JP-7 Tuned down to A

[Sonnyonbass]

Hi guys,

Does any1 here tuned his (or hers) JP-7 a whole step down to A for recordings?
And more important...how did that work out... Can the JP-7 handle the different tension on the strings and stay properly in tune?

We are having some troubles with a seven string guitar (not a MM) in the studio.
The **** thing want stay in tune no matter what. It's tuned down a whole step down. Seems that the guitar can't handle that. (it doesnt have a tremolo btw)

I own a few musicman basses but don't have any experience in the guitar department.

Any information is welcome!


S

 

[Sigmunds Couch]

If your gonna go A tuning, try a Silo "Bass" tuned A to A. A twist of the tuning peg and your in Drop G tuning. That ought to send out some colon rumbling sounds.

 

[Sonnyonbass]

If your gonna go A tuning, try a Silo "Bass" tuned A to A. A twist of the tuning peg and your in Drop G tuning. That ought to send out some colon rumbling sounds.

Yes, but the silo is not tuned in the same octave as a guitar. So it is unusable.
We allready have recorded a bass in the studio

It's not that only 1 string has to by tuned to A. The whole guitar has to be tuned a whole step down.

S

 

[phatduckk]

Yes, but the silo is not tuned in the same octave as a guitar. So it is unusable.
We allready have recorded a bass in the studio

It's not that only 1 string has to by tuned to A. The whole guitar has to be tuned a whole step down.

S

id assume that with some different strings and a great setup it should be able to do it. hoepfully jon sees this so he can comment on it.

but ya - due to the trem id assume a serious setup would be needed.

 

[peedo_deedo]

i haven't drop tune to A but i did drop tune to Eb and the two most important things i learned are

A) finding the right gauge for the guitar. basically you want a thicker gauge on a lower tuning to maintain good tone.

B) you may want to adjust the trem claw inside the trem cavity. this all depends if your bridge is level after changing strings gauge and tuning of course.

as you change strings and detune, you compromise a little bit of string height. you can adjust this based on your comfort level

hope that helps. im sure there are other well experienced here in the forum that could help you alot better.

good luck

 

[Plaschkes]

Well, JP did it in These Walls from Octavarium, so I guess with a proper gauge and set-up you should be fine.

 

[Jimothy JP7]

http://www.myspace.com/periphery

Bulb is a sick guitarist, this is in drop A I think, so not totally answering your question, but listen to Icarus Lives and you'll hear how we'll it handles the lower end.

 

[Tim O'Sullivan]

I was always told, for every semitone you downtune, you want to go up a string guage.

 

[JSX]

http://www.myspace.com/periphery[/url.[/QUOTE] haha it's so heavy sounding.

 

[Jimothy JP7]

Hell yea, I love it haha

He uses 8 strings as well, but thats off topic... Jp's sound amazing wherever they are.

 

[pjc812]

!!!!

MY ELEMENT!!!

I have two 7 strings both tuned in drop A. One is a Dean Avalanche hard tail, the other is my JP7.

On the Dean I have it set up 12-68. I use Elixir 12's, a plain 26 guage for the G string, and an Elixir 68 for the top. The 68 is a MUST. It gives you that really nice piano-like quality when playing those low notes. It intonates well and can handle a really good pounding.

The JP7 is setup 11-60. The reason is I don't feel confident enough to drill out the tuning post to accept the massive 68. I use a custom DR HiBeam set on this guitar, they seem to have a little less flex to them tuned down. Now, my JP7 has a piezo bridge. In order for the top string to make good contact, the bridge has to be cocked back pretty good. It *looks* like a really bad setup job from all other standards...but it HAS to be this way on this guitar.

My attack is pretty hard, I don't like the pitch distorting. 11's are the lightest string I will use on anything and even they are really too small. Everything else has either 12's or 13's on it. Bigger string = more tone

 

[Sonnyonbass]

pjc812

Yes, we've experimented with different string gauges as well! AND different brands.
(Trust me, we tried everyhing!) But it seems that the neck can't take the A tuning.

@pjc812 You really tuned it to A? That's great news! And it stays realy in tune no matter what? I mean that you dont have to intonate it every 5 chords when recording.
That would be awesome news.

Thanks for your replies every!

S

 

[pjc812]

^ Yes. They are useless to me unless I can tune them that way.

Every once in a while, I take the Dean a step lower. Currently, both 7's are tuned standard with the top string in A. Sometimes I tune the Dean in D standard with a drop G on the 7th string. Still does marvelously well. Keep in mind though, I don't do string bends. Vibrato, yes. Wanking, no.

What kind of guitar are we talking about anyway? Some cheaper !banezes probably won't be able to handle the lower tuning...necks are crappy. Also, your tuning machines may be an issue. The Dean has Grovers D ) and the JP7 of course has Schaller locking.

If you live anywhere near Evansville IN, bring it in my store and I'll set it up for you If you get desperate enough, ship it to me and I will set it up for you.

 

[jongitarz]

pjc812

Yes, we've experimented with different string gauges as well! AND different brands.
(Trust me, we tried everyhing!) But it seems that the neck can't take the A tuning.

What exactly, do you mean the neck can't take it?

 

[pjc812]

I just checked out your website (and realized you're on the other side of the globe...). Is the 7 string you are having issues with the Carvin? That should be able to take the tuning with a proper setup. The heavier your string guage the better IMO.

With the Sperzel tuners that thing has, you will either want to change the tuner on the top string, or drill it out. I'm not sure how much clearance you have, but if it's anything like the Schallers on the Music Man...there's not much. I have a hard time getting a .60 guage through mine.

Here is a string guaging that *might* work. It will require the nut to be modified.

13-17-26p-36-46-56-68. Use a round core if you can, less flexibility.

It wouldn't hurt to raise the strings up a little higher than what would be considered normal with lighter strings. The thicker strings will need it. Also, give the neck a little bit more relief to keep them from buzzing. Not too much, maybe just a quarter turn on the truss rod. You will have to re-set the intonation in a bad way once you're done.

I'd recommend doing this on a guitar you plan keeping in this tuning. I've done this set up for other guys and it works quite well.

 

[Sonnyonbass]

I just checked out your website (and realized you're on the other side of the globe...). Is the 7 string you are having issues with the Carvin? That should be able to take the tuning with a proper setup. The heavier your string guage the better IMO.

With the Sperzel tuners that thing has, you will either want to change the tuner on the top string, or drill it out. I'm not sure how much clearance you have, but if it's anything like the Schallers on the Music Man...there's not much. I have a hard time getting a .60 guage through mine.

Here is a string guaging that *might* work. It will require the nut to be modified.

13-17-26p-36-46-56-68. Use a round core if you can, less flexibility.

It wouldn't hurt to raise the strings up a little higher than what would be considered normal with lighter strings. The thicker strings will need it. Also, give the neck a little bit more relief to keep them from buzzing. Not too much, maybe just a quarter turn on the truss rod. You will have to re-set the intonation in a bad way once you're done.

I'd recommend doing this on a guitar you plan keeping in this tuning. I've done this set up for other guys and it works quite well.

Haha yeah. Im in holland so shipping won't be an option ;-)
We tried even heavier strings (.70) and even that didn't work. It is indeed the Carvin btw.

It's not that we only tune 1 string down to A. I believe that ALL strings go down a whole step.
Wierd thing is that when you play a chord on 1 place on the guitar, it is in tune. And 5 frets up the neck... it is horrible.
Seems like the fretwork isn't what it should be either.
I wish we could show you.

We're gonna try a JP-7 anyway now I believe. See how it goes. Maybe we have to lock the tremolo. But that's not a big issue I guess.

If it's the same quality as my MM SR5's there won't be a problem ;-)

Thanks again for you response!



S

 

[pjc812]

Hm... sounds like an intonation issue? I assume you have access to a high quality strobe tuner to make those adjustments.

If the JP7 has a piezo, I don't think you'll be able to block it simply because of the tension issue on the piezo crystals in drop tunings. Just tilt the bridge way back into the body and raise it up quite a bit. It won't look right, but it'll play/sound a lot better.

I've never played a Carvin 7 so I'm not familiar with their quality. The 6's are *okay*.

I'm listening to your stuff right now on your website. Very well produced! That girl has a set of pipes on her man!! I wish people state side would take their music educations as seriously as folks on your side of the globe. All anybody over here wants to do is wank. It gets annoying.

Yeah, I've tuned all down all the strings on my Dean before, tuning as follows

G-D-G-C-F-A-D

It sounded pretty sick! I play through a Krank and that thing handled the low end marvelously well. My Marshall wouldn't have been able to stay tight in that tuning although I like the mids on the Marshall better.

Good luck dude! I gotta get the fam ready for church. Take care,

 

[Sonnyonbass]

Hm... sounds like an intonation issue? I assume you have access to a high quality strobe tuner to make those adjustments.

If the JP7 has a piezo, I don't think you'll be able to block it simply because of the tension issue on the piezo crystals in drop tunings. Just tilt the bridge way back into the body and raise it up quite a bit. It won't look right, but it'll play/sound a lot better.

I've never played a Carvin 7 so I'm not familiar with their quality. The 6's are *okay*.

I'm listening to your stuff right now on your website. Very well produced! That girl has a set of pipes on her man!! I wish people state side would take their music educations as seriously as folks on your side of the globe. All anybody over here wants to do is wank. It gets annoying.

Yeah, I've tuned all down all the strings on my Dean before, tuning as follows

G-D-G-C-F-A-D

It sounded pretty sick! I play through a Krank and that thing handled the low end marvelously well. My Marshall wouldn't have been able to stay tight in that tuning although I like the mids on the Marshall better.

Good luck dude! I gotta get the fam ready for church. Take care,

Hi there

We've tried to intonate it! You bet! it's just not working. And yes we have a very good strobe tuner. But sometimes, the tuner says yes and the ears say.....nooooo.
Very wierd. That guitar is just a piece of .....

Let's hope it will work out with a JP-7!
We'll see how it works out if we can get 1 here soon enough.


Thanks It's just demo stuff we've been working on.
We are close to finishing the CD now. 1 month till mixing!
The CD will sound MUCH better. You can count on that.

It's funny btw. We think the other way around. That people in the states take their music much more serious than here.
But yes. We give everything for music now. (Just quited my dayjob) oops haha


Yeah. Dropped tunings sound pretty cool trough a good amp! We have an ENGL Invader setup here in the studio now. It's awesome with a 7 string.

Thanks!

All the best,

S