I have a Floyd rose bridge on my 7 string for drop a and I can use light gauge strings without being floppy because I can set the tension with the strings in the back.
Amazing Video! I didn't know about little Gadgets like the string calculator. Tuning down was always a problem for me. I enjoy playing 12-52 with a wound g string in standard tuning on a fender scale and this Video really helped to find the right gauge for lower tunings.
I actually have a fender with a 105 set in drop A. yes, actual bass strings. I'm a bass player, but i like the THICC strings. I find that drop A 105 is as tight as you can get without problems.
Nope. All i had was a Franken-strat and no wshifter pedals, wanted to play 12ft Ninja in Double drop D, needed a 105. just wanted to see how high it could go without snapping and it made it to drop A. I dont recommend that, normally for drop A I use my baritone Telle 30 inch scale, and a 74. i consider that perfect. i just wanted to see what was possible. @@chambersofblood3327
Amazing video as always !!! I use regular slinkys 10-46 and change the 46 for a 52 because i tuned the 6th string to c#, C, A and G# and the string have the perfect amount of floppyness (if that makes sense) and use a drop pedal to go really low and it works Idk if you remember but in a post you made some time ago i put the tunings i use, which are: Drop c# normal and octave lower C g# c# f# d d# octave lower A g# c# f# d d# octave lower Drop G G# g# f# d d#
I tried Drop A on a set of 11-54 and it feels fine, slightly looser in tension clearly but it feels good to play. Might try it on 12-56 since i had problems with that thicc 62 actually fitting the nut slot haha.
I really need more videos about tunings and strings for a baritone. Got a 30" one, and I can't even find proper strings in my country for it, I'm doomed. :DDD
I have a newer video going over strings and scale length. th-cam.com/video/pwHcLHnh3vo/w-d-xo.html So yeah for a 30 inch you definitely want strings that are long enough and don't taper too soon. Can't go wrong with Stringjoy's Bass VI strings.
I have a multiscale ibanez 7 string and use a .74 to .013 on Drop F#. Finding alot of buzz in my recordings. Even after a setup by a trusted luthier. Might have to bump it up to .80 or .85
Good vid. On my 25.5 inch scale I want to get that Erra gungrave tunning (F#). Mamoth slinky 62 gauge may still be considered light. What would you recommend?
I use a rather ridiculous set of strings. 12, 14, 24, 44, 56, 62 in Drop B and Bb. It's basically Ernie Ball Not Even Slinky strings that I rearranged and used a Bass D string for the lowest string, Bb. I like the light high strings for lead playing and the very tight strings for rhythm playing.
@@GaryHiebner because the local GuitarCenter was all out of them lol. So when I changed my bass strings, I just took the 62 off my bass and put it on my guitar.
Alot of string tensjonnis down to oreference. But I thibk if you aim around 17-90lbs per string its a good ballpark figure. You can go slightly more on the lower strings. Like even 21-22lbs on the lowest string if you want more tension
nice clear video. often A/B comparisons are lost to me on youtube, and I cannot tell the difference, not this time. Also I am curious: watched your groove3 video on THU, but I see you use STL tonehub now, have you abandoned THU for STL ? Maybe there is a video to be done - best emulation SW for heavy tones right now....
Thanks. Glad you found the video helpful. I still use TH-U. But am absolutely loving Tonehub. .y favorite amp sim so far. The presetsvpacks just sound so amazing. My favorite so far being the Sdabo and Diezel packs.
i’m a new guitar player and i’m just wondering can i use a string gauge suitable for drop a on higher drop tuning like drop c or drop d or should i buy new strings?
You gonna need to find a gauge thats not too floppy for A, and not too stiff for C. Ita doable but will take a bit of trial and error with string gauges. I'd say try not go down less then 14lbs per string and not tighter than 26 lbs. But that would just be my preference. See what works for you.
OK thanks But am I not normal to still find it is not tight enough with a 80? really tought it would be super tight with a 72 actually haha@@GaryHiebner
You can try with a 13-72 set. On a standard scale 25.5 inch guitar the intonation starts going out after A. But it should work if you not playing super high up on the neck where the intonation goes out.
Yeah it fitted fine in the nut without any filing. If it doesn't you can use the 62 string to file down the nut by moving it back and forth till it fits in the nut.
They're Squier stock 'wide-range' humbuckers. But they're not the same as the original 70s wide-range humbuckers. They really just standard humbucker in wide-range casing.
I know this is old but STRINGJOY CUSTOM SETS! I use a 12, 16, 24w, 32w, 44w, 80w for Drop A# and Drop B and it's absolutely perfect. The 80 is a bit overkill but it sounds so percussive and perfect for single string riffs. Check out their tension calculator, I like about 15-16lbs of tension on my plain strings and about 18-19 on my wound sans the lowest which I like about 25lbs just because it keeps it super tight and percussive but to each their own. I recommend no less than 14lbs on plain and 16lbs on wound as it gets flubby lower than that
I have an Ibanez grg120bdxl and I use the Ernie ball burly slinky 11-52 and have it in standard c# but wanna tune it down half a step to standard c is it ok if the bridge goes backward a little bit?
Sorry I normally only use fixed bridges. But I would think you need to try keep the trem bridge flat. But maybe do some other searches and see what others recommend.
Its doable with thick strings. Maybe with like a 85 on the 6th strings. But longer scale is better for Drop E. 28 inches works well. 30 inches works better :)
@@GaryHiebner Aye, sadly I can’t find a 6 string guitar I like and can afford at 30”. They all have that Bass VI look, which I’m not a fan of. Too 60’s and an ugly shape. I want a modern metal machine lol. But I just got a 27” that I’m hoping can do the job.
@@RainMakeR_Workshop there is a 30“ baritone from gear4music‘s in house brand that looks kinda cool. One of the guitarists of loathe uses it in Drop E and Drop E with a low C#!
@@stndrd3608 You and I have VERY different tastes in what a "cool" guitar is. You're talking about the SubZero Rogue VI and that body shape is based on the Fender Jaguar. Which imo is one of, if not THE most god awful ugly abominations of all time when it comes to mass produced guitar shapes. To me that thing is about as cool as a Banjo... Which is to say, its not cool in the slightest. I loathe that guitar shape, pun very much intended. I did say in a reply comment that I don't like that Bass VI look, which the Rogue VI has, its too 60's, which is not a look I go in for. Trust me, if there was a 30" scale 6 string baritone/bass VI that was affordable and I thought was cool looking, I'd already own it. Ranting aside, I do appreciate you trying to help. For someone else who didn't already know about that guitar and likes the Jaguar shape, I'm sure its helpful. But I was more asking about what gauge I would need to run Drop E on a 27" Baritone. As I have one of those already, or at least I will do once I get around to assembling the kit lol. I'll more than likely have a 90 or a 95 on the low E. Thankfully you can get either of those pretty easily in a Bass VI set of strings.
@@RainMakeR_Workshop gotcha! Regarding 30“: check out the channel „the Bunn“ if you not know about it already. He does huge roundups of every baritone available on the market. Two I know of (but I don’t know how they look lol) are the schecter hellcat vi and the Ibanez 30“ 6 string bass thingy. I think there are reviews on his channel. Regarding drop E: Personally, I tend to go as light as possible because the tone imo is just better and less bass like. For reference: I play Drop F with a 68 on 28“ and E on 30“ with a 74. So I think you could get away with a 80. maybe try the Ernie ball 8 string set for a cheap test run
Man you need to tell me this please: How is Stephen Carpenter playing a .59 to .62 (impossible to find the exact) in his low F#??? All his scales are 27” but still if you plug that into the tension thing is absolutely not tense. When I use that website it suggests around .72 or higher. I’m wondering how is his guitar even sounding / recording with that string gauge, I’m totally mesmerized by this
@@GaryHiebner bro he made records with that .59 sounding killer, never out of tune and he played 000 chords sometimes… I mean I don’t even know what’s real, makes no sense
It gets rid of harmonic overtones on the strings after the nut. You can use it as a mute as well if you place it after the nut. But in the way I'm using them is to get rid of those harmonic overtones from the strings after the nut. And you notice it alot more on downtuned guitars.
I have an Esp Ltd 25.5 scale and I need to play in B standard (Viogression - Pssage). I don't want flubby low strings but neither hard high strings. Personally I would use a .10 scale but changing only the 3 lowers trings for bigger ones [32-42-(52/54/56)] I'm not sure on the E string. what do you think?
That may be a bit light for B standard. Maybe try something like this 12-17-22-34-48-62. This would be sligjtly similiar to the tension of a 10-48 set in E standard.
@@GaryHiebner I forgot to mention that I have very weak tendons so I usually play 08 in standard E with a stratocaster...so I wouldn't mind a softer feeling. My concern is all about the lower strings that go bit out of tune despite my gentle touch. Thanks for the input anyway.
@@lovecraftmusic8717 Ah yeah then thinner strings will help. But yeah to stop the string from going sharp and then back to key a heavier gauge will help with that. So you gonna have to figure out what gauges sit well for you and your playing style.
Ok so you definitely like them more slinky. On my 25,5 inch 7 string I use 10.5-72 for Drop A. Haha. So I definitely like way tighter strings. There's no right or wrong. Just comes down to each individual playing style and your preffered tension
Using that Tele put a cherry on top!
For drop A I definitely recommend using a 70 gauge down low... A 62 is pretty floppy still. Great video man!
Yeah it depends on the scale length. But yeah on my 25,5 inch 7 string in Drop A I'm using a 72
Same here man, currently using a 62 on my 25.5 inch scale 7th string. But it's too loose for Drop A and I get some fret buzz.
@@GaryHiebner I would recommend a 68 on a 25.5 inch scale because I think a 72 is very THICC for a 6 string standard scale and 68 has more high end
I use an 80 for A#
I have a Floyd rose bridge on my 7 string for drop a and I can use light gauge strings without being floppy because I can set the tension with the strings in the back.
Amazing Video! I didn't know about little Gadgets like the string calculator. Tuning down was always a problem for me. I enjoy playing 12-52 with a wound g string in standard tuning on a fender scale and this Video really helped to find the right gauge for lower tunings.
Awesome. Glad it was helpful. Having a woind 3rd also helps alot with tension when tuning lower
@@GaryHiebner when you are in drop e on a baritone having a wound b helps as well
best string Guage video I've seen yet thank you
Thank you so much. Glad you enjoyed the video
I actually have a fender with a 105 set in drop A. yes, actual bass strings. I'm a bass player, but i like the THICC strings. I find that drop A 105 is as tight as you can get without problems.
105 on a standard 25.5 inch scale? Wowzers!
dude wtf
Troll?
Nope. All i had was a Franken-strat and no wshifter pedals, wanted to play 12ft Ninja in Double drop D, needed a 105. just wanted to see how high it could go without snapping and it made it to drop A. I dont recommend that, normally for drop A I use my baritone Telle 30 inch scale, and a 74. i consider that perfect. i just wanted to see what was possible. @@chambersofblood3327
Wonderful! I went through this about a decade ago, trying for D or C natural on a standard scale. Can’t wait to see your results!!! 😁😄🤩🤯
Hey man amazing video this is extremely important
Amazing video as always !!!
I use regular slinkys 10-46 and change the 46 for a 52 because i tuned the 6th string to c#, C, A and G# and the string have the perfect amount of floppyness (if that makes sense) and use a drop pedal to go really low and it works
Idk if you remember but in a post you made some time ago i put the tunings i use, which are:
Drop c# normal and octave lower
C g# c# f# d d# octave lower
A g# c# f# d d# octave lower
Drop G
G# g# f# d d#
I tried Drop A on a set of 11-54 and it feels fine, slightly looser in tension clearly but it feels good to play. Might try it on 12-56 since i had problems with that thicc 62 actually fitting the nut slot haha.
Yeah the 62 will require some filing on the nut sometimes. I like a bit of extra tension. I use this set for Drop A#
The mammoth slinky on a 24'' scale work perfectly for drop b
Dude i love that guitar tone! \m/
Thanks!
I really need more videos about tunings and strings for a baritone. Got a 30" one, and I can't even find proper strings in my country for it, I'm doomed. :DDD
I have a newer video going over strings and scale length.
th-cam.com/video/pwHcLHnh3vo/w-d-xo.html
So yeah for a 30 inch you definitely want strings that are long enough and don't taper too soon. Can't go wrong with Stringjoy's Bass VI strings.
Great video
nice information man , thanks !
Super cool video! You’re really climbing the subs now :)
Thanks Stephen. Yeah getting there.
Very cool video!
Ace video bud
I have a multiscale ibanez 7 string and use a .74 to .013 on Drop F#. Finding alot of buzz in my recordings. Even after a setup by a trusted luthier. Might have to bump it up to .80 or .85
Check your trussrod. Make sure its straight. And also check the height of your saddles and the depth of the slots in your nut.
Thanks for your Great Clip
Good vid. On my 25.5 inch scale I want to get that Erra gungrave tunning (F#). Mamoth slinky 62 gauge may still be considered light. What would you recommend?
Try a 13-80 set. I've used an 80 before for F1 on a 25.5. Requires a bit of a setup with the intonation and bridge saddles that can go back far.
Thanks for this :)
what about the nut slots? Do you have to cut those to fit larger gauge strings?
Yeah you might need to file the nut thicker.
I use a rather ridiculous set of strings. 12, 14, 24, 44, 56, 62 in Drop B and Bb. It's basically Ernie Ball Not Even Slinky strings that I rearranged and used a Bass D string for the lowest string, Bb. I like the light high strings for lead playing and the very tight strings for rhythm playing.
Awesome. Why did you use a bass string for the Bb and not just a thick guitar string?
@@GaryHiebner because the local GuitarCenter was all out of them lol. So when I changed my bass strings, I just took the 62 off my bass and put it on my guitar.
Haha. I see.
Is it 12 - 52 strings gauge are great for drop B tuning? Really looking forward for your answer, man! Thanks
I use a 11-52 set for Drop C. Maybe a 12-56 set for Drop B
Hey Gary. For Stringjoy, is there an optimal total string tension range no matter what tuning? I can't seem to find this info online
Alot of string tensjonnis down to oreference. But I thibk if you aim around 17-90lbs per string its a good ballpark figure. You can go slightly more on the lower strings. Like even 21-22lbs on the lowest string if you want more tension
Looking forward for getting a good deal on a telecaster for playing in downtunjngs . Which material body does your squire have?
It's a basswood body
What would you recommend for B standard on a 24.75 scale. I'm thinking about 12s like a set of not even slinkies or magnum slinkies
very helpfull
nice clear video.
often A/B comparisons are lost to me on youtube, and I cannot tell the difference, not this time.
Also I am curious: watched your groove3 video on THU, but I see you use STL tonehub now, have you abandoned THU for STL ?
Maybe there is a video to be done - best emulation SW for heavy tones right now....
Thanks. Glad you found the video helpful. I still use TH-U. But am absolutely loving Tonehub. .y favorite amp sim so far. The presetsvpacks just sound so amazing. My favorite so far being the Sdabo and Diezel packs.
i’m a new guitar player and i’m just wondering can i use a string gauge suitable for drop a on higher drop tuning like drop c or drop d or should i buy new strings?
You gonna need to find a gauge thats not too floppy for A, and not too stiff for C. Ita doable but will take a bit of trial and error with string gauges. I'd say try not go down less then 14lbs per string and not tighter than 26 lbs. But that would just be my preference. See what works for you.
@Heavy Tones thanks i will definitely give it a try
I got a baritone 28 " and a 80 for low E in drop A but still find it floppy...
Maybe try a 90 for the low E.
OK thanks But am I not normal to still find it is not tight enough with a 80? really tought it would be super tight with a 72 actually haha@@GaryHiebner
what gauge to ADADGB tuning for a stratocaster?
Try this as a custom set: 13, 17, 26w, 36, 54, 70. You'd think a 70 is crazy for A. But on a 25.5. Scale at A this is only 18.8lbs of tension.
Can you tune to drop g sharp on a Squier Telecaster but which string?
You can try with a 13-72 set. On a standard scale 25.5 inch guitar the intonation starts going out after A. But it should work if you not playing super high up on the neck where the intonation goes out.
@@GaryHiebner thanks
I play 7 strings 25.5 scale, tuned down whole step (D tuning, 7th is A)
IMHO .68 works great for the A
Yeah 68 does work well for A on a 25.5. I use a 72 for some slight extra tension
Could you put strings like this on a les Paul ?
That 62 sat good on the nut straight in??
Yeah it fitted fine in the nut without any filing. If it doesn't you can use the 62 string to file down the nut by moving it back and forth till it fits in the nut.
Are those wide-range pickups
They're Squier stock 'wide-range' humbuckers. But they're not the same as the original 70s wide-range humbuckers. They really just standard humbucker in wide-range casing.
@@GaryHiebner oh...they sound awesome... ive got a Paranormal esquier tele on the way..one wide range in it. Wondering now if its a real one
I know this is old but STRINGJOY CUSTOM SETS! I use a 12, 16, 24w, 32w, 44w, 80w for Drop A# and Drop B and it's absolutely perfect. The 80 is a bit overkill but it sounds so percussive and perfect for single string riffs.
Check out their tension calculator, I like about 15-16lbs of tension on my plain strings and about 18-19 on my wound sans the lowest which I like about 25lbs just because it keeps it super tight and percussive but to each their own. I recommend no less than 14lbs on plain and 16lbs on wound as it gets flubby lower than that
Thanks for the response. Yeah that's a good tension amount for plains and wounds.
What EB set would you suggest for someone who goes between drop D and drop C?
Try the Beef Slinky. 11-54. Might be a little tight for Drop D but good for Drop C
Or for a slightly lighter set check out the Mega Slinky 10.5-48
Hey Gary, when using the Mammoths, did you find drop B to be too tight at all? Apparently they were made with the intent to go from Drop B - Drop A
I use them on my 27" in drop A. Sometimes I tune to drop G#, kinda floppy but it still works. With drop G it starts going a bit out of tune.
what strings should I use for B standard on a 25.5 scale length?
Try 12-60
I have an Ibanez grg120bdxl and I use the Ernie ball burly slinky 11-52 and have it in standard c# but wanna tune it down half a step to standard c is it ok if the bridge goes backward a little bit?
What do you mean about the bridge going back a bit? Is it trem bridge?
@@GaryHiebner yes it's a trem bridge
Sorry I normally only use fixed bridges. But I would think you need to try keep the trem bridge flat. But maybe do some other searches and see what others recommend.
You can adjust the trem to sit flat again. Just watch a how to video on your guitar type
im 26.5 scale on a 7 string and want to play Drop G what string gauges plz????
You could try a gauge set similiar to this: 11, 14, 18, 28, 38, 52, 74.
What about drop E on a 27" scale length?
Its doable with thick strings. Maybe with like a 85 on the 6th strings. But longer scale is better for Drop E. 28 inches works well. 30 inches works better :)
@@GaryHiebner Aye, sadly I can’t find a 6 string guitar I like and can afford at 30”. They all have that Bass VI look, which I’m not a fan of. Too 60’s and an ugly shape. I want a modern metal machine lol. But I just got a 27” that I’m hoping can do the job.
@@RainMakeR_Workshop there is a 30“ baritone from gear4music‘s in house brand that looks kinda cool.
One of the guitarists of loathe uses it in Drop E and Drop E with a low C#!
@@stndrd3608 You and I have VERY different tastes in what a "cool" guitar is. You're talking about the SubZero Rogue VI and that body shape is based on the Fender Jaguar. Which imo is one of, if not THE most god awful ugly abominations of all time when it comes to mass produced guitar shapes. To me that thing is about as cool as a Banjo... Which is to say, its not cool in the slightest. I loathe that guitar shape, pun very much intended. I did say in a reply comment that I don't like that Bass VI look, which the Rogue VI has, its too 60's, which is not a look I go in for.
Trust me, if there was a 30" scale 6 string baritone/bass VI that was affordable and I thought was cool looking, I'd already own it.
Ranting aside, I do appreciate you trying to help. For someone else who didn't already know about that guitar and likes the Jaguar shape, I'm sure its helpful. But I was more asking about what gauge I would need to run Drop E on a 27" Baritone. As I have one of those already, or at least I will do once I get around to assembling the kit lol. I'll more than likely have a 90 or a 95 on the low E. Thankfully you can get either of those pretty easily in a Bass VI set of strings.
@@RainMakeR_Workshop gotcha!
Regarding 30“: check out the channel „the Bunn“ if you not know about it already. He does huge roundups of every baritone available on the market.
Two I know of (but I don’t know how they look lol) are the schecter hellcat vi and the Ibanez 30“ 6 string bass thingy.
I think there are reviews on his channel.
Regarding drop E:
Personally, I tend to go as light as possible because the tone imo is just better and less bass like.
For reference: I play Drop F with a 68 on 28“ and E on 30“ with a 74.
So I think you could get away with a 80. maybe try the Ernie ball 8 string set for a cheap test run
Man you need to tell me this please:
How is Stephen Carpenter playing a .59 to .62 (impossible to find the exact) in his low F#??? All his scales are 27” but still if you plug that into the tension thing is absolutely not tense. When I use that website it suggests around .72 or higher. I’m wondering how is his guitar even sounding / recording with that string gauge, I’m totally mesmerized by this
Yeah no idea how Steph is doing that. I need at least an 80 for F# on a 27 inch.
@@GaryHiebner bro he made records with that .59 sounding killer, never out of tune and he played 000 chords sometimes… I mean I don’t even know what’s real, makes no sense
Must be his picking style then. If you watch his playthroughs it looks like he picks so soft. I could never do that, haha!
Newbie guitar player obviously,,,what is the wrap? It automatically mutes for you!
Where do I get one?
It gets rid of harmonic overtones on the strings after the nut. You can use it as a mute as well if you place it after the nut. But in the way I'm using them is to get rid of those harmonic overtones from the strings after the nut. And you notice it alot more on downtuned guitars.
I have an Esp Ltd 25.5 scale and I need to play in B standard (Viogression - Pssage).
I don't want flubby low strings but neither hard high strings. Personally I would use a .10 scale but changing only the 3 lowers trings for bigger ones [32-42-(52/54/56)] I'm not sure on the E string. what do you think?
That may be a bit light for B standard. Maybe try something like this 12-17-22-34-48-62. This would be sligjtly similiar to the tension of a 10-48 set in E standard.
@@GaryHiebner I forgot to mention that I have very weak tendons so I usually play 08 in standard E with a stratocaster...so I wouldn't mind a softer feeling. My concern is all about the lower strings that go bit out of tune despite my gentle touch. Thanks for the input anyway.
@@lovecraftmusic8717 Ah yeah then thinner strings will help. But yeah to stop the string from going sharp and then back to key a heavier gauge will help with that. So you gonna have to figure out what gauges sit well for you and your playing style.
It turns out that in drop a set 12-62 sounds more interesting than in drop a #?
What scale length you using this set on. Yeah if you want a more slinky feel then that set is great for Drop A
@@GaryHiebner 25.5
Ok so you definitely like them more slinky. On my 25,5 inch 7 string I use 10.5-72 for Drop A. Haha. So I definitely like way tighter strings. There's no right or wrong. Just comes down to each individual playing style and your preffered tension
Once I tried drop a on 9-42 it was horrible they ended up breaking too💀
Yeah thats gonna be too light for A
I thought was Ibrahimovic talking about gauges 😅
I used to go low. Drop G on acoustic guitar. And my teacher would always make me tune it up😂😂😂
Love that drop tuning vibe...
Just....
Do not drop the guitar....
I think with the highly compressed high gain sound your examples don't tell us too much. Sounds bad no matter what gauges you use.