What guage strings should i use for C tuning?

[garyjfoster]

i have a customed out 76 reissue explorer...i want to put it in c standard...what guage should i use and what brand?....In Flames uses gibsons so they use the same tuning and they also do drop A# tuning as well......i was thinking either 12-56 ernie ball...or 13-56 d'addario

[Eddie_Guzz]

Ernie Ball 11-54 or 12-56 yeah

Also interesting is GHS 11-58

 

13 for first string in C too heavy for me

[lowb5str]

d'adddario has a string gauge calculator on their website.

Put in what you are running right now.

Then put in what you want to tune down to.

It should be able to tell you what gauge to get to keep the same tension on your neck, so tweaking the bar isn't needed.

[fortcon]

I have an '84 Explorer tuned drop C, and I string it with "Not Even Slinky" Ernie Balls. If you want a heavy low sound, they can't be beat in my opinion. I'll guess since it's customed out, you can take care of rod adjustments, and possibly widening the saddles in the nut so you don't snap strings.

[garyjfoster]

just got it done....i went with the ernie ball 12-56...that **** is tight on a short scale guitar in c tuning...i will let it adjust and stretch those strings

[garyjfoster]

ok ernie ball strings didnt work out at all...i dont like the plain g string...12 -56 was too hard.....i switched back to my main strings d'addario...which are on all my guitars....i went with 12-52 and its awesome...i knew d'addario were the best