what gauge low E would be LOWEST for drop D?

Re: what gauge low E would be LOWEST for drop D?

I use D'addario .10-.46. That's as low as I go on my 25.5" scale Tele, my 24.75" scale Westone and even my 24" scale Super-Sonic.

I tried the .10-.52 Dave Mustaine GHS set on my Supersonic and liked the tension but ultimately preferred the tone from the D'addarios. I really wouldn't go thinner than a .46 low E. For what it's worth, I do probably 99% of my playing in Drop D.
 
Re: what gauge low E would be LOWEST for drop D?

I play d'addario 11's and I buy individual 52's for the low E. Works great for drop D on both fenders and gibsons.
 
Re: what gauge low E would be LOWEST for drop D?

I use 9's and I'll slip into D on occasion, the 42 low E can handle it OK. I don't do it all the time.
 
Re: what gauge low E would be LOWEST for drop D?

My electrics that I use for the occasional drop D use a 52 on the bottom end. The Ovation 12 that gets the full time drop D has a 47 and a 27. They work just fine.
 
Re: what gauge low E would be LOWEST for drop D?

Action permitting, you can use 9s.

if your action is low, youre screwed. i'd suggest a 52.
 
Re: what gauge low E would be LOWEST for drop D?

my actions are rigged for ernie ball power slinkies and i can't remember what the low E gauge is right now but its fine in drop D not to saggy or anything, probably because of the set up for those strings??
 
Re: what gauge low E would be LOWEST for drop D?

I like some thick-ass strings for drop tuning. Even to just D. If I'm going heavy, I'm going all the way.

12-56
 
Re: what gauge low E would be LOWEST for drop D?

.056 if you want to hammer.
 
Re: what gauge low E would be LOWEST for drop D?

Why would you use a 56 for D??? Jeebus, I use a 60 for B!

Cuz they sound great. My white strat, my first guitar, had 15 - 58 for about 12 years. I started out with 10's, but some years later I went to the fatter strings. I am just now moving to 13's after a neck refin, because the 15's are not called for with what I am playing now. I used to play lots of melodic one-or-two-note parts and cheater chords (i.e. instrumental music). Plus I only needed to change strings once in those 12 years, and that was only because of water damage to the instrument.

For a guitar that was going to be used for drop D and standard tuning, I'd probably use a .052, which is my standard low E gauge anyhow with the heavy-bottom 11's I tend to use most.
 
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Re: what gauge low E would be LOWEST for drop D?

Why would you use a 56 for D??? Jeebus, I use a 60 for B!

I don't know anything about B. I play a lot with a dropped D. I play with a heavy strike and a lot of palm to keep it tamed. It can easily be blown out. If you are suggesting I need to go heavier - I don't doubt it at all and have toyed with the idea. I have so many years into 056-013 it's not worth it to me to experiment. I know I can get a lot of tone out of 056 in D.

feels good man - :)
 
Re: what gauge low E would be LOWEST for drop D?

I use a 42 for that. It depends on how much control you have on your right hand attack.
No right or wrong choices on this one
A few years ago i'd gone with at least a 48.
 
Re: what gauge low E would be LOWEST for drop D?

I'm talking about drop D, not D standard. I go back and forth from C# to D standard using 12's, but 13-56 for drop D is pretty damn heavy.

I wonder how much tension you have on that truss rod.
 
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