[halsinden]

first time post - hello to all, hal from interlock / worms of sabnock here.

recently took my RG7620 to have the stock bridge pickup replaced with a dimarzio blaze (ok difference, but not monumental, still thinking about something else in there & the neck, have been offered a good price on some bareknuckles). i prefer massively heavily strings as i spent several years playing my gibson les paul studio down 7 steps in A with 72-14s. the gauge on the RG was previously 70, tuned down to A (as the extra low string, D standard for the rest).

the tech said that he’d tried a 74 and for some reason was losing a lot of tone because of it, so kept it at 72 which rang a little better. it plays ok, but i still feel like i want more tension and i really don’t mind playing girders.

when asking about heavier than 74, he said that it would most likely require drilling the machine head and that you’d run the risk of the structure not holding plus the tone being effected. he was unhappy about the prospect and advised i stay where i am.

has anyone done this for 80? i’m really attracted to the idea of playing this heavy and want to know whether i should instead invest in getting a different machine head that could handle the gauge, and if so what should i go for? (one person even said i might have to get a bass’ machine head to handle the gauge - surely that can’t be right?)

for reference’s sake, ideal sounds: SYL, origin, necrophagist, meshuggah etc.

cheers guys,

H

[Krunch]

For what it's worth, I use an Elixir 80 on my 8 string using the standard Ibanez Gotoh tuning pegs. The top end of the string is tapered down one or two layers of winding (it's a regular bass string), so it fit just fine for me without modification. At the top it is about the width of a 60 or so.

[7 Dying Trees]

Ey up hal!

Blaze works, but i found i had to be sneaky with the pole pieces on the bass side to get a sound i really liked out of it. Evolution 7 would have been a better choice, I think i remember pointing that out (engage the smugness) but you want a more all round pickup, but in any case bareknuckles will probably give you what you want. pop round and give em a shot when i get my set. In fact, I'd probably say if you get in touch with tim with the sound you're looking for he'll sort you out with what you want.

As for drilling out the tuning peg, I've had to do this on about 3 of mine to accomodate the .70. It's fairly simple, but slightly nerve racking first time you do it as it basically consists of pointing a large high powere black and decker at a guitar... But it's quick and fairly painless, and if you fuck up a new tuning peg isn't too hard to get hold of.

80 shouldn't be a problem, although for A I find a 70 (guitar string) is quite tight enough, but i think you're aiming to go down to G? try a 74, then gradually move up.

Also, put stiff springs in the back, you'll need all 5 for a start for the tension, and that does help them feel less floppy as there's mroe resistance to fretting the string innit.

James. That blonde git. Yes. You knows it.

[urklvt]

Hey bro, welcome to the site!

Mike Sherman is building me a guitar that uses an 80 for the lowest string. Maybe he could offer you some insight since he's the pro.

His handle here is msherman
http://www.sevenstring.org/forum/members/msherman.html

Take care, and hope to see you around here often!

[halsinden]

Originally Posted by 7 Dying Trees

Ey up hal!

Blaze works, but i found i had to be sneaky with the pole pieces on the bass side to get a sound i really liked out of it. Evolution 7 would have been a better choice, I think i remember pointing that out (engage the smugness) but you want a more all round pickup, but in any case bareknuckles will probably give you what you want. pop round and give em a shot when i get my set. In fact, I'd probably say if you get in touch with tim with the sound you're looking for he'll sort you out with what you want.

As for drilling out the tuning peg, I've had to do this on about 3 of mine to accomodate the .70. It's fairly simple, but slightly nerve racking first time you do it as it basically consists of pointing a large high powere black and decker at a guitar... But it's quick and fairly painless, and if you fuck up a new tuning peg isn't too hard to get hold of.

80 shouldn't be a problem, although for A I find a 70 (guitar string) is quite tight enough, but i think you're aiming to go down to G? try a 74, then gradually move up.

Also, put stiff springs in the back, you'll need all 5 for a start for the tension, and that does help them feel less floppy as there's mroe resistance to fretting the string innit.

James. That blonde git. Yes. You knows it.

yeah, you’re right man, you did mention the EVO 7, but it’s only that the blaze was up for auction for a really good price on ebay so i got it. tim has suggested a pair of nailbombs and i have to say that i can see myself going for it once we get this whole flat business done & dusted and paid for.

if the head is going to get drilled, then i ain’t doing it! more than happy to hand that over to you, if you’re up for it, but all this stuff that graham mentioned about losing tone and the possibility of it breaking worried me.

74 i know won’t be too far off where i am currently and i’m very used to the 72s on the les paul. if anything, i’d just love to at least try the 80, you know?

i’ve got 5 springs loaded in there now actually, that was when i was down in G and i’ve decided just to keep it as is. i like it.

H

[7 Dying Trees]

Depends on if you're using guitar or bass strings, the bass strings really feel looser and aren't as bright.

Nailbombs definately, although I know I am trying a cold sweat in the neck

Bring it over and I'll drill it. It's only a small adjustment. Honest.

[halsinden]

Originally Posted by 7 Dying Trees

Depends on if you're using guitar or bass strings, the bass strings really feel looser and aren't as bright.

Nailbombs definately, although I know I am trying a cold sweat in the neck

Bring it over and I'll drill it. It's only a small adjustment. Honest.

if you say so!

what's with the cold sweats then? as in, over the nailbombs?

and can you get 80 gauge guitar strings that aren't bass ones? i haven't seen any for sale anywhere.

H

[urklvt]

D'Addario Electric XL Nickel Wound Guitar Single Strings
(scroll to the bottom of the page)

There are also Ernie Ball versions there.

[halsinden]

Originally Posted by urklvt

D'Addario Electric XL Nickel Wound Guitar Single Strings
(scroll to the bottom of the page)

There are also Ernie Ball versions there.

mate, thank you. nice one.

oh and i looked on that sherman site... that's amazing. beautiful work.

H

[urklvt]

Originally Posted by halsinden

mate, thank you. nice one.

oh and i looked on that sherman site... that's amazing. beautiful work.

H

Sure thing man!

Mike Sherman's guitars just own all! There are several threads with his guitars in the Extended Range Guitars section.