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Post subject: Tuning Down
Posted: Mon Oct 06, 2008 3:54 pm
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How many of you guys & gals like to tune your strats down 1/2 a step from standard? Sure it makes it a little easier to play, but I just love the way it sounds. I would like to see your comments on it.


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Posted: Mon Oct 06, 2008 5:01 pm
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I used to play a half scale up. Recently went back to true E. I have been messing around with a Drop D (low E set down to D) alot of rock bands doing it now (Zack Wyld, Creed, Nervana). You have to have a thicker E string than I want to put on my guitar. I think its cheating, but is a little easier to play, and does not require much thought. All in all I like tuning to E.

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Posted: Mon Oct 06, 2008 5:06 pm
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never ever. After years of training i can finaly hit low E,A,D and G perfectly without any reference point. Its taken me 11 years to do it, im not going to Eb and wind up ruining my hard work.

Told you all im obsessive :D

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Posted: Mon Oct 06, 2008 5:11 pm
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I have my 1986 Fender MIJ '72 RI Strat setup for tuning down 1/2 step to Eb.
Everything else is in standard tuning.

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Post subject:
Posted: Mon Oct 06, 2008 5:12 pm
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The heavier E string isn't cheating at all. My drive channel is set to a mild overdrive (tube amp) and it really lets the guitar's natural tone shine through. However strats tend to sound a little skinnier than other guitars and heavier strings is the best way to compensate. I can't stand the really heavy strings that Stevie Ray Vaughan used, but I found a solution I can live with: D'Addario XL roundwounds "Light Top/Heavy Bottom" gauge.
Like a set of .010's on the little end but progresses bigger with a .052 for the low E. It packs a lot of punch and ads tone to my strat.


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Posted: Mon Oct 06, 2008 5:51 pm
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My So Cal Speed Shop Strat is tuned C - C, strung with Ernie Ball Not Even Slinky (12-56) strings. Otherwise, everything else is standard tuned.

Matt

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Post subject: Re: Tuning Down
Posted: Mon Oct 06, 2008 7:24 pm
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bluez81 wrote:
How many of you guys & gals like to tune your strats down 1/2 a step from standard?


Nope, I don't do it.

I will use nonstandard tunings on non-tremolo guitars.

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Posted: Sun Oct 12, 2008 9:32 am
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I enjoy doing this. I play 11's but normally in standard tuning but when I drop it a half step they bend like butter. :D


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Posted: Sun Oct 12, 2008 9:56 am
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I use standard tuning.

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Posted: Sun Oct 12, 2008 10:38 am
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I honestly never saw any practical value in it. Consequently, I've always tuned to 440. To give a balanced presentation lthough, I do know others accomplished players who prefer it and I certainly respect their point of view. It all comes down to whatever works for you.

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Posted: Sun Oct 12, 2008 10:52 am
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I tune down a half step cause it's easier to play, and i just decided to keep it that way since i learned a hendrix song a while ago and it fits. It also gives a heavier sound.



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Post subject:
Posted: Sun Oct 12, 2008 3:24 pm
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Strat E flat, others standard tuning. I like my Strat to be SRV ready and because of my natural lazyness I didn't want to detube and retune for each song while I'm noodling around.

Cheers.


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Posted: Mon Oct 13, 2008 10:57 am
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I stick to E, unless I'm in a REALLY Sabbath streak. If I wanna hit the mark on those, I tune down the 1 1/2 steps to do so, but I haven't in a couple years.


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Posted: Tue Oct 14, 2008 7:13 am
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If I'm writing a neo-classical or classical tune, then I stay in 440. But for the heavier technical/speed/death metal material I tune down to "D" across the board and for some tunes I'll drop low "D" to "C" just to get ridiculous. Doing so means heavier strings, more springs on the trem, and a major claw adjustment so it's better to have several axes all set-up differently if you want to jump from genre to genre... :twisted:

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Posted: Tue Oct 14, 2008 9:20 am
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Standard,but 440Hz :wink:

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