How low can you go?

02-05-2008, 07:58 PM

On a standard stratocaster 6-string guitar 25.5" scale, how low can you tune, what are the biggest strings you can fit ?

0.76 tuned to low G ?

distressed_romeo · 02-05-2008, 08:54 PM

I heard there was a death metal band that tunes to F standard on sixes, but that might just be a rumour...

bostjan · 02-05-2008, 08:55 PM

I've never been happy with anything lower than a low G on a 25.5"-er. The biggest string I've fit on a 25.5" scale guitar was a 0.80", I think.

eleven59 · 02-05-2008, 08:58 PM

Depending on the specs of the Strat, I'd bet the tuner could handle anything up to 60-65, maybe 70 without replacing the tuner. If you were up for possibly swapping at least one tuner, maybe filing the nut, and maybe doing something to the bridge, it'll handle it.

Metal Ken · 02-05-2008, 09:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by distressed_romeo

I heard there was a death metal band that tunes to F standard on sixes, but that might just be a rumour...

I know mortician tunes to G on 6'ers.

ohio_eric · 02-05-2008, 09:10 PM

This is the subject to a lot of debate. I had a luthier tell me once that G was as low as he felt comfortable at 27".

02-05-2008, 09:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eleven59

Depending on the specs of the Strat, I'd bet the tuner could handle anything up to 60-65, maybe 70 without replacing the tuner. If you were up for possibly swapping at least one tuner, maybe filing the nut, and maybe doing something to the bridge, it'll handle it.

I think I', pretty stuck with what I got. Now that you mention it I've heard something like 0.68 being the thickest to fit a standard tuner without having to drill it.

Hcash · 02-05-2008, 10:04 PM

I had to drill out the tuner on my ESP F-300 to fit a 70...

Rick · 02-05-2008, 10:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Metal Ken

I know mortician tunes to G on 6'ers.

Holy ...., what do they use? Strings and guitarwise?

Se7enMeister · 02-05-2008, 10:26 PM

I put an .080 on my 7 tuned to f# and it was pretty floppy definetly not worth the trem ajustment on my k7

Apophis · 02-06-2008, 08:05 AM

Without drilling 070 is a max in most tuners

Munky7Head · 02-06-2008, 08:14 AM

I had a guitar set up to Wes Borland's 4 string model type guitar. It was on an old RG270.

I could fit .70, but I drilled it out to fit a .85 tuned to F# F# B E

Shawn · 02-06-2008, 12:37 PM

I've never tuned lower than A on a sixer.

sakeido · 02-06-2008, 12:40 PM

I play a low G with a Elixir 56. Feels fine to me although its not like I am going to play endless galloping triplets on it like that.

distressed_romeo · 02-06-2008, 01:07 PM

Personally, I've gone as low as F# on a 25.5" scale before, and whilst it wasn't perfect, it was workable, so with the proper set-up and a slight adjustment in technique, I don't see any reason why it wouldn't work.

distressed_romeo · 02-06-2008, 01:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Munky7Head

I had a guitar set up to Wes Borland's 4 string model type guitar. It was on an old RG270.

I could fit .70, but I drilled it out to fit a .85 tuned to F# F# B E

How'd you get on with that tuning?

Apophis · 02-06-2008, 01:14 PM

yeah

emmure · 02-06-2008, 04:07 PM

i have an esp ec-1000 in vintage black ltd. i want to buy a 7 but cant for another 4-6 months

me and our other guitarist want to play in G#. wat gauge strings should i get?

02-06-2008, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by emmure

i have an esp ec-1000 in vintage black ltd. i want to buy a 7 but cant for another 4-6 months

me and our other guitarist want to play in G#. wat gauge strings should i get?

What do you tune in now and with what gauge, If I know that info I can calculate what kind of tension you are using and find out what gauge has the same tension for the low G#.

ibznorange · 02-06-2008, 04:11 PM

what tuning have you been using, and what gauges?

Apophis · 02-06-2008, 04:11 PM

as big as you can get

070 at least

emmure · 02-06-2008, 04:27 PM

im in Bb and earnie ball heavey bottoms light tops w a .052

btw i hav a 24.75" neck :/

what brand strings do i buy?

Ze Kink · 02-06-2008, 06:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by distressed_romeo

I heard there was a death metal band that tunes to F standard on sixes, but that might just be a rumour...

Doesn't God Among Insects tune that low?

eleven59 · 02-06-2008, 06:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by emmure

im in Bb and earnie ball heavey bottoms light tops w a .052

btw i hav a 24.75" neck :/

what brand strings do i buy?

So here's your current setup:

len 24.75"

_B, .010" PL == 7.64#
_G, .013" PL == 8.13#
_D, .017" PL == 7.8#
_A,, .030" NW == 11.79#
_E,, .042" NW == 12.39#
_B,,, .052" NW == 10.37#
total == 58.13#

If you want to go down to a low G# you'll have to go much thicker. A 60 will get you about the same tension as your low-B. But then, I'd recommend much thicker strings for the tuning you're already in too.

Munky7Head · 03-07-2008, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by distressed_romeo

How'd you get on with that tuning?

Wes Borland used it on some Limp Bizkit songs like "Nookie" "Stalemate" and "Full Nelson"

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02-05-2008, 07:58 PM	#1
Desecrated Dirty Lurker Posts: n/a	How low can you go? On a standard stratocaster 6-string guitar 25.5" scale, how low can you tune, what are the biggest strings you can fit ? 0.76 tuned to low G ?

02-05-2008, 08:54 PM	#2
distressed_romeo F'king ............ Join Date: May 2005 Location: Melnibone (duh!) Posts: 10,718 Thanked: 233 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	I heard there was a death metal band that tunes to F standard on sixes, but that might just be a rumour... Define 'well-adjusted'... http://farsideguitars.blogspot.com/

02-05-2008, 08:55 PM	#3
bostjan Spastic Kitchen! Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: St. Johnsbury, VT USA Posts: 7,561 Thanked: 15 Feedback Score: 1 reviews	I've never been happy with anything lower than a low G on a 25.5"-er. The biggest string I've fit on a 25.5" scale guitar was a 0.80", I think. [URL="http://sites.google.com/site/bostjanzupancickhereb/"[/URL]

02-05-2008, 08:58 PM	#4
eleven59 None shall pass. Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: London, Ontario, Canada Posts: 8,039 Thanked: 164 Feedback Score: 5 reviews	Depending on the specs of the Strat, I'd bet the tuner could handle anything up to 60-65, maybe 70 without replacing the tuner. If you were up for possibly swapping at least one tuner, maybe filing the nut, and maybe doing something to the bridge, it'll handle it. The Offensive Senses Twitter Facebook

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02-05-2008, 09:10 PM	#6
ohio_eric SS Contributor Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Ohio Posts: 9,248 Thanked: 189 Feedback Score: 1 reviews	This is the subject to a lot of debate. I had a luthier tell me once that G was as low as he felt comfortable at 27".

02-05-2008, 10:04 PM	#8
Hcash These Eyes Are Blind Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Winston Salem, NC Posts: 450 Thanked: 7 Feedback Score: 1 reviews	I had to drill out the tuner on my ESP F-300 to fit a 70...

02-05-2008, 10:26 PM	#10
Se7enMeister Likes Basswood Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: the other side of No Where Posts: 690 Thanked: 54 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	I put an .080 on my 7 tuned to f# and it was pretty floppy definetly not worth the trem ajustment on my k7 "There's a party in Zepp's mouth and everyones coming" Origanally posted by Variant - Pulled from the river Styx, the mighty black oar of doom in hand! I certainly would not call this particular guitar an "axe" more like a club. Noodles' KxK would run through an emo, spilling his insides for a quick death, this blunt mace would bludgeon the unfortunate effeminate soul, breaking bones, and causing internal bleeding to lead only to a slow, painful death

02-06-2008, 08:05 AM	#11
Apophis Banned Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Poland Posts: 18,280 Thanked: 71 Feedback Score: 1 reviews	Without drilling 070 is a max in most tuners

02-06-2008, 08:14 AM	#12
Munky7Head Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Richmond, VA Posts: 198 Thanked: 4 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	I had a guitar set up to Wes Borland's 4 string model type guitar. It was on an old RG270. I could fit .70, but I drilled it out to fit a .85 tuned to F# F# B E

02-06-2008, 12:37 PM	#13
Shawn Ibanez 7s Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Southern Maine Posts: 24,509 Thanked: 146 Feedback Score: 15 reviews	I've never tuned lower than A on a sixer. My Guitar Videos

02-06-2008, 12:40 PM	#14
sakeido Is a Pastafarian Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Calgary AB Posts: 5,600 Thanked: 257 Feedback Score: 12 reviews	I play a low G with a Elixir 56. Feels fine to me although its not like I am going to play endless galloping triplets on it like that. "Ah, she's built like a steakhouse but she handles like a bistro" - ZB Soundcloud - New clip April 19

02-06-2008, 01:07 PM	#15
distressed_romeo F'king ............ Join Date: May 2005 Location: Melnibone (duh!) Posts: 10,718 Thanked: 233 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Personally, I've gone as low as F# on a 25.5" scale before, and whilst it wasn't perfect, it was workable, so with the proper set-up and a slight adjustment in technique, I don't see any reason why it wouldn't work. Define 'well-adjusted'... http://farsideguitars.blogspot.com/

02-06-2008, 01:14 PM	#17
Apophis Banned Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Poland Posts: 18,280 Thanked: 71 Feedback Score: 1 reviews	yeah

02-06-2008, 04:07 PM	#18
emmure ss.org Regular Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Jensen,FL Posts: 80 Thanked: 2 / 1 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	i have an esp ec-1000 in vintage black ltd. i want to buy a 7 but cant for another 4-6 months me and our other guitarist want to play in G#. wat gauge strings should i get?

02-06-2008, 04:11 PM	#20
ibznorange Chief Officer/RHLC © Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 8,369 Thanked: 60 Feedback Score: 23 reviews	what tuning have you been using, and what gauges? Reverse Headstocks or Bust :chris: ALL HEIL THE ADMINISHREDDER!

02-06-2008, 04:11 PM	#21
Apophis Banned Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Poland Posts: 18,280 Thanked: 71 Feedback Score: 1 reviews	as big as you can get 070 at least

02-06-2008, 04:27 PM	#22
emmure ss.org Regular Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Jensen,FL Posts: 80 Thanked: 2 / 1 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	im in Bb and earnie ball heavey bottoms light tops w a .052 btw i hav a 24.75" neck :/ what brand strings do i buy? Last edited by emmure; 02-06-2008 at 05:10 PM. Reason: Automerged Doublepost

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