Strings/pickups in D-standard tuning?

[Archlute]

I've never played D-standard before, but have Eb - loose, but a good loose. However, I just got with a power metal/prog band whose singer needs us to drop down to D to optimize his vocal range. I just strung up my 25.5" Ibanez with .10s, and reset the action. The playability is super - low action, no buzz, etc, but unlike Eb, I don't find this a "good loose".  It seems almost on the verge of flubby. It doesn't seem to have the punch in rhythm playing as tuned to Eb, and certainly not E-standard.

I'm playing with a Holydiver bridge and Emerald neck through a mesa MkV. Usually love it. Not sure I want to go to .11s, but maybe I'll have to. Could it be pickups? Do others play .10s in D-standard on a 25.5 scale and like it? I usually play .9s in Eb, so thought .10s in D would have sufficed. Anyone?

[Dave Sloven]

I would use Ernie Ball Skinny Top Heavy Bottom or something in an equivalent gauge.  It is a hybrid set 10-52.  It will keep your wound strings fairly taught for riffing and power chords and your plain strings more bendable for lead work.

This is on a Gibson SG and it is a shorter scale than yours but it works well and I think could cope with the longer scale.

I would just try the string change and see how you like it.  A Cold Sweat might be a tighter pickup but it's not as warm and it's more 'crispy' in the highs than the Holy Diver.

My guitars in D Standard have an A-Pig, an A-Bomb, and a Stockholm P-90.  All seem to be fine in that tuning.

[CommonCourtesy]

EB beefy slinky, the 11-54 gauge. Well, for me personally. I play in a dropped version of D standard and use 12-56!

I do have a Les Paul with 10-52's that I use in Drop D and C# occasionally and as back up band guitar also. Got an Alnico Nailbomb in that. Ceramic Nailbomb in main guitar in Drop C (LP studio, mahogany wood). Both guitars roar!!

[Dave Sloven]

I really hated the 22P string in the Beefy Slinky set when tuned to D standard. I really don't like stringing up with such heavy plain strings either.

I think that the Skinny Top Heavy Bottom will be optimum for this guitar, especially with the longer scale length.  I get away with that set with the shorter scale length

[CommonCourtesy]

I hated it too but cos I didn't do many leads it worked alright for me, and I was in drop c# with those strings! Play the same role in this band down to c and its fine for what I do.

If I was to play in D standard I'd use 12-56's personally. I hit too hard as well.

[Archlute]

Hey, thanks for the replies everybody.  Also, although I loved the sound of the Emerald neck for lead playing higher up on the neck in E standard tuning, down at this range it almost sounds like it's "choking out" some when I hit it with a lead boost, like a TS808, and am playing on channel 3 of my Mark V (usually the Mk IV mode, but sometime the MkII). 

Would a Cold Sweat neck (which I've considered in the past anyway) prevent that, or will that just happen on any neck pickup for lead playing when downtuned that low?  I'm just looking for a little more focus and power than the Emerald is currently giving - something along the lines of my old Dimarzio Liquifire.  Thanks.

[Dave Sloven]

The Emerald neck is better suited to the expressive player who uses a lot of bends, vibrato, etc.  I put one in a friend's Les Paul and it really suits his style of playing.

Cold Sweat neck is a shred pickup for the most part.  Others you might consider in the same category but brighter are the Rebel Yell and Holy Diver necks.  I'm not sure if these will address your issue though.

[Archlute]

The Emerald neck is better suited to the expressive player who uses a lot of bends, vibrato, etc.  I put one in a friend's Les Paul and it really suits his style of playing.

Cold Sweat neck is a shred pickup for the most part.  Others you might consider in the same category but brighter are the Rebel Yell and Holy Diver necks.  I'm not sure if these will address your issue though.

Thanks.  I do like the Emerald for a lot of expressive bends and vibrato in lead playing, but sometimes feel that there's not enough focus, or that it kind of chokes under too much gain.  Maybe the CS would fix that, as I play a lot of shred styled runs for which I want a bit more clarity/articulation.  I suppose I could always switchback.