Strings for Drop C

Marcel

New member
Which Guge to use for D and Drop C or Drop C# Tuning?
I now use 010 046 for Standard E and i think it could be a bit thicker for standard on the low strings!
 
Re: Strings for Drop C

I use 10-52 and play in D tuning on a 25.5 and it works great, just took a while getting used to those thick strings.
 
Re: Strings for Drop C

i've got 10-52's on a 25.5" guitar and i use it mostly for E but it does drop D great when i go to drop C i find it to be a bit flabby but i like fairly tight strings (all my other guitars use either 10-46 or custom 10-49 sets) you can try the 10-52's but i think you may want a thicker E unless a bit of flab doesn't bother you. however thick strings don't bother me at all i was using the Zakk Wylde lo tuned set with a 70 low E with no problem and that sounded amazing on a 25.5" strat tuned to drop D...no flab at all!!

-Mike
 
Re: Strings for Drop C

I use 13-70 in drop C (25.5")

Then again, I use 11-58 in E (24.75) and Eb (25.5).
 
Re: Strings for Drop C

Custom GHS set - 11, 15, 18w, 32, 44, 60 for drop C & B.
I'm about to give the Ernie Ball Not Even Slinky set a shot. (12, 16, 24p, 32, 44, 56). It's pretty close to what I use, and a lot cheaper :D
 
Re: Strings for Drop C

Whenever I get a thick set of strings I'll go down to Drop C for some time. The best that I've found (and this is on a 24.75" scale, so it should be better for you) that 11's work pretty well (.011-.052), and .011-.056 are nice and tight with little flab. If you don't like them, you can always go to 12's, but I don't think you need to go any thicker.
 
Re: Strings for Drop C

well it doesn't matter about the 1st, 2nd & 3rd strings, you probably wont use them anyway.
 
Re: Strings for Drop C

downtuning is all about rhythm, rarely do bands who tune that far down do anything on the 1st 3 strings...
 
Re: Strings for Drop C

Mincer said:
downtuning is all about rhythm, rarely do bands who tune that far down do anything on the 1st 3 strings...


Korn, Black Sabbath, Slipknot, and System of a Down tune that low or lower, and are all over the fretboard.....other than that, I'm drawing a blank right now, so maybe you could name a couple that only chug on the bottom three for me. :)
 
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Re: Strings for Drop C

screamingdaisy said:
Korn, Black Sabbath, Slipknot, and System of a Down tune that low or lower, and are all over the fretboard.....other than that, I'm drawing a blank right now, so maybe you could name a couple that only chug on the bottom three for me.
+1, and not to mention Shadow Fall, Killswitch Engage, Dream Theater, Motley Crue, White Zombie, Atreyu, Carcass, Cannibal Corpse, Slayer, God Forbit, Machine Head, Soilwork, In Flames, Pantera, Damageplan, Black Label Society...

Where does this "I play in standard tuning" elitist attitude come from, anyway? Saying that downtuning is all about rhythm is a rather ignorant statement.
 
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Re: Strings for Drop C

Not to mention Thrice and Breaking Benjamin are also all over the fretboard on all strings.
 
Re: Strings for Drop C

screamingdaisy said:
I use 13-70 in drop C (25.5")

Then again, I use 11-58 in E (24.75) and Eb (25.5).
0

DAMN!!! Can't your guitar be ruined by that gauge in E? Can someone please confirm this? I would like to at least use a Heavy bottom skinny top set and tune in E without ruining my Les Paul. I was told by someone I could have tuning problems in the future by string tension. Need some expert advise on this. I would like to use a 10-60 set in Standard and Drop tunings can I do this?
 
Re: Strings for Drop C

If your neck is adjusted/set-up for the heavy strings, you should be fine. Remember, light guage strings haven't always been available ;)
 
Re: Strings for Drop C

Like a truss rod adjustment? I wouldn't know jack about that. I have fooled around with it but I don't really know what im doing in that dept so I leave it alone. Anybody can give me advice on how to set up the neck then for heavier gauge strings? Also the Heavy gauge strings been out awhile, it's just starting to now catch on with the drop tunings.
 
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Re: Strings for Drop C

I prefer this:

Tuning | Gauge
--------------------
E: | .010 - .046
D: | .010 - .052
C: | .011 - .054
 
Re: Strings for Drop C

i can play in any tuning with a 10-52 set, as low as Drop B. Of course, I stay away from anything lower than drop C for the most part.. that's where the low E string hits it's limit. If you don't mind the lower strings being a little looser in the drop tunings below D, you could go with 10-50?
 
Re: Strings for Drop C

I use 12-52 w/ wound G string, and am just about always downtuned to C# or lower.

Give em a try. Nice deep, rich tone.
 
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