Down tuning a guitar - seemed like a good idea. My observations.

[Learjeff]

@aceplace57

Digital tuners have drastically altered everyone’s sound. For $15 *anyone *can be accurately tuned in standard 440 pitch.

And thank goodness! I’m picky about tuning, but most amateur guitarists never were very good at tuning their instruments without an electronc tuner. I stuck with the tuning fork until just recently, and mostly because I use several tunings (mostly open D, DADGAD, EADGAD, DADBGD, and standard, plus one Keola Beamer slack key), and when playing along with my fiddle/mando player, the little digital heastock tuner really helps. On electric I stick to standard tuning.

@aceplace57

I may start keeping my Martin tuned down a full step. That would ease the tension on the neck just a bit. It’s 40 years old and I need to protect my investment.

If you’re the original owner, the factory pays to get the neck reset, lifetime guarantee. I recently had my 1982 HD28 reset. My wife was amazed that I still had the receipt. Thank goodness!

@Leo_Bloom

Are you saying that their blues in A, D whatever, sound at Aflat, etc., or they played in the common keys but with that tuning?

I believe Jimi was the first to do this, and as I understand it, it was so he could use better voicings for “horn band” tunes in keys like Eb and Bb. Then he stuck with it because he liked it or got used to it. I don’t really understand why folks like SRV do it, other than following Jimi, but then they’re tuned in to a whole lotta stuff that’s over my head.

@scabpicker

I think he’s generally right about gauge not having much effect on your sound, other than light strings have more high end. Billy Gibbons plays light strings too, and he usually has very nice tone.

Gauge has a huge effect, but it doesn’t mean you can’t get good tone from any size, depending on what you’re going for and how you play your instrument. Heavier gauges sustain better, but you can compensate for that by playing REALLY LOUD.

Playing very light strings is actually REALLY HARD to do well; it takes delicate sensibilities that seems at odds with the kind of heavy-metal-inyerface power chords being played.

[swampspruce]

I should note that I have an older 12 string that I leave tuned to D std because it really started to belly out in it’s middle age (Kinda like its owner). I’ve since remedied that with a lowered tuning, capoing second fret to get std tuning, and adding a JLD bridge doctor to it.

[Subterraneanus]

@swampspruce

I should note that I have an older 12 string that I leave tuned to D std because it really started to belly out in it’s middle age (Kinda like its owner). I’ve since remedied that with a lowered tuning, capoing second fret to get std tuning, and adding a JLD bridge doctor to it.

Lots of 12-string players tune down a step as a matter of course, even with a new guitar.

[BTNMIC]

Just to let forum members know that we have started stocking the JLD Bridge Doctor in the UK (both the Screw Mount and Brass Pin Mount versions) and you can find both on our eBay shop at: http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Better-Than-New-Drums/Accessories-/_i.html?_fsub=12133918010
We are also in the process of developing some bespoke strings to use in conjunction with the Brass Pin version of the product.

Paul Storrie
Better Than New Musical Instrument Company Ltd.
020 8252 1034 ext 201

[Ranger_Jeff]

McCartney tuned his acoustic down a whole step for Yesterday. I suspect the chord positions were easier to play in the key of G than they were in F.

I’ve had two 12-string acoustics. I often tuned them down a half step to take it easy on the neck. Of course, the challenge was finding a good capo.