Is .064 Gauge good enough for Drop E?

[Djentle Saiyan]

So I've been wondering lately if I can use D'Addario NYXL set from .011 - .064 gauges and if they can go down to Drop E and still sound good and clear. I use a JBM27 Ibanez and been using a Ernie Ball 8 string set .013 - .074 gauges but the highest tuning I can get is Drop F. I usually play from tunings Drop A to Drop E.
Any advice would help, thanks.

 

[HeHasTheJazzHands]

You can get away with it, but there will be a lot of flop. if you like a lot of tension, it might be a bit too loose.

 

[bostjan]

.064" for drop E? Hmm, I think that'd be too loose.

 

[Djentle Saiyan]

You can get away with it, but there will be a lot of flop. if you like a lot of tension, it might be a bit too loose.

.064" for drop E? Hmm, I think that'd be too loose.

Ya'll are probably right.

 

[Mathemagician]

The fuck kinda music you playing that you need drop E for? Lol.

Now that that is out of the way, I use a 64 in B, and cannot imagine dropping that down another 3.5 steps. It would be VERY loose if you like high tension.

 

[Masoo2]

I enjoy my 58s on a 27 inch scale down to about F or so, E shouldn't that big of a problem with 64s on a 26.5 inch scale

A 68 or 70 might be more what you're looking for, as that can still handle B no problem.

That's not to say I'd recommend keeping it in E 24/7, but it will work for sure. Although I sometimes tune my 58 down to F, 99% of the time it's in A or Ab.

 

[Restarted]

I use a 64 for A on a 26.5" scale, so my answer to your question is heeeellllll no

 

[The Mirror]

Start with a .070 and work your way down.

I use a .070 on a Baritone for a low G.

 

[Winspear]

Absolutely not in my opinion.
But opinions aren't too useful... You need a measure
It will be the same tension as a 32 in regular E an octave higher. So that should give you an idea, given most people use 46 E and 36 A haha.
Double the gauge to go down an octave. So if 40 E is the loosest you can stand, you need an 80. Bare minimum for me. I like 85 or 90 on any scale between 27" and 30"

 

[Winspear]

Another quick way to calculate similar to the double per octave rule of thumb I just gave - x1.06 every semitone.
So if you know you are happy taking a 56 down to A for example for your loosest tension, 56 * 1.06 * 1.06 * 1.06 * 1.06 * 1.06 for E. Gets you 75.

 

[Dayn]

I'll add onto the dogpile. 0.064 is not usable at all for E in my opinion. 27" scale, yes?

I use a Kalium .090 for E on my RG2228. That's the perfect tension and flexibility for my uses. If you like really, really light strings, then... 0.064 would probably just pass your threshold. But you'd have to treat it very gingerly.

 

[Masoo2]

I think a lot of you are missing where he says

I usually play from tunings Drop A to Drop E.

At most a 70 or 72 would be usable for A imo, but much less can work especially given his low gauge for F that is also at the highest point he feels comfortable using tension wise.