Question string gauge for lower tunnings

[PaoloGilberto]

hello,
I was wondering what string gauge would you recommend for lower tunnings: for ex C, D, drop D, drop C

I was intending to sell one of my guitars and if not one decent offer appears in the next weeks/months I will have the tremolo of my SBMM JP 100D blocked and keep it for low tunnings all the times.
then I will have Luke - standard tunning, JP standard tunning, JP 70 standard tunning and jp 100D for lower tunning depending on the needs

Usually I am interested in Dream Theater songs but I am opened to any other Djent/prog bands with lower tunnings.
I was thinking about .11 0r .12 gauge
I use now cobalts 9-46 and I would be interested in a similar felling in strings tension with lower tunnings
I don't wanna damage to much the nut with lower gauge, cause maybe one day I will want to sell it.

filling the nut slots for .12 for ex will have a negative effect on tunning when going back to .09 gauge?

thanks

 

[koogie2k]

I use 10's as standard on my JP's for lower tunings. I believe JP using 10's as well and he has C tuning, etc. You can go 11's if you want.

 

[PaoloGilberto]

thanks for reply
so 10's you say? what tunning do you use?

JP site says : 12-54 for C

 

[MrJJoncas]

Yeah JP was using 9-46 a few years ago, then went to 10-46 IIRC, then to 9-42 (default setting as seen of EBMM website). One of my two guitar is set for lower tuning, C standard originaly. If I remember well I use 12-52 but
I'm really not sure (I use 10-46 for E standard). Whatever, it depend on how much you want your stings to be stiff. What do you use for E standard ? .8, .9, .10.... ? Then you can find something with a similar tension compensed for lower tunnings. I never did it, and I might be mistaken, but IIRC you have to enlarge to strings hole on your nut for better stability and sustain when you use bigger strings. If you want to go back to a lighter set after, you'd have to change the nut. May be someone can confirm this ?!?

 

[paranoid70]

Disclosure, I mostly use my non-EBMM guitar for alt tunings. I use Slinkys (10s) when tuning from E all the way down to C# on that guitar. We did do one song in C and that got too sloppy, so I started playing it in D and it feels much better. So I guess for C I would probably opt for 11s.

 

[bwow]

I like 11s for standard D or drop C.
D addario balanced tension set (11-50) worked really well, the bass strings were slightly bit tighter compared to normal set.
I also like 10-52 but there's noticeable jump in tension between wound and unwound strings.
For shorter scale guitars (24.75) I like 11-54 or 12s for anything lower than Standard D.

 

[joe web]

10-46 for regular E tunings, 10-52 for drop-d tunings and "not even slinkys" for C tunings and "beefy slinky" for drop C tuning - that'swhat i use with my balls.

 

[PaoloGilberto]

thanks a lot guys for the replies
so how the 11's , 10-52 and 12-56 feel in D or C tunning compared to let's stay standard E tunning with 10's?
I am interested about the tension perceived ...
btw joe web , you filled the nut slots for the 12-56 right?

thanks

 

[Astrofreq]

My suggestion for tuning that low is to get a baritone guitar. You really need a longer neck in addition to heavy strings. I tune to Drop A on my baritone and use the EB 13-72 strings.

 

[joe web]

thanks a lot guys for the replies
so how the 11's , 10-52 and 12-56 feel in D or C tunning compared to let's stay standard E tunning with 10's?
I am interested about the tension perceived ...
btw joe web , you filled the nut slots for the 12-56 right?

thanks

not really, i used it on FR guitars, so there is no need to do it.
but the easiest way is to take the string itself an carefully fit it into the nut by moving it back an forth. so yo fille the nut with the strings.