Drop G# 25" scale -> what string gauge?

[Dash]

Ok so I have been playing on the tuning Drop G# for a while. I used the standard string gauges of a seven string, don't know the exact numbers. It's pretty loose yes but I kind of liked it because of the sound but playability was definitely not very good.

Now I'm getting my guitar re-intonated and I want to try a thicker gauge but still have that gnarly sound the thinner strings give me. What would you recommend me?

Thanks!

 

[Heroin]

len 25.5"

E4b .010" CKPL == 6.58kg
B3b .013" CKPL == 6.24kg
G3b .017" CKPL == 6.72kg
D3b .025" CKWN == 7.31kg
A2b .033" CKWN == 7.35kg
E2b .045" CKWN == 7.49kg
A1b .067" CKWN == 7.17kg

total == 48.87kg

I'd suggest learning how to use the tension calculator, but this gives you an idea.

 

[Dash]

Thank you, sounds good. But uhm a 0.67" is a pretty hard string to get right, would it be a big deal if I used a 0.65"? Or does it just mean that it's a little more floppy?

 

[Kharem]

68's are pretty easy to find, just get one of them. Elixir has them and pretty sure the thickest in both the ernie ball and diaddario baritone sets have 68 tops i think, and there just the ones I've tried, which is pretty limited over here in aus so shouldn't be hard to find them anywhere else. juststrings.com or whatever most these guys use.

 

[Heroin]

Thank you, sounds good. But uhm a 0.67" is a pretty hard string to get right, would it be a big deal if I used a 0.65"? Or does it just mean that it's a little more floppy?

a 65 should be fine, that's pretty much what Misha Mansoor uses for Ab (he uses a 64)

 

[Dash]

Thanks both of you I will see what I can get.

 

[Krucifixtion]

You could go up to a .70 if you want, but you might not prefer it to be that big. I would say .64-.68 depending on your taste.

 

[Mordecai]

go buy the ernie ball 8 string set and just dont use the low 74, then the 7 string set will be 10-64

thats what i do.

 

[Winspear]

The EB 8 string set is a total mess, don't do that

I suggest you buy Circle K strings - not only are they heavier so you can use a slightly smaller gauge like a 65, but they are also designed to sound clearer on shorter scales. You'll find D'addario 68s and such sound pretty muddy and don't intonate well.

 

[Chuck]

I've been using a LaBella 7 string set recently that sounds quite nice and holds tension very well, the gauges 1st to 7th string are:

11-14-18-36-46-52-70, and I play in Drop A

 

[Chuck]

a 65 should be fine, that's pretty much what Misha Mansoor uses for Ab (he uses a 64)

No Misha uses 68 for Ab/G#

 

[Heroin]

No Misha uses 68 for Ab/G#

I thought he said he uses a 64 on his formspring oh well.

 

[All_¥our_Bass]

Something from 65 - 75, I'd (personally) go with the 75.

go buy the ernie ball 8 string set and just dont use the low 74, then the 7 string set will be 10-64
thats what i do.

I'd toss the 64 instead, but overall good idea.

 

[Chuck]

I thought he said he uses a 64 on his formspring oh well.

Oh really? Huh, I watched a video of him on YouTube and he said he used 68's. maybe he switches around lol

 

[JosephAOI]

I use 10-46 with a 62 on my 7th. Feels good to me but I'm known around here for loving light gauges

 

[7stringDemon]

Those strings seem awefully thin to be used in G# to me. Especially on a 25" scale

I would get a .10-.52 set with a .72 for the lowest.

I know you want that thin string tone but on that short of a scale length, you'll have to EQ your amp differently to get it. Because too thin of strings will vibrate out of tune every time you hit them. Then your guitar will never be in tune.

And I don't know about you, but I'd much rather have a guitar that stays in tune well and doesn't sound perfect than a guitar that sounds perfect and is never in tune.

The solution to that would be a longer scale length. 27" would be GREAT for this! Then you could do a .10-.46 set with a .65 for the G# and stay in tune a lot better while still getting that tone you're looking for.

 

[Xenos0176]

Those strings seem awefully thin to be used in G# to me. Especially on a 25" scale

I would get a .10-.52 set with a .72 for the lowest.

I second that, my schecter 7 has a 25.5" scale and i use a low .72 for the G# and its nicee, my old .64 was no where close enough to enough tension, if u picked hard it'd go sharp by a half step

 

[RadDadTV]

Dang, you guys use some crazy thick strings. I use just a standard Ernie Ball 7 string power slinky's for drop G# they are 11-58 I believe, and they feel/sound really great. Way better than using even a 62 imo.

 

[MetalBuddah]

^
This. I used a 10-59 set when I still had a 7 and it was MORE THAN ENOUGH tension for the low G#

 

[Chuck]

^
This. I used a 10-59 set when I still had a 7 and it was MORE THAN ENOUGH tension for the low G#

Unless you had a baritone scale, no it's not. God damn, a 59 isn't even heavy enough for a C