High A tuning gauge question.

[gemm012]

I'm thinking of tuning an 8 string guitar up to a high A instead of a low F# or whatever note it is, and I was wondering if I would be able to find a string that would be thin enough to do that on without it breaking. I tried tuning my brother's Strat's .009 high E up to an A and it broke, SHHHHHHHHH. I would be using a fixed bridge if that helps. Thanks.
Galen.

[Progdude]

An 8 would work. 7 might too. it might be a bit hard to find a 7. the shop I teach at has some 7s!

[Chud]

I've seen it being done with basses (albeit 9-string basses), but i've never really seen it on guitars.

I think Wes Borland (Limp Bizkit's guitarist) tunned his 7-strings with an extra E or something, so i'm sure it's possible.

[Jim Soloway]

Lenny Breau used to do it but he had a 24 inh scale length. I suspect that with a high A, you'll end up breaking too many strings. What you can do though is to tune the entire instrument down a full tone and then add a high G. That would give you DGCFADG. Youll get a little more size and warmth from tuning down a tone and the same relative pitch on the added string as you would with the high A.

[sniperfrommars1]

George lynch used and esp with a high a, i think he only used like a 8 or 9 gauge string for the high a though. Alex Gregory did the same thing as well, but we all know hes about as well liked as ed roman around here

[Tsorovan]

Originally Posted by Chud

I've seen it being done with basses (albeit 9-string basses), but i've never really seen it on guitars.

I think Wes Borland (Limp Bizkit's guitarist) tunned his 7-strings with an extra E or something, so i'm sure it's possible.

I'm naturally no Borland expert but I'm reasonably sure that was a unison E.

[whatshisname]

Yeah, Wes just strung his guitars up like a six string, but had two high E strings.

I think Jim's suggestion is the best, and makes the most sense. That's what I would do, anyway.

[sniperfrommars1]

Originally Posted by whatshisname

Yeah, Wes just strung his guitars up like a six string, but had two high E strings.

I think Jim's suggestion is the best, and makes the most sense. That's what I would do, anyway.

The unison strings actually sound really cool if youve ever tuned like that before

[whatshisname]

No, I've never tried it. I do remember Wes saying that he'd play on the one E, while letting the other act as a drone note. You could probably tune one of them slightly sharp, or flat, for an interesting kind of chorus effect.

[Given to Fly]

I had an 8 string and an .008 did not work. The guitar tech and I were able to get it to an A and G# but it always broke seconds after. With an .008 we could get a steady G, but that's about it. I think to go higher than that you need a .007.

[Papa_Shank]

you really need a multiple scale for such a tuning on a guitar, I can't remember exactly but Bill Conklin suggests 22.75" or something along those lines for the high A to make it stable.