Help me procastonate.. I mean lets talk string gauges and tunings?

[Lew]

My tuning has slowly been getting lower and lower over the last few years. It started with getting into 7strings and having that nice B. I was happy.. for awhile... but it soon went down half a step and so on. I'm now a step and a half down in C#std with my lowest string being G# it's gone hand in hand with the music that I've been listening to. No, not Djentmathcore - Sludge/Stoner/Doom/70s revival Physc... ad nauseam. I know Suffocation and Iommi like C#.
 
Generally speaking, I like 9-46+60 set in standard tuning on a 25.5" scale with about a 3mm action.

I'm pretty happy with the set that I've made up using this brilliant thing http://www.mcdonaldstrings.com/stringxxiii.html here's what I've come up with

25.5"

E     .009" =5.62        E    .010" =7.49                   
B     .011" =5.05        B    .013" =6.83
G     .016" =6.76        G    .017" =7.56
D     .026" =9.29 
A     .036" =9.8
E     .046" =8.78

C#    .011" =6.35
G#    .014" =5.72
E     .019" =6.94
B     .032" =9.72
F#    .044" =10.32
C#    .056" =9.6

It's pretty damn close, eh? The Gstring feels all manner of wrong, though. Not sure if I should explore a wound third or just bump up the gauge to a 22p. Anyone use wound thirds? And the 66 on the 7th string is a bit floppy. But it's all getting a bit spinal tap.

Best go do the washing up I guess  8)

[littleredguitars2]

a guy i know uses a wound third string and it really got me thinking. it apparently makes a world of difference. i've thought about trying some

[Alex]

Have a look at this:
http://daddario.com/upload/tension_chart_13934.pdf

If I read it correctly (only had a look at it for 5 minutes) you'd need more around a .060 for the low string tuned to B.
Maybe that website you cite calculates the math differently.

In any case:

- longer scale is more effective than thicker strings (just look at the formula and you'll see why)
- .056 to .060 is common for a low B
- wound thirds work fine, IMO better than heavy plain strings
- for lower tunings just take the biggest one you can fit through the peg hole of the tuner and that you can somehow intonate (this is going to be your real problem)

[Lew]

Have a look at this:
http://daddario.com/upload/tension_chart_13934.pdf

If I read it correctly (only had a look at it for 5 minutes) you'd need more around a .060 for the low string tuned to B.
Maybe that website you cite calculates the math differently.

In any case:

- longer scale is more effective than thicker strings (just look at the formula and you'll see why)
- .056 to .060 is common for a low B
- wound thirds work fine, IMO better than heavy plain strings
- for lower tunings just take the biggest one you can fit through the peg hole of the tuner and that you can somehow intonate (this is going to be your real problem)

Yea, I've got that one bookmarked but it doesn't calculate #s unfortunately :-( in Dstandard 11-14-18-28-38-49-62 feels good to me.

The numbers I copy pasted are minus the 7th string :-). I use a 60 in standard (B) and that's a teeny bit too loose, really but it's comfortable. I wouldn't use anything less than a 60, though. I'm shocked when I read people using a 56 but then it's probably because I like a low action and very little relief. I'm using a 66 at the minute (G#) but I've used 70s with success too. Anything smaller than the 11 set above feels pretty odd to me now and I find it hard to do controlled bends.

No problem getting anything through my machine heads so far (Hipshot), gone up to a 70 like I said - the only snag going that thick was with the wraps or rather, lack of! No probs intonating either (Hipshot also).

I managed to get to the shop before they shut and buy a wound third. It was interesting as I've never tried one before, it's alot quieter than an unwound! Felt fine for vibrato and half step bends but whole step + bends are a bit weird (not hard). I've gotta drag it way past where I would on an unwound.

[JJretroTONEGOD]

I've never personally understood the point in using anything thicker than 9 gauge when the strings are AMPLIFIED on an electric guitar...if hendrix used 8s then 9s or lower are perfect especially when you consider his playing will have been in excess of 100dB SPL in your ears

[Somberlain]

I'll weigh in since I tune to C#. When I got my A-Pig put in my RR1 I had it restrung with a .012-.052 set with a wound 3rd. From that set I can say I'd like the plain steel strings to be a bit lighter and possibly have the low E up to a .054. Still need to play with it more. Some days it feels fine other days it feel a bit too floppy.

I love the .024w for the G string. Can still bend the **** out of it but sounds much better as part of a chord IMO. Perfect set for me would probably be something like:

C#    .010 or .011
G#    .014 or .015
E     .024w
B     .032
F#    .042
C#    .052 or .054

[Arthurus]

Hi !
Just wanted to say my luthier recommanded a 11-54 set for me. I tune to D standard/Drop C and this is the best feel I've ever had from a guitar.
I'm not home right now, so I'll post each string gauge tomorrow.
By the way, the scale is 25.5". A Music Man Silhouette !

[MDV]

25.5 drop A# (mostly), I use the daddario 12-60 pack.

In E I use 10 - 46

I only have 1 24.75 guitar (indeed, one guitar thats not 25.5) and I never play it, as I dont like it.

[Telerocker]

I've never personally understood the point in using anything thicker than 9 gauge when the strings are AMPLIFIED on an electric guitar...if hendrix used 8s then 9s or lower are perfect especially when you consider his playing will have been in excess of 100dB SPL in your ears

10's or 11's do wonders on strats en tele's. I play 10's, a good compromise between tone and playabillity (bending).

[CommonCourtesy]

Used to play in drop c# and used 11-54's, the Beefy Slinky by EB.

Now i'm in drop c and gone up to 12-56's, though i hit pretty hard i may put a 60 on the low string!!

[Alex]

Have a look at this:
http://daddario.com/upload/tension_chart_13934.pdf

If I read it correctly (only had a look at it for 5 minutes) you'd need more around a .060 for the low string tuned to B.
Maybe that website you cite calculates the math differently.

In any case:

- longer scale is more effective than thicker strings (just look at the formula and you'll see why)
- .056 to .060 is common for a low B
- wound thirds work fine, IMO better than heavy plain strings
- for lower tunings just take the biggest one you can fit through the peg hole of the tuner and that you can somehow intonate (this is going to be your real problem)

Yea, I've got that one bookmarked but it doesn't calculate #s unfortunately :-( in Dstandard 11-14-18-28-38-49-62 feels good to me.

The numbers I copy pasted are minus the 7th string :-). I use a 60 in standard (B) and that's a teeny bit too loose, really but it's comfortable. I wouldn't use anything less than a 60, though. I'm shocked when I read people using a 56 but then it's probably because I like a low action and very little relief. I'm using a 66 at the minute (G#) but I've used 70s with success too. Anything smaller than the 11 set above feels pretty odd to me now and I find it hard to do controlled bends.

No problem getting anything through my machine heads so far (Hipshot), gone up to a 70 like I said - the only snag going that thick was with the wraps or rather, lack of! No probs intonating either (Hipshot also).

I managed to get to the shop before they shut and buy a wound third. It was interesting as I've never tried one before, it's alot quieter than an unwound! Felt fine for vibrato and half step bends but whole step + bends are a bit weird (not hard). I've gotta drag it way past where I would on an unwound.

You can use a lighter wound 3rd string than a plain one. Instead of a .024 plain, use a .020 or .022 wound one. The wound ones are more stable so you can use thinner ones.