Question: String Gauge For D Standard Tuning?

sonik

sonik

Motor City Madman
I've typically tuned my main acoustic and electric to D standard, I've tried different gauges and I'm never quite satisfied at least with the electric. With the acoustic it's fine.

So to the question at hand, obviously a lot of personal preference, but what do you think is an ideal set for D standard (DGCFAD) tuning?

Looking for gauge numbers for each string, not just answers of 13's!

The guitar in question is 25" scale length with a wilkinson vibrato

Feel free to move :thu:
 
I can't help you on specific gauges, sorry. I tried putting 11's on my Carvin CT6.....just like the 10-46 pack, but one size thicker on each string.....but I had a couple of strings start pinging at the nut with those gauges.

Other than the nut binding issues they seemed to work fairly well, tension-wise.
 
What scale do you use for standard tuning? D is only 1 step down, not sure why you're not satisfied...

I use a 10-46 set for all my electrics and find it perfectly functional for a 1 step drop...
 
jelloman said:
What scale do you use for standard tuning? D is only 1 step down, not sure why you're not satisfied...

I use a 10-46 set for all my electrics and find it perfectly functional for a 1 step drop...
Click to expand...

10-46 for E, I've also used that set for D, and I've tried 11-48 sets. I guess it's not completely about being unsatisfied, just more a feeling of "It could be better..." :embarrassed:

For what it's worth I also use drop C occasionally when in D standard.

Guitar styles being played kinda run the gamut, but centre around a 70's hard rock vibe, and some classic metal stuff, no black/doom/sludge/death/mud metal.
 
sonik said:
10-46 for E, I've also used that set for D, and I've tried 11-48 sets. I guess it's not completely about being unsatisfied, just more a feeling of "It could be better..." :embarrassed:

For what it's worth I also use drop C occasionally when in D standard.

Guitar styles being played kinda run the gamut, but centre around a 70's hard rock vibe, and some classic metal stuff, no black/doom/sludge/death/mud metal.
Click to expand...
I'd probably find a set that runs 12-52 then...
 
10-13-17-30-42-52 works great for me on my Strats and Teles when I tune down to D standard to play stoner rock!
 
Depends on how technical you want to get.
I calculate each gauge for as close to equal tensions across the neck as possible.
Even if you go light top, heavy bottom, you can gradually increase the tension of the next heavier string and average them out until you
reach your heaviest strings tension, thus even increase as you go.

Makes the neck way nicer to play as you don't have major differences in the middle strings or on either end, very well balanced both in sound and playability.

Not to say you couldn't hone it from there to find your perfect set.

But then again, if you're looking for just off the shelf sets, none of this applies.

LMK if you are interested and I'll send you the link to a chart and calculator that I use.

I found this info from someone who was selling these custom sets and how he calculated them, I tried this myself and have never looked back.

LMK
 
I'm not at all opposed to custom sets. Balance sounds good to me :thu:

13 for the high string is probably a bit tough for my girlish hands :embarrassed:
 
http://old.fusedimprov.com/TECH_STUFF/TECH_STUFF.html

This is a pretty good string gauge chart....
Enter the scale length at the top.
Use the chart to determine the tensions.

I usually start with the desired high E string gauge and then work each gauge across the neck.
So as an example, if he high E is 10lbs, I might try to find the B string with something extremely close to 10...
OR if you want, go up a little, maybe 11, and then G at 12

THen if you want to go heavy on the wounds, pick a low E that you like and work it back twords the middle.

Depending on your desired objective, get the D and G super close and recalc the A and B...

You get the idea.

I have guitars where they are 17 lbs across the neck, give or take a half pound, you have to work with whats available.

Then once I have it all worked out and I played them for a while and like them, I order singles in bulk packs...

There are also string calculators (at work so don't have the link) but I use them to double check...
 
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