[TaronKeim]

7th - G
6th - D
5th - G
4th - C
3rd - F
2nd - A
1st - D

Anyone tune their 7-strings thing way, I want to get one built but am not sure about neck length and string gauges and if the tuning will even work... in my mind it does... it is a standard 7-string tuning droped down one full step then the 7th string drop-tuned. Any suggestions, comments, info would be really helpful and appriciated.

-TJK

[The Dark Wolf]

My tuning is similar.... same thing as the top 5 strings, then the bottom two are tuned to drop C and drop F.

I play a 25.5" scale Ibanez Prestige 7-string, and I use Elixir Nanoweb strings, .010-.056, with a .068 Nanoweb for the lowest. Works fine for me. I've been using this tuning for 5 years.

[TaronKeim]

So do you get unison's or octaves out of your bottom 4 strings then? Cause that is really cool!

And you find no string tension issues with just the large 10 set strings? Bending and shredding applications still fine with 25.5" scale?

Thank you very much!

-TJK

[The Dark Wolf]

Originally Posted by TaronKeim

So do you get unison's or octaves out of your bottom 4 strings then? Cause that is really cool!

And you find no string tension issues with just the large 10 set strings? Bending and shredding applications still fine with 25.5" scale?

Thank you very much!

-TJK

Oh yeah. Octaves are like with normal tuning, but inverted (the low note is 2 frets ahead of the high note, instead of the other way around).

Ex. 1 Low A with a octave - (Strings listed high-to-low, basic tab format)

-x-
-x-
-x-
-x-
-2-
-x-
-4-

The even neater thing is the abity to play 2 finger baritone triads, basically major/minor, but lots of nifty possibilities open open (including great melodic ideas that tend to break you out of the blues/pentatonic rut).

Ex. 2 A major chord, baritone voicing -

-x-
-x-
-x-
-4-
-6-
-4-
-4-

Ex. 3 Make it minor...

-x-
-x-
-x-
-4-
-5-
-4-
-4-

Ex. 4 You can even extend the chord across all 7 strings, barre-form...

-7-
-4-
-4-
-4-
-6-
-4-
-4-

I have no issues with tuning stability, intonation, tension, or anything like that. And a .010 gauge string tuned down a whole step is very easy to play. Feels (to me) like a .009 tension-wise, tuned to standard, yet it has more girth and substance. I'm not nuts about the feel of real slender strings.

[TaronKeim]

Thanks a lot Wolf... and that is really cool with the inverted octave thing, I could definately see that being useful for getting out of pentatonic hell.

Now if only I could figure out who to get to build me my dream guitar, haha.

-TJK

[metalfiend666]

My friends band do a similar thing to you, except they tune down half a step with the lowest string tuned to G#. They also use 10's, but with a .70 on the low G#. One guitarist plays an S7420 and the other plays an ESP Custom Shop KH-2 (minus the high .010 string). Both guitars are 25.5" scales.

Basically, I agree with Bob, but personally I wouldn't have a .68 for a low F. At the end of the day it's personal preference, but I'd suggest using a .70 for your low G.

[The Dark Wolf]

Originally Posted by metalfiend666

My friends band do a similar thing to you, except they tune down half a step with the lowest string tuned to G#. They also use 10's, but with a .70 on the low G#. One guitarist plays an S7420 and the other plays an ESP Custom Shop KH-2 (minus the high .010 string). Both guitars are 25.5" scales.

Basically, I agree with Bob, but personally I wouldn't have a .68 for a low F. At the end of the day it's personal preference, but I'd suggest using a .70 for your low G.

In a perfect world (for me) a bit thicker wouldn't hurt, you're right James.

For me, I use the .068 because it's 1) the thickest GUITAR string Elixir makes, 2) I have to pretty much use only Elixir since I have a nickel allergy and the coating protects me to a degree, 3) the tapered end of the Elixir fits in my piezo saddle... a no no with a bass string, and 4) I like the sound of the Elixir strings better than anything else, even thicker gauge off-brands.

But going as low as I do, yeah, I will be the first to proclaim a .068 does work, and it works well (at least when using a very bright string like Elixirs. I haven't used duller nickel strings in so many years, who knows?), but going with at LEAST a .070 isn't a bad idea if you use other string brands. Probably around .080-.085 or so is optimal.