Author Topic: Strings (Read 4912 times)

jpmaxxy · « **Reply #15 on:** May 07, 2008, 05:19:53 PM »

Try an octave pedal? Whammys are always fun for a mess around :D

ilÿti · « **Reply #16 on:** May 07, 2008, 08:26:11 PM »

You're not gonna like it that low on a short scale guitar. On the rare occasion I've tuned my 7 to drop-A, I quickly felt ashamed and tuned back to B.
B standard is where it's at.

99_not_out · « **Reply #17 on:** May 07, 2008, 09:04:03 PM »

Yeah, after playing it again I think anything lower than B would be a bit too much. Just need something heavier than 12's to do it on :P I did have a bass once as it happens which I miss a bit hence my low tuning thoughts recently. As you all point out the guitar isn't going to like a low-low E ... when I think it through properly that is A LOT lower than B where its currently at ... and now I have read about intonation too, at age 33 still learning all the time I suppose!

Still it was a good random thought while it lasted, albeit fundamentally flawed and unworkable :)

Roobubba · « **Reply #18 on:** May 07, 2008, 09:19:58 PM »

I run an Ibanez RG series guitar on 13-18-26-36-46-56 strings at tuning A-E-A-D-F#-B. It's not ideal, but the tension is okay. Plans are in the pipeline to rectify this with a new guitar, but that's all rather hush hush at the moment ;)

Roo

viking · « **Reply #19 on:** May 08, 2008, 03:42:52 AM »

You could buy a Baritone-guitar...Longer scale.

WezV · « **Reply #20 on:** May 08, 2008, 07:22:24 AM »

Quote from: viking

You could buy a Baritone-guitar...Longer scale.

baritones are great and nearly solve the problem... but lets take a baritone with a 28" scale length -its great for the thick low strings but i feel its pushing the higher strings a bit too taught

thats where fanned fret designs come in handy, something like 26.5" on the treble side to 28" on the bass gives you extra length on all the strings to help with the tension - but not so long on the treble that it gets uncomfortable. Ok, not easily available just yet but i know doug from blackmachine does them and its also something i have been trying out with very good results

But whichever scale length you have, experiment with string gauges and tunings to find what works best...

Sifu Ben · « **Reply #21 on:** May 08, 2008, 09:03:55 AM »

I've got a 27" 7 string and it's not that hard to bend. In fact i quite like it because it gives you a lot of control over the bend. I'm not the world's greatest bender (ooh err), and I've just done a tone and a half with little difficulty.

MrBump · « **Reply #22 on:** May 08, 2008, 08:04:46 PM »

Quote from: Sifu Ben

MrBump FTW :lol:

... what does "FTW" stand for? A couple of people have said it to me on here...

Roobubba · « **Reply #23 on:** May 08, 2008, 08:32:20 PM »

"for the win"

Or, more technically correct, "for teh win!1"

It's a "hip" way of saying that something "rules".

God I'm getting old.

Roo

Simon D · « **Reply #24 on:** May 09, 2008, 04:06:24 PM »

I realise I'm coming a little late to the party here, but you could try picking up a Yamaha RGX Drop6 secondhand. They weren't expensive to start with, and should be reasonably cheap. They're 6 strings with a 26.4"ish scale, tuned to B, E, A, D, F#, B. String tension is about the same as a normal guitar, provided you use the right string gauges (bottom end is something like a 0.62 if i remember right). I've had one for a good few years - gives a 7-string sound without the need to learn new fingering, which is great if you're lazy (like me).

Modular1 · « **Reply #25 on:** May 09, 2008, 06:46:38 PM »

Quote from: MrBump

Have you thought about taking up the bass instead?

..and stick a warpig in it. hehe.

99_not_out · « **Reply #26 on:** May 10, 2008, 09:29:51 PM »

So I've left it at B E A D G B, now strung with 13 - 58, which is about as heavy gauge as the guitar can take I think. Having played about with it today (including a bit of drop-A) you're all right about this scale of guitar not taking anything lower :)

But the B tuning is marvelous with the Warpigs. The rest of my guitars sounded horribly bright after 2 hours of B tuned riffage :twisted:

A few of you mentioned fanned fret guitars ... how easy are these to get the hang of? Always been kind of interested by them as they are a bit unusual.

noodleplugerine · « **Reply #27 on:** May 10, 2008, 09:42:46 PM »

Quote from: 99_not_out

So I've left it at B E A D G B, now strung with 13 - 58, which is about as heavy gauge as the guitar can take I think. Having played about with it today (including a bit of drop-A) you're all right about this scale of guitar not taking anything lower :)

But the B tuning is marvelous with the Warpigs. The rest of my guitars sounded horribly bright after 2 hours of B tuned riffage :twisted:

A few of you mentioned fanned fret guitars ... how easy are these to get the hang of? Always been kind of interested by them as they are a bit unusual.

As far as I know, they have to be custom built, don't think anyone mass produces them.

But I've only heard good things about them...

Rusty manages to make them work well for him: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=XDhg9zKqnzk

AngusYoung01 · « **Reply #28 on:** May 10, 2008, 10:03:17 PM »

Quote from: adamjowens

or buy a 7 stringer ;)

Do that!

99_not_out · « **Reply #29 on:** May 10, 2008, 10:19:35 PM »

Quote from: noodleplugerine

Rusty manages to make them work well for him: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=XDhg9zKqnzk

Haha, I wish I was as good as that!
Not sure I would really know what to do with 8 strings ... or 7 come to that. I think a baritone would be the way I'd go if I want anything lower. Fanned fret is still intriguing though, albeit looking quite expensive ...

Author Topic: Strings (Read 4912 times)

Modular1