Drop-Tune String Gauge - What do you use?

[bob oakman]

I hate to see my other non-Ibanez guitars just sit around and rust. I*Have decided to drop-tune the Les Paul to a. I have not done this before and have a question for those who have…

What string gauge do you use? I play with 9’s on my standard tuned guitars.

Thanks in advance for helping the old guy.

[Turrokk]

I used a strat for sometime and I drop-tuned it to B. Had to use 11's. Still went out of tune though...

[Noodles]

I would use 11's on a les paul because of the smaller scale.Good luck.

[darren wilson]

GHS has sets of Boomers (.011-.053?) and Nickel Rockers (.011-.058?) that are geared towards low tuning... in fact, they're called "Lo-Tune" sets.

The reason i put question marks on the gauges is because there's a conflict between what juststrings.com says they are and what GHS says they are... amazingly, i think GHS' site is incorrect, since the gauges they list for the Lo-Tune Boomers are exactly the same as their thin-thick set (.010-.052).

I'm probably going to try the Boomers on a guitar i'm building specifically for drop-tuning. If they're a bit too loose, i'll try the Nickel Rockers, since they're made from a harder alloy and apparently have a stiffer feel.

[bob oakman]

Thanks guys. I was thinking 11’s. I guess I wasn’t far off. Thanks for the links Darren. I was not even aware of strings designed for low tuning. Since the Paul does have a short scale, I need all the help I can get in the string department. I considered drop-tuning one of my UVs, but I just don’t want to mess with the truss and screw up the perfect action they have.

I have new tuning machines for the Paul and a set of BBQ pickups that I haven’t used. I know the pickups are hot, but have never tried them. Might as well give it a shot. I’ll be stylin’ with the KoRn sound in no time. Then all I need is some dreds in my hair and I’ll feel like a young man again. :silly:

[carlos seo]

Go .11 ! My black SG sounds awsome and very heavy with these!