What do you like for downtuning?

Moe_Zambeek · September 2023

I’m looking for a guitar for downtuned stuff. Not looking for a baritone, just something that’ll work down to drop-d. edit -drop c.

What does the board like in that application? Probably going humbuckers, probably no trem to keep things a bit tighter although I could always deck it and mute the springs…

theatreanchor · September 2023

Anything if it’s just dropped d.

flying_pie · September 2023

I wouldn't consider drop D as downtuning. Any electric would do.

(Unless you're going full Djent an octave lower, and assuming you don't mean tuned to D standard)

Pickup choice totally depends on the tone you want. I'd consider whether your stick with regular strings or go with heavy top skinny bottom

Moe_Zambeek · September 2023

Actually meant drop-c, d standard with the low string dropped to C. Sorry

ICBM · September 2023

Telecaster.

They work fine right down to baritone if you want to, if you use the right string gauges.

flying_pie · September 2023

Yep. Tele with humbuckers

Sporky · September 2023

I had my RG570 set up B-B on 13s. It was fantastic. I like long scales, but they're not essential.

Sassafras · September 2023

Earplugs.

Funkfingers · September 2023

flying_pie said:

Yep. Tele with humbuckers

Certainly pickups that are hotter than vintage Fender.

I am currently experimenting with a Fender baritone neck on a Classic Player Stratocaster body. The DiMarzio Chopper pickup in the bridge position kicks gluteus maximus but the Texas Specials in the neck and middle positions leave something to be desired output-wise - clean or overdriven.

Benm39 · September 2023

Just picked up a set of c tuning strings down to 60 on bottom E which I'm going to put on my Ltd BK600 ... will report back (albeit I may need the nut fettling to cope...)

Funkfingers · September 2023

My baritone experiment is strung .013-062. I wanted to tune BEADF#B but the neck wouldn't wear it. ADGCEA it shall be.

Svartmetall · September 2023

On my 25½ -scale 7-strings I use 009 - 042 with a 056 for the low B; an 054 will give you a perfectly fine low C against the top 5 strings from a set of 010s or 011s tuned a whole-tone down from concert.

Lestratcaster · September 2023

My 3 drop tuned guitars are a Les Paul 24.75" in drop c/b, an LTD the same and an Ibanez RGD61aLa 26.5" in drop a#/a.

I use 12-56's on all of them and they play great.

FelineGuitars · September 2023

25.5" scale length can certainly help IMO compared to 24.75

And whilst I am partisan to the product as I import and sell it, I do recommend an Earvana nut to help keep things more in tune especially with strings easier to push sharp (IE thicker gauges and downtuned)

tony99 · September 2023

Telecaster here, only single coils at the min but I am going to put a hum in the neck soon.

Corvus · September 2023

Explorer in B std, or C std. 12-60s
Firebird in C# std. Optiweb 11-49s (both these are 25" scale)
Firebird in D std. Optiweb 11-49s
Strat in D std, sometimes C# std. Optiweb 11-49s

Optiwebs are a bit stiffer than your normal strings so feel closer to say 12-54 or thereabouts

skunkwerx · September 2023

I use an Ltd ec1000 ctm which has a 24.75 scale, in standard D or drop C.

Main thing is, a plain G string sounds like absolute dogshit for that tuning and scale length, if its a thicker plain G, ie something akin to what is in a beefy slinky set.

Probably not explained the best.. its early..

I've always used a wound 3rd/G string on all my Ltds of the same scale (24.75) that are tuned to D standard or drop C. That cures it.

Strings I use are Mammoth slinkys.. so theyre 12-62.

The Bass (CGC) strings are literally like Bass strings lol, but I love the higher tension for chuggy stuff. Deffo needed nut work and a proper set up though as theyre a bit extreme.

Sporky · September 2023

Big plain Gs always sounded banjo-esque to me.

andy_k · September 2023

I always use EB skinny top, heavy bottom tuned to e-flat. That's 10-52.
They do a heavier set, 11-54, which would easily manage a low C tuning, I sometimes drop the e flat, to d flat for drop D (flat ) stuff, and have a Wolfgang set up that way with a D-tuner, any heavier strings would require a nut job, and I prefer to just live with the flappy strings if I try to go lower.
I usually have a slightly high action anyway, so it has never been a problem, I also have a Schecter 7 string with 26 inch scale for the real low djenty stuff, which doesn't get used much- never actually had to put new strings on it, but I suspect it is only the low string which is something like a 60.
Pickups all vary, and I have used a gold foil set to good effect in a low tuning, on a Fender scale length.
Blues and Djent do require a different set up though.

TTBZ · September 2023

Whatever I want plus a Digitech Drop

I don't like the feel of big strings, bigger plain strings in particular sound and feel like shit. 10-52 on 25.5" is alright down to drop C for me though but I don't mind a looser tension.

guitarmangler · September 2023

TTBZ said:

Whatever I want plus a Digitech Drop I don't like the feel of big strings, bigger plain strings in particular sound and feel like shit. 10-52 on 25.5" is alright down to drop C for me though but I don't mind a looser tension.

This times a million. I used to play in drop C with some whopping great strings, but they seem to lose treble the bigger the string gets. Now I'd rather keep it close to standard D and then go a bit lower with pitch shifter. A telecaster, or any bright sounding guitar works well.

Moe_Zambeek · September 2023

I’ve tried the Whammy ricochet twice and the latency does my head in. Once you notice it you can’t un-notice it

plus it can induce noise in other pedals in the chain.

guitarfishbay · September 2023

Anything 24.75" or longer will be fine down to C with appropriate strings. I find B is where you notice the tension on the low string disproportionately changing. So my vote is for whatever you'd find comfortable and inspiring to play. Even then you can go lower still, the trade-offs just get larger.

Tonally you will find shorter scales sound thicker and less defined the lower you go. With 27"+ it will be quite noticeable by the time you're at B or lower. This is even more obvious the higher frets you play on the thicker strings.

If you want a low tuned guitar to have a similar tonality on the lower strings to a standard tuned standard scale guitar you will need a longer scale. Yes you can tune to a B on a 25.5" scale guitar, but it does not sound like an E string does on a 25.5" guitar. On a 27"+ guitar an appropriate string tuned to B will have a more similar tonality to that 25.5" E you're used to hearing - with the trade of being the distances between frets are larger and strings can feel harder to bend.

The biggest game changer product I've tried is evertune. You can use disproportionately thinner strings and play harder on shorter scales with evertune than on a regular bridge. I've got a 24.75" LTD EC1000ET which sounds and plays great in drop B with 11-56 strings and you can dig in as hard as you like. The same string on a non evertune bridge guitar at the same scale would go noticeably sharp played with the same intensity.

skullfunkerry · September 2023

My superstrats are all tuned to drop C, and 25.5". I use 10-52 strings, haven't had any issues with tuning stability or intonation (2 of mine have Floyds, 1 is hardtail); having said that though I'd second Jon @FelineGuitars recommendation for an Earvana nut, they do seem to make everything sound a little bit sweeter.

OilCityPickups · September 2023

skullfunkerry said:

My superstrats are all tuned to drop C, and 25.5". I use 10-52 strings, haven't had any issues with tuning stability or intonation (2 of mine have Floyds, 1 is hardtail); having said that though I'd second Jon @FelineGuitars recommendation for an Earvana nut, they do seem to make everything sound a little bit sweeter.

Our workshop test interchangeable pickup guitar is currently in drop C ... it's got an Earvana nut and plays closer to perfectly in tune all the way up - than any other guitar we have.

roberty · September 2023

I play D standard with normal 11s on Gibson or PRS scale and normal 10s on Fender scale. Absolutely no issues. I am a regular whammy bar abuser too. Dropping to C is no big thing from there. I have a light touch

fretmeister · September 2023

I don't like longer scales so I do almost everything on a 24.75 scale and just pick the right strings. But sometimes I'll use my strat.

D-D is normal for me as it suits my voice, but I quite like Open C every now and again. I would quite like to have another guitar so I could have one set up for that all the time but I'm a bassist so there's lots of other stuff to buy before that!

Vintage-T · September 2023

I play in Drop C# with all my guitars, Tele, Les Paul, SG, Jazzmaster and just use 10's. Doesn't ever pose any problems.

FelineGuitars · September 2023

I would want something thicker than a 0.046" string for C# on the low string

Either a 50 or 52

Many players we set up for on drop C# are using 10-52

guitarfishbay · September 2023

roberty said:

I play D standard with normal 11s on Gibson or PRS scale and normal 10s on Fender scale. Absolutely no issues. I am a regular whammy bar abuser too. Dropping to C is no big thing from there. I have a light touch

The light touch is the key for the thinner gauges in dropped tunings for sure.

I’d be fine with that for a guitar mostly played for leads, but for some heavier rhythm styles I’d pick a thicker set on the wound strings.

Since I currently only play at home/record I’ve come to the conclusion it’s more useful to me to set guitars up for a specific purpose as well as a tuning.

Svartmetall · September 2023

Or just get a 7-string

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What do you like for downtuning?

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