You know what? I just realised that in general, I am not grateful enough with the people that deserves it. I’ve been following you for years, but I never participated with the Fuzzlord community. In this video, you didn’t just save me the money that I would have spent on a luthier: you made me understand stuff that I’ve been trying to learn and master for years. I never could, because everyone else makes it complicated or dangerous for the instrument. You made it simple, and the most important you gave me the chance of approaching to my guitar and not just send it to someone to do the things that “I am not supposed to do because I might destroy it”. Maybe it sounds stupid, but there is a legion of people like me who panics when it comes to electronics or adjustments. The funniest part is, as a contribution I got the IR pack from your website. It was my way to say thank you, and as I had the afternoon for myself I decided to try them. What the actual hell…you blew my Amplitube and Ugritone libraries. The next step will be selling my pedals to get yours 🤣 Now seriously man, thank you a lot for everything. Your chilled attitude and your dedication is a true gift for the doom community.
I really appreciate this and puts into perspective why I make these videos year after year! I spent a long time feeling similar being worried to mess something up, and been wanting to pass on the info I have picked up over the years. However, I forgot that the original goal was to speak to the people “afraid to mess things up” like I was years ago, instead of trying to cater to the TH-cam comment experts with no helpful videos just criticism haha Cheers and thank you 🙏
NYXT 10-52; D standard. Gibson SG Special. (+1 on wound thirds!) Setups are intimidating to me, but I’m learning. Glad to finally see some tips as they pertain to lower tunings! Thanks so much for this!
Thanks for the video. Helped me get an Epiphone SGpro back to playable. Bought it used at GC and who ever had it before me jacked the action way high, was very difficult to play. I reset it when I changed strings to EB's 12 / 56. Much better now, and those little gauges are very handy too.
I use the same 12-52 set on my telecaster tuned to C# standard. The wound third is a life saver for me. On shorted scale guitars (PRS, Gibson ect..) I usually step things up to 13 - 56 for the same tuning. On my baritones I use 14 - 68 and tune the guitar depending on it's scale length, that could be anywhere from G# standard to C standard. Great video for a refresh on pickup height and intonation!
I play modified Washburn Standard with Grovers and Goodwin Alnico Made for USA pickups from 1973. Elixir 12-52 strings but I swapped the 52 for 56. D standard tuning but I occasionally drop the lowest string to A (that's why I put the 56). AGCFAD is such a rad tuning. A string for the low end while still maintaining the brittleness of the D standard tuning. Sometimes I also drop the low D to G for the ultimate doom worship ! When dropped all the way to G it really gives a nice "baaooom" sound, works really well with lots of gain. I suggest everyone to try this tuning, it opens up lots of new ideas. Keep up the good work Jason. Greetings from Croatia.
Thank you. You made this idiot proof, which I appreciate. There are a thousand videos like this on TH-cam, but this one is the clearest and most useful I've seen.
This info is absolute gold for anyone looking to service their own guitar, whether it be for low-tuning reasons or not. Thank you so much and keep on doomin' on! Corny, I know.
I'm a bass player mostly, but when I write guitar riffs, I play with D'Addario Light Baritone strings EXL158 (13-62) tuned at drop-A#. My doom bass is a black modded Spector Performer 5 with a custom set from StringJoy, also tuned drop-A# (so the B string is downtuned one half step, and the EADG strings are tuned up one half step).
Getting back into guitar after years. This video was so helpful, thank you. I'm running a base model Ibanez, setting it up this week with Ernie Ball Not Even Slinky strings 12-54 Gonna move it into B standard tuning
Thanks for this information on setting up a guitar. My SG is tuned to C and I use 10’s on current setup. Someone said before that you can use motorcycle gauges to get a more accurate measurement when setting up your guitar. This has been my method for some time. I might throw on a pair of 12’s next setup.
Been using 12 -60 NYXLs on my Greco LP Custom tuned to drop C for a couple of years now. Also, that guitar is S.E.XX.Y 🖤🤘 Also also, your videos are brilliant dude. The way you explained setting the intonation was perfect 👌
I have just built myself a PRS style guitar for low tuning. It's got a fender scale length and an intonatable wraparound bridge, bone nut and locking tuners, tuned to A# standard with 13-62 D'Addario XL strings. Up until now I've been playing a mid range Harley Benton T Style with 11s and single coils that sounds surprisingly savage through a Big Muff.
Thanks for this; really handy and I appreciate how straightforward it is! I just got an Ormsby gtr Tx 6 string and have been loving it so far. After getting to know it a bit with the thinner strings that came on it, I just put some Mammoth Slinkys (12/16/24/34/48/62) on it and have been in AGCFAD. Absolutely love your guitar in this video!
Thanks for this one sir! It's been a few years since I watched Ben Eller's vids on setup and such, and this one right here was a great refresher 🤘 (had to pull my drop C axe out just to see if I was anywhere close to what you are doing in this episode, and turns out I was and had no real clue lol) Thanks!
If you make a big jump in string guage you might also need to file out the nut slots a little bit otherwise your strings might get hung up in the nut causing tuning issues.
Great video with relative detail. Wish I saw this video years ago as I had to figure out all of the steps you discussed. Been using d’addario strings for years and always happy with them. For lower than standard D, I use EXL148 (12-60) on an 80’s Warlock tuned to C#. I play it pretty hard and it always stays in tune. Wouldn’t switch to anything else. Definitely do all the adjustments he shows. You don’t need to pay for an expensive tech to set it up for non-metal style playing when you want a metal sounding beast. Don’t be afraid to setup yourself and save $$. Thanks for the video.
I play bass lol. BUT, I am using a four string tuned down to C so I had to learn all this a while ago to set them up. The one thing I'd like to mention pertaining to guitars is that the pickup height will noticeably affect the articulation when you "chug"... The closer you are the less distinction between chugs. They may slur into each other even. Moving the pickups away from the thicker strings will help with this. It may require adjusting various settings on your amp and eq to "thicken" it up to where it was. Maybe a bit more gain and a bit more low eq. Well worth it for the difference in clarity!! Easy to test as well, go from all the way down to all the way up with pickups and you WILL notice the difference. Stop where you want. No set rules for pickup height imo... Cheers and great video!! If I hadn't already learned this stuff this video does cover all of it extremely well!
That's a beautiful guitar dude, I play a epi sg junior with just a filtertron in the bridge in E standard these days, just because early Sabbath needs and yes filtertrons can get very doomy, just use the tone knob to taste, its quite awesome 💪🏼🔥🤘🏼
Ideal pickup height varies somewhat depending on what pickups you have - some pickups, like for instance DiMarzio X2N or Seymour Duncan Nazguls tend to sound better further from the strings then other pickups. I think the best thing to do for adjusting pickup height is to set it to around where Jason does here as a good starting point but then dial it in with the guitar plugged in to your rig, moving them up or down slightly until they sound the best and sometimes that little bit of tweaking can make a really profound difference in the tone.
It a shame how many people are afraid to move the pickup I have been doing since the second year I was playing and I have been playing for 31 yrs the guitar is a form of expression many people forget that
I had a hell of a time with positioning a Nazgul several years ago. ( To be honest tho, it was my first pickup swap and I just sorta charged forward 😅 ye olde eff around and find out. I found out that I had a lot of learning to do. Still do 🤘
I mainly play all mahogany Explorer shaped guitars with these gauges in C# standard: 11p - 15p - 18w - 30w - 42w - 54w. I have the neck set at a very slight upbow and the string action set to 2.5 mm on low strings (6, 5, 4) and about 1.75 to 2 mm on the high strings (3, 2, 1). I set the pickup height to taste, if I feel that the guitar responds a bit too "brightly" I lower them a bit and that's that. Works perfectly for me, good string tension, minimal buzz, very resonant, no need to mess with the guitars nut or anything to fit the strings in, no problems with setting intonation etc. Couldn't be happier. Mainly play old school death metal/grindcore and sludge influenced stuff.
52-12 for C standard on my Baguley Baron guitar Acryl body and Aluminium neck with activ Haven pups. Sustain for dayz with the help of your Boost, Drone Master, FTW120 and Dweller pedals smashing a Mach3 Quilter amp. Love your work Jason !
Cool video! 😁 I have my modded Jazzmaster Affinity 25.5" tuned to C standard with 13-70 strings (wound 3rd as well), and my PRS SE Holcomb, 25.5" tuned to D standard with 12-60 strings. Both feel and play great! I tend to prefer thicker string gauges because I have a relatively heavy attack and I hate pitch drift and tuning instability.
I've got a Schecter Kenny Hickey Signature Series C-1 EX and run with Ernie Ball Not Even Slinkies (.12-.56) since it's a 26.5" scale length. It's tuned to B standard. I bought it used, and I had to replace the nut. Whoever had it before me really went to town on the nut with some files and messed it up. I've also got a green Schecter C-1 Platinum wearing the Ernie Ball Papa Het's Hardwired Master Cores (.11-.50) and tuned to D Standard/Drop C. After seeing the videos on here with the Dunable R2 DE, I'm drooling to get my hands one one of them. I'm a sucker for green guitars.
Thank you for this great tutorial ! Idid a poor setup on my first guitar years ago... I just discovered i did a lot of mistakes. Playing it is amazing now !
My main doom guitar is an Agile LP copy baritone with Ernie Ball baritone strings. Usually tuned to G standard. My other doom guitar is an Ibanez Iron Label fan fret tuned to either B or A standard. I’ve been experimenting with different strings & gauges for the Ibanez but still haven’t found the perfect fit. I use the baritone for the super low tuned doom in the Conan/Bongripper territory. The Ibanez is more for the Electric Wizard/Monolord Sleep etc tunings. Lately I’ve been loving the way the baritone sounds playing ambient psychedelic stuff. There’s something about those super low Conan/Bongripper tunings. They sound so beautiful with no gain. Just a nice clean tone soaked in trippy psychedelic ambient effects. Very pretty & atmospheric, but at the same time haunting and evil.
Still using a 1999 Epiphone Casino with stock P90s, tuned to C standard with Ernie Ball 12s. Next string change, I'm going to try a wound G string. For E standard I've really come to appreciate coated strings, currently using Elixir Nanoweb 10s on a Squier Toronado with the bridge capacitor changed over to a .47 mF orange drop for some solid early Sabbath/Mountain/Budgie/Sir Lord Baltimore tone. The coated strings hold their tone and tuning stability longer, and slowly mellow from very bright to a creamier "treble booster" sound.
My current rig is a Hamer Slammer explorer in B standard with Ernie ball mammoths. Using that for my band. I also have a Jackson dinkie 7 string in Drop F#, but will be replacing that with a 24.75 scale 7 string flying V I'm almost done building
Got my LTD EC-1000 (40th anniversary edition) tuned in C# with Stringjoy 10-52s. I had been using D’Addario NYXLs for for the past few years but recently gave Stringjoy a shot and I’m really liking how they sound and feel!
i drop my SGs A# Tuning cos FFFFKIT ALL just subbed yah my bro, realizing now that the channel is very Doom Metal dedicated and truly value that beyond words since i am obsessed by Goth Doom and Funeral Doom sorry i did not found your channel years ago
Had the nut replaced on my Les Paul Std last week, by a luthier (instead of an instrument shop technician). Now it plays like it never has done before. Really easy on the hands. This setup was not possible with the original nut. Had it set up in E-standard so i could pick up on lessons (after a stand still of ~10 years). So no more down-tuning below Drop C# for this guitar. We had a talk about how the life of my 20 y.o. LP has been (using so many different sets of strings (0.009 to 0.013's and the low range 0.42 to 0.56)) And sometimes tuned to Drop A This is what probably caused extra wear on the nut, according to the luthier. Anywho. Take this into account. It is better to have your guitar set up with a certain set of strings and tuning, and leave it at that. Specially if you have a cheapish (plastic) nut on your guitar. Sick guitar by the way!!! P.S. My pickups were set with a osciloscope instead of a set measurement. (loudest setting is the sweet spot. No pull or weak signal)
Oh hell yeah dop video. I have 2 main Doom guitars: Schecter 006 Deluxe; Power Slinky (11-48) C# Standard/Drop B - ESP/LTD EC-50; Burly Slinky (11-52) C Standard.
zero-budget hack: keep the cut-offs of the strings to use them to file the nut slots. nobody can afford fucking nut flies.. just put it in the slot, press a finger on top and pull it through, over and over again. works perfectly fine. since it is a very slow process, there is not much risk to overfile it. just keep the angle away from the fretboard, to keep a good edge inside the slot.
Great video! That axe is delicious. Tunings and gauges: I have a 28" triple p90 baritone and a 30" baritone p90 Esquire in drop G and drop D1 from A standard respectively. I usually use custom sets from Stringjoy and Winspear, but the 28" currently had a set of D'Addario XL 14-62 on it (I broke a string and needed a new set in a hurry), and the 30" has a custom Winspear set from 13 on the high A to 90 on the D1
I use two guitars with different gagues 1: Gretsch G2622lh with Flatwound 10's, which are usually on drop C or drop B 2: Ibanez GAX 75 lh with flatwound 11's tuned to usually drop B
Epiphone Traditional Pro, tuned to C standard or C#, strung with 12s, i've found the wound 3rd is so much better than unwound string.i also heard a saying to help remembering Intonation direction "Flat = forward" because forward is towards the pickup
I use Exl 157 .68 to .14 for all my guitars tuned to B standard it works for the sortscale 24 Jaguar for 24.75 Gibson and 25.5 Ibanez scale. I hit hard and do alot of tremolo pick stuff. Only use Jazz iii ultrex picks.
Hey Jason, i play an Gibson SG Standard 61 in standard B with Daddario EJ22 on it, 13-56 wounded 3rd (D) string. For some friends of mine this gauge is too soft, but i like to have it so because i dont hit the strings like a truck. 😉 greetings from Germany
Using a Gibson Explorer (24.75') in drop A. At the moment, I am using 12-60s (12-16-20-34-46-60), but I will be switching to some 13-62s (13-17-26w-36-46-62), both from D'Addario.
I have a cheap Epiphone SG with 4 knobs, tuned to B standard. I have a Ernie Ball 7 string set on it and I save the light gauge string as a spare for my E standard guitar. I'm about to try Mammoth Slinkys
I use a FGN (Fujigen in house brand) Boundary series Telecaster copy with 12-54 strings, tuned to C standard but nowerdays mostly dropped A#. It's an affordable high quality guitar, plays and sounds like guitars triple the price. Intonation is on the edge of adjustability, might be looking into a baritone version of that guitar.
I have just a little Ibanez Gio I know it’s not an RG but similar. Anyway, lately I’ve been using DR DDT and NYXL 12-60 and/or the XS 11-52 I think? I try to keep it between 9-60, depending on my mood and how many times I wanna change strings lol Having said that, I bought some D’Darrio Chromes yesterday 11-50 with the wound 3rd and I can tell a noticeable difference with these strings. First, they’re flat wound, which I’m not used to. The wind is tightly linked with no ridges, they’re smoothly wound. And i kinda like them? They’ll definitely enter the repertoire. If you can’t tell, I’m a noob and later in life, I might add. But I’ve been putting in the hours though. And becoming very familiar with all these adjustments we do on our axes and while it was frustrating at first, I really enjoy making these fine tune adjustments and even little mods on my cheap guitars. Well, that wraps it up. Awesome vid, FuzzLord! Always a pleasure, good sir. And remember, #KeepOnDOOOOOOOOMIN’
I'm using a fanned-fret Harley Benton 7 string 27"-25.5", tuned half fifths, half fourths; FCGDgcf, .080 .052 .034 .022 .015 .011 .008 - it's a little over 17 lbs on the low F and gets progressively lighter until ~11lbs for the high F Have it loaded with BKP War Pig pickups and they sound *INSANE*
I'm playing an Epiphone SG, strung up with Ernie Ball Super Slinky 9-42 gauge strings, tuned to E standard but it sound like C standard due to my Fender Champion 40 watt amplifier and my Effects pedals being maxed out
That Pure Salem "La Bruja" is absolutely freakin' wicked my dude! I remember chatting w/ Rick Sell nearly 10 years ago about PS guitars, a custom Woodsoul, and a potential "f-hole-less" 335 inspired build. Really cool guy. Really cool company IMO. My current #1 "DooM Stick" is a trans-black flame veneer'd Agile 3010se (Rondomusic) LP clone (24.75 scale). Ebony fretboard, abalone trap inlay, stock black TUSQ nut & graphite bridge saddles, and loaded w/ an aftermarket set of SIN brand "Madman" custom hand wound "Ridiculously HOT!!!" pickups. (!!! 16k bridge-7.8k neck !!!). Haha! I got it currently strung w/ Dunlop "Heavy Core" 12-54 gauge strings tuned to C standard. Looking to eventually put 1MOhm pots in it, as well as a treble bleed mod to help "brighten" up these pickups a bit. 16k-7.8k is crazy high output, and I love how they push pedals/amps, but I didn't initially anticipate just how much "darker" a set of super hot wound alnico 5 pickups would be way back when I got them. FYI: I highly recommend a set of automotive feeler gauges (20 thousands of an inch+ especially) as well as a (1st fret) capo for anyone looking at doing home setups. Also, if you wind up having unsolvable tuning stability/intonation issues? I recommend looking into products like the "String Butler" or compensated nut products like Earvana, or ideally a complete retrofit of the Buzz Feiten Tuning System. I previously owned a Washburn with the BFT system, and I extremely regret selling it. This now concludes my DooM TED talk.🙄😅😈
Agile guitars are so highly underrated. I have the baritone LP & it’s one of the best guitars I’ve ever played. The prices have gone up, but I paid $400 when I bought mine from Rondo a few years back. It plays better than guitars that cost triple that. I’m so glad to see Agile getting some love. Incredibly well built guitars with great bang for your buck.
Les Paul standard in C# standard, 10-54 ernie balls and a Telecaster also in C# with 11-54 ernie balls I also have a neckthrough bass that I need to get thicker roundwounds for so it sounds and plays better in C#
I switch between an Ibanez 1998 GAX70 with PAF pickups which has Ernie ball 11s that’s in Drop C/D standard and a modded Ibanez JemJr in E flat which has regular 10 gauge.
I actually used this whole vid to setup a guitar that was not playin all too good today lol. My main guitar is a LTD ESP Viper-100fm tuned to C standard with 11-52 strings. The weird Ernie ball heavy bottom skinny top hybrid set.
What up,over the summer I built a killer strat type and it's very impressive,.I put 11 s on it and adjusted the truss rod,and tuned down a half step and it sounds killer,the neck is killer, I thought I would never like single coil pickups,but these things are great,I have no idea who makes these but thay sound great I can get pinch harmonics on them,this guitar is a fucking trip I got a boss GT 1 Prosser and it's incredible,any amp sound I want I got,lovin' it hit me back ,.
Not outta C Standard mind you. Like Mastodon but a half step higher. I’ve recently started calling it Drop 5th since it’s tuned to the open 5th. But then I’ll also go to G# Unison as well plus a weird dissonance tuning on the high e. Anyways. I’m pretty close to the finished formula just wanna see if anyone else understands a thing I’m tryna say 😅🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻
Great video. I have a Les Paul I always keep in Standard C and it is set up that way with D'addario NYXL1260. Love it And why did you release a purple drone master right after I bought a black one??? LOL
Yamaha Revstar Standard (24,75'' scale) drop A#, 12-56 strings. Fender/Warmoth Partscaster (25.5), same strings and tuning. Ibanez AS153 semihollow, standard C, flatwound 11-54.
I've been running a no name strat with a single gfs Loudmouth pickup strung with plain old ernie ball 10-46 regular slinky tuned to drop c. Being no name cheapo it's got intonation problems more than anything but I do plan on at least putting the setup on a squire affinity or a mim fender one day.
You know what? I just realised that in general, I am not grateful enough with the people that deserves it.
I’ve been following you for years, but I never participated with the Fuzzlord community. In this video, you didn’t just save me the money that I would have spent on a luthier: you made me understand stuff that I’ve been trying to learn and master for years. I never could, because everyone else makes it complicated or dangerous for the instrument. You made it simple, and the most important you gave me the chance of approaching to my guitar and not just send it to someone to do the things that “I am not supposed to do because I might destroy it”. Maybe it sounds stupid, but there is a legion of people like me who panics when it comes to electronics or adjustments.
The funniest part is, as a contribution I got the IR pack from your website. It was my way to say thank you, and as I had the afternoon for myself I decided to try them. What the actual hell…you blew my Amplitube and Ugritone libraries. The next step will be selling my pedals to get yours 🤣
Now seriously man, thank you a lot for everything. Your chilled attitude and your dedication is a true gift for the doom community.
I really appreciate this and puts into perspective why I make these videos year after year!
I spent a long time feeling similar being worried to mess something up, and been wanting to pass on the info I have picked up over the years.
However, I forgot that the original goal was to speak to the people “afraid to mess things up” like I was years ago, instead of trying to cater to the TH-cam comment experts with no helpful videos just criticism haha
Cheers and thank you 🙏
Great tip about moving the bridge saddles the same way as the tuner while intonating.
thanks!
Yeah... That tip really cleared it up for me
Indeed, I thought it would be adjusted the opposite way.
That 1- Tip just is Amazing ❤ Thank You So Much 😊
This is the best video I found on setting up a guitar by far - so easy to follow and very thorough without wasting time. You rock!🤘
NYXT 10-52; D standard. Gibson SG Special. (+1 on wound thirds!)
Setups are intimidating to me, but I’m learning. Glad to finally see some tips as they pertain to lower tunings! Thanks so much for this!
Thank you. I’ve been playing for 25 years and never learned to do this. Much appreciated for Straight forward tutorial.
Thanks for the video. Helped me get an Epiphone SGpro back to playable. Bought it used at GC and who ever had it before me jacked the action way high, was very difficult to play. I reset it when I changed strings to EB's 12 / 56. Much better now, and those little gauges are very handy too.
Thanks Jason, I found this video really helpful!
Yes! Man, I've been waiting to see footage of that killer axe. 🤘🏼💀🖤
thank you!
this video is always my go-to one when I need to intonate and / or change strings. Great video! Thanks!
Glad you liked it!
Always good to watch one of these as a refresher for setups. 🤘 I play a Gretsch G5260 with 14-72 tuned to G standard
I use the same 12-52 set on my telecaster tuned to C# standard. The wound third is a life saver for me. On shorted scale guitars (PRS, Gibson ect..) I usually step things up to 13 - 56 for the same tuning. On my baritones I use 14 - 68 and tune the guitar depending on it's scale length, that could be anywhere from G# standard to C standard. Great video for a refresh on pickup height and intonation!
Thanks for watching!
I play modified Washburn Standard with Grovers and Goodwin Alnico Made for USA pickups from 1973. Elixir 12-52 strings but I swapped the 52 for 56. D standard tuning but I occasionally drop the lowest string to A (that's why I put the 56). AGCFAD is such a rad tuning. A string for the low end while still maintaining the brittleness of the D standard tuning. Sometimes I also drop the low D to G for the ultimate doom worship ! When dropped all the way to G it really gives a nice "baaooom" sound, works really well with lots of gain. I suggest everyone to try this tuning, it opens up lots of new ideas. Keep up the good work Jason. Greetings from Croatia.
thanks for this Jason. I've always only heard bits and pieces of the process. sweet guitar by the way.
Thanks for watching!
Thank you. You made this idiot proof, which I appreciate. There are a thousand videos like this on TH-cam, but this one is the clearest and most useful I've seen.
This info is absolute gold for anyone looking to service their own guitar, whether it be for low-tuning reasons or not. Thank you so much and keep on doomin' on! Corny, I know.
That axe is sick, I love your channel , yours and does it doom are kings❤🔥
Thank You So Much ✅. Really great lesson. I Tune to D Standard on my 1992 Les Paul Studio w/ Ernie Ball Paradigm 11-54 strings. Metal Forever 🤘
I'm a bass player mostly, but when I write guitar riffs, I play with D'Addario Light Baritone strings EXL158 (13-62) tuned at drop-A#. My doom bass is a black modded Spector Performer 5 with a custom set from StringJoy, also tuned drop-A# (so the B string is downtuned one half step, and the EADG strings are tuned up one half step).
would love to find a good Bass player like you my friend
since i also compose most of my guitar riffs Drop A#
Getting back into guitar after years. This video was so helpful, thank you.
I'm running a base model Ibanez, setting it up this week with Ernie Ball Not Even Slinky strings 12-54
Gonna move it into B standard tuning
1978 Greco Flying V with rail hammer hyper vintages, drop A with mammoth slinkys. Rad vid man keep ‘em coming
This was awesome!! Much appreciated.
Glad it was helpful!
Thank you!!! Finally I could set up my epi sg and my ltd on my own! It incrased the playability a lot!
Happy to hear that!!!
Thanks for this information on setting up a guitar. My SG is tuned to C and I use 10’s on current setup. Someone said before that you can use motorcycle gauges to get a more accurate measurement when setting up your guitar. This has been my method for some time. I might throw on a pair of 12’s next setup.
Doom or not, this is one of the best guitar tech videos I’ve ever seen for beginners!
Lifesaver, thank you one million times!
Good stuff man!
Been using 12 -60 NYXLs on my Greco LP Custom tuned to drop C for a couple of years now.
Also, that guitar is S.E.XX.Y 🖤🤘
Also also, your videos are brilliant dude. The way you explained setting the intonation was perfect 👌
I have just built myself a PRS style guitar for low tuning. It's got a fender scale length and an intonatable wraparound bridge, bone nut and locking tuners, tuned to A# standard with 13-62 D'Addario XL strings. Up until now I've been playing a mid range Harley Benton T Style with 11s and single coils that sounds surprisingly savage through a Big Muff.
Thank you Jason for this helpful video. Glad to see the La BRUJA in your Videos. You really doom the hell out of it!
Thank you so much!
Thanks for this; really handy and I appreciate how straightforward it is! I just got an Ormsby gtr Tx 6 string and have been loving it so far. After getting to know it a bit with the thinner strings that came on it, I just put some Mammoth Slinkys (12/16/24/34/48/62) on it and have been in AGCFAD. Absolutely love your guitar in this video!
Thanks for this one sir! It's been a few years since I watched Ben Eller's vids on setup and such, and this one right here was a great refresher 🤘 (had to pull my drop C axe out just to see if I was anywhere close to what you are doing in this episode, and turns out I was and had no real clue lol)
Thanks!
Glad you liked it and that your guitar was in good shape!
If you make a big jump in string guage you might also need to file out the nut slots a little bit otherwise your strings might get hung up in the nut causing tuning issues.
Great video with relative detail. Wish I saw this video years ago as I had to figure out all of the steps you discussed. Been using d’addario strings for years and always happy with them. For lower than standard D, I use EXL148 (12-60) on an 80’s Warlock tuned to C#. I play it pretty hard and it always stays in tune. Wouldn’t switch to anything else. Definitely do all the adjustments he shows. You don’t need to pay for an expensive tech to set it up for non-metal style playing when you want a metal sounding beast. Don’t be afraid to setup yourself and save $$. Thanks for the video.
I play bass lol. BUT, I am using a four string tuned down to C so I had to learn all this a while ago to set them up. The one thing I'd like to mention pertaining to guitars is that the pickup height will noticeably affect the articulation when you "chug"... The closer you are the less distinction between chugs. They may slur into each other even. Moving the pickups away from the thicker strings will help with this. It may require adjusting various settings on your amp and eq to "thicken" it up to where it was. Maybe a bit more gain and a bit more low eq. Well worth it for the difference in clarity!! Easy to test as well, go from all the way down to all the way up with pickups and you WILL notice the difference. Stop where you want. No set rules for pickup height imo... Cheers and great video!! If I hadn't already learned this stuff this video does cover all of it extremely well!
Thanks Jason helpful nice and clear .
No problem 👍
That's a beautiful guitar dude, I play a epi sg junior with just a filtertron in the bridge in E standard these days, just because early Sabbath needs and yes filtertrons can get very doomy, just use the tone knob to taste, its quite awesome
💪🏼🔥🤘🏼
Can't go wrong with Sabbath tones in E!
Ideal pickup height varies somewhat depending on what pickups you have - some pickups, like for instance DiMarzio X2N or Seymour Duncan Nazguls tend to sound better further from the strings then other pickups. I think the best thing to do for adjusting pickup height is to set it to around where Jason does here as a good starting point but then dial it in with the guitar plugged in to your rig, moving them up or down slightly until they sound the best and sometimes that little bit of tweaking can make a really profound difference in the tone.
It a shame how many people are afraid to move the pickup I have been doing since the second year I was playing and I have been playing for 31 yrs the guitar is a form of expression many people forget that
I had a hell of a time with positioning a Nazgul several years ago. ( To be honest tho, it was my first pickup swap and I just sorta charged forward 😅 ye olde eff around and find out. I found out that I had a lot of learning to do. Still do 🤘
@@MichaelBrown-ff3go we all have a lot to still learn it’s part of being a musician and the old fuck around until it works still works for me
@@joshferguson9703i’m glad i found this comment, i’m doing a guitar setup now and this is rly encouraging
@@willw2107 I am glad I could help and encourage let me know how the build goes and what the build is going to be
I mainly play all mahogany Explorer shaped guitars with these gauges in C# standard: 11p - 15p - 18w - 30w - 42w - 54w. I have the neck set at a very slight upbow and the string action set to 2.5 mm on low strings (6, 5, 4) and about 1.75 to 2 mm on the high strings (3, 2, 1). I set the pickup height to taste, if I feel that the guitar responds a bit too "brightly" I lower them a bit and that's that.
Works perfectly for me, good string tension, minimal buzz, very resonant, no need to mess with the guitars nut or anything to fit the strings in, no problems with setting intonation etc. Couldn't be happier. Mainly play old school death metal/grindcore and sludge influenced stuff.
Great Video, thanks.
52-12 for C standard on my Baguley Baron guitar Acryl body and Aluminium neck with activ Haven pups. Sustain for dayz with the help of your Boost, Drone Master, FTW120 and Dweller pedals smashing a Mach3 Quilter amp. Love your work Jason !
Acrly body and aluminum neck? Rad! Thank you for grabbing Fuzzlord pedals!
Cool video! 😁 I have my modded Jazzmaster Affinity 25.5" tuned to C standard with 13-70 strings (wound 3rd as well), and my PRS SE Holcomb, 25.5" tuned to D standard with 12-60 strings. Both feel and play great!
I tend to prefer thicker string gauges because I have a relatively heavy attack and I hate pitch drift and tuning instability.
Gretsch Electromatic baritone, Ernie Ball Slinky Mammoth strings and drop A tuning. Absolutely love it🤘
I've got a Schecter Kenny Hickey Signature Series C-1 EX and run with Ernie Ball Not Even Slinkies (.12-.56) since it's a 26.5" scale length. It's tuned to B standard. I bought it used, and I had to replace the nut. Whoever had it before me really went to town on the nut with some files and messed it up. I've also got a green Schecter C-1 Platinum wearing the Ernie Ball Papa Het's Hardwired Master Cores (.11-.50) and tuned to D Standard/Drop C.
After seeing the videos on here with the Dunable R2 DE, I'm drooling to get my hands one one of them. I'm a sucker for green guitars.
Thanks for the info. 👍🏼👍🏼
Thanks for watching!
Thank you for this great tutorial ! Idid a poor setup on my first guitar years ago... I just discovered i did a lot of mistakes. Playing it is amazing now !
So happy to hear it helped!
My main doom guitar is an Agile LP copy baritone with Ernie Ball baritone strings. Usually tuned to G standard. My other doom guitar is an Ibanez Iron Label fan fret tuned to either B or A standard. I’ve been experimenting with different strings & gauges for the Ibanez but still haven’t found the perfect fit. I use the baritone for the super low tuned doom in the Conan/Bongripper territory. The Ibanez is more for the Electric Wizard/Monolord Sleep etc tunings. Lately I’ve been loving the way the baritone sounds playing ambient psychedelic stuff. There’s something about those super low Conan/Bongripper tunings. They sound so beautiful with no gain. Just a nice clean tone soaked in trippy psychedelic ambient effects. Very pretty & atmospheric, but at the same time haunting and evil.
12-52 w3rd, B Ab Db Gb Bb Eb, Dunable Cyclops. Great video!
Still using a 1999 Epiphone Casino with stock P90s, tuned to C standard with Ernie Ball 12s. Next string change, I'm going to try a wound G string.
For E standard I've really come to appreciate coated strings, currently using Elixir Nanoweb 10s on a Squier Toronado with the bridge capacitor changed over to a .47 mF orange drop for some solid early Sabbath/Mountain/Budgie/Sir Lord Baltimore tone. The coated strings hold their tone and tuning stability longer, and slowly mellow from very bright to a creamier "treble booster" sound.
My current rig is a Hamer Slammer explorer in B standard with Ernie ball mammoths. Using that for my band. I also have a Jackson dinkie 7 string in Drop F#, but will be replacing that with a 24.75 scale 7 string flying V I'm almost done building
Got my LTD EC-1000 (40th anniversary edition) tuned in C# with Stringjoy 10-52s. I had been using D’Addario NYXLs for for the past few years but recently gave Stringjoy a shot and I’m really liking how they sound and feel!
the 10s give you more of the Tony sound on the solors
i drop my SGs A# Tuning cos FFFFKIT ALL
just subbed yah my bro, realizing now that the channel is very Doom Metal dedicated
and truly value that beyond words since i am obsessed by Goth Doom and Funeral Doom
sorry i did not found your channel years ago
Oh man, I love that axe!! ❤
thank you! Great guitar
Had the nut replaced on my Les Paul Std last week, by a luthier (instead of an instrument shop technician).
Now it plays like it never has done before. Really easy on the hands. This setup was not possible with the original nut.
Had it set up in E-standard so i could pick up on lessons (after a stand still of ~10 years). So no more down-tuning below Drop C# for this guitar.
We had a talk about how the life of my 20 y.o. LP has been (using so many different sets of strings (0.009 to 0.013's and the low range 0.42 to 0.56))
And sometimes tuned to Drop A
This is what probably caused extra wear on the nut, according to the luthier.
Anywho. Take this into account. It is better to have your guitar set up with a certain set of strings and tuning, and leave it at that.
Specially if you have a cheapish (plastic) nut on your guitar.
Sick guitar by the way!!!
P.S. My pickups were set with a osciloscope instead of a set measurement. (loudest setting is the sweet spot. No pull or weak signal)
Happy to hear that! Glad your guitar is all setup with the new nut now!
I play a mexican telecaster deluxe (with P95s) tuned to B standard and use D'addario 13-56 (wound G). Ive been running this setup for about 10 years.
Oh hell yeah dop video.
I have 2 main Doom guitars: Schecter 006 Deluxe; Power Slinky (11-48) C# Standard/Drop B - ESP/LTD EC-50; Burly Slinky (11-52) C Standard.
That guitar is so killer looking 👏
Thanks!
I have a Gibson Les Paul Menace and Epiphone Les Paul Studio.
They are setup with 12-52 and bounce between D standard and C Standard for tuning
I'm tuned too D standard or Drop C using 10 -> 48 strings it just feels right for the dark ambient stuff I do
zero-budget hack: keep the cut-offs of the strings to use them to file the nut slots. nobody can afford fucking nut flies.. just put it in the slot, press a finger on top and pull it through, over and over again. works perfectly fine. since it is a very slow process, there is not much risk to overfile it. just keep the angle away from the fretboard, to keep a good edge inside the slot.
Great video! That axe is delicious.
Tunings and gauges: I have a 28" triple p90 baritone and a 30" baritone p90 Esquire in drop G and drop D1 from A standard respectively. I usually use custom sets from Stringjoy and Winspear, but the 28" currently had a set of D'Addario XL 14-62 on it (I broke a string and needed a new set in a hurry), and the 30" has a custom Winspear set from 13 on the high A to 90 on the D1
They make such awesome strings!
@@FuzzlordEffects they do! Both Stringjoy and Winspear have been excellent for me, and very reasonably priced too, considering.
I play a Washburn wi45 Idol upgraded with lace hammerclaws pickups. Tuning is standard D drop C with 11/52 Ernie ball strings
I tried some 2X15 Impulse responses, man they sound good, might have to get the real deal.
I use two guitars with different gagues
1: Gretsch G2622lh with Flatwound 10's, which are usually on drop C or drop B
2: Ibanez GAX 75 lh with flatwound 11's tuned to usually drop B
Epiphone Traditional Pro, tuned to C standard or C#, strung with 12s, i've found the wound 3rd is so much better than unwound string.i also heard a saying to help remembering Intonation direction "Flat = forward" because forward is towards the pickup
I use Exl 157 .68 to .14 for all my guitars tuned to B standard it works for the sortscale 24 Jaguar for 24.75 Gibson and 25.5 Ibanez scale. I hit hard and do alot of tremolo pick stuff. Only use Jazz iii ultrex picks.
12-56 C standard on my Gibson Les Paul and Crapiphone RD. 17-65 drop A on my Hagstrom Fantomen.
Hey Jason,
i play an Gibson SG Standard 61 in standard B with Daddario EJ22 on it, 13-56 wounded 3rd (D) string.
For some friends of mine this gauge is too soft, but i like to have it so because i dont hit the strings like a truck. 😉
greetings from Germany
Using a Gibson Explorer (24.75') in drop A. At the moment, I am using 12-60s (12-16-20-34-46-60), but I will be switching to some 13-62s (13-17-26w-36-46-62), both from D'Addario.
Rocking a baritone Gibson Les Paul. Friggin’ thing is wild.
I'm playing an epiphone les paul standard. String gage and brand - Nickel wound Daddario Low E 52, Mammoth Slinky 48, 34, 24w, 16, 12.
I currently play drop A in my band and I use a 13-68 strings from a French brand called "skull-string"
I play a fat neck custom shop SG, Adam Jones LP Standard, Yamaha SG1000 and a US Dunable Gnarwhal all in C Stnd. I use D'Addario EXL148 12/60’s.
I have a cheap Epiphone SG with 4 knobs, tuned to B standard. I have a Ernie Ball 7 string set on it and I save the light gauge string as a spare for my E standard guitar. I'm about to try Mammoth Slinkys
I use a FGN (Fujigen in house brand) Boundary series Telecaster copy with 12-54 strings, tuned to C standard but nowerdays mostly dropped A#.
It's an affordable high quality guitar, plays and sounds like guitars triple the price.
Intonation is on the edge of adjustability, might be looking into a baritone version of that guitar.
2019 Gibson LP Junior w. Lollar P-90 / Ernie Ball Slinky 11-52 / D standard and drop C
I'm using a 30"" scale baritone using Bb standard/Drop G#
I have just a little Ibanez Gio I know it’s not an RG but similar. Anyway, lately I’ve been using DR DDT and NYXL 12-60 and/or the XS 11-52 I think? I try to keep it between 9-60, depending on my mood and how many times I wanna change strings lol
Having said that, I bought some D’Darrio Chromes yesterday 11-50 with the wound 3rd and I can tell a noticeable difference with these strings. First, they’re flat wound, which I’m not used to. The wind is tightly linked with no ridges, they’re smoothly wound. And i kinda like them? They’ll definitely enter the repertoire.
If you can’t tell, I’m a noob and later in life, I might add. But I’ve been putting in the hours though. And becoming very familiar with all these adjustments we do on our axes and while it was frustrating at first, I really enjoy making these fine tune adjustments and even little mods on my cheap guitars.
Well, that wraps it up. Awesome vid, FuzzLord! Always a pleasure, good sir. And remember, #KeepOnDOOOOOOOOMIN’
I play in drop b on my esp viper-1000. NYXL's 11-56. perfect for me
thank you
No problem!
I'm using a fanned-fret Harley Benton 7 string 27"-25.5", tuned half fifths, half fourths; FCGDgcf, .080 .052 .034 .022 .015 .011 .008 - it's a little over 17 lbs on the low F and gets progressively lighter until ~11lbs for the high F
Have it loaded with BKP War Pig pickups and they sound *INSANE*
Kramer Nite V
Usually C standard, but sometimes drop C
NYXL Nickel Wound 12-54 strings
Modded squier baritone telecaster, B standard, with 12-62 mammoth slinky strings
I'm playing an ESP LTD MH1007ET with a 12-56 where the G is a 22p and a 68 for the Low B. I'm tuned in G# and pitch shifting down to F#
I'm playing an Epiphone SG, strung up with Ernie Ball Super Slinky 9-42 gauge strings, tuned to E standard but it sound like C standard due to my Fender Champion 40 watt amplifier and my Effects pedals being maxed out
I play a gibson les paul tuned to drop B. My strings of choice are ernie ball mammoth slinkys
For my Death doom band i use C# standard, not super low but i love this tuning
C# standard, Firewalker guitar, 13s with wound 3rd
That Pure Salem "La Bruja" is absolutely freakin' wicked my dude!
I remember chatting w/ Rick Sell nearly 10 years ago about PS guitars, a custom Woodsoul, and a potential "f-hole-less" 335 inspired build.
Really cool guy. Really cool company IMO.
My current #1 "DooM Stick" is a trans-black flame veneer'd Agile 3010se (Rondomusic) LP clone (24.75 scale).
Ebony fretboard, abalone trap inlay, stock black TUSQ nut & graphite bridge saddles, and loaded w/ an aftermarket set of SIN brand "Madman" custom hand wound "Ridiculously HOT!!!" pickups.
(!!! 16k bridge-7.8k neck !!!). Haha!
I got it currently strung w/ Dunlop "Heavy Core" 12-54 gauge strings tuned to C standard.
Looking to eventually put 1MOhm pots in it, as well as a treble bleed mod to help "brighten" up these pickups a bit.
16k-7.8k is crazy high output, and I love how they push pedals/amps, but I didn't initially anticipate just how much "darker" a set of super hot wound alnico 5 pickups would be
way back when I got them.
FYI:
I highly recommend a set of automotive feeler gauges (20 thousands of an inch+ especially) as well as a (1st fret) capo for anyone looking at doing home setups.
Also, if you wind up having unsolvable tuning stability/intonation issues? I recommend looking into products like the "String Butler" or compensated nut products like Earvana, or ideally a complete retrofit of the Buzz Feiten Tuning System.
I previously owned a Washburn with the BFT system, and I extremely regret selling it.
This now concludes my DooM TED talk.🙄😅😈
Agile guitars are so highly underrated. I have the baritone LP & it’s one of the best guitars I’ve ever played. The prices have gone up, but I paid $400 when I bought mine from Rondo a few years back. It plays better than guitars that cost triple that. I’m so glad to see Agile getting some love. Incredibly well built guitars with great bang for your buck.
@@nicholasrella6904 I wish I was got the Barry LP. Recently just got a 30” scale JM HH Firefly for $180 shipped!
Les Paul standard in C# standard, 10-54 ernie balls and a Telecaster also in C# with 11-54 ernie balls
I also have a neckthrough bass that I need to get thicker roundwounds for so it sounds and plays better in C#
I switch between an Ibanez 1998 GAX70 with PAF pickups which has Ernie ball 11s that’s in Drop C/D standard and a modded Ibanez JemJr in E flat which has regular 10 gauge.
I actually used this whole vid to setup a guitar that was not playin all too good today lol.
My main guitar is a LTD ESP Viper-100fm tuned to C standard with 11-52 strings. The weird Ernie ball heavy bottom skinny top hybrid set.
I hope it was helpful and your guitar is playing nicer 🙌
What up,over the summer I built a killer strat type and it's very impressive,.I put 11 s on it and adjusted the truss rod,and tuned down a half step and it sounds killer,the neck is killer, I thought I would never like single coil pickups,but these things are great,I have no idea who makes these but thay sound great I can get pinch harmonics on them,this guitar is a fucking trip I got a boss GT 1 Prosser and it's incredible,any amp sound I want I got,lovin' it hit me back ,.
I play an Ibanez RG7421. I’m playing in drop F# I’m running a custom stringjoy set using 10.5-72 gauge string.
now that is heavy!
Not outta C Standard mind you. Like Mastodon but a half step higher. I’ve recently started calling it Drop 5th since it’s tuned to the open 5th. But then I’ll also go to G# Unison as well plus a weird dissonance tuning on the high e. Anyways. I’m pretty close to the finished formula just wanna see if anyone else understands a thing I’m tryna say 😅🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻
My guitar is a Peavey T-27 with a 24.75 scale and I tune to C# Standard with Ernie Ball Mammoth Slinky 12-62 strings
Peavey! One of the best
Great video. I have a Les Paul I always keep in Standard C and it is set up that way with D'addario NYXL1260. Love it
And why did you release a purple drone master right after I bought a black one??? LOL
thank you and sorry!
Yamaha Revstar Standard (24,75'' scale) drop A#, 12-56 strings. Fender/Warmoth Partscaster (25.5), same strings and tuning. Ibanez AS153 semihollow, standard C, flatwound 11-54.
Those are some awesome guitars Mike!
that is such a dope guitar. wish more guitars came in 24 frets tho. sick vid !
thanks Connie!
My guitars are all set up as follows:
Action: 1mm on the plain strings - 1.5mm on the wound strings
Neck bow: .5mm
Pickup height: 1mm across the board
I've been running a no name strat with a single gfs Loudmouth pickup strung with plain old ernie ball 10-46 regular slinky tuned to drop c. Being no name cheapo it's got intonation problems more than anything but I do plan on at least putting the setup on a squire affinity or a mim fender one day.