge. The kv-1 currently has a set of black winters. It also happens on my 85 Rhoads with a Kahler pro which has a set of emtys.

Both have 12-60 sets on them. I checked as you said and the lighter I play the less the string pulls sharp—Which confirms your theory. Other than playing lightly, is there a solution?



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I guess you don't have a King V set up to C# to play lightly, so my limited knowledge tells me that a heavier 6th string it the way to go. Maybe a lighter pick, but I wouldn't expect as much of a change from that.
 
nexion218 said:
I guess you don't have a King V set up to C# to play lightly, so my limited knowledge tells me that a heavier 6th string it the way to go. Maybe a lighter pick, but I wouldn't expect as much of a change from that.
Click to expand...

Yeah, when I play rhythm I tend to be heavy handed. So I’m gathering I need to perhaps slightly lower the pickup, and definitely use a heavier string?


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So I had some 70s on hand but they don’t fit in the saddles of the jackson so I ordered a 64 66 and 68 from daddario


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Hi all! Thanks for the advice. Turns out a 66 works best if I lower the pups a little. Stays very close to dead on accurate with a slight lowering of the pickup.

I can finally play in tune! Success!


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Just to muddy the waters a bit, the B tuned pioneers, like Carcass, Trouble, Cannibal Corpse, etc... all used a .056, and often on Les Pauls. Part of that old school death metal sound is the tuning being a little wonky.
 
JB_From_Hell said:
Just to muddy the waters a bit, the B tuned pioneers, like Carcass, Trouble, Cannibal Corpse, etc... all used a .056, and often on Les Pauls. Part of that old school death metal sound is the tuning being a little wonky.
Click to expand...

You can definitely hear that there is something up with the pitch on a lot of those early records. Those guys were often using whatever they could find that would actually work. I mean, if we go back a little further, tony Iommi used .008s for C#. Those sabbath records were not dead on pitch either...

I just want to be as on as I can. When the pitch swings almost a half step for an accent for a hard hit downbeat...it’s annoying and not what I wrote.


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What you described is normal to an extent with any guitar, any string, any tuning...as nexion explained. This is most evident on thicker strings and shorter scale lengths. When you pick any string the greater magnitude of the string's vibration causes it to be sharp due to the increased tension created. As the wave diminishes so does the tension and thus the tuning. Some players (especially those who play heavy and fast, not allowing the note to decay) will purposely tune their guitars to the "pluck". My personal style allows notes to sustain so I tune to the "decay" (after the string vibration has settled down somewhat).

Tune your guitar to fit your playing style.
 
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