String Guage (C standard tuning)

[xtoller]

Hi All,

I know this topic has been overwhelm in here.

Just want to ask for other's advise about my guitar set up.

I m currently using ESP LTD MH 301.

I plan to detune it to C standard.

What string gauge should i use?

here's the spec for the guitar

• Construction: Neck-thru body
• Scale: 25.5 in.
• Body: Mahogany sides w/quilted Maple top

thank you so much.

 

[Rook]

What sort of Tension do you like on your strings? Do you use 9's in standard?

If you do, then I'd probably go 10-52 for the chunky low end. If your feeling braze, D'Addario's just brought out the 'Extra Heavy' 12-60 which is 'optimised for drop c'...

Make of it what you will... I'd go 10-52 though. 12-60 will make your trem really stiff.

DAddarioFretted Strings » Electric Strings » XL Nickel Round Wound » EXL148 Extra Heavy 12-60

 

[Leuchty]

12-60? I had 12-54's Ernie Balls and they were too tight.

10-52's is the way to go

 

[Rook]

12-60? I had 12-54's Ernie Balls and they were too tight.

10-52's is the way to go

I do agree...

 

[xtoller]

Acutally i have maked my floyd rose to a fix bridge.. currently .. i'm using 10-56... but my low e is kinda too loose for my taste...

is that suppose to be loose .. or is there anything i can do with it ?

thank you so much

 

[abstract]

No way guys. 10s are way too light for C standard. Drop C and they might be ok. 11-52 or 12-54.

EDIT: If your low E is too loose as a 56, there must be something wrong with your setup. Take it to a guitar tech if you can.

 

[Rook]

Loose? In standard tuning?

Are you a sasqwatch?

 

[Rook]

Shit C-Standard, was totally talking about drop C.

12's dude, for sure, 12-60 might just be a win, lol.

And set up or not, if string is a certain gauge, it has to be at a certain tension to be tuned to whatever it is. Setting it up differently won't change that, the only way to increase the tension is tuning higher or putting on a thicker string. Or making the scale length longer, lol, but if the scale was 'wrong' the guitar wouldn't be intotated.

 

[xtoller]

i have it set up to c standard with 10-56 everything is ok except the my low C ... that's why i was wondering .. I brought it to a guitar tech to change the tension of my truss rod .. and he did change the tension and setup my guitar.. that's why i was wonder if it's really like that .. or is my guitar not suitable for detune ( that will be sux)

 

[Rook]

It's not really possible for a guitar not to be suitable to detune as long as you're not going down to F or something. It's just a matter of getting the tension where you're happy with it.

Go for the 12-60's, that should do it. You've got a 25.5 inch scale, so you may need some chunky strings, but it'll be fine when you've got them. That 60's a bit of a beast!

 

[xtoller]

thank you so much ...

so with 12- 60.. there should be any more truss rod adjustment?

 

[groph]

I'd use 12-54 and get a wound G, or use 13-56.

 

[xtoller]

Thank you all.. so much ...

 

[Rex Rocker]

I use the EXL110-7 set for C Standard myself. I obviously get rid of the 10 gauge, so it's basically a 13-59.

 

[Philligan]

I know Zakk Wylde's with Dunlop now and not GHS, but does he still have his 10-60 set? If so, that would seem to satisfy your low end needs and keep your usual high end.

 

[4Eyes]

I use 11-54, with 60 for the low E string in dropped C, but I have a fixed bridge and I like when the strings are heavy (now I have kinda heavy gauge on the guitar 11-17-26-36-46-58, but it's good only for rhytm playing..Gstring is so tight that it's hard to bend it one tone up.) so... I would try 11-54 or maybe 12-56 or something like that for standard C on the guitar with trem.

 

[Rook]

thank you so much ...

so with 12- 60.. there should be any more truss rod adjustment?

Yes. If you add tension the strings, as I said earlier, by tuning them up or making them thicker, you would have to add tension to the trem (but yours is blocked, so no worries) and to the neck. It's a delicate balance.

 

[CrushingAnvil]

I, personally (I'm not saying you should go out and buy the following guage of string since It's just my taste, yours could be different), would use 12-59 for C Standard.

 

[MJS]

I have 11-52s on a 24.75" scale guitar tuned to C# standard and I like it, so it's probably what I'd use on a 25.5" scale tuned to C.

That might be light for you since I usually put 9-42s on 25.5" and 9.5-44s on 24.75" guitars for standard tuning.

I haven't tried them yet, but I just got a pack of D'Addario EXL148 (12-60) that I'm hoping I'll like for B standard (24.75"). They're the ones that say "For Drop C Tuning" on the front of the package, so those might be okay for you.

Here's the tension info from the back of the package.

.012 - 14.69 pounds
.016 - 14.66
.020 - 14.44
.034 - 21.12
.046 - 20.99
.060 - 20.46

Those specs are based on a 25.5" scale tuned to C F A# D# G C.

 

[loktide]

10-52 won't work for C standard tuning. especially the .17 gauge on the 3rd string will have way too little tension and may sound awkward

i'd go AT LEAST with a .11 or .12 set (or higher if you like tight strings)