Down tuning and intonation

Guitar and bass lounge at the Wang Bar.

Moderator: Ghost Hip

User avatar
waltdogg
IAMILFFAMOUS
IAMILFFAMOUS
Posts: 3166
Joined: Wed Apr 29, 2015 5:01 pm
Location: hell, ca

Re: Down tuning and intonation

Post by waltdogg »

Image
D.o.S. wrote:Why do people eat steak that shit is gross
behndy wrote: lol. she thinks Brazil is wayyyy too unsafe. but i got PLANS.
MechaGodzilla wrote:man, fuck those big neutrik plugs
User avatar
Bassist_Diver
FAMOUS
FAMOUS
Posts: 1016
Joined: Thu Nov 14, 2013 11:20 am
Location: Texas

Re: Down tuning and intonation

Post by Bassist_Diver »

aen wrote:
Bassist_Diver wrote:Sounds like you need a 7 (or 8) string.
That's a standard scale guitar with a wider neck, yo. They have heavier strings on the bottom.
Exactly - rather than tune down from E to Bb you can just downtune a half step and move over one string.
Image
The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever. - Jacques Cousteau
Good dealings with: Vrom, Conky

Yamaha / Gallien-Krueger / Pedals
User avatar
benjuro
FAMOUS
FAMOUS
Posts: 1826
Joined: Wed Apr 27, 2011 10:49 pm
Location: Massachusetts

Re: Down tuning and intonation

Post by benjuro »

repoman wrote:Can you put a different tuner on the guitar or drill out the hole on the stock one to make heavier gauge fit? I think you would need something more like a 70 for the low A#
The replacement tuner idea is worth considering, Hipshot does awesome work and are super helpful/easy to work with. You don't need to go quite as heavy as a 70, but it wouldn't hurt.
Special low-frequency version.
User avatar
Nateispro
committed
committed
Posts: 279
Joined: Sat Nov 15, 2014 2:14 am
Location: Ut

Re: Down tuning and intonation

Post by Nateispro »

When I wanted to go heavy with my strings I bought a set of 8 string hipshots and used the lower 6 and ditched the higher two. The 8 string set can hold super thick strings.
Turn Up Tune Down Rock Out

Good deals: Holy Schnikes
User avatar
repoman
IAMILF
IAMILF
Posts: 2291
Joined: Sat Sep 26, 2015 3:16 pm
Location: Edge City

Re: Down tuning and intonation

Post by repoman »

benjuro wrote:
repoman wrote:Can you put a different tuner on the guitar or drill out the hole on the stock one to make heavier gauge fit? I think you would need something more like a 70 for the low A#
The replacement tuner idea is worth considering, Hipshot does awesome work and are super helpful/easy to work with. You don't need to go quite as heavy as a 70, but it wouldn't hurt.
Reason I'm thinking 70 (or higher) is I have a Baritone that has a 68 on it tuned to A and its a little more floppy than I'd like and this has a 27.78 inch scale length
F U T U R E G A M E R
User avatar
Theta
interested
interested
Posts: 21
Joined: Tue Jul 11, 2017 9:40 am
Location: Milan, Italy
Contact:

Re: Down tuning and intonation

Post by Theta »

Man... I use 13-64 in drop A on 25.5'' scale with no intonation or tuning problem at all.
Some bridges are less easy than others but it should be manageable... maybe some pics of your bridge and setup could help.
THETA | LOUD NOISE
OFFICIAL FACEBOOK | http://www.facebook.com/thetaloudnoise
OFFICIAL BANDCAMP | http://thetaloudnoise.bandcamp.com
User avatar
Bon Hoga
committed
committed
Posts: 498
Joined: Tue Jan 22, 2013 6:48 pm
Contact:

Re: Down tuning and intonation

Post by Bon Hoga »

Get a proper extended scale instrument. Let pussies play pussy guitars :D
User avatar
waltdogg
IAMILFFAMOUS
IAMILFFAMOUS
Posts: 3166
Joined: Wed Apr 29, 2015 5:01 pm
Location: hell, ca

Re: Down tuning and intonation

Post by waltdogg »

being a stickerler for intonation is a being a baby. get it as close as you can and just fucking play. non-musicians can't hear it. even torché is like "fuck it, the strings we use are too heavy to intonate on our guitars, still sounds good"
D.o.S. wrote:Why do people eat steak that shit is gross
behndy wrote: lol. she thinks Brazil is wayyyy too unsafe. but i got PLANS.
MechaGodzilla wrote:man, fuck those big neutrik plugs
User avatar
aen
IAMILFFAMOUS
IAMILFFAMOUS
Posts: 4363
Joined: Sat May 19, 2007 10:34 pm
Contact:

Re: Down tuning and intonation

Post by aen »

Bon Hoga wrote:Get a proper extended scale instrument. Let pussies play pussy guitars :D
I see your smiley, but the thing is, that loose string has a sound to it. A pretty cool one, IMO.
Chankgeez wrote:
DWARFCRAFT: We are not fucking around this year.
User avatar
coldbrightsunlight
Supporter
Supporter
Posts: 13666
Joined: Tue Oct 12, 2010 12:20 pm
Location: UK

Re: Down tuning and intonation

Post by coldbrightsunlight »

Bomb strings are great
füzz lover. Friend. Quilter evangelist.

I make music sometimes:

https://nitrx.bandcamp.com/

https://mediocrisy.bandcamp.com/

https://fleshcouch.bandcamp.com
User avatar
rustywire
IAMILFFAMOUS
IAMILFFAMOUS
Posts: 4715
Joined: Thu Dec 13, 2012 9:54 am
Location: on.

Re: Down tuning and intonation

Post by rustywire »

[extremely half-baked voice] JUST SMOKE IT YO
NSFW: show
I wreck a raggy pussy guitar and bacist lowbro-only nerds can get assblasted with feedback take the fucking g-string off bitch it aint yours
[nsfw]:ilf: :ilw: :ilfreak:[/nsfw][nsfw]:crab: :crabl: :crabl: :crab: :crabl: :crab: :crabl: :crabl: :crab:[/nsfw]
[B/S/T shoutouts] Shortlist: Hollow Earth|Ct5|856|Condor|Thermae|OP-1|half track reel2reel|Prophet6 ... :whoa:
rfurtkamp wrote:The only transparent thing I own is a set of drinking glasses.
Image
User avatar
BetterOffShred
IAMILFFAMOUS
IAMILFFAMOUS
Posts: 3412
Joined: Thu Aug 17, 2017 2:01 pm

Re: Down tuning and intonation

Post by BetterOffShred »

Ibanez RG8 is 27" scale and can be had for literally $200.. like Aen said, most 7 strings (cheapish production models) are tuned to B and typically 25.5" scale.

Getting standard 6 strings to anywhere close to A is a pain in the ass. I have my Universe to G with a 56, and the intonation is good, but it's rather floppy.
I'd just get an ERG on the cheap and be done with it.
User avatar
John Matrix
experienced
experienced
Posts: 660
Joined: Fri Feb 01, 2013 5:59 pm
Location: Sacramento, CA
Contact:

Re: Down tuning and intonation

Post by John Matrix »

Its close enough where I can't really tell just by ear so I may just roll with it.

I know buying an extended scale guitar is the responsible choice but I haven't found a deal on one near me that isn't hella ugly...and honestly I am not a dude who wants a lot of guitars. I want the bare minimum amount of guitars to get by in the bands I play in, which is why I've been trying to get this one to work. If this guitar can't hang I'll bite the bullet.
~ bands I am in ~
OROMET // https://oromet.bandcamp.com/
BATTLE HAG // https://battlehag.bandcamp.com/
User avatar
benjuro
FAMOUS
FAMOUS
Posts: 1826
Joined: Wed Apr 27, 2011 10:49 pm
Location: Massachusetts

Re: Down tuning and intonation

Post by benjuro »

aen wrote:...that loose string has a sound to it.
Special low-frequency version.
Faldoe

Re: Down tuning and intonation

Post by Faldoe »

benjuro wrote:
repoman wrote:Can you put a different tuner on the guitar or drill out the hole on the stock one to make heavier gauge fit? I think you would need something more like a 70 for the low A#
The replacement tuner idea is worth considering, Hipshot does awesome work and are super helpful/easy to work with. You don't need to go quite as heavy as a 70, but it wouldn't hurt.
Yeah, Hipshot makes great tuners. I have the Open Gear ones on my Baritone.

To the OP - do you have a Floyd Rose?

It sounds like maybe another guitar would be worth investing the time in if you have locking tuners and shit like that.

For A# I'd get a 7 string set and just not use the High E or I think D-Addario makes some good baritone sets.
Post Reply