Lower tunings?

[Tanax]

Hi!

With the removal of the JP Baritone models/variants, which one of the JP models is best suited for lower tunings like drop C or even as far down as drop A?

Thanks in advance

 

[WillyD]

Hi Tanax, many JP7 players utilize dropped tunings.

Have you considered the Silhouette bass guitar?

Silhouette Bass Guitar | Guitars | Ernie Ball Music Man

 

[johnnyboogie]

Despite not being long-scale guitars, the 25.5" scale length guitars would allow for a 2 whole-step down-tuning (maybe more, not sure). You might need to install an extra spring in order to balance the tension of the larger-gauge strings, but it should be do-able. You could setup your JP7 a whole-step lower, in order to achieve the A tuning.

 

[ohbugger]

I keep my JPXI in D standard (one whole step down) and JP12 in C standard (two whole steps down). For D standard I'm running 10 gauge strings; C standard 11 gauge. Still even running only two tremolo springs in both. I just adjusted the claw screws appropriately to keep the bridge level.

The strings definitely have more of an elastic feel than they did in standard turning with a set of 9's, so my setup may not be comfortable for everybody. I don't hit the strings hard, and bends are definitely easier on the fingers this way!

On point with your question, I believe any of the current JP models would behave as such, all being 25.5 inch scale.

 

[Ishmun]

I keep my JP6 in C standard tuning with 12-60 strings on it - works a treat, no issues at all

 

[damo_512]

How do you guys go with the nut for the lower tunings? I generally play in standard with 9-46's but want to do some recording in C standard with some thicker gauge strings but I dont want to affect the nut on my JP15.

 

[ohbugger]

I did have to sand the slots a bit wider to accommodate the thicker strings.

 

[Ishmun]

I did have to sand the slots a bit wider to accommodate the thicker strings.

I'm the same. I think you'll run into intonation and tension issues if tuning down to C with 9s.

 

[Tanax]

Alright so I should be fairly safe then to tune my JP6 down to even C but should probably change strings to thicker ones (I got the standard strings that came with it, I think that's 9s) to at least 10s?

As I understood it I should probably also install a third spring? How do I do that and what's the reason for it?

Thank you all for your replies!

 

[johnnyboogie]

Setting up the guitar with a thicker gauge string-set, thus higher tension, will cause the bridge to elevate. The extra spring will pull the bridge back. Of course, you will need to do all the fine-tuning to bring the bridge into its original position and in perfect alignment with the body.

PS. For the 2 whole-steps down-tuning you should go with Power Slinkies, Beefy Slinkies or Not-Even Slinkies. Beefy and Not-Even are recommended.

 

[Mordimer]

I tune my JP7 to drop G#. I use Slinky Cobalt 10-62. The only problem I got was the 7th string intonation – to set it properly I had to move the saddle far back what caused another problem - the "break angle" reached ~90°. In this situation the pressure of the string on the saddle was to small and the string was buzzing (on saddle). I had to file the saddle a little so that the string goes from bridge to the saddle at <90° angle. In fact I just did what EBMM guys did when redesigning saddles few years ago:

 

[Redyss]

wow!