drop tuning a standard scale guitar to A?!...

[K.platyops]

I picked up an SG off of Ebay. What I didn't know was that it was set up for B standard/drop A tuning. I was curious whether other guitarists use 24.75" scale guitars to downtune this low? Does anyone tune a standard scale guitar to drop A?

Should I keep it this way, or just save drop tuning to A for my 27" scale baritone? I'm still not that experienced with down tuning this severely, so any input would be helpful.

[whyflipoverthefrog]

Get a 7-string set of strings, and leave off the top one.

[Angry Grimace]

Or even better, don't play in ultra low death metal tuning and tune to something more musical, like, oh I don't know, E.

[yabba]

Or even better, don't play in ultra low death metal tuning and tune to something more musical, like, oh I don't know, E.

 

I tune to E or Eb, but this is just silly. tuning to E is more 'musical' than B or A?

 

Dminor is the saddest of all keys?

[metalhead307]

Tune where ever you want dude. A lot of bands have 24.75 and tune WAY down. It works, you just have to set the guitar up right with heavy strings.

[Introspectre]

I picked up an SG off of Ebay. What I didn't know was that it was set up for B standard/drop A tuning. I was curious whether other guitarists use 24.75" scale guitars to downtune this low? Does anyone tune a standard scale guitar to drop A? Should I keep it this way, or just save drop tuning to A for my 27" scale baritone? I'm still not that experienced with down tuning this severely, so any input would be helpful.

I've had my SG that low before. With thick enough strings, you can tune as low as you want. You don't need a baritone or seven string to detune.

[BrendanO]

I do that. I use a 70-14 set on a 24.75", and tune to A standard.

[bunghole]

Nile tunes to A, and I've seen them use Dean flying Vs

[DracoAran]

Problem is intonating a guitar that wasn't made for such a low tuning. It's not the saddles or the nut, but the placement of the frets.

Why would you not use your baritone for that?.

[Chrisjd]

I wouldnt tune that low on that scale, but you can make it work... C is the lowest i would go on a 24.75 scale.

[Adam Poland]

I feel that my strings are really really rubberband-like in C with Beefy Slinkies, but I don't really like 25.5" scale guitars because every guitar I've played since I started has been 24.75" and it wasn't by choice. It was just because I knew nothing of guitars until about a year or two ago. With a proper professional setup, though, I think I'd feel much better. I've played a friend's SG tuned to B and he got a professional setup and it felt amazing and he was only using D'Addario Jazz Lights.

 

Safest bet for A would be on a 25.5" scale. Anything lower and you would need a baritone. Everything just gets all cramped feeling after that.

[phyrexia]

I use EXL115s (11-52?) and going down to C is fine with me.

[bob the dentist]

I wouldnt tune that low on that scale, but you can make it work... C is the lowest i would go on a 24.75 scale.

 

 

+1

 

It just starts feeling weird at that point...if you wanted to tune lower you'd have to use 13's or 14's or something, which is just nuts IMO.

[mseriously30]

I thought I had my guitar set up for low tuning at B, then tried an extended scale guitar. The action/feel is night and day.

Like someone else said, the lowest I would go on a standard scale 24.75 is C.