guitar tuner drop c sharp

Guitar and Bass Setups for Drop Tuning

Do you keep your guitar or bass drop tuned? Have you ever noticed that your instruments' intonation is slightly off, or the strings are too loose when you leave the fall tuned for long? You can fix a lot of the quirks caused by long-term drop tuning with a few of the simple adjustments described in this article.

Measuring Initial Setup

Before you begin any of the following adjustments tune your instrument to the desired pitch and record measurements of its efforts, relief and intonation. You need a set of feeler gauges or a ruler with 1 / 64 inch or 1 / 10 millimeter projection and a chromatic tuner (spend $ 20 or more on the tuner). To measure the relief, fret the first and seventeenth fret of the lowest string simultaneously, then measure the distance between the seventh band and bottom of the string. Repeat for the highest string. Then take your fingers away from tape and measure distance between the 12th band and bottom of the lowest string, this is the story. Again, repeat the highest string. Target intonation of each string by comparing the difference between its tuning when the game opens up and tuning, when played on the 12th fret. For a more detailed guide to reading and setting intonation, Read Xylem article I Can not Get My Guitar to Tune Up! A Little Thing Called Intonation.

Strings for Drop Tuning

Drop tuned instruments sometimes suffer from strings that feels too loose or "floppy". Using the right combination of strings can help to improve this problem. Heavier gauge strings of the same brand and type you currently use on your instrument can reduce string flop, as thicker strings will require more voltage to achieve the same pitch. In addition, some string brands / types feel "stiffer" than other strings, and will also help reduce string flop. To find a stiffer set of strings, called a few string manufacturers and explain that you are looking for stiffer strings for a drop tuned instrument that is not necessarily a heavier gauge. Some string manufacturers even offer strings that are specifically designed for drop tuning. Finally, many four-string bass players want to know if they can string their bass with the four lowest strings on a five string set for drop tuning. That is fine, but you'll have to change nut to accommodate the larger gauges.

Even if you using strings that are only slightly heavier gauge, you may still want to expand the nut slots on your guitar or bass. Expand slot should you buy a set of nut files (Pictured in Figure 1 ) which is slightly larger than the string gauges you've chosen (try to get files are approximately, 003 "larger than your string gauges, but not exceed 004" major). You can get measured nut files from most luthier utilities. After filing of the slots, make sure to maintain the angle and depth of the current slots. Be careful and go slowly, file too much and you may have to replace your nut. If you are uncomfortable filing of nut, you should take your instrument to a good luthier or technician for the amendment. Once the nut slots are the correct width string your instrument and let it sit for a day or two at the desired option before further adjustments.

Setting Relief and Action

After the instrument has been adjusted to the dropped tuning, playing all the bands for each row and listening attentively to buzz. If the instrument does not buzz you can proceed to intonation section. If the instrument sums may be necessary to adjust the relief and / or withdraw this case. Learn your instrument for emergency again to see if it has changed from your original record. If relief has fallen, loosen the truss rod a bit, if it is increased, tension truss Rod little relief to restore the original settings. You can even adjust embossing a little more if the instrument is still summer, but be careful not to add too much. Generally, you some relief, but not more than the thickness of a credit card. In most cases, if only fret buzz near the nut, the neck needs more relief. Conversely, if the only bands around 12 fret buzz and out, needs less neck relief. If the instrument sums all the way up the neck, raise the matter. If the act must be very high in order to eliminate the buzz, consider taking the instrument to a luthier or repair tech for a proper setup to match dropped tuning.

Note: If you are not familiar with adjusting the truss rod, it is recommended that you ask a qualified luthier or repair tech to adjust them for you. For more information on truss rod adjustments, review article Xylem Improve Your Tone, Action and Sustain without spending a nickel Parts 1-3.

Setting Intonation

After adjusting relief and action you should re-configure the instrument intonation. Once again, use a chromatic tuner with decent quality. If you have an electric instrument with more than one pickup, turn the volume and tone control all the way up and only use the neck pickup for that procedure. You can set the intonation, with instrument playing position, tuning the lowest string to the desired pitch, then played his 12th fret. If the fretted note is sharp compared to the open string you will need to adjust his saddle away from the neck. If the fretted note is flat compared to the open note, you need to adjust the saddle from neck. Be careful when fretting as you can get a false reading from the tuner, if you inadvertently bend fretted note.

Once you've made all these adjustments to your bass or guitar should have no buzz, play in tune more accurately, and the strings must have the right feel for your dropped tuning.

Thanks for reading, see you next month!

Copyright © Anthony Olinger, Xylem Handmade Basses and Guitars 2009th

About the Author

Anthony is a professional luthier specializing in making and repairing handmade electric basses and guitars. He owns and operates Xylem Handmade Basses and Guitars. You can visit Xylem on the web at Xylem Handmade Basses and Guitars website.

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