[Kane]

As the title says, I bought new strings today; they are "Zakk Wylde" GHS Boomers. They are geared for lower tunings on a 6 string. They go .70, .52, .36, .18, .14, .11, and I threw a .24 in the middle for my D string. I've tuned to standard tuning but dropped my low two half steps to an A. I also added two springs to my Floyd Rose for a total of 5 springs. The Floyd is levelled out, but I'm seeing a bit of a bow in my neck. I've never noticed my necks bowing before, and now I'm worried that I have to much tension on it. It's a neck-thru, Any ideas?

[Drew]

a little bit of bow is a good thing - how much are we talking, a mm or so, or a bit more?

also, how much room do you have left to adjust your truss rod? Is it basically bottomed out, or, if you so chose, could you tighhten it up a little to pull the neck back to straight?

[Kane]

I've never opened my truss rod panel before, so I'm not sure about that. I'm not an expert bow reader, but I'd say it's less than half a mm.

[eleven59]

Originally Posted by Kane

I've never opened my truss rod panel before, so I'm not sure about that. I'm not an expert bow reader, but I'd say it's less than half a mm.

Press down the strings at the highest fret on your neck and look at the space between the frets and the strings in the middle frets (7-12), that'll give you a good idea. If it's still less than a mm, you're just fine.

[dpm]

Dude, just get it setup by a pro.

[Kane]

Originally Posted by eleven59

Press down the strings at the highest fret on your neck and look at the space between the frets and the strings in the middle frets (7-12), that'll give you a good idea. If it's still less than a mm, you're just fine.

Ok, thanks... and thanks, Drew.

Dpm, that's what I had planned if I couldn't get a good answer here, but that costs money and means I wouldn't have my guitar for a couple days.

[The Dark Wolf]

dude just get a pod which ownz, ya n00b, and jam sum kRon ull b set.










Sorry, couldn't resist. Get it set up by a pro... great advice, but not really here or there. Like said, if the bow is slight, and your action remains consistent, you'll be ok. It takes a little time sometimes for guitars to adjust to drastically different string gauges. That being said, if I undertand you correctly, only the low string is drop tuned? Well, a .052 is WAY fuckin' thick for standard A, homes. I dunno about that one...

Personally, I'd consider something not QUITE so thick, but that's me.

[Kane]

hehe, no, the standard A is the .36, and the .52 is standard E. The 7th string is .70 and tuned to A. I've never tried drop tuning until last night but was pleased with how it freed up two of my fingers on a power chord and allowed me to do what I like to do.

[Drew]

Originally Posted by Kane

...and means I wouldn't have my guitar for a couple days.

...which, studies have shown, may actually be a fate worse than death. I hear ya, man...

Yeah, if it's less than or about a mm, you're probably fine - that's really the ideal setup to reduce fret buzz. Much more than that, and you need a slight truss rod tweak - try www.ibanezrules.com for the tech tutorial, which is excellent - it sounds scary, but really, truss rod adjustments are a peice of cake once you get the hang of it.

-D

[The Dark Wolf]

Originally Posted by Kane

hehe, no, the standard A is the .36, and the .52 is standard E. The 7th string is .70 and tuned to A. I've never tried drop tuning until last night but was pleased with how it freed up two of my fingers on a power chord and allowed me to do what I like to do.

Ah, ok... that makes much more sense. Yeah, I've drop-tuned for years, and most songs in standard I can play dropped, just have to re-educate yourself a bit.