What gauge strings for tuning down a whole step?

[TheGuildedAge]

We usually tune down a whole step, sometimes drop the low d to C.

Our singer uses .10s, which I cannot believe, as they feel so slack. I have .12-.52s now, and they are a bit hard to get around on.

Does anyone know if a set of .11-.50 would work in this tuning?

I would like to ask before I shell out for a new pack of strings only to find they are too slack.

.11s work ok on my strat, but my other 3 guitars are 24.75 inch Gibson scale guitars.

[lifeinsong]

I think the only way you'll really know is to try different gauge strings...different gauge strings work differently on different guitars, if that makes sense. My guess is that in order to tune down that much you'd probably need at least 12's, but that's just my initial thought. Do a search, this topic has probably been discussed somewhere on here at some point in time...good luck!

[TheGuildedAge]

I use a custom snake oils set on my strat, 11.5.

I suspect you're right, I will probably have to stay with .12-.52 on my guild and hamer.

[slopeshoulder]

I use heavies, 14 on top. But that's on acoustics tuned down to D-D and below.

[Jarick]

Try the Ernie Ball Slinky's, that's what my old screamo/metalcore band used. We all had 24.75" Gibsons and tuned to dropped C, sometimes open C.

Dropped C, we used Beefy Slinky's: 11-15-22-30-42-54

Open C (C-G-C-F-G-C), we used Not Even Slinky's: 12-16-24-32-44-56

[gregory49]

if 12s are to hard try 11s ...
or like someone else suggested 11.5s

i use 13s half step down on my Strat.. it shredded my finger tips but i just love the way the bigger string made contact with the fret.. the tone i love.. im used to it now.

[angelhair0]

I tune down a whole step and I use 11s on both my Strat and Tele. It's worked out very well for me.

[stinkfoot]

I treat my strats as my baseline, and go from there. Gibson scale = up one step (in my case, 11s instead of 10s). Then go up a step for each seminote tuned down. For me, on a 25 1/2" scale guitar, Eb would require a set of 11s, and for D I'd go to 12s.

/Andreas

[TDavis]

I have my Axis SS tuned down one full step, and use 11-48's on it. They work OK, but there's still a definite feel of slack. I've been told that for every 1/2 step tuned down, you should go up a gauge in string diameter, which may or may not be a good "rule of thumb", depending on the individual player's "touch". I have my Axis tuned down strictly to accomodate our lead singer transposing songs to "cater" to his voice. I'm not crazy about carrying 3 guitars to the gig, but hey, you gotta do what you gotta do!

[blueslink]

GHS 1300 Low Tune

[situationist]

I use Beefy Slinkys, tuned to dropped C now.

[CharlieNC]

+1 on the Beefy Slinkys

[B_of_H]

I use .11's for standard and .12's for my LP which is 1/2 step down.

The shorter scale length is easier to bend with the same strings IMO.

If you man up and keep playing the 12's you'll get used to it and before you know it the '11's will feel light. it's getting easier to find heavy strings these days which is one reason I switched from the .10/ .11 combo.

[jehza8]

I'm a big fan of buying strings singly rather than sets...

I'm a much lighter player on higher strings than I am on the lows... So I keep my 6th string (either on E or D) at around .52 but at standard tuning .10 on the high E feels "right." Tuning down I wouldn't dream of anything short of .12-.56, especially with the sixth dropped to C!

Point is though, I wouldn't feel confounded to sets if you're really trying to find something that works best for you... For whatever reason, D'Addario works for me as a make, so I special order the single gauges I need...

[TheGuildedAge]

I've decided to go stay with the .12-.52 on my gibson scale guitars and 11.5s on fender.

Thanks for the tips.