well, for me 12-54 is perfect for D standard. everybody is different tho. i like tighter strings and low action
Optimum tuning for 'Old School' Death Metal
So after realising that 'lower tuning' isn't synonymous with 'heavier tone' I've started to think about what the best low tuning for OSDM would be. I say Old Death Metal in particular because, lets face it, it's the best.
My first mistake was buying a 14-68 set for my 27" ESP EC-401B and thinking it would go down to F standard without any issues and then getting a 13-56 set to go to B. This was too tight for all but for the low B, which was at pretty much perfect tension so I needed to go to A# to get the tension I was comfortable with but then that put the B out of tension just enough to make it too muddy.
While playing around with these string I found that personally I wasn't too keen on how the thick (ish) 56 felt, even at perfect tension. It wasn't comfortable for me. It also made me consider the timings that most of my favourite DM bands played in and realised that they never went lower than about C#/C Standard but still sounded incredibly heavy.
I'm planning on getting a 12-54 set and going to C but wand to get some other two cents before I go. I know it's all personal preference but I think it would be interesting to hear some of your experiences.
My first mistake was buying a 14-68 set for my 27" ESP EC-401B and thinking it would go down to F standard without any issues and then getting a 13-56 set to go to B. This was too tight for all but for the low B, which was at pretty much perfect tension so I needed to go to A# to get the tension I was comfortable with but then that put the B out of tension just enough to make it too muddy.
While playing around with these string I found that personally I wasn't too keen on how the thick (ish) 56 felt, even at perfect tension. It wasn't comfortable for me. It also made me consider the timings that most of my favourite DM bands played in and realised that they never went lower than about C#/C Standard but still sounded incredibly heavy.
I'm planning on getting a 12-54 set and going to C but wand to get some other two cents before I go. I know it's all personal preference but I think it would be interesting to hear some of your experiences.
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theres a million threads on what strings are best for what. Ideally i like 12 - 56 for B and 11 - 56 for C.
If i had a baritone scale id probably drop to a 54 for B and 52 for C.
This stuff is personal preference really a lot of older bands tune to B standard eg Carcass, at the gates, entombed. But Morbid Angel and Cannibal corpse have plenty of great stuff in Eb.
If i had a baritone scale id probably drop to a 54 for B and 52 for C.
This stuff is personal preference really a lot of older bands tune to B standard eg Carcass, at the gates, entombed. But Morbid Angel and Cannibal corpse have plenty of great stuff in Eb.
I tune my 27" scale ESP/LTD to B, and actually just went way down to 56-13's. A jazz medium set. They're not very floppy at all, and the tone remained really thick. It's really stable. In 2004 the guitar shipped with the 56-13 - 56-46-36-26W-17-13. I figured that I'd go back to the factory gauges and see what happened. I'm really happy with how it plays now, and the action is nice and low.
It's a six string, BTW.
It's a six string, BTW.
Wirelessly posted
I had 12-60 for C standard on mh SE custom 24 and my LTD (25" and 25.5") both times the 60 felt a little loose but that's me.
I had 12-60 for C standard on mh SE custom 24 and my LTD (25" and 25.5") both times the 60 felt a little loose but that's me.
I've been tuning DGCFAD for 3-4 years now. Best all around tuning out there IMO. D'addario EXL116 (52-11), although sometimes I go for EXL110+ (48-10.5) when the guitar can take it for a change.
Very rarely I tune 5 semitones to B. Tried the EB "Not Even Slinky" set, I think that's 56-12 or something. That set fucking sucks. Avoid it like the plague.
Very rarely I tune 5 semitones to B. Tried the EB "Not Even Slinky" set, I think that's 56-12 or something. That set fucking sucks. Avoid it like the plague.
Personally, I think D standard is just the best for old school death metal. Its low enough to be heavy, but still has bite.
Thanks for the responses. I think I'll probably get an 11-52 set and 12-54 set to see which has the tension I like the most in C/C#. I'll probably get a set for D too, so see if I don't mind the sound. I know Death went down to D but I thought that Entombed played in C# for Left Hand Path?
Are you interested in only covering, or are you wanting to create your own? If the latter, Entombed using C# is of little relevance, its all about what sounds best for the music you come up with.Thanks for the responses. I think I'll probably get an 11-52 set and 12-54 set to see which has the tension I like the most in C/C#. I'll probably get a set for D too, so see if I don't mind the sound. I know Death went down to D but I thought that Entombed played in C# for Left Hand Path?
Writing my own material and possibly covering. Thanks for the clarification.Are you interested in only covering, or are you wanting to create your own? If the latter, Entombed using C# is of little relevance, its all about what sounds best for the music you come up with.
do you use 5 trem springs?! that seems insane.Wirelessly posted
I had 12-60 for C standard on mh SE custom 24 and my LTD (25" and 25.5") both times the 60 felt a little loose but that's me.
pretty sure Left Hand Path is in B standard as i was playing along to it last night!
D or Bb. Don't ask me why; they're just the ones I always default to.:lol:
I've been experimenting with this very thing for the last 6 months, and I, personally, think that C# standard is the perfect tuning for death metal.
It's high enough to be articulate on fast parts, and low enough to have that real grind and fatness. It also means you can go down to drop B if you want some extra chunk.
I had 11-52 and it felt just right, but recently I've been more partial to slightly thicker gauges, so 12's would be ideal for me.
It's high enough to be articulate on fast parts, and low enough to have that real grind and fatness. It also means you can go down to drop B if you want some extra chunk.
I had 11-52 and it felt just right, but recently I've been more partial to slightly thicker gauges, so 12's would be ideal for me.
Whatever you like the sound of most. At the moment my main guitars are in drop A# and drop A, all strung 12-60. I'm not sure I play outright death metal (let alone old school) but theres some of that in there. Origin (drop B), nile (drop A), cryptopsy (B) being among the people I try to rip off...I mean...errr...am influenced by.
Gauge really depends on the guitar as well as tuning, and not just its scale. Not all guitars have the same low end response (and just as importantly, top end and attack/note definition), so some mud up with heavier strings faster than others, and some need them, or at least benefit from them. Different bridge and headstock designs lead to different tensions for the same scale as well.
Just experiment and use what feels and sounds best to you (tuning and strings).
Gauge really depends on the guitar as well as tuning, and not just its scale. Not all guitars have the same low end response (and just as importantly, top end and attack/note definition), so some mud up with heavier strings faster than others, and some need them, or at least benefit from them. Different bridge and headstock designs lead to different tensions for the same scale as well.
Just experiment and use what feels and sounds best to you (tuning and strings).
this question is retarded. it's personal opinion.
use a 7 string for lows and highs.
early CC was in Eb. now they tune to A or some dumb shit
use your braaaaaaaaaaaiiinnssss
use a 7 string for lows and highs.
early CC was in Eb. now they tune to A or some dumb shit
use your braaaaaaaaaaaiiinnssss
I also use a 7, tuned down a 1/2 step. CC used G# standard on some of their songs, since KILL.this question is retarded. it's personal opinion.
use a 7 string for lows and highs.
early CC was in Eb. now they tune to A or some dumb shit
use your braaaaaaaaaaaiiinnssss
Haha, yeah.. And "Unskinny Bop" was a death metal chart topper, too.Yep. Besides being known for dolling up like a pre-op tranny, he's one of the best guitarists in death metal.
Oh my GOD that chick is HOT.![]()
Yep. Besides being known for dolling up like a pre-op tranny, he's one of the best guitarists in death metal.
Is that Liter 4?
Some of Wolverine Blues is in drop Bb apparently. It kinda sounds like a deflated party balloon though.Thanks for the responses. I think I'll probably get an 11-52 set and 12-54 set to see which has the tension I like the most in C/C#. I'll probably get a set for D too, so see if I don't mind the sound. I know Death went down to D but I thought that Entombed played in C# for Left Hand Path?
1 - 20 of 27 Posts
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