Setting up a guitar for drop tuning?

[hazelwould]

Besides some skeptics saying that you shouldnt on a standard scale guitar... What do you recommend? I was thinking of getting a cheapie guitar set up in B or drop C.

Thanks hommies!

[Inertia]

I like strat style guitars with the thickest gauge I can get locally for drop tunings.
Although, I like dropped standards.
C standard is nice with some huge strings and a capo.

[Gunner Recall]

I keep my toronado between B and drop C, 24.75 scale. Right now using not even slinkys.
The tension is actually super tight, probably more than I like...I used to use skinny tops heavy bottoms.

I ordered a custom set from naked strings that I'm going to use next time I re-string
Basically took the not even slinkys but kicked down the first two strings a notch and wound the 3rd

[hazelwould]

So does there need to be any rod adjustments or anything? I'm getting one of Xaviere Les Paul specials w/p90s.

So you don't really even need super heavy strings?

[Gunner Recall]

You might need to do some truss rod adjustments, depending how far from your current tension you are jumping.
I've always liked heavy bottom strings, I've just been experimenting with different top strings so it's usually a minor adjustment if any.

I think you'd want at least 11's or a hybrid set starting at 50+ on the bottom...imo not that heavy.

[Seedy]

I had my strat set up for years two whole steps down, with the low string dropped another step (actually A#). I used .13-.56 strings but I like tight strings anyway. Tony Iommi was tuned down in the same way for Sabbath and only used .09's. Minor adjustments and it will be great!

[Green Jacket]

Any time you change tuning or change gauge on your guitar, it is a good idea to give the truss rod a check. If you don't you risk twisting the neck. Now changing from standard to drop C, without a doubt will require intonation, action, truss rod, the whole nine yards. With large jumps in tension (i.e. bigger strings) the wood will take time to adjust. It is very common to setup a guitar in a different tuning, then watch the setup get progressively worse for the next few days. Once the wood adjusts, another minor setup and you're good to go.

As far as standard scale not in a lower tuning, eff that shit. Have you ever tried tuning a bari higher than C standard?

If you're taking a 24.75 versus a 25.5, you can just give your strings a slight bump bigger to compensate. The feel will be different but it shouldn't be that big of a deal. One caveat, the lower you go the harder it becomes to intonate. With a 24.75, it would be a pain in the ass to go lower than drop B.

String gauge can really only be chosen by personal experience and can vary from guitar to guitar. Sometimes, 2 guitars with the same scale length in the same tuning just will feel totally different in the same gauge. Simple rule of thumb to get started: .01 bigger set for each full step you drop.

[dubkitty]

i concur totally with what GJ says. i've played a fair bit of guitar tuned to D standard, C standard, and dropped D/C, and everything he says agrees with my experience. you'll need to let the guitar settle in for about a week after changing to different string gauges/tuning before you can expect it to be stable, and the neck relief and action will have to be adjusted because strings at a lower pitch vibrate at a wavelength of a higher amplitude and thus need more physical room to move. and as is the case with electric bass, with a longer scale you'll get better intonation and string resonance.

[transients]

On top of all this, you might also have to get a new nut (or a nut file) because you might need bigger slots if you get a larger gauge of strings.

[skullservant]

On top of all this, you might also have to get a new nut (or a nut file) because you might need bigger slots if you get a larger gauge of strings.

I remember trying to put Ernie Ball Heavy Bottoms on my strat and they literally just sat on top of the nut because the nut was not slotted large enough! haha