annoying tuning/string gauge nonsense

[gunslinger_burrito]

So I REALLY REALLY REALLY LOVE that one weird tuning Isis used a lot: F# (octave below)-F#-B-E-G#-B
It sounds so good.

buuuuuut, every time I try it out, I can't stand the floppy ass F# string. And they used to play that shit on Les Pauls somehow. Wtf?

Am I just being a baby, and I need to get over "the flop?"

[Chankgeez]

No, you need to make yourself up a string set to match the tuning. Heavier F#.

[Holy Schnikes]

Yeah, maybe check out LaBella and order a custom set. Pretty inexpensive and you can experiment with some different gauges.

[rumfoord]

I've been using a weird tuning lately too (AEBEAD), and I used an online string gauge calculator to figure out what gauge would be best. I'm still fine tuning it, but it helps get you very close at the outset. JustStrings.com has a few brands available as single strings. I think their flat shipping fee is five or six bucks, so it's a little inconvenient for one set at a time.

Lots of guitar shops have bulk strings, now that I think about it.

I used this link for the calculator:
http://hikkyz.net/misc/stringassembler/

but there are a few if you google.

[Chankgeez]

Yeah, (I should say that) I should tailor my string gauges to my tuning, but I don't.

I went through a long phase where I was trying out lots of different tunings. So, it didn't make sense to change gauges all the time.

Now, I'm pretty much playing in DADGAD these days and a normal string set straight out the box is good enough. I'd like to be playing in CGCFGC or something like that again eventually and then I'll probably try to determine which gauges work best for me.

So, to recap, if you really wanna have things feel right tensionwise, choose gauges that work for the tuning. If not, just deal with it.

[gunslinger_burrito]

So I threw a bunch of kind of random strings on it, with an .80 I had laying around from an old project, and so far it seems ok. I think the gauges are something like 13, 17, 26, 36, 46-50?, and then the 80

For some reason the last time I strung it up like this I hated it and it felt totally wrong, but now it seems fine. The intonation is even pretty damn close, except for on the low F# string.

For the calculator, how do you know the tension of your strings in pounds? I know that I like more tension as opposed to less, but....

[Holy Schnikes]

I've used this string tension calculator to get a good estimate:

http://www.mcdonaldstrings.com/stringxxiii.html

For reference, 100 lbs will be on the loose side while 130 lbs will be pretty stiff so I shoot for somewhere in between. Also, not sure if it will calculate an 80 gauge string correctly. The accuracy cutoff is somewhere close to that.

[BoatRich]

I would ask Ancient Astronaught, he and I play in drop f in our band. He uses 7 strings, but it's the same general idea

[gunslinger_burrito]

After a day or two of it, I'm liking it a lot. The only thing I need to adjust is the action, which is pretty high. Combined with the thicker strings, it makes holding chords wayyy harder. Might record a thing with it later today.

[voerking]

i like the flop. i use 9's tuned to C. doing seasick vibrato & weird bends are a big part of my thang, though.

[GardenoftheDead]

I'm pretty sure Isis just didn't care about the flop. If you want to play in that tuning seriously, get an Ernie Ball 8-string set and use the low string from that.

Will still probably flop because actual 8-strings are at least 27.5" scale necks.

[gunslinger_burrito]

well, strangely enough, this time around the low .80 string holds juuuuust tight enough not to be annoying. I don't think I could hang with the wide necks of 8 strings

[jamesmikelly]

I'm pretty sure Isis just didn't care about the flop. If you want to play in that tuning seriously, get an Ernie Ball 8-string set and use the low string from that.

Will still probably flop because actual 8-strings are at least 27.5" scale necks.

Posting to say I was in a band where a guy played a Les Paul in F# standard and used the 8 string sets. After a good set up it just played like a guitar in 10s. If you dig in you could get a little flop but it didn't feel that weird unless you were playing leads because the top string was the only one unwound.