What do you like for downtuning?

OilCityPickups · September 2023

FelineGuitars said:

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

I used to use a hybrid 9.5-52 set on my down tuned Strats (with trem blocked)

sgosden · September 2023

11-54 (EB beefys) for dropped C on 25"
seems about right for my drunken stumble style riffing.

would probably go for a 56 on top if I needed to play tighter / faster.

I also really like the paradigm version. though they are bloody expensive.

I'd tend to go normal set for home and practice. Treat the guitar to paradigms for recording or a run of shows (more than 2 a week).

JD50 · September 2023

I tuned my Jaguar to drop C last week... think 10-46 , sounds great

Reverend · September 2023

I currently have the follwoing in C
Gibson SG, Flying V, LP standard and Studio
Ibanez Destroyer II
Charvel Model 3a
Kramer Barreta
LTD eclipse

I use 11-54 on all of them.

MentalSharps · September 2023

NewTone have balanced tension string sets for drop tuning, in their 'Lucidity' series. I've read some people say they are a bit slinkier feeling than other brands so maybe the 11's would work well.

D11 .011.014.017.026w.036.057

FelineGuitars · September 2023

JD50 said:

I tuned my Jaguar to drop C last week... think 10-46 , sounds great

on a 24” scale guitar? - wow you’d need a delicate touch on that (or not mind rattle)

Reverend · September 2023

JD50 said:

I tuned my Jaguar to drop C last week... think 10-46 , sounds great

take it down to A with 10-46 for the ultimate downtuned experience.

carlos · 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. Although I do the same but on my Helix.

Moe_Zambeek · September 2023

Lots of good info here, which basically boils down to pretty much anything will work with the appropriate strings and player approach. Which is good!

TTBZ · September 2023

carlos said:

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. Although I do the same but on my Helix.

I thought the poly capo on the Helix was better than the Drop when I briefly had a HX Stomp. Less latency and the EQ compensation is useful to have when you start getting lower than a semitone. I never used to notice the latency much on my Drop but have started to more recently, maybe because I'm powering it off the same Onespot daisy chain as everything else? It also noticeably dulls the attack of notes, especially through headphones which is mostly what I'm using these days. Very useful pedal to have around though.

JD50 · September 2023

FelineGuitars said:

JD50 said:

I tuned my Jaguar to drop C last week... think 10-46 , sounds great

on a 24” scale guitar? - wow you’d need a delicate touch on that (or not mind rattle)

I don't play with a pick so that helps

JD50 · September 2023

JD50 said:

FelineGuitars said:

JD50 said:

I tuned my Jaguar to drop C last week... think 10-46 , sounds great

on a 24” scale guitar? - wow you’d need a delicate touch on that (or not mind rattle)

I don't play with a pick so that helps

Actually just checked my tuning and it's D standard not C... doh!

ICBM · September 2023

Brian May uses 8s on a 24” scale, and with a separate tailpiece - I think slightly closer to the bridge than the Jag, and in standard tuning, but even so… and uses a thick metal pick! He must have the lightest touch ever known. Although it probably explains why the Red Special has never needed a refret.

skullfunkerry · September 2023

Reverend said:

JD50 said:

I tuned my Jaguar to drop C last week... think 10-46 , sounds great

take it down to A with 10-46 for the ultimate downtuned experience.

Just make sure you’ve scooped all the strings up before you start playing

guitarfishbay · September 2023

ICBM said:

Brian May uses 8s on a 24” scale, and with a separate tailpiece - I think slightly closer to the bridge than the Jag, and in standard tuning, but even so… and uses a thick metal pick! He must have the lightest touch ever known. Although it probably explains why the Red Special has never needed a refret.

He definitely has a light touch. One advantage of using a relatively heavy coin instead of a plectrum is you need to generate much less force with your picking hand, which can allow for a lighter grip.

By contrast, a lot of thrash metal players use green tortex .88mm picks, which do require you to generate some more force with your playing to get the sound for the style. It's more likely you'd need relatively thicker strings playing this style in this way, and for a lot of players the extra tension that brings does also translate to gripping harder with the fretting hand which doesn't help with intonation either. Thicker picks can allow you to lighten up a bit but the sound isn't quite as crisp as a thinner pick played more aggressively - most easy to hear in extremes, if you compare a .88 to a 1.5mm pick the 1.5mm pick will usually sound comparatively duller, which isn't usually wanted for that style.

It's part of why it's not easy to give blanket advice on string gauges for downtuning because it depends on so many other physical and playing style factors, and that's before you even get to technique.

jeromegreenday · September 2023

As always I'm with @ICBM open C on a telecaster, perfect for soundgarden down on the upside.

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What do you like for downtuning?

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