Exploring super low tunings
Moderators: Slowy, Capt. Black
- griff
- Vintage Post Junkie
- Posts: 1746
- meble-kuchenne.warszawa.pl
- Joined: Sun Feb 12, 2017 6:57 pm
- Has liked: 500 times
- Been liked: 248 times
Exploring super low tunings
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.
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.
- Single coil
- BANNED
- Posts: 10050
- Joined: Wed Mar 28, 2012 5:35 pm
- Location: Public toilet
- Has liked: 1110 times
- Been liked: 485 times
Re: Exploring super low tunings
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.
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.
werdna wrote:Well at least I can still make toast in the bath without anyone telling me it's unsafe.
- jeremyb
- Chorus of Organs
- Posts: 41170
- Joined: Sat Dec 06, 2008 9:03 am
- Has liked: 7740 times
- Been liked: 4186 times
Re: Exploring super low tunings
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!
Slowy wrote: That's the problem; everything rewarding is just such hard work. Regret takes much less effort.
- jeremyb
- Chorus of Organs
- Posts: 41170
- Joined: Sat Dec 06, 2008 9:03 am
- Has liked: 7740 times
- Been liked: 4186 times
Re: Exploring super low tunings
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
Slowy wrote: That's the problem; everything rewarding is just such hard work. Regret takes much less effort.
- godgrinder
- Vintage Post Junkie
- Posts: 1709
- Joined: Wed Dec 07, 2011 4:49 pm
- Location: 09
- Has liked: 28 times
- Been liked: 594 times
Re: Exploring super low tunings
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.
LTD ones are 27" which can be slightly alienating depending on what you're used to.
Amps:
Soldano SLO100 x2 | Wizard MC1 & MC2 | Diezel Herbert
Fryette Pittbull CL | Marshall 2203KK | Krank Rev 50 | Mesa Mark 2A
Rack stuff:
VHT/Fryette GP3, GP/DI & 2/90/2 | Peters FSM/Chimera
Verellen Meatsmoke | Synergy SYN1 | Mesa Studio
Soldano SLO100 x2 | Wizard MC1 & MC2 | Diezel Herbert
Fryette Pittbull CL | Marshall 2203KK | Krank Rev 50 | Mesa Mark 2A
Rack stuff:
VHT/Fryette GP3, GP/DI & 2/90/2 | Peters FSM/Chimera
Verellen Meatsmoke | Synergy SYN1 | Mesa Studio
- griff
- Vintage Post Junkie
- Posts: 1746
- Joined: Sun Feb 12, 2017 6:57 pm
- Has liked: 500 times
- Been liked: 248 times
Re: Exploring super low tunings
Yeah 27" would play havoc with my midget hands haha! Have no choice though I supposegodgrinder 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.
- dayl
- Vintage Post Junkie
- Posts: 5309
- Joined: Tue Sep 02, 2008 6:40 pm
- Has liked: 456 times
- Been liked: 409 times
Re: Exploring super low tunings
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.
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.
- Kris
- Vintage Post Junkie
- Posts: 4094
- Joined: Mon Nov 29, 2010 1:52 pm
- Location: Under a bridge,somewhere in chch.
- Has liked: 125 times
- Been liked: 386 times
Re: Exploring super low tunings
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.
- Danger Mouse
- Vintage Post Junkie
- Posts: 11535
- Joined: Mon Oct 16, 2006 3:32 pm
- Location: Jafa Land
- Has liked: 353 times
- Been liked: 663 times
Re: Exploring super low tunings
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.
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.
The older I get, the more disappointed in myself I become.
- Single coil
- BANNED
- Posts: 10050
- Joined: Wed Mar 28, 2012 5:35 pm
- Location: Public toilet
- Has liked: 1110 times
- Been liked: 485 times
Re: Exploring super low tunings
Don’t try it on a duo sonic
werdna wrote:Well at least I can still make toast in the bath without anyone telling me it's unsafe.