I just dropped 10-60 strings on my Ibanez SZ320 and...

[Diego]

It doesn't feel that much different from 10-52?? :grumble:

I previously had some regular Dunlops, 10-52 set. Saw some Dunlop Zakk Wylde signature sets for real cheap so I figured why not, since I'm playing a lot in Drop A (A-G-C-F-A-D) and the 6th goes a bit wobbly.
Installed them, tweaked the truss a bit and frankly it didn't improve that much.

Surprisingly the high strings are way more slinky than the 10-52 set, despite being the same maker and everything.
It still gets a bit wobbly, and I'm guessing it's the 25 inch scale and breaking angle at the bridge for the 6th string (very soft) that doesn't like going that low.
The 5th was the biggest change by far, 52 gauge instead of 42 (!!) and now it responds like a grand piano or something.

If I bring the 6th up to a regular Drop C tuning (C-G-C-F-A-D) then it comes to life and feels way tighter than the 52. Terrific. But down to A it's almost the same thing.
Can't say I'm dissapointed, but I'm just wondering how I'd get a Les Paul to be tight tuned this low with an even shorter scale (Like Zakk and the boys from Mastodon do).

Tailpiece break angle, maybe? I'm curious.

 

[Chad]

Re: I just dropped 10-60 strings on my Ibanez SZ320 and...

It just depends on a person's attack and ability to control the strings. Back around the Obsolete era, I'm pretty sure I remember Dino from Fear Factory saying he used a .049" for his low A string on his Ibanez 25.5" 7 strings. He has since raised his gauges (and scale length), but played like that for awhile.

With that said, even though I'm not a fan of huge strings, my experience still tends to match yours. B tuning is no problem on the standard scale lengths. But that extra whole step drop to A is a huge change and I'm just not a fan of the feel or sound. I've tried up to .062" on a 25.5" scale. Still didn't like it. To me, A is the point where a longer scale length is ideal.

 

[Diego]

Re: I just dropped 10-60 strings on my Ibanez SZ320 and...

And I hope I end up hating these for some reason, since they're no longer listed in Dunlop's website and many sellers have them as out of stock.
End of the road for my new favorite string pack?

 

[Zarg]

Re: I just dropped 10-60 strings on my Ibanez SZ320 and...

It doesn't feel that much different from 10-52?? :grumble:

I previously had some regular Dunlops, 10-52 set. Saw some Dunlop Zakk Wylde signature sets for real cheap so I figured why not, since I'm playing a lot in Drop A (A-G-C-F-A-D) and the 6th goes a bit wobbly.
Installed them, tweaked the truss a bit and frankly it didn't improve that much.

Surprisingly the high strings are way more slinky than the 10-52 set, despite being the same maker and everything.
It still gets a bit wobbly, and I'm guessing it's the 25 inch scale and breaking angle at the bridge for the 6th string (very soft) that doesn't like going that low.
The 5th was the biggest change by far, 52 gauge instead of 42 (!!) and now it responds like a grand piano or something.

If I bring the 6th up to a regular Drop C tuning (C-G-C-F-A-D) then it comes to life and feels way tighter than the 52. Terrific. But down to A it's almost the same thing.
Can't say I'm dissapointed, but I'm just wondering how I'd get a Les Paul to be tight tuned this low with an even shorter scale (Like Zakk and the boys from Mastodon do).

Tailpiece break angle, maybe? I'm curious.

wow, how can you play 10s in drop A? too me, that's like spaghetti.

I play drop Bb with 13-62 on my les paul right now, I'm liking it that way. still kinda loose though. In Flames guitar player Björn Gelotte uses 12-68 for Drop Bb.

A big part can also be you pickup and your amp, make sure those are tight. I screw my tailpiece all the way down and I'm liking the tightness of 13-62. I play through a (simulated) mesa triple rec with a tube screamer in front to tighten it up even more, currently using EMG 81 pickup, but my dimarzio dominion has always been super tight too.

you have another option, just use your favorite strings and your regular setup, tune to drop D and use a pedal! digitech the drop. yes, its a pedal that detunes your guitar.... honestly I was very sceptical of it first but it sounds great and you can't notice the difference. Even August Burns Red is using it live on stage... that should say something. If I hadn't made the step to get my les paul all set up for heavy strings I would use this method, that way you keep your guitar as it is and it sounds great and especially tight, without having huge strings.

here's a comparison video for "the drop"

cheers mate

 

[Diego]

Re: I just dropped 10-60 strings on my Ibanez SZ320 and...

I might give that a go! Cool concept, that pedal.

I actually tune in AGCFAD, which is like a 7 string guitar without the 6th. The cool thing about it is that when doing the classic power chord shape in the 6th and 5th, you get an octave.
And all the strings except the 6th are only 1 tone below standard tuning, which is why my other strings are not wet noodles.

 

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: I just dropped 10-60 strings on my Ibanez SZ320 and...

0_o play bariton...or switch to 1837649 string bass

 

[NjuiMusic]

Re: I just dropped 10-60 strings on my Ibanez SZ320 and...

for drop a on a 25.5" I use a .70 on my lowest string.. I don't think a .60 would be to good, I would try a .66 at least if you like slightly lighter strings..

 

[Johnny the Kid]

Re: I just dropped 10-60 strings on my Ibanez SZ320 and...

I might give that a go! Cool concept, that pedal.

I actually tune in AGCFAD, which is like a 7 string guitar without the 6th. The cool thing about it is that when doing the classic power chord shape in the 6th and 5th, you get an octave.
And all the strings except the 6th are only 1 tone below standard tuning, which is why my other strings are not wet noodles.

I would warn that pedals like that are not be all end all solutions. And they can have latency issues if you tune too far down.