What's your string gauge?

[ciofanid]

I will start this off by saying I tried to search for a similar post but couldn't find one, so forgive me if this post already exists.

I currently run a Goc Illumina multi-scale 7 string, 25.5" - 27", in which I tune Drop A with a low D as my lowest string. I'm using a standard EXL140-8 8 string set of strings, ditched the .010 (high string) and used the lowest 7 strings to make my set. The top six strings that constitute my Drop A tuning portion of the guitar feel absolutely perfect. The .074 that I'm tuning to D below that is kinda floppy and I'm noticing that it's quieter than the rest of my strings (acoustically as well as through an amp) because of this. I have measured the pickup height and assured that it's not that issue and since it's acoustically quieter I determined that it's indeed not electronics causing this perceived volume difference.

My question for you all is: What gauge do you prefer for your lowest string? Hopefully it's around the same note and scale length as me so it's relative!

Thanks everyone! Keep riffin'
-Dom

 

[budda]

24.75 in B is a 56 in E is 46.

25 will be 52 at E or D (tbd)

25.5 is 46 in E.

 

[sleewell]

10-52 drop C 25.5

 

[Xaeldaren]

27" - D standard: 9.5, 13, 17, 28, 38, 50.
25.5" - E standard: 9, 12, 15, 26, 34, 46.

 

[wheresthefbomb]

B/drop A is a 62 on 27"

 

[The Mirror]

I don't really think in gauge anymore since I went full custom strings.

I only use tension depending on the tuning. A few years ago I was going with 18 lbs on the plain and 20 lbs on the wound strings, but over the course of the last year I went down to 16 lbs plain and 18 lbs wound. Worked wonders for consistency with me. Every guitar and every tuning feels exactly the same.

So really I just use a tension calculator for the tuning / scale length I want and buy the strings I need to get that tension.

Pre made sets have and always will suck anyways so the step was only logical for me.

 

[Baelzebeard]

Like The Mirror, I have gone custom gauges.
Beadgbe
62, 48, 36, 26, 16, 13, 9.5

I go appx. 20 lbs wound, 16 lbs plain, based on 25.5" scale. I have found that going thicker on shorter scales gets muddy, and going thinner for longer scales makes them feel looser, because of needing more defelction. So I use the same gauges for all scales 25"-27"
Physics is a bitch.

 

[STRHelvete]

11-56 Drop D Gibson scale.
11-52 Drop D for my Floyd equipped guitar, Fender scale

 

[Mprinsje]

For drop a# 13-62 (on both 25,5 and 24,75 scale)

For drop B 11-56. I'm looking for a set that's a bit thicker than that, preferably 12-58 or 59 but I can't really find anything like that, especially not with a wound g

 

[SalsaWood]

I use NYXL or Elixir 10's on 7 string. With dropped A tuning it's a little goosey, but I like it.

.010"
.013
.017
.026
.036
.046
.059

 

[c7spheres]

To thick for most tastes but I use these. The highs will likey become plain 12,14 and the bnr24 will likely become a dy24 after using this set years. I tune Bb standard (yes, 432hz, though I may go back to A# 426-427) These guages work in standar 440hz well too on 25.5 scale. Most will think it's to thick, flubby, dead etc. but that's because they don't hit strings hard.

GHS;
dy70
dy56
dy44
dy30
bnr24
cr11
cr13

You're probably looking for a 62 or 65 67 for your low from what it sounds like.

 

[KentBrockman]

I use 9-42 in E standard. I bought a few new Ibanezes between 2009-2016 and they all came with that gauge and I saw no reason to change.

On my 7-strings, I use 9-54.

 

[TheWarAgainstTime]

My main 6 string is a 25" scale tuned to drop B. Gauges are 11, 15, 25w, 34, 44, 62

My main 7 string is a 27" scale tuned to drop Bb with a low F. Gauges are 21, 15, 25w, 34, 44, 62, 80

 

[Grindspine]

It really depends on tuning and scale length. Most of my strings are D'addario NYXL at this point except for Elixers on my Taylor. As far as my electrics, they are as follows:
10-46 E standard
11-50 Eb
12-54 C#
13-59 BEADF#B

For my seven stringers I use 10-59 on my RGDs at Bb and A, 11-64 on my RG at A. My 8 string multiscale has 9-74 at F#. My high five string bass has 32-100 with a low E, my low 5 string basses have 45-130 with a low B.

 

[Muzz]

27" 7 String half step down (Bb Eb Ab Db Gb Bb Eb)
10-52 + 74

 

[PuckishGuitar]

D'Addario NYXL, I like to keep total 6 string tension around 95 lbs, feels like I get cleaner picking attack. Although I sometimes tune my beater 24.75" scale to floppy strings for teh sludgy duum.

E 25.5" - 9-46
E 25" - 9-46
Eb 25.5" - 10-52 (10 lbs more tension than the others, considering lately trying a 10-46 set and change the E to a 52 to get back to my target tension, but it has never really bothered me)
D 24.75" - 11-52
C# 24.75" - 11-56
C# 25.5" - 11-56
A 26.5" seven string - 10-59

 

[ExMachina]

On the 27" 8 string I use NYXL 9-80 set and swap the 80 for a 76. I found that the 10, 13/13.5, 17 on the high strings was just too bright and I like the lower tension more.

On the 25.5 tuned to be I use the string joy balanced tension 13s, might try a bit lower next time.

 

[NoodleFace]

25.5" 7 String in B - D'addario 9-54
26.5"/27" 7 String in A - D'addario 10-59

I find those two combined give a similar tension across my 3 7s.

My Gibson LP (24.75") in standard I use D'addario 9-42

 

[SamSam]

9 to 52 for Drop C at 25.5

9.5 to 66 for G# standard (7) at 26.5 or 27.

 

[Dayn]

I've experimented a lot over the years, but the general baseline for standard tuning E to E is 9-44 from Winspear. If you want to talk lowest strings, then:

1. 27" straight scale: B1 is .058, E1 is .090. I used to use .080, then .090, then .086, then .080... it's changed a bit.
2. 25.5" to 26.25": B1 is .058.
3. 25.5" to 28.3": A1 is .062, D1 is .090. I don't know what it is, but that .090 at D1 kicks ass. Going down to C#1 didn't suit it, but D1 did. I've also used .046 for Eb2, .060 for Bb1, and .080 for F1 and Eb1.
4. 27" to 30": because this is a large 10-string, I dropped the higher wound strings so it's more 9-42. Otherwise, B1 is .056, F#1 is .072, C#1 is .094, and G#0 is .120. The .120 barely suffices, but given how low it is, it'll do.

I used to use very light strings, but the balanced tension of 9-44 is what I generally aim for with any tuning I use.