Modifying the Skinny Top Heavy Bottom?

[Meeotch]

I recently discovered the Skinny Top Heavy Bottom set and it rules. Been playing it on a Prestige Ibanez with no issues. However, I recently bought a new guitar (LTD MH-1000ET) and am having an issue. After installing the strings (I filed the nut slots for proper fit) and tuning to Drop D, the low E string is just too floppy.

This particular LTD has the new Evertune bridge (amazing btw) and the saddles actually move forward and backward to maintain constant tension on the string. Normally, a .52 low E string should be fine for drop D, but it's just not cutting it with my new guitar and I'm thinking it has to do with the saddles of the evertune bridge not providing as firm of an anchor on the string as say, a hardtail or even a tremolo bridge. I am a notoriously heavy picker/strummer and this is one of the reason's I went with evertune.

In conclusion, I'm thinking about keeping the STHB but swapping the .52 with, say, a .56 to help with Drop D. My concerns are: is a .56 just too much tension for standard E tuning? Is it weird to have a heavy gauge low E string and then the rest fairly normal gauge? I'm not sure if this "imbalance" could put lopsided stress on one side of the neck. I could always go with the Beefy Slinky and swap the .54 for a .56, but that's gonna require more nut filing and I really enjoy the skinny top of the STHB. Thanks for any help on this one!
-Mitch

 

[DrKev]

Firstly, when you say the string is too floppy, do you mean fret buzz? Maybe a little extra neck relief and or/action would help, maybe a lighter pick too (though that could be awkward). But you are heavy handed picker/strummer, fret buzz may just be unavoidable without learning to play lighter.

56 tuned down to D will be roughly equivalent tension to 48 or 50 tuned to E, so if it works or you, then do it. I wouldn't worry about the lop-sided tension, that's not a big difference and necks are stronger than you think and shuld handle it without any difficulty.

 

[Meeotch]

Thanks for the advice Doctor! To answer your question, I am not having a fret buzz issue. The low E string tuned to drop D is simply lacking in tension. Another symptom of inadequate tension is that when I am chugging on the low E (tuned to Drop D), the string "slaps" into the 24th fret and makes a slapping noise with every pick attack. I don't have this issue when tuned to E standard, or on my Ibanez Prestige in Drop D. Not entirely sure why I'm having this problem but regardless, I think the solution, like you say, is moving to a thicker gauge string.

I plan on stringing up a .54, then a .56, without filing the nut, just to see what the tension feels like. Hopefully this will give me a good idea, even if the string is sitting on top of the nut slot.

 

[douglasspears]

the new guitar is probably a shorter scale length than your old one...so there doesn't need to be as much tension to bring the string up to the same pitch on a longer scale length guitar.

 

[DrKev]

No, the MH-1000ET is standard 25.5" scale length.

 

[beefyslinky]

Be super careful not to pressure crack your nut. I would definitely file all my guitars to fit just to be safe. I wish I could help troubleshoot your issue but I think you might be on to something with those saddles possibly. Good luck!

I plan on stringing up a .54, then a .56, without filing the nut, just to see what the tension feels like. Hopefully this will give me a good idea, even if the string is sitting on top of the nut slot.