Best guitars for drop tuning???

ZarK · 2010-04-15T19:51:54+00:00

Hi Guys Thanks to a few factors including my new guitars, karma and the inspiration I've received through Guitar Forum and it's members, it looks like I'm i...

Best guitars for drop tuning???

singemonkey

dee wrote: All of those bands you mentioned use standard scale length guitars tuned down to D or C, no baritones or anything strange. You don't "have to have" a 7-string or baritone. Toni Iomi used to downtune his Gibson SG to C.

The real issue I believe is tuning stability, and you definitely want to upgrade to a set of locking tuners if it does not have any. Some heavy gauge strings would also be advised.

You have two Ibanez guitars. Maybe now is the time to have one set up as a downtuned guitar...

Yeah. Cos Tony Iomi's tone suffered from the combination of down-tuning and light strings on a Gibson scale-length (for his mangled fingers). It did make his guitar sound sludgy, so I really recommend you put a heavier string on that low D.

Banditman

zohn wrote: What I know about electrics is very limited, but I do know that Fender's Jaguar is a long scaled Baritone model.

There are a variety of Jag models out there in the American Vintage, Classic Player, Special Edition & Japanese ranges, but only one is a baritone model - the Jaguar Baritone Special Edition HH. It's got the same basic looks as the Special Edition HH (only available in black with chrome hardware) but has fewer controls & the 27" scale length.

Explorerlover

The Mick Thompson Ibanez handled drop tuning well, but it's fixed bridge

inflames

The Mick Thompson Ibanez handled drop tuning well, but it's fixed bridge

I have always trusted fixed bridge guitars more for metal and drop tuning.
Jackson guitars love drop tuning ?

ZarK

@All: Thanks for all the input! Please keep it coming!

@XBob: "slack key tuning" LOL! Don't mind if I use that term from now on? ;D

We're not using any drop D tuning thus far. All tunings are alternate. (I've found my limited and recent dealings with alternate tunings very inspirational!) -an easy way to open your mind to new creativity.

After consideration, I think I'll use my j.custom for standard tuning and bring my Jem back from retirement for a third time. (She just keeps going and going...) Jem will be tuned to: C G D# A# F A#. (I have a friends backup Cort tuned to this at the mo with 10 gauge and our lead singer’s PRS copy tuned to B with 12 gauge strings and the Cort's strings actually feel less like spaghetti... Strange... It seems like I would have to experiment with different gauges on different guitars to find the heaviest gauge that I can still vibrato with control for the specific guitar.

When all thats done, I'll still need one more guitar (for now) to be tuned to: D D A D A D (Seems strange, but that’s what the tabs state...) Now I'm considering using my other j.custom for this, but as she's up for sale and unplayed, I probably shouldn't... (But then I'm sure if I play her first, I'd be more open to some of the offers I've received... in two minds, though...)

What other "decent cheaper" guitars would you guys recommend I take a look at. [I'm not considering either Gibson or Fender at all for our tipe of music. (Excluding maybe an Explorer) I think I'll stick with 25.5 scale length. Been thinking of guitars such as PRS SE, ESP LTD and even Cort or std Ibanez RG, RGA or RGD with 26.5 scale or similar instruments. I would prefer to go Mahogany body for lower tuning... I think? I'll probably also replace the bridge pup with a pro pup if the guitars going to be a cheap example.
'
Any more thoughts/replies and/or recommendations will be much appreciated! Any specific guitars I should look at?

We're going to play a few covers first to see if we gel and can get things tight. If this is successful, we'll start focusing on original music and then I'll consider a Baritone and/or 7 string for own creations...

Kind Regards.

tentop

There's the brilliant PRS SE Mike Mushok Signature Baritone: http://www.prsguitars.com/mushok/index.php

On the dirt-cheap end of the scale, my RGR321EX that I sold the other day was super-stable with alternate tunings.

That PRS is a beauty:

shaundtsl

ZarK wrote: then I'll consider a Baritone and/or 7 string for own creations...

Hey ZarK, when you consider a 7 string, please let me know, I have an Ibanez RG7321 with hard case in tip top condition which I would like to trade for a 6 string of similar value. I dont really play the 7 string as much any more.

ZarK

The Mick Thompson Ibanez will fit the bill. I'm also impressed spec wise by the latest PRS SE Signature models. Many have Mahogany bodies and EMG pups and one even has a floyed Rose with locking nuts... Just need to compare prices to see if they're value for moaney...

ZarK

shaundtsl wrote:
ZarK wrote: then I'll consider a Baritone and/or 7 string for own creations...
Hey ZarK, when you consider a 7 string, please let me know, I have an Ibanez RG7321 with hard case in tip top condition which I would like to trade for a 6 string of similar value. I dont really play the 7 string as much any more.

Thanx. Will do...

Explorerlover

ZarK wrote: The Mick Thompson Ibanez will fit the bill. I'm also impressed spec wise by the latest PRS SE Signature models. Many have Mahogany bodies and EMG pups and one even has a floyed Rose with locking nuts... Just need to compare prices to see if they're value for moaney...

There's one of em for sale in the classifieds section

andrewjbryson

Zark - Have you played a Ibanez RGA Prestige yet?

If you check on youtube a lot of metalheads use them for their solid tone and no hassle bridge.

Fixed bridge Gibraltor Plus brige. Tune down to a B or C tuning. No hassles. Stays in tune.

Funnily enough the reason i love the RGA so much is due to the neck and its massive Gibraltar bridge , but for 2010, they
have introduced the Edge-Zero bridge w/ZPS3 on them.

ZarK

I haven't yet. I'll take your word that they're good! I'd like to spend as little as possible as these guitars will only be used for certain songs with alternate tuning. I'll check out the less expensive RGA's, though. These guitars won't replace my main guitars, they just need to have half decent tone, good playability and most importantly: tuning stability. I'll probably go for a fixed bridge as all my electrics have floyed rose's...

AlanRatcliffe

Fixed bridge is a good idea. Through neck is nice for downtuning too - the lowest notes always seem to hang together better without flubbing out. ESP maybe? I've seen some of their models that fit the bill and quite attractively priced.

ZarK

Thanks again for the input. I'm going to check out some ESP LTD's and PRS SE's out tomorrow when I pick up a few packs of 12 gauge... I'll also see what else is available...

ZarK

So far the PRS SE Mark Tremonti and Paul Allender have most of my attention. Solid Guitars at low prices....

Any other suggestions are welcomed! ?

Een

ZarK wrote: So far the PRS SE Mark Tremonti and Paul Allender have most of my attention. Solid Guitars at low prices....

The Allender is nice, but I thought you didnt want another Flawed Rose guitar? ?
I suppose if you keep it tuned in the same key it wouldn't be a problem though.

ZarK

Een wrote:
ZarK wrote: So far the PRS SE Mark Tremonti and Paul Allender have most of my attention. Solid Guitars at low prices....
The Allender is nice, but I thought you didnt want another Flawed Rose guitar? ?
I suppose if you keep it tuned in the same key it wouldn't be a problem though.

I went and played the PRS's again today. The Tremonti is solid but instead of getting two of those, I just might get one and an Allender as well... I played the old Allender today, which came with a normal tremolo, and it rocks! The neck is super fast. The new one has floyd and EMG's... I'd prefer to go fixed bridge, though... Gotta sell one of my guitars first to buy them though...

BMU

My opinion, you don't need anything special to downtune. Use what you have unless of course you *want* to buy something new. ?

Thicker strings, re-balance the trem and adjust the truss rod if necessary. Or even better imo, shove a piece of wood behind the tremblock to eliminate the need for a trem re-balance.

Malkav

just my 2 cents ? IBANEZ RGD to dominate all drop tuning ?

but seriously I rate seven strings are always a great call cause they let you play lower without F***ing up your harmonic alignment ?

and just out of interest you can always go to a bothners and ask for a cort NZS-1 they're the Neil Zaza signature, fixed bridge - seymour duncan pickups (59 & Custom Custom) - Ebony Fretboard - sperzel locking machineheads - 16mm quilted maple cap - american basswood body. This thing would kick ass at drop tuning owing to the rigidity of construction and because of all the brightness the ebony on maple creates (this is important cause most S.A bands that drop tune don't realise how important clarity is and tend to have pretty shite guitar tone), and because the pickups are medium output which will probably yield much fuller rhythm sounds with more dynamics. Harmonics practically bet to come out of this guitar and instead of paying R 7500 for it you can generally pick em up new for around R 3500 cause bothners can't seem to get rid of them ? cause they've got a silly fretmarker, if you can ignore that though it's a great axe ? and it comes with a bag ?

ZarK

Chad Adam Browne wrote: just my 2 cents ? IBANEZ RGD to dominate all drop tuning ?

but seriously I rate seven strings are always a great call cause they let you play lower without F***ing up your harmonic alignment ?

and just out of interest you can always go to a bothners and ask for a cort NZS-1 they're the Neil Zaza signature, fixed bridge - seymour duncan pickups (59 & Custom Custom) - Ebony Fretboard - sperzel locking machineheads - 16mm quilted maple cap - american basswood body. This thing would kick ass at drop tuning owing to the rigidity of construction and because of all the brightness the ebony on maple creates (this is important cause most S.A bands that drop tune don't realise how important clarity is and tend to have pretty shite guitar tone), and because the pickups are medium output which will probably yield much fuller rhythm sounds with more dynamics. Harmonics practically bet to come out of this guitar and instead of paying R 7500 for it you can generally pick em up new for around R 3500 cause bothners can't seem to get rid of them ? cause they've got a silly fretmarker, if you can ignore that though it's a great axe ? and it comes with a bag ?

AT R3500 with those specs and pups, I definately have to check one out asap... Thanx!