Electric Guitar, Anypony?

[MixolydianPony]

So I really want to have a guitar in drop C. I'm looking for advice on what the best way to go about this is. I know very little about alternate tunings.

The guitar I want to use is a PRS Custom 24, which is an intermediate quality guitar with some fairly hot pickups, that do pinched harmonics really well. Later on, when I have money, I want to replace the pickups with some better ones, so I'll need recommendations on that.

So as far as I know, to use a lower tuning, I would need to adjust the action, the tremolo bridge, the intonation, and use a heavier string gauge. Is there anything I'm missing that could cause a problem? Also, do you think I could save money by adjusting all that stuff myself, or would I risk damaging the instrument?

[ChromaticChaosPony]

Drop C (from low to high) is C-G-D-F-A-D. In all drop tunings, the lowest 3 open notes form a powerchord, which is great for heavy music.

PRS guitars are f**king amazing! Between the Buried and Me, Opeth, and Porcupine Tree all use PRS guitars. They downtune their guitars, so drop C and drop B should be safe. I would not tune lower than drop B or drop A# on a PRS ever. If you ever felt the need for B standard or drop A, or even lower, I would recommend buying a 7 string guitar. Even though I switched straight from 6 string to 8 string, I should have had a 7 string in between so that I didn't stretch my hands too much.

As far as adjustments, you probably won't need to to make that many for drop C, just mainly using thicker strings and possibly some slight adjustments to the action (nothing too serious). I would leave action to a pro or not mess with it at all, but you could easily restring at home on your own using an internet guide or something. It only gets difficult for me because my Jackson has a Floyd Rose tremelo system (which make restringing much harder), and sets of 8 strings for my Schecter 8 string are hard to find in stores, you have to get them from the internet (which takes days, and I don't have a credit card). Its a miracle stock strings and Ernie Ball strings last so long, otherwise I would lose my mind.

Drop C? Does this mean you're trying to get in on the collab? If so, awesome!

[MixolydianPony]

My PRS isn't a very nice one, though. Probably one of the cheapest models they make. I bought it specifically for a local musician's Christmas tour I was hired to play on, because my guitar before that one sucked like you wouldn't believe.

I want a 7-string, but you know... a pack of thick strings are a lot cheaper.

I would like to get in on the collab, if you'll have me.

If the adjustment isn't as intensive as I thought, I might tune my Suhr to drop C... It has a Floyd Rose, which is why I didn't want to mess with it in terms of tuning. I want to keep it in standard. Unless... Is there a way I could easily switch between drop C and D standard with a Floyd Rose, or is that impossible?

[MixolydianPony]

But I could configure it for drop C and leave it that way?

[ChromaticChaosPony]

I have tuned my Jackson to every imaginable tuning between standard and drop Ab, and have always maintained decent tone (it is a great guitar). I'm honestly not sure how other guitars will react to this. You might need to ask a local guitar technician or something, I'm pretty sure that I'm doing something wrong even though I have gone a full year with no issues whatsoever.

[ChromaticChaosPony]

I can't remember if I'm still using the stock strings or put on the Ernie Ball 0.11's. Either way, it needs to be restringed before I begin recording for the album collab (I haven't done that since before I got the 8 string).

[MixolydianPony]

Well, I now have a reasonable guitar in drop B.

However, moving from .09's to .013's is like playing on steel cables.

[MixolydianPony]

Stevie Ray Vaughan did it on 13's.

[ChromaticChaosPony]

I can get drop A with .11s on my guitar. Am I doing something wrong?

[ChromaticChaosPony]

Actually, my guitar is fine. I will eventually try to get a fanned fret guitar, but that could take years.

[ChromaticChaosPony]

It would be cool though... If only I had money...

[ChromaticChaosPony]

Yeah, but you're probably old enough to be hired. I can't find a single place in Brandon, FL that will take a 15 year old.

[Pickslide1992]

I'm waiting until I get a good amount of college done before I get a job. I'm 19 BTW.

[ChromaticChaosPony]

I just want a part time job right now so I can pay for stuff that I need.

[MixolydianPony]

Don't let this thread DIIIIIIEEEEEEEEEE.

Who are some of your influences on your technique?
How/Why/When did you start playing?
What is your dream guitar?

I'll go ahead and answer those as quickly as I can.

Biggest influences: Nuno Bettencourt (funk rock), Brian Setzer (blues, rockabilly), Steve Vai (practice philosophy and weird noises), John Petrucci's rhythm playing.

I started playing about 6 years ago, simply because I thought guitar would be fun and cool to play. Now, I do it for the women for the mares to express myself, have fun, and bring new and exciting ideas to the world of music.

My dream guitar is a custom Suhr. I could rattle off the specifications, but you don't care, and it would be sufficient to say that Suhr makes super-strats that can do anything from jazz to metal. 24 frets, Floyd Rose, the best pickups money can buy. A custom one runs for about $5000. One day...

[ChromaticChaosPony]

Who are some of your influences on your technique?: Tosin Abasi, Paul Wagoner, John Petrucci, Kirk Hammet, Kerry King, Dave Murray, Mikael Akerfeldt, Misha Mansoor, Nolly (other dude from Periphery), Mark Holcomb, Steven Wilson, Marc Okubo, Steve Vai, Joe Satriani, Luke Jaeger, Muhammed Suicmez, Rusty Cooley, and the list goes on...
How/Why/When did you start playing?: Started listening to Metallica at 11, got first guitar at 12, started listening to more metal at 13/14, actually played with consistency from 14 onward. I'm 15 now.
What is your dream guitar?: Sketch .strandberg* 8 string guitar

[MixolydianPony]

What is up with those frets?

[MixolydianPony]

They're crooked...

[Facade]

What is your dream guitar?

im all set with my ibenez acoustic though a nice ibenez 7 string would be great

[MixolydianPony]

They're crooked...

but there's alot of guitars that are like that. XD

I've never seen one before.

[Facade]

haha ive always wanted to build a custom guitar

[ChromaticChaosPony]

.strandberg* guitars are custom made. I would get mine custom with bareknuckle pickups so I could play djent on it. They have great tone. Maybe if I ever have $4000...

[Trillionage]

His guitar looks like a quarter tone guitar, at least for the lower frets. I'm still confused by the M. C. Escher neck, though.

[MixolydianPony]

sexy guitars are sexy. Get over it.

have you seen my guitar?

No. I want pics.




In other news, how does everyone feel about the whole tube vs. solid state amplifiers debate?

[MixolydianPony]

sexy guitars are sexy. Get over it.

have you seen my guitar?

No. I want pics.




In other news, how does everyone feel about the whole tube vs. solid state amplifiers debate?

tubes are more expensive, but they give you a better electric range and it helps alot in neck braced notation and Gain. :3
I use tubes because they rule.

I currently use a solid state amp... this one

And I'm starting to hate the tone... I've got a $2,500 guitar and a $300 amp... time for an upgrade? What would you recommend if I'm looking for a wide variety of tones, but mainly focusing on a John Petrucci sort of sound?