axemanfrommars Posted May 10, 2020 Share Posted May 10, 2020 Need some advice, as I'd like to have my 2009 Flying tuned down to B. Has anyone tried this yet? Feasible? I guess I'll have to go for a heavier string gauge & a proper setup by a pro. Just lemme know how feel about this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eades Posted May 10, 2020 Share Posted May 10, 2020 Just try it first, you can always tune it back up Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt. Pepper Posted May 11, 2020 Share Posted May 11, 2020 (edited) I think Toni Iommi tuned down to C# after the Paranoid album. B is a full step lower. That's low and the strings are so slacked. Edited May 11, 2020 by Sgt. Pepper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
merciful-evans Posted May 11, 2020 Share Posted May 11, 2020 You mean everything 5 semitones down? It might be difficult to intonate. A baritone scale model might be more appropriate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pinch Posted May 12, 2020 Share Posted May 12, 2020 (edited) I have. I think I had to flip a saddle for extra intonation range but other than that, no probs. I used 11-52 strings, which is probably a little on the light side for B standard, but they worked fine with the bridge and nut (guitar came with 46-9 hybrid set), and I could switch back to E standard with 10-42 gauge strings years later and it was fine. I use Big Bends Nut Sauce in the nut slots. Use this to calculate string tension and adjust the truss rod accordingly: https://www.mcdonaldstrings.com/stringxxiii.html. I think B standard and 11-52 was less tension than E standard and 9-46 strings, if I remember correctly. Edited May 12, 2020 by Pinch Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt. Pepper Posted May 12, 2020 Share Posted May 12, 2020 1 hour ago, Pinch said: I think B standard and 11-52 was less tension than E standard and 9-46 strings, if I remember correctly. So tuning down is less tension. Never would have guessed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rct Posted May 12, 2020 Share Posted May 12, 2020 We supposed to tune these things? rct Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt. Pepper Posted May 12, 2020 Share Posted May 12, 2020 55 minutes ago, rct said: We supposed to tune these things? rct You don't have to. It's an option like power windows. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdgm Posted May 12, 2020 Share Posted May 12, 2020 Someone lent me a Squier 7-string once which had a low B, so it was a regular tuned guitar with one extra low string. I couldn't hack it at all. Would have been good for chords and walking bass but you'd have to work very hard to get it. Remember seeing Ry Cooder and David Lindley in duo and the stage was full of guitars in all their different tunings, plus tiples, mandolins etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pinch Posted May 13, 2020 Share Posted May 13, 2020 (edited) 8 hours ago, Sgt. Pepper said: So tuning down is less tension. Never would have guessed. Bigger gauge strings is more tension. If you go from a 10-46 set to a 11-52 set with the SAME tuning, you'll have a LOT more tension on the neck. That's why it's good to check what the combined tension will be when you change string gauges and tunings. Edited May 13, 2020 by Pinch Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
merciful-evans Posted May 13, 2020 Share Posted May 13, 2020 12 hours ago, Pinch said: I have. I think I had to flip a saddle for extra intonation range but other than that, no probs. Right. Its not exactly what I meant though. I was inferring that the scale would not be long enough. Presumably it sounds ok then. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pinch Posted May 13, 2020 Share Posted May 13, 2020 2 hours ago, merciful-evans said: Right. Its not exactly what I meant though. I was inferring that the scale would not be long enough. Presumably it sounds ok then. Sounded just fine. Well, it probably would've sounded better with thicker strings, but no intonation problems or anything. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt. Pepper Posted May 13, 2020 Share Posted May 13, 2020 7 hours ago, Pinch said: Bigger gauge strings is more tension. If you go from a 10-46 set to a 11-52 set with the SAME tuning, you'll have a LOT more tension on the neck. That's why it's good to check what the combined tension will be when you change string gauges and tunings. Here is a set of Martins strings in 10 and 11. The difference is 18 lbs. Is a 18 a LOT? Its more, but is it a lot more. I guess we could discuss that. Not trying to start an argument. I'm just presenting what is posted on Martins site. Extra Light .010 .014 .023 .030 .039 .047 135.8 lbs Custom Light .011 .015 .023 .032 .042 .052 153.7 lbs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pinch Posted May 13, 2020 Share Posted May 13, 2020 (edited) 18 minutes ago, Sgt. Pepper said: Here is a set of Martins strings in 10 and 11. The difference is 18 lbs. Is a 18 a LOT? Its more, but is it a lot more. I guess we could discuss that. Not trying to start an argument. I'm just presenting what is posted on Martins site. Extra Light .010 .014 .023 .030 .039 .047 135.8 lbs Custom Light .011 .015 .023 .032 .042 .052 153.7 lbs I hear ya, but the 11-52 set is light top heavy bottom, and most people would use even thicker strings for B standard. So it's a good idea to calculate tension and see if you need to adjust the TR. Edit: it's also a good idea to read the post I'm replying to. I guess I'm just a rebel. Edited May 13, 2020 by Pinch Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rct Posted May 13, 2020 Share Posted May 13, 2020 You don't have to calculate anything. Set the guitar up. Part of setting it up is tuning it about a trazillion times, each time to the tuning the guitar will be used at. It will calculate itself. rct Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pinch Posted May 13, 2020 Share Posted May 13, 2020 1 hour ago, rct said: You don't have to calculate anything. Set the guitar up. Part of setting it up is tuning it about a trazillion times, each time to the tuning the guitar will be used at. It will calculate itself. rct Everything has to be folded. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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