What guage strings for down tuning?

[weepingminotaur]

Re: What guage strings for down tuning?

I play .10s and .11s because they work for me, but man, if you feel comfortable on lighter gauges, rip it up. To each their own.

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: What guage strings for down tuning?

READ THE ENTIRE THING BEFORE YOU LOSE YOUR MIND AND COMMENT

As someone who has mic'd countless electric guitars through amps and direct in professional recording studios -I can tell you without a doubt, larger strings have some slight tonal advantages.
That said, (before people lose their minds) -a great player whose used to 8's or 9's is worth more in tone gained from their technique and performance than trying to move them and perform the same performance on 10s or 11s. Make sense? Performance usurps all other considerations....

Also, there is so much else in the tone equation that has more bearing on the final recording -pickups, processing, amplifier, mics, pre amp, studio processing, format compression etc. So while there is real and very slight difference when you scientifically record on 10s or 11s and compare them to 8s or 9s at the at the same volume in on reference monitors -that string size difference is incredibly negligible in the grand scheme of things -choosing larger strings for inherit tone is really not a reason as much as choosing string size for playing style, playing comfort, tactile response/reactive etc.

Plus as other instruments are mixed into a recording product and placed into the stereo or surround spectrum, that incremental difference in strings size becomes even less of a factor, then in mastering even less so. Ultimately you have real difference that should not factor into most decisions for recording. Hell, string type and brand has more bearing.

For live tones? honestly -I don't think the differences can be appreciated by most anybody who's in the audience -maybe just you.

SO if you can rip a line on your guitar on 8's or play more comfortably or effectively that you can't on 10's -that should be worth everything to you.

That said -I play 10s and 11s because of the style and feel I play.

I promise I read the entire thing, and will do my best to conduct myself in a rational manner.

You said string gauge should be chosen based on comfort for the playing style. I agree wholeheartedly. I believe that some people have an easier time playing on 9s. Why do most of them have such a hard time believing I have an easier time playing 11s?

You also said the tonal difference between 8/9 and 10/11 would be difficult to notice in a live setting to anyone but the player. Aren't 99% of the tonal considerations we make for ourselves? Don't we all play better (something non-guitarists WILL notice) when we love how it sounds and feels?

If that stuff happens with 7s, be like Billy Gibbons and use them. If it happens with 13s, be like Nir Felder or Josh Smith and use those.

Speaking of Josh Smith, he has a really funny story about why he uses such heavy strings (13,17,28p,36,46,58, standard tuned). When he was younger and used 11s, he tried sitting in using someone else's guitar. He said he could barely play it, and afterward the guy apologized, said it was strung with 13s. Josh goes, "Well, that sh*t's never happening again," and switched to 13s after that.

 

[NegativeEase]

Re: What guage strings for down tuning?

I promise I read the entire thing, and will do my best to conduct myself in a rational manner.

You said string gauge should be chosen based on comfort for the playing style. I agree wholeheartedly. I believe that some people have an easier time playing on 9s. Why do most of them have such a hard time believing I have an easier time playing 11s?

You also said the tonal difference between 8/9 and 10/11 would be difficult to notice in a live setting to anyone but the player. Aren't 99% of the tonal considerations we make for ourselves? Don't we all play better (something non-guitarists WILL notice) when we love how it sounds and feels?

If that stuff happens with 7s, be like Billy Gibbons and use them. If it happens with 13s, be like Nir Felder or Josh Smith and use those.

Speaking of Josh Smith, he has a really funny story about why he uses such heavy strings (13,17,28p,36,46,58, standard tuned). When he was younger and used 11s, he tried sitting in using someone else's guitar. He said he could barely play it, and afterward the guy apologized, said it was strung with 13s. Josh goes, "Well, that sh*t's never happening again," and switched to 13s after that.

I'm slightly too heavy handed to play 9's - I like 10's and 11s for the tension and response. purely a playing style and practical choice.

I tried by buddy's LP with 8's one time and it was just impossible for me to play well.

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: What guage strings for down tuning?

To bring it back around, just use www.stringtensionpro.com start with the gauge you like in standard, then change the tuning to see what equivalent gauge will give you the same tension.

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: What guage strings for down tuning?

I'm slightly too heavy handed to play 9's - I like 10's and 11s for the tension and response. purely a playing style and practical choice.

I tried by buddy's LP with 8's one time and it was just impossible for me to play well.

I don't think my guitars are hard to play, but they're not 9s laying on the frets effortless. I like them to push back a little, and be able to play slide or fretted on the same instruments. For years, I used 11-52 or so tuned down 1/2 or 1 step. When I started tuning them to standard, it was a little hard to play at first. After awhile, this weird thing happened, and my hands got stronger, and now it feels really comfortable.