SUB1 - detuned?

[appar111]

Now that I am the proud owner of two SUB1's (one in graphite, one in blue, both are hardtails), I'm wondering if I should have one set up as my "detuned" SUB1 for the really heavy stuff (Sabbath, BLS, etc.).

I read about another EBMM owner who put 12's on his guitar and tuned it B to B. Not sure if I'd want to go that low, but probably down to at least C to C.

Since it would be detuned that far, I'm assuming it wouldn't need much of a truss rod adjustment since the tension would be about equivalent to a set of 10-46 tuned to pitch (maybe even equivalent to 9-42's tuned to pitch).

Would the nut need to be adjusted to accomodate gauge 12's? I'd like to not have to worry about adjusting the nut slots, since I'd want to be able to go back to standard tuning & more standard gauge strings down the road. Maybe I should only go up to 11-49's instead of full on 12-54's?

Any advice?

J.

[pauldogx]

I cant speak on the Sub-1 directly as I don't own one---however it IS 25 1/2 scale---you can detune standard scale length guitars but you will run into intonation problems. Most baritone guitars have a much longer scale length--in the 27-28 inch range. IE: standard scale tuned to baritone will be out of tune in different parts of the neck even if it is in tune open.

[appar111]

Perhaps I should go with something like 11-46 and only tune down to D, or C#, so I can avoid the intonation problems associated w/ tuning any lower than that... I'd also probably avoid having to do anything to the nut. At least both guitars are hardtails, so I don't have to worry about adjusting the trem system.

[PeteDuBaldo]

An 11-46 set should be pretty close to OK in an unmolested nut slot. If you go to a 52, you may need to fiddle with it a bit. I just did an 11-52 setup on an Axis SS which needed the E and A string nut slots to be ever so slightly widened for proper string height.

[appar111]

The SUB's can get some pretty low action to begin with, so if the 12-56 set doesn't fit perfectly in the nut slots on the low strings, I can just lower the bridge saddles a bit to compensate and deal w/ it.

[appar111]

An 11-46 set should be pretty close to OK in an unmolested nut slot. If you go to a 52, you may need to fiddle with it a bit. I just did an 11-52 setup on an Axis SS which needed the E and A string nut slots to be ever so slightly widened for proper string height.

So what happens if you want to go back to 10-46 or 9-42 on that guitar? Will the slots be too wide and cause any buzzing?