String gauge for tuning to D?

[rspst14]

Hey guys, lately I've been working on some songs that are tuned down one full step to D. I typically use 10-46 strings in standard tuning, and I'm thinking about setting up one guitar in D. If I want the same kind of tension that I get from a 10-46 set in standard, what gauges should I use in D? Thanks.

Ryan

 

[proxy]

Re: String gauge for tuning to D?

D as in like a whole step down? or just Drop D?

 

[Hellion]

Re: String gauge for tuning to D?

You don't say what your other guages are, but I'd consider going up to a .012 on the high "E" string and up to about .052 on the low. Interpolate the differences on the rest.

 

[Nightburst]

Re: String gauge for tuning to D?

What guitar? and what's the scale?

I think a .11 to .54 set will do fine if you like the tension in D.

I tune in D with my band and I've settled for D'addario EXL140 (.010, .013, .017, .030, .042, .052) strings. WIth this 'light top, heavy bottom' set I get all the tension and chunk of the low strings plus the bendability of the high strings.
Note: this is with my Les Paul.

My Ibanez has a different scale and the same set of strings feels much tighter.

 

[rspst14]

Re: String gauge for tuning to D?

D as in like a whole step down? or just Drop D?

Whole step down...I usually use 10, 13, 17, 26, 36, and 46 in standard. 25.5 inch scale.

Ryan

 

[Bob Zombie]

Re: String gauge for tuning to D?

11-54 sounds right. I use 10-46 too and if I was going to setup a guitar to keep in D than thats what I'd try.

 

[Leveller]

Re: String gauge for tuning to D?

I use 10-52 with a 25.5" scale. That's what I use for regular tuning as well.

 

[italic zero]

Re: String gauge for tuning to D?

I tried tuning to D with 10-52s on a 25.5. Everything was cool except the G (well, F now). It was 17 plain. I like tuning to D or C# with my acoustic (which has a wound G. F, I mean), but it just didn't seem to work. I guess I could try it with an 18 or 19 guage G.

Well, do what you like. I guess I would recommend using something like the GHS low tunes boomer set (11, 15, 19, 33, 43, 53), or something around those guages.