String gauge for going down a half step?

[darcym]

if I tune my guitar to Eb, Ab, Db, Gb, Bb, Eb, the strings feel the same, a little easlier to bend but the same.

if I drop the E, to D then of course it goes a little loser but the feel of the string doesn't change, dropping it to C is acceptable, re-reading I'm assuming the orignial poster is about keeping the same tension but with the dropped tuning.

[dave_mc]

oh, i can definitely feel the difference in thickness of the strings regardless of the tuning, but yeah, they definitely feel looser or tighter depending on the tuning.

[MDV]

oh, i can definitely feel the difference in thickness of the strings regardless of the tuning, but yeah, they definitely feel looser or tighter depending on the tuning.

Absolutely, I cant see how you cant.

[Lew]

I just put a bit of relief in the neck and the 11-52 feels pretty damn good. Daddario do a set of that so I'll order a few of those. Gonna put the Tele in Eb when I get it and try the Daddario 10.5-48.

Oh, and I feel a massive difference going down a half step!

[dave_mc]

oh, i can definitely feel the difference in thickness of the strings regardless of the tuning, but yeah, they definitely feel looser or tighter depending on the tuning.

Absolutely, I cant see how you cant.

indeed.

[Zaned]

I didn't change string gauges when I permanently (for now that is) tuned my guitars down one half step from concert tuning.

The tension is looser, but I think it's important to first to put the setup where it was with the original tuning, i.e. set the neck relief and bridge, and then decide whether a change in gauge is different. I use 10-52 an all my electric guitars and I don't really want to go thicker on the low strings. It's not a tension thing, I actually wouldn't mind that. It's just that the tone of the string is different when you use a thicker gauge. I feel that it sort of becomes..bloated. Tubby, or whatever adjective you want to use for it. IMHO, YMMV of course. And depending on the guitar.

Actually, if someone can recommend me strings that have a lot of tension for a given gauge, speak up.

-Zaned

[dave_mc]

It's just that the tone of the string is different when you use a thicker gauge.

oh yeah, definitely. There's this kind of urban myth (mark would blame it on HC types, and I'd probably agree :lol: ) that a thicker string MUST EQUAL BETTER TONE, and that's hogwash if you ask me. I actually prefer the tone of 9s, the tone's subtler and i can do more with it with my fingers.

[JDC]

Actually, if someone can recommend me strings that have a lot of tension for a given gauge, speak up.

-Zaned

sounds like you want those newtone wounds with the thicker cores that mark/MDV loves

I think extending the scale length would work too but that's a bit difficult :D

[Zaned]

sounds like you want those newtone wounds with the thicker cores that mark/MDV loves

I think extending the scale length would work too but that's a bit difficult :D

Thanks! They do have a Finnish dealer too, but most of their strings seem to actually have less tension. Thicker core obviously alters this, but I don't know (yet) whether they are available through the Finnish dealer, or just custom made on direct orders from Newtone.

25.5 inch (typical strat) scale length is fine tensionwise, as is my PRS's 25 inches too. The PRS is the thickest sounding, on which I would like to try strings that have the same tension but smaller gauge. It's sounds awesome as is, but having a curious nature, I'd like to try thinner strings on it :) 

Hmph, maybe I'll just order a thinner set and set it up for those. Less tension of course.

-Zaned

[MDV]

You need to get the thicker cores direct from newtone. They have to be made to order.

[HTH AMPS]

It's just that the tone of the string is different when you use a thicker gauge.

oh yeah, definitely. There's this kind of urban myth (mark would blame it on HC types, and I'd probably agree :lol: ) that a thicker string MUST EQUAL BETTER TONE, and that's hogwash if you ask me. I actually prefer the tone of 9s, the tone's subtler and i can do more with it with my fingers.

'better' is always subjective to say the least, but different gauge strings do 'sound' different imo, both acoustically and plugged in.

[_tom_]

On my Les Pauls, 11s feel a bit too light in Eb. I'd probably go for 12s if it was my main tuning.

After my Pearl got back from a fret dress, even 11s in standard feel like 9s or 10s on my epiphone, couldnt believe the difference a fret dress and polish made!

[dave_mc]

'better' is always subjective to say the least, but different gauge strings do 'sound' different imo, both acoustically and plugged in.

oh yeah, i agree. I'm just slagging off the retards who claim that thicker always equals better. I don't like that there seems to be a macho element to it too. Go to the gym or something if you want to feel macho. :lol:

[HTH AMPS]

'better' is always subjective to say the least, but different gauge strings do 'sound' different imo, both acoustically and plugged in.

oh yeah, i agree. I'm just slagging off the retards who claim that thicker always equals better. I don't like that there seems to be a macho element to it too. Go to the gym or something if you want to feel macho. :lol:

well, since you mention the macho aspect, my journey from a boy into a man was completed upon using some 13s on a Strat in standard tuning during my SRV obsession in the 90s (ouch!!!)  :lol:

the other guitarist in the band I was in during those days had to play that guitar one time at a gig - I thought it was uncharacteristic that he was pulling serious cum-faces, but it turns out he was in bloody agony trying to play that guitar, ha ha.  I think he was used to 9s if memory serves me right - its like changing your morning jog round the park for a full marathon, phew!

[dave_mc]

haha, wow, yeah. i remember playing a guitar in sound control once which had what only can be described as telegraph poles. That was during the downtuning nu metal phase, so i can only assume that's why they did it.