What's the lowest tuning a 25" scale 6 can go?

Dominthebox · 10-29-2009, 03:57 AM

I am currently building a custom 6 string 25" scale guitar. I wanted to know what experiences some of you have had down tuning a 6 string guitar of equal scale. I would like to tune the low string to Bb

and keep the guitar in a standard tuning, not dropped. Would that make the tuning Bb Eb Ab Db Gb Bb?

Has anyone ever tried this? If so What gauge strings do you use? I play in C standard on my Jackson DK2M dinky and I use 12 gauge DR's, so I'm used to thick strings and tight tension.

If you think it can't be done while keeping tight string tension and sounding good, what's the lowest tuning you would recommend?

There might be a thread on this already, if so sorry but I couldn't find one with the details I am looking for. Thanks in advance for the responses.

vampiregenocide · 10-29-2009, 04:49 AM

You'd have to use very very heavy gauges, and it depends what kind of bridge you have and how well inotates.

Drop C would be doable at 25'', I've done it on my PRS SE and it sounds great, so I presume you could get away with C standard.

WHy don't you have a baritone scale neck? Or at least 26.5'' or 25.5''?

Daemon · 10-29-2009, 05:35 AM

The lowest ?
Humm.. Drop G# or Drop F..

adaman · 10-29-2009, 05:42 AM

I have tuned my Prs's (which have 25" scale) to Bb before with no problem, It all depends on the gauge of strings you use.

Setnakt · 10-29-2009, 07:46 AM

Lots of people have tuned 25.5" scale guitars to all kinds of things - standard bass low E, lower, whatever. But I wouldn't recommend going lower than baritone B or maybe A-ish, though there are quite a lot of guitarists in metal who tune around there, some even on a short scale guitar, and it works for them. You should think about what kind of tone you want, especially how much distortion, etc; playing through a 5150 with really high gain, you may not even notice the difference at Bb between a 25.5" or a baritone scale guitar.

Elysian · 10-29-2009, 07:58 AM

You can go pretty low. I've gone E below low E(it was really floppy and evil sounding

) with a 70 on a 25.5, I've gone down to A on my 25" scale 6 string.

Teaboy · 10-29-2009, 08:11 AM

I have a 25.5" scale and I can tune down to Bb standard with a standard set of beefy slinkys or not even slinkys. It's perfectly do-able and sounds great.

My 7 string Les Paul is tuned to Bb standard and it's only 24.75" scale.

Konfyouzd · 10-29-2009, 08:19 AM

C standard with 12s sounds doable. I had a friend do B standard with 13s and the tension felt pretty close to my 6 in E standard using 10s. But that would kind of make sense actually because since I do play 10s, my high B would be a 13 now wouldn't it?

Daemon · 10-29-2009, 08:24 AM

I'm playing everyday in Drop Bb you can see here my sound :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3OgrB0VmYc

Konfyouzd · 10-29-2009, 08:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daemon

I'm playing everyday in Drop Bb you can see here my sound :

Holy crap man. Your tone sounds pretty good from what I hear. Cool style too.

What are you playing on? M1000?

Daemon · 10-29-2009, 08:39 AM

ESP Ltd deluxe M1000 yeah through an Peavey Valveking 212 !
Tune in Drop Bb, playing the intro of Titan by Keith Merrow ( Diabolic5150 on youtube and SS.org )

And thx !

Konfyouzd · 10-29-2009, 08:41 AM

Very nice... and yea I knew that name sounded familiar

Daemon · 10-29-2009, 08:46 AM

héhé, it's hard to learn his song by ear T_T ( for me ) But I try like I can...

budda · 10-29-2009, 09:07 AM

You should be able to hit A no problem. I've put my les paul in B standard before, and that's 24.75 scale.

Cheesebuiscut · 10-29-2009, 10:40 AM

Yeah I went to drop A on my 25.5 and hated the sound since I had to use a .065 gauge string to have any tension. Other people love just that though so it all depends on you.

Personally I wouldn't go lower than C on a 25" since I feel that B is as low as I'd go on a 25.5" and even then I wish it was a bit longer.

Either way your going to have to fiddle with strings and tunings yourself to see what you can stand.

maliciousteve · 10-29-2009, 12:32 PM

I've had my Carvin set to B standard before, using a 56 on the Low B which just fit through the sperzel tuners sounded and felt just fine. I think there's a certain point where the string is too big for the scale length, making it hard to intonate.

All_¥our_Bass · 10-29-2009, 12:46 PM

The lowest string on mine is F, with a 100 gauge bass string.

Konfyouzd · 10-29-2009, 12:51 PM

goddamn

hypermagic · 10-29-2009, 01:15 PM

Drop G# with a 85 is very nice.

MaKo´s Tethan · 10-29-2009, 02:02 PM

It depends...My superstrat can go to drop A, or even A standars, like a 7 without the first string, and sound cool, but my strat just can go to drop B. They are 25.5", but you get the point.

JMP2203 · 10-29-2009, 08:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cheesebuiscut

Yeah I went to drop A on my 25.5 and hated the sound since I had to use a .065 gauge string to have any tension. Other people love just that though so it all depends on you.

Personally I wouldn't go lower than C on a 25" since I feel that B is as low as I'd go on a 25.5" and even then I wish it was a bit longer.

Either way your going to have to fiddle with strings and tunings yourself to see what you can stand.

this

Adam Of Angels · 10-29-2009, 09:13 PM

No, not that - do people not realize that most 7 strings are 25.5" and that they hold B just fine? How many times has this been covered? A wider neck doesn't add more tension, its the scale length.

Disregarding intonation, I've tuned a strat down to E and D with an 80 gauge string before, and while EQ'ing was required, I got it to sound brutal and with clarity. I've tuned to A standard and drop A MANY times with a standard scale and had no issues... on a 7421, I've tuned to drop G before and again, no issues.

Bungle · 10-29-2009, 09:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adam Of Angels

No, not that - do people not realize that most 7 strings are 25.5" and that they hold B just fine?

13-56 on a 25.5" 6string. will do B standard exactly like the same gauge strings on a 25.5" 7string.

The only difference is intonation, the size of the grooves in the nut and the diameter hole in the machine head for the string to pass through.

All_¥our_Bass · 10-29-2009, 10:06 PM

I kinda want another sixer to tune in fifths like so:
DAEBF#C#

Yeah with a low D

, just to see if I can make it work for my playing.
(a.k.a. doing it is one thing, actually having it usable is another

)

Andii · 10-29-2009, 10:42 PM

C is as low as I can go personally on a 25 1/2 without having an issue with string tension. I have to have enough tension to play comfortably at high tempos. I can do alright in A or b but the top string gives too much and gets scrapy sounding at high speed. For normal playing though A on a 25 1/2 is really clear.

Quote:

Originally Posted by All_¥our_Bass

I kinda want another sixer to tune in fifths like so:
DAEBF#C#

Yeah with a low D

, just to see if I can make it work for my playing.
(a.k.a. doing it is one thing, actually having it usable is another

)

Ha that would need a 30 inch scale to sound decent.

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10-29-2009, 03:57 AM	#1
Dominthebox ss.org Regular Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Fort Lee, NJ Posts: 38 Thanked: 2 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	What's the lowest tuning a 25" scale 6 can go? I am currently building a custom 6 string 25" scale guitar. I wanted to know what experiences some of you have had down tuning a 6 string guitar of equal scale. I would like to tune the low string to Bb and keep the guitar in a standard tuning, not dropped. Would that make the tuning Bb Eb Ab Db Gb Bb? Has anyone ever tried this? If so What gauge strings do you use? I play in C standard on my Jackson DK2M dinky and I use 12 gauge DR's, so I'm used to thick strings and tight tension. If you think it can't be done while keeping tight string tension and sounding good, what's the lowest tuning you would recommend? There might be a thread on this already, if so sorry but I couldn't find one with the details I am looking for. Thanks in advance for the responses.

10-29-2009, 04:49 AM	#2
vampiregenocide A Chap Called Ross Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Hertfordshire, England Posts: 15,095 Thanked: 273 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	You'd have to use very very heavy gauges, and it depends what kind of bridge you have and how well inotates. Drop C would be doable at 25'', I've done it on my PRS SE and it sounds great, so I presume you could get away with C standard. WHy don't you have a baritone scale neck? Or at least 26.5'' or 25.5''? My Photography Myspace - http://www.myspace.com/rosswildishphotography Dissonant Media - The news source for new alternate/progressive music! Check us out: http://de-de.facebook.com/pages/Sawbridgeworth-United-Kingdom/Dissonant-Media/126448677394107 http://www.youtube.com/user/DissonantMedia#p/a http://dissonantmedia.tumblr.com/

10-29-2009, 05:35 AM	#3
Daemon The Nocturnal Chaos Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Clermont-Ferrand, France Posts: 421 Thanked: 27 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	The lowest ? Humm.. Drop G# or Drop F.. ----------------------------------------------------------------- THE NOCTURNAL CHAOS : www.thenocturnalchaos.com/ Facebook

10-29-2009, 08:19 AM	#8
Konfyouzd Dread-I Master Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Mars Posts: 15,507 Thanked: 191 Feedback Score: 4 reviews	C standard with 12s sounds doable. I had a friend do B standard with 13s and the tension felt pretty close to my 6 in E standard using 10s. But that would kind of make sense actually because since I do play 10s, my high B would be a 13 now wouldn't it? "... and on either side of the river was the tree of life. The leaves of this tree were for the healing of nations." "He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle and the herb for the service of man." "Lifes too short to hate Floyd Roses."

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10-29-2009, 05:42 AM	#4
adaman SS.org Regular Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: SLC Posts: 312 Thanked: 6 Feedback Score: 5 reviews	I have tuned my Prs's (which have 25" scale) to Bb before with no problem, It all depends on the gauge of strings you use.

10-29-2009, 07:46 AM	#5
Setnakt il Brutto Join Date: May 2009 Location: TN, USA Posts: 389 Thanked: 2 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Lots of people have tuned 25.5" scale guitars to all kinds of things - standard bass low E, lower, whatever. But I wouldn't recommend going lower than baritone B or maybe A-ish, though there are quite a lot of guitarists in metal who tune around there, some even on a short scale guitar, and it works for them. You should think about what kind of tone you want, especially how much distortion, etc; playing through a 5150 with really high gain, you may not even notice the difference at Bb between a 25.5" or a baritone scale guitar.

10-29-2009, 07:58 AM	#6
Elysian Banned Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Plano, TX Posts: 6,622 Thanked: 43 Feedback Score: 22 reviews	You can go pretty low. I've gone E below low E(it was really floppy and evil sounding ) with a 70 on a 25.5, I've gone down to A on my 25" scale 6 string.

10-29-2009, 08:11 AM	#7
Teaboy ss.org Regular Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: London Posts: 87 Thanked: 2 Feedback Score: 1 reviews	I have a 25.5" scale and I can tune down to Bb standard with a standard set of beefy slinkys or not even slinkys. It's perfectly do-able and sounds great. My 7 string Les Paul is tuned to Bb standard and it's only 24.75" scale.

10-29-2009, 08:24 AM	#9
Daemon The Nocturnal Chaos Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Clermont-Ferrand, France Posts: 421 Thanked: 27 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	I'm playing everyday in Drop Bb you can see here my sound : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3OgrB0VmYc ----------------------------------------------------------------- THE NOCTURNAL CHAOS : www.thenocturnalchaos.com/ Facebook

10-29-2009, 08:39 AM	#11
Daemon The Nocturnal Chaos Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Clermont-Ferrand, France Posts: 421 Thanked: 27 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	ESP Ltd deluxe M1000 yeah through an Peavey Valveking 212 ! Tune in Drop Bb, playing the intro of Titan by Keith Merrow ( Diabolic5150 on youtube and SS.org ) And thx ! ----------------------------------------------------------------- THE NOCTURNAL CHAOS : www.thenocturnalchaos.com/ Facebook

10-29-2009, 08:41 AM	#12
Konfyouzd Dread-I Master Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Mars Posts: 15,507 Thanked: 191 Feedback Score: 4 reviews	Very nice... and yea I knew that name sounded familiar "... and on either side of the river was the tree of life. The leaves of this tree were for the healing of nations." "He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle and the herb for the service of man." "Lifes too short to hate Floyd Roses."

10-29-2009, 08:46 AM	#13
Daemon The Nocturnal Chaos Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Clermont-Ferrand, France Posts: 421 Thanked: 27 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	héhé, it's hard to learn his song by ear T_T ( for me ) But I try like I can... ----------------------------------------------------------------- THE NOCTURNAL CHAOS : www.thenocturnalchaos.com/ Facebook

10-29-2009, 09:07 AM	#14
budda Guiterrorizer Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: London ONT Posts: 18,906 Thanked: 174 Feedback Score: 1 reviews	You should be able to hit A no problem. I've put my les paul in B standard before, and that's 24.75 scale. _______________________ J S Moore pickups: www.tonefordays.com Rock on!

10-29-2009, 10:40 AM	#15
Cheesebuiscut Loves his Q-tuners Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: NJ Posts: 4,072 Thanked: 45 Feedback Score: 2 reviews	Yeah I went to drop A on my 25.5 and hated the sound since I had to use a .065 gauge string to have any tension. Other people love just that though so it all depends on you. Personally I wouldn't go lower than C on a 25" since I feel that B is as low as I'd go on a 25.5" and even then I wish it was a bit longer. Either way your going to have to fiddle with strings and tunings yourself to see what you can stand.

10-29-2009, 12:32 PM	#16
maliciousteve Lord Green Fingers Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Hertfordshire, UK Posts: 2,613 Thanked: 65 $maliciousteve is rather kvlt and tr00. \m/$ $maliciousteve is rather kvlt and tr00. \m/$ $maliciousteve is rather kvlt and tr00. \m/$ $maliciousteve is rather kvlt and tr00. \m/$ $maliciousteve is rather kvlt and tr00. \m/$ $maliciousteve is rather kvlt and tr00. \m/$ $maliciousteve is rather kvlt and tr00. \m/$ Feedback Score: 9 reviews	I've had my Carvin set to B standard before, using a 56 on the Low B which just fit through the sperzel tuners sounded and felt just fine. I think there's a certain point where the string is too big for the scale length, making it hard to intonate.

10-29-2009, 12:46 PM	#17
All_¥our_Bass Army Without Borders Join Date: May 2006 Location: Zanzibar Land Posts: 6,983 Thanked: 81 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	The lowest string on mine is F, with a 100 gauge bass string. No Nation. No Philosophy. No Ideology.

10-29-2009, 12:51 PM	#18
Konfyouzd Dread-I Master Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Mars Posts: 15,507 Thanked: 191 Feedback Score: 4 reviews	goddamn "... and on either side of the river was the tree of life. The leaves of this tree were for the healing of nations." "He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle and the herb for the service of man." "Lifes too short to hate Floyd Roses."

10-29-2009, 01:15 PM	#19
hypermagic Fusion Neophyte Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Ohio Posts: 899 Thanked: 10 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Drop G# with a 85 is very nice.

10-29-2009, 02:02 PM	#20
MaKo´s Tethan Guitar Mod. Syndrome Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Patagonia Posts: 2,219 Thanked: 63 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	It depends...My superstrat can go to drop A, or even A standars, like a 7 without the first string, and sound cool, but my strat just can go to drop B. They are 25.5", but you get the point. Rap metal is always numetal, whereas numetal isnt always rap. Demoniac

10-29-2009, 09:13 PM	#22
Adam Of Angels Banned Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Mount Pleasant, PA Posts: 5,907 Thanked: 89 $Adam Of Angels is rather kvlt and tr00. \m/$ $Adam Of Angels is rather kvlt and tr00. \m/$ $Adam Of Angels is rather kvlt and tr00. \m/$ $Adam Of Angels is rather kvlt and tr00. \m/$ $Adam Of Angels is rather kvlt and tr00. \m/$ $Adam Of Angels is rather kvlt and tr00. \m/$ $Adam Of Angels is rather kvlt and tr00. \m/$ Feedback Score: 73 reviews	No, not that - do people not realize that most 7 strings are 25.5" and that they hold B just fine? How many times has this been covered? A wider neck doesn't add more tension, its the scale length. Disregarding intonation, I've tuned a strat down to E and D with an 80 gauge string before, and while EQ'ing was required, I got it to sound brutal and with clarity. I've tuned to A standard and drop A MANY times with a standard scale and had no issues... on a 7421, I've tuned to drop G before and again, no issues.

10-29-2009, 10:06 PM	#24
All_¥our_Bass Army Without Borders Join Date: May 2006 Location: Zanzibar Land Posts: 6,983 Thanked: 81 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	I kinda want another sixer to tune in fifths like so: DAEBF#C# Yeah with a low D , just to see if I can make it work for my playing. (a.k.a. doing it is one thing, actually having it usable is another ) No Nation. No Philosophy. No Ideology.

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