9-42 strings tuned down half a step

[MrJacko03]

Has anyone tried this with elixir on a RG?

Does the strings get too sloppy?

[Shredder87]

I haven't tried it on an RG and I don't use Elixir strings, but I've tried it with 9-42s on my old strat and the strings tend to feel a bit too sloppy for my liking. But it's a personal thing.

In the words of Neil Buchanan from Art Attack, try it yourself. Remember you'll need to adjust your bridge.

You might want to try either 9-46s or 10s. A bit more beef.

[crevis]

I do it sometimes with EB super slinkys (9 - 42), there isnt as much difference in tension as you might think, I use 9 - 42 in standard D as well. I cant play at all with 10's no matter what its tuned to.

[GAZ]

All my RG's are tuned down a half step and I use 9-46 D'Addarios. Perfect for me !!! With the 9-42's tuned down you can get tuning issues if you hit the bottom strings hard - the 'boing' effect !!

[Dee]

No major issues for me. I have an RG750 which uses 9-42 and is tuned down to E flat. I don't think you should use 10's unless you tune to D, but the 9-42 set isn't perfect. I'd suggest buying strings in singles and doing this: 9-12-16-24-32-44.

You'll see that this feels better because the string tension increases gradually as the strings become thicker. On a regular 9-42 set, this doesn't happen because the B and thick E strings are a guage too low.

[knowbody]

depends on how far you are going on my strats I use Ernie Ball "not even slinky's" regular. on my Metal guitars (all my ibanez's) I'm in Drop C and I use DR BT-10's but I switch two of the strings (the 17 to and 18 unwound and the 52 to a 56) so that it is 10-13-18-30-44-56 I have to go that heavy on the low c to keep it from peaking at a sharp frequency after the open is picked.
I don't know if that is helpful in the least.
ah well.
My two cents

[MrJacko03]

Thanks................I think IŽm gonna try it and see how it feels. Maybe IŽll have to change strings weŽll see.

Great respons guys

[guitarkatana]

I've gotten away with 9-42 tuned to D. If you don't like it, try a 10-46 set. You could even try a 9.5-?.5 set. I know D'addario makes a set like that.

[Dee]

Yeah, EXL120+.

I still think putting a custom guage together is better. The 120+ are unbalanced, with the top E having more tension than the B, same as on the 9-42 set. Sloppy B string. Yuk.

[ibanezdiehard]

Originally Posted by knowbody

I use Ernie Ball "not even slinky's" regular. on my Metal guitars (all my ibanez's) I'm in Drop C and I use DR BT-10's but I switch two of the strings (the 17 to and 18 unwound and the 52 to a 56)

we tune to drop C

the other guitarist in my band can't change strings on floyd

and i told him if he doesn't switch from "not even slinkys" to 10-52 i wasn't gonna restring his guitar anymore,he caved obvieously