Any experts on Drop C tuning? I have some questions

[MCChris]

So in the process of promoting the Rub on Craigslist I happened across a Guitarist Wanted ad placed by sone guys local to me (NW Indiana) who do originals. I just got back from jamming with them and there's potential, but they do drop C tuning, both for ease of singing and the fact that they're writing heavier material. I was not equipped for that with my preferred 9-46 gauge strings, so they agreed to Eb tuning for the "audition."

Not sure I want to fuck with alla dat, but if I do:

1.) Which heavier gauge set tuned down to C will equate to the tension of a 9-46 set tuned to 440? More concerned with the plain string tension, because they did like my bendy lead playing.

2.) Better to use a 25.5 scale guitar, or would a 24.75 scale guitar be fine also?

3.) At what point would I need to have the nut slots widened? Really hoping to avoid that in case this experiment is short-lived.

I'm already aware I'll have to be a pussy and re-intonate.

Appreciate all responses. Grazie!

[zenmindbeginner]

So in the process of promoting the Rub on Craigslist I happened across a Guitarist Wanted ad placed by sone guys local to me (NW Indiana) who do originals. I just got back from jamming with them and there's potential, but they do drop C tuning, both for ease of singing and the fact that they're writing heavier material. I was not equipped for that with my preferred 9-46 gauge strings, so they agreed to Eb tuning for the "audition."

Not sure I want to fuck with alla dat, but if I do:

1.) Which heavier gauge set tuned down to C will equate to the tension of a 9-46 set tuned to 440? More concerned with the plain string tension, because they did like my bendy lead playing.

2.) Better to use a 25.5 scale guitar, or would a 24.75 scale guitar be fine also?

3.) At what point would I need to have the nut slots widened? Really hoping to avoid that in case this experiment is short-lived.

I'm already aware I'll have to be a pussy and re-intonate.

Appreciate all responses. Grazie!

Tuning down to D and then dropping down the low E to C will require .011 gauge strings to feel like .009 gauge.

.011 will most likely bind at the nut if it's cut snug for .009. A nut cut for .010 can still work for .009 if the player has a light touch... if this is your nut, then .011 might not need any widening.

if you are playing a guitar with a trem, you can adjust the springs until it feels right but without a trem, you are sort of fixed to the string tension.

It's all on how hard you whack your guitar... the lower the tuning and the more the strings can warp out of tune when you give them a good wallop.

On my guitars where I am tuned to dropped B, I use .013 gauge strings on the low E, A and high E strings. I use a D string from a .009 gauge pack for my G strings and the other two strings are from a .012 gauge pack.

I have to use the .013 for when I do my Bruce Lee one inch punches and haymakers... they still warp out of tune and back due to the force of the strike but at least with the .013s it doesn't sound ridiculous.

The answer to the nut dilemma is that my guitars that I use my custom set I mentioned above will NEVER play properly with any other gauge than the heaviest because I had to widen the nut slots.

My Scarab is a piece of cake to set-up with the heavy gauge strings because it has a locking tremolo and can stay in tune much better with all of the hard striking/aggressive playing.

If the strings bind at the nut at .011 gauge, you'll need to widen the nut... but they may not, you won't know it until you slap on a set of .011s. if they can't stay in tune, the slots may need widening.

Good luck!

You may even get out by the strings widening the nut themselves from gravity and friction... who knows?

[Ting Ho Dung]

The Murkat Bengal does drop Bb well. So I imagine it would do drop C as well.

[Nathan of Brainfertilizer Fame]

I'd say you should consider getting a baritone guitar or 7 string.

Dean Vandetta 7 strings can be found cheap, as can Yamaha RGX 420 Drop 6 guitars.

[MCChris]

I'd say you should consider getting a baritone guitar or 7 string.

Dean Vandetta 7 strings can be found cheap, as can Yamaha RGX 420 Drop 6 guitars.

Well, I'm definitely not going to those extremes lol.

I had assumed the rule was probably a string gauge up for each whole step down, so I'll probably try an 11-54 or 56 set on a guitar and see how that works. Thanks for chiming in!

[sirDaniel]

i'm an expert. aske me anything.

the sound it makes is: "chuga, chuga"

[zenmindbeginner]

I'd say you should consider getting a baritone guitar or 7 string.

Dean Vandetta 7 strings can be found cheap, as can Yamaha RGX 420 Drop 6 guitars.

Well, I'm definitely not going to those extremes lol.

I had assumed the rule was probably a string gauge up for each whole step down, so I'll probably try an 11-54 or 56 set on a guitar and see how that works. Thanks for chiming in!

You'll definitely want that .056 on the low E. You can experiment with other string brands... worse case scenario is that you get a heavy set of Super Slinkys so you can bend to your hearts content without too much resistance.

[murkat]

12/56 with a long scale (25.5) would get you there with a setup to match, and lowering the pickups.

[MCChris]

Welp, that solves that problem:

http://www.hamerfanclub.com/forums/topic/66862-fs-boss-br800-sparkle-drive-line6-liquaflange/?p=729179

[scottcald]

I was going to suggest one of those drop tune pedals. No new strings/setup etc. and everyone's happy.

[Studio Custom]

The longer the scale length the better.

This chart will show you the tensions at different tunings:

http://daddario.com/upload/tension_chart_13934.pdf

Your set has the following tensions, assuming 25.5" scale length and D'Addario brand:

http://www.daddario.com/DADMobileProductDetail.Page?ActiveID=3757&ProductId=7&productname=EXL125_Nickel_Wound__Super_Light_Top__Regular_Bottom__9_46&sid=07eb66a0-cd0e-481c-82b3-b1b12bc72f47

PL009 E 0.0090 13.140 PL011 B 11.020 PL016 G 14.680 NW026 D 18.380 NW036 A 19.040 NW046 E 0.0460 16.910

Using the other chart try to match those tensions @ C.

[zorrow]

Will just add to this subject that a 7-string axe won't be of much help if you intend to tune its lower string to C. That's like tuning it up from Drop-A to Drop-C, which is one tone and a half higher. I mean, from this tuning:

E

B

G

D

A

E

A

...you'll have to go up to this one:

G

D

Bb

F

C

G

C

I already tried and failed because that 1st G string has to be just too thin.

Please notice that this is way different than going down just one tone from 6-string Drop-D to Drop-C, which is going from this:

E

B

G

D

A

D

...to this:

D

A

F

C

G

C

My two cents.

[hamerhead]

You did the right thing, Chris.

[zenmindbeginner]

We'll know if the audition worked out if we see the pedal for sale.

[MCChris]

You did the right thing, Chris.

Well of course you would think so!

We'll know if the audition worked out if we see the pedal for sale.

I can confidently say they're more into me than I'm into them at this point. But this gizmo looks like more fun than reintonating and having new nut slots cut for a couple guitars.

[zenmindbeginner]

You did the right thing, Chris.

Well of course you would think so!

We'll know if the audition worked out if we see the pedal for sale.

I can confidently say they're more into me than I'm into them at this point. But this gizmo looks like more fun than reintonating and having new nut slots cut for a couple guitars.

Oh GOD, you aint lyin'! I forgot that he had that pedal for sale... those pedals were totally under my radar. Let us know about it's performance.

Auditions can go both ways... I've walked out of job interviews and auditions would be no different. Who is to say who is auditioning whom right?

You may decide at the audition that you don't want to play with them... we'll still see the pedal for sale. lolz!

[Jason01]

Morpheus works for me!

[tomteriffic]

Welp, that solves that problem:

http://www.hamerfanclub.com/forums/topic/66862-fs-boss-br800-sparkle-drive-line6-liquaflange/?p=729179

Thanks for that, Chris. I didn't need to be spending the money but it would have saved me taking one guitar to shows. Now, no worries.

[MCChris]

Thanks for that, Chris. I didn't need to be spending the money but it would have saved me taking one guitar to shows. Now, no worries.

Spiny Norman's doing Slipknot covers now? Cool!