NZGuitars.com

Hi fellas, I want to get into some low tuning stuff, at least as low as B flat as some of my fave Buckethead rhythms are way down there.
I need advice as I also will probably need another guitar to do this.. not sure if my mexi strat will be able to pull this off.
So, what scale length, strings and type of setup do I need to aim for (without spending a shit tonne)
Cheers.

Strat will be fine. You’ll have all the clarity in the world rather than a flubby high output hb trying to work out what sound it is.

13-56 are good down to b standard; you might get away with Bb.
14-60 exist if you’re super keen.

... or you go buy a baritone and drop tune that.

Your best option is to get a baritone guitar, but you can tune down to Drop A on a fender scale neck, I did this for a while on my telemaster, using the d'addario light baritone set 0.13 - 0.62 http://guitarstuff.co.nz/daddarioelectric1.html it's kinda fun!

Thanks guys. Is it because a fender has a decent scale?
What cheap baritone guitar options are there?

The fender scale is just that bit longer than Gibson that you can get away with a bit more, for a cheap baritone look at LTD would be my best suggestion price wise

Yeah was thinking LTD maybe. Cheers!

If you're not going lower than A# might as well look into an Ibanez RGD which is 26.5". All Schecter 7's are 26.5" too but they don't have many 6's at that scale.

LTD ones are 27" which can be slightly alienating depending on what you're used to.

godgrinder wrote:If you're not going lower than A# might as well look into an Ibanez RGD which is 26.5". All Schecter 7's are 26.5" too but they don't have many 6's at that scale.

LTD ones are 27" which can be slightly alienating depending on what you're used to.

Yeah 27" would play havoc with my midget hands haha! Have no choice though I suppose

All my guitars are tuned lower. I use Ernie ball 'not even slinky' 12-56 for my guitars that are tuned around the C# mark and just recently put some D'Addario 12-60 on a Jem that is in A#.

Its all good. No need for a Barritone, just a good setup. Not the tightest but still workable. More of a case of taking a lil time to adapt.

baritones aren't cheap either,its unlikey you'll pick one up for under 600 bucks.For what you are wanting 25.5' will do just fine.Not much range in baritones either.

Cheers fellas.
Looks like I have plenty of options either way.

I'd second Dayl's advice, just use heavy gauge strings and get a decent set-up when going down that low. I use 12-56s as well, but tune to C standard.

I had the very good fortune of having one of my guitars set up by the ex-touring guitar tech for Gary Moore, C standard with that gauge. I could not fault the way it played, compared to a well set-up E standard tuned guitar with a set of 9s on it.

Nice one. So would there be a minimum scale length in this situation?

Don’t try it on a duo sonic