Gtrjunior
New member
Re: Low tunings + low tension = good
He is ridiculously good
I took lessons from a guy that is friendly with him.
He is ridiculously good
I took lessons from a guy that is friendly with him.
Low tunings + low tension = good
- Thread starter JB_From_Hell
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Diego
New member
Re: Low tunings + low tension = good
Ty Tabor tunes low and uses light strings. So I did the same.
It works for him, and it works for me.
I went as high as 12-56 tuned to D with my old Les Paul.
Now I'm using 10-46, the tone is almost the same and I can play for hours with no discomfort. I dig it.
Heavier strings feel great, but playing a buttery instrument feels even better.
My Ibanez SZ which I normally use for E currently has 10-49, but I think I'll drop it to 9-42 and see what happens.
Ty Tabor tunes low and uses light strings. So I did the same.
It works for him, and it works for me.
I went as high as 12-56 tuned to D with my old Les Paul.
Now I'm using 10-46, the tone is almost the same and I can play for hours with no discomfort. I dig it.
Heavier strings feel great, but playing a buttery instrument feels even better.
My Ibanez SZ which I normally use for E currently has 10-49, but I think I'll drop it to 9-42 and see what happens.
JB_From_Hell
Jomo's Nimions
Re: Low tunings + low tension = good
Just got the D'Addario light 8 string set: 9,11,16,24,32,42,54,65. The top 7 strings are very similar to what I'm using now, but i'm looking forward to trying the 65 F#.
Just got the D'Addario light 8 string set: 9,11,16,24,32,42,54,65. The top 7 strings are very similar to what I'm using now, but i'm looking forward to trying the 65 F#.
Clint 55
OH THE DOUBLE THICK GLAZE!
Re: Low tunings + low tension = good
I like low tuning and low tension also. I struggled in standard for a while. Tried short scale, 8s, 9s, then heavier strings. None of them felt right. Eventually went eff it and tuned down to D. Worked perfectly. I didn't even need 11s or 12s to get fat tone. 10s are plenty for me. It's the same flexibility as 9s in standard. I learned all the notes to my new tuning. I get custom 10-49s.
I like low tuning and low tension also. I struggled in standard for a while. Tried short scale, 8s, 9s, then heavier strings. None of them felt right. Eventually went eff it and tuned down to D. Worked perfectly. I didn't even need 11s or 12s to get fat tone. 10s are plenty for me. It's the same flexibility as 9s in standard. I learned all the notes to my new tuning. I get custom 10-49s.
JB_From_Hell
Jomo's Nimions
Re: Low tunings + low tension = good
Swapped the 74 on my 8 for a 65. Didn’t look at the tension stat so I’d be judging purely by feel and sound, not numbers. Love it. It’s obviously looser than the 80 I was originally using, but the tone is exactly what I was after and it’s still super playable. Power chords on the bottom 2 strings ring clearer, even tuned to E and A (octave below a standard 6 string).
I’m done with tension calculators.
Swapped the 74 on my 8 for a 65. Didn’t look at the tension stat so I’d be judging purely by feel and sound, not numbers. Love it. It’s obviously looser than the 80 I was originally using, but the tone is exactly what I was after and it’s still super playable. Power chords on the bottom 2 strings ring clearer, even tuned to E and A (octave below a standard 6 string).
I’m done with tension calculators.
DavidRavenMoon
New member
Low tunings + low tension = good
Hey JB, have you tried the D’Addario NYXL strings? I just put a set of 9-46 set on my Parker. That’s my regular set for that guitar.
They have slightly higher tension. I had to tighten my truss rod to get the neck flat again (I use very low action and no relief)
Very stable tuning.
The bass strings have no flab at drop tunings. The treble strings have a smoother top end. They sound like 10s. You might like them. They’re expensive, but are supposed to last a long time.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Hey JB, have you tried the D’Addario NYXL strings? I just put a set of 9-46 set on my Parker. That’s my regular set for that guitar.
They have slightly higher tension. I had to tighten my truss rod to get the neck flat again (I use very low action and no relief)
Very stable tuning.
The bass strings have no flab at drop tunings. The treble strings have a smoother top end. They sound like 10s. You might like them. They’re expensive, but are supposed to last a long time.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
JB_From_Hell
Jomo's Nimions
Re: Low tunings + low tension = good
I have a set of 10-46 NYXL on my ‘62 LP. They’ve been on for a couple years, and still stay in tune (it lives in the case mostly, but still...). Unfortunately, the 9 gauge 8 string sets have an 80 on the bottom. Once I’m 100% decided on gauges for this guitar, I’m gonna piece together NYXLs for it. The other guitars are getting them when I run out of EXLs.
I have a set of 10-46 NYXL on my ‘62 LP. They’ve been on for a couple years, and still stay in tune (it lives in the case mostly, but still...). Unfortunately, the 9 gauge 8 string sets have an 80 on the bottom. Once I’m 100% decided on gauges for this guitar, I’m gonna piece together NYXLs for it. The other guitars are getting them when I run out of EXLs.
DavidRavenMoon
New member
Re: Low tunings + low tension = good
I played a gig with them last night on my Parker P-38. No locking tuners, and a non locking Wilkinson trem. I dive-bombed some feedback at the end of one of the songs. The strings were totally slack. I was expecting to be totally out of tune afterwards and I wasn’t! Just had to tweak the low E a bit. I was in drop D.
Totally impressed with them.
I said “totally” too many times in this post. [emoji16]
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I played a gig with them last night on my Parker P-38. No locking tuners, and a non locking Wilkinson trem. I dive-bombed some feedback at the end of one of the songs. The strings were totally slack. I was expecting to be totally out of tune afterwards and I wasn’t! Just had to tweak the low E a bit. I was in drop D.
Totally impressed with them.
I said “totally” too many times in this post. [emoji16]
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
weepingminotaur
Well-known member
Re: Low tunings + low tension = good
Funny, I own the same LP you do, I think (Les Paul Standard PlusTop Pro). I keep it in E standard. Current string gauge is 11-52, which has a great tone, but is not geared to play fast. I think I am going to try 9-46 and see what happens.
Funny, I own the same LP you do, I think (Les Paul Standard PlusTop Pro). I keep it in E standard. Current string gauge is 11-52, which has a great tone, but is not geared to play fast. I think I am going to try 9-46 and see what happens.
Diego
New member
Re: Low tunings + low tension = good
That's correct. Mine is definitely not set for playing fast tho, I've got 2 mm. of action in the high strings and 2.5 mm in the low strings side. So it's medium action I guess.
I'm not sure I'd go for a 9 for the high E, that's gonna be very slinky but hey, might be your ticket for sweet, effortless bends.
Let us know how it goes!
That's correct. Mine is definitely not set for playing fast tho, I've got 2 mm. of action in the high strings and 2.5 mm in the low strings side. So it's medium action I guess.
I'm not sure I'd go for a 9 for the high E, that's gonna be very slinky but hey, might be your ticket for sweet, effortless bends.
Let us know how it goes!
weepingminotaur
Well-known member
Re: Low tunings + low tension = good
Yeah, not sure if I'll do 9 for high E or 10. I want slinky but not all the way spaghetti noodle.
Yeah, not sure if I'll do 9 for high E or 10. I want slinky but not all the way spaghetti noodle.
JB_From_Hell
Jomo's Nimions
Re: Low tunings + low tension = good
Got the 9-80 NYXL set for my 8 string by cashing in Player's Points. The F# (80) and B (60) are super tight on the 27" scale, but they sound great. I need to go through and tweak the action now, as I think the heavier strings can definitely go lower.
As an aside, this guitar (Ibanez TAM10) is my first 5 piece neck with Wenge reinforcement strips. It's incredible how much this stabilizes the neck. You know how when you're removing the strings the others raise in pitch a little? In the past, I'm used to the high E being almost pulled flat against the frets. On the TAM10, I took off 7 strings, and the high E was still at pitch. Even with the giant headstock and long neck, if I shake the guitar, there's only the slightest amount of pitch wobble. Pretty incredible.
Got the 9-80 NYXL set for my 8 string by cashing in Player's Points. The F# (80) and B (60) are super tight on the 27" scale, but they sound great. I need to go through and tweak the action now, as I think the heavier strings can definitely go lower.
As an aside, this guitar (Ibanez TAM10) is my first 5 piece neck with Wenge reinforcement strips. It's incredible how much this stabilizes the neck. You know how when you're removing the strings the others raise in pitch a little? In the past, I'm used to the high E being almost pulled flat against the frets. On the TAM10, I took off 7 strings, and the high E was still at pitch. Even with the giant headstock and long neck, if I shake the guitar, there's only the slightest amount of pitch wobble. Pretty incredible.
Progbusters
New member
Re: Low tunings + low tension = good
Eb standard is nice.
Eb standard is nice.
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