String guage for whole step down?

unix-guy

unix-guy

Master of RTFM
So, I may be joining a band where about half the songs are written with the guitar tuned down a full step.

I'll be playing lead.

I'm considering setting up one guitar a whole step down.

My guitars are all standard tuning with .009-.046.

I'm guessing I would need to probably go to .011 to get the right tension but that's a guess.

Anyone have practical experience with this?

Alternately, I may just transpose except any case where that's not possible (I am just learning the songs now so not sure if any will be difficult make work)...

My biggest concern would be gigging and needing a primary and backup for both tunings.

Almost all of my guitars are floating bridge so changing tuning mid-gig is not an option.
 
I've tuned to just about every tuning you can imagine, and also like a set of 9s in standard, so IMO you're going to want a .010 set tuned down a whole step. You may not even need to do much setup work on the floating trem, since you're changing gauges. 11s would be good for similar tension in C standard.
 
Try the strings you have now down a step first. You may be surprised.

Lp 2x - 9-42 E standard
Lp 2x 12-54 B standard
Prs s2 10-52 C standard
ESP horizon 10-52 C standard
Jazzmaster 10-52 D standard
Strat 9-46 D standard

Previously had 9-46 standard on a strat and lp.

One step isnt always a massive change in feel :)
 
unix-guy said:
So, I may be joining a band where about half the songs are written with the guitar tuned down a full step.

I'll be playing lead.

I'm considering setting up one guitar a whole step down.

My guitars are all standard tuning with .009-.046.

I'm guessing I would need to probably go to .011 to get the right tension but that's a guess.

Anyone have practical experience with this?

Alternately, I may just transpose except any case where that's not possible (I am just learning the songs now so not sure if any will be difficult make work)...

My biggest concern would be gigging and needing a primary and backup for both tunings.

Almost all of my guitars are floating bridge so changing tuning mid-gig is not an option.
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I'm running Ultra slinkys, 10-48 for drop b on a few of my Ibanez S Series. Been working great for a few years.
 
I use the String Joy 10.5 to 50. I use 9.5 sets (9.5 - 44 or 46 depending on the guitar) in standard and tried 11's in D standard before deciding on the String Joy set.
 
I've found that the lighter string gauge you can comfortably get away with, the better the tone. I would try the 9's first and if it really feels like you're playing a spider web with no tuning stability then go up a gauge.

This is all personal of course, some people like the strings to fight them back a bit.
 
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