8 String Set on a 6 String Down Tune Experiment

I had a standard 25.5 LTD f50 and decided to put 16-80 gauge strings on it. Is it possible? Does it Djent? Here's how to do it if you wanna try it yourself!

[@Livesinashack]

I was more impressed that the E sounded so good clean. Sounded like an actual bass.

[@Tilosender]

Because of the pick ups... I Tried same on a Low budget guitar... Same strings and sound so Bad that I almoss get the maroon note 😂

[@zAvAvAz]

Neck would bending like a bow to fire an arrow yee hee he hee! It is not tuned to E4 i hope or snap that neck it could trust yoda, you seek yoda find him you did i see yeeh hehehehehee. Yoda sees it must be tuned as the bottom strings in the 8 string or a few notes higher.

[@srmlive_]

While my Truss Rod Djently weeps

[@ForsytheVideo]

Due to the low tuning the string tension was actually not bad. Thanks for watching!

[@Livesinashack]

🤣😂

[@The_Nameless_1]

My concern was that actually there might be NOT ENOUGH TENSION for such a low tuning not to be muddy. So what I did, and would recomment @ForsytheVideo to try, is to go even heavier: I got a cheap used Startocaster copy. No big loss if I make it unusable. Got an old set of extra ligth bass strings. Gauges: 95 75 55 40 Also got 2 guitar strings, a wound 28 and a plain 18. Filed the nut, cut the bass strings to size, unwound the last few cm of the 95 gauge to fit into the tuning peg (the 75 still fit, only just), and put the strings on, tuned to EADGCF (like a 6 string bass in tenor tuning). Works fine! With the right pickup settings it sounds great!

[@zAvAvAz]

@@The_Nameless_1 isn't eadgcf just standard without the interval and just a straight cycle of fifths non stop?

[@The_Nameless_1]

@@zAvAvAz Yes, it is, but in this case it is a whole octave down.

[@didymuskvist]

I own the same guitar and put 80s on it for my band so I didnt need to get an 8 string. It plays very well and sounds great.

[@Wulfplague]

Can't express the joy I felt as soon as I saw the thumbail. I have the exact same guitar (the red version) and am planning on doing this exact conversion. I put Seymour Duncan Invaders in the neck and bridge 'cause I love that pickup. You've given me confidence this tuning will work out perfectly.

[@debbidonosenshi]

Oh dang! I did this to my sl2 soloist a while back! I had to route out the pickup slot to fit emg 85(active) on bridge and emg hz4 (passive) for neck. Same thing had to drill out the string tuner and had to dremel the bridge as it was a floyd rose and kinked without it. Dude it sounds so fkn sick at drop g rn. I'm happy to see someone had the same idea, I just wanted an 8 string sound so i figured that all might work!!! Good job bro it's a really cool mod I think

[@zAvAvAz]

i routed an ibby factory trem guitar for 9 string pickups and put the heaviest slant on you have ever seen with custom pickguard. it works aweshomely.

[@TheRomanoLV]

Where can I get one of those industry grade string testers? Or is that a secret?

[@ForsytheVideo]

This one was found under a car in front of a music store, so my suggestion would be to walk around dark parking lots with a bag of tuna and hope for the best.

[@PlagueWave]

@@ForsytheVideo I just went to pecto

[@zAvAvAz]

@@PlagueWave yeah petco is right next to guitar center, i wonder if they hide them.

[@PlagueWave]

@@zAvAvAz hum

[@tylerhanley9911]

I'm happy to hear others have done this and are doing it. People have looked at me like I'm nuts and have said that I'm nuts, for doing this. Ltd seems to be the way to go as well. Lol. I have an older mh100 that I put 24-105s on. It's been quite surprising so far. Needs a little work yet, mostly action related. It's a project I may continue with.

[@bhante1345]

I've been thinking of doing this all day, and never thought to check youtube, so badass, will defo fix up that old guitar in the attic now.

[@ForsytheVideo]

It's fun!

[@kodiacjackson7310]

Hey man, I play with 70s on a 6 string and they don't fit in the tuning machine holes but I've never had to bore them out, I usually just unwind the tip of the string far enough so I can get a couple of winds around the peg and I haven't messed with the integrity of my guitar.

[@ForsytheVideo]

This to me is an easier solution than unwinding a string each time I change them, I'm surprised 70's don't fit yours though. Honestly if you play with strings in this gauge range I'd recommend higher quality tuners than stock anyway.

[@samts542]

That E sounds so good though. Reminds me a lot of Enterprise Earth.

[@KreyZ8]

Loved this! Can't wait to see more on the Drop E!

[@ForsytheVideo]

Thanks man! Hopefully soon.

[@zAvAvAz]

i hope this was F# or G because Drop E is way to high pitch unless your going lower. this is about the perfect tension for an F# on a 25.5" scale length although slightly floppy , its volume or loudness is down so it doesn't drown out the other strings.

[@timsportsman3171]

@@zAvAvAz The E is an octave lower than standard E I believe

[@iconofsin5886]

Dude I love your cat also I can't wait to see what sounds I can do with my new Schecter exotic shredder.

[@PeterIRL2609]

This is a truthly Djentleman

[@smokbandofficial]

got me beat bro I just put a 9 string set on my 6 string lol

[@therealhelmholtz]

true North Carolina

[@Ramble1234]

How

[@sororitysleepawaymortuary1659]

Could I get away with doing that on an 8 string guitar without having to file it down?

[@inkfooltv7854]

sweet video, watched it on Des' account but had to come upstairs and give you props!

[@ForsytheVideo]

Thanks bro!

[@akumakami9727]

This is my very first guitar and I love it :D. Though I have it set up in D standard with 12-60 :) feels so good. I also have my E-II Eclipse that has a 14-80 set up in A standard. Just feels amazing to me! Love the sustain, the tension, plus is nice not playing on spaghetti

[@robinsarebirds1153]

12 to 60s are what I use for B standard how is your guitar not snapping in half lol. Something like (12,16,20,34,46,60) is what I use. They're meant for C standard but in my opinion in C standard they don't sustain or or vibrate as much as I'd like. So the fact you're able to tune them a whole nother step blows my mind because they hold a ridiculous amount of tension even in C standard

[@Ramble1234]

@@robinsarebirds1153 I use 13-60 in D standard. I personally love the higher tension. Electric guitar necks are more resilient than you think. Back in the day, 12 gauges were standard for guitars, especially with jazz musicians. They don't bend a lot. People started experimentig started using banjo strings for lighter gauges. People really liked that so that's how lighter gauges came to be.

[@koolin3613]

Your first guitar is the one from the video? The LTD?

[@NeinFeline]

Thumbs up for the string tester

[@michaeljamesyvnvsh-records9446]

I'm tuning mine to e standard, using 80 g strings. Your video was helpful. Rock on 🤘

[@ForsytheVideo]

Thanks, you too!

[@Spoofaged]

Is the neck now rip? Lol

[@ForsytheVideo]

@@Spoofaged Nah it's fine I gave it to a buddy and he still plays it!

[@Spoofaged]

@@ForsytheVideo haha I was talking to the guy using 80s in standard lol. I figured drop tuning wouldn't be so bad

[@ForsytheVideo]

@@Spoofaged Oh yeah, you right XD

[@bassackwards8821]

Sounds pretty bad ass

[@Woahbro69420]

That's pretty cool bro

[@ForsytheVideo]

Thanks! I think every body needs one.

[@ivensoliveira3148]

Fantastic!

[@ForsytheVideo]

Thanks!

[@MrWillyWonka]

I have a PRS Mike Mushok signature guitar that has a 27.7 inch scale. I took it to my local music shop and gave them a set of Ernie Ball baritone strings (13-72) and asked them to tune it to drop F#. So the 72 gauge string would be used for the F# and the 56-13 remaining strings are used for essentially C# standard tuning. When I went to pick my guitar up, it sounded horrible. The 72 gauge string was so wobbly, and even the lightest gauge strings had so much annoying fret buzz. The guitar tech told me there was nothing else he could do and that I would need thicker gauge strings if I wanted it tighter. I told him there's no way that can be true when other people have told me they tune to F# on baritone guitars and they're using string gauges lighter than 72. Also, this is a baritone guitar, where the longer neck naturally increases string tension. So I was absolutely in awe when he told me there was nothing more he could do. When I brought the guitar back home I fooled around with the bridge saddles a little bit and I was able to get the 72 gauge more tense and firm, but not entirely to my liking. Did my guitar tech not do his job? Or is a 72 gauge truly not thick/heavy enough for F#? And if its not heavy enough, then how are other guitarists able to tune to that note using a lighter gauge string than a 72? I own 3 other baritone guitars that have the same set of strings on them (13-72) and they are tuned to G# on the 72 string. So technically 2 frets higher than F#. The G# plays like a dream and no complaints at all. I don't understand how dropping the tuning 2 frets automatically turns my 72 string into a rubber band and all wobbly. I am hoping you can help me out with this situation. Do I need to try a 74 gauge? Or should I go straight to 80? 80 just seems overkill to me for going to F#. I would've thought you would use 80 for something like you're doing above, with the low E.

[@zAvAvAz]

Just to avoid confusion for anyone out there that does not know this stuff. O.O8O" is the measurement in inches of the thickness, gauge thickness is a term and it is not measured in other gauge measurements. .80" is almost an inch. Gauge strings are not in 'gauge- measurement'. it is in 'inch-measurement' literal measurement in inches. when one says "80 gauge" when they speak about guitar strings; they mean to say O.O8O" inches in diameter thickness. That is again: 'zero point zero eight zero inches. This means it is aproaching POINT 100" inch not = 1" inch. Same in bore sizes in small block chevy or fords or any; when one says 30 over they are saying a shorthand speech of referencing 30 thousandths or = O.O3O" Hope this helps someone that needed the actual numbers to understand if they didn't.

[@ForsytheVideo]

And when one says 'tremolo' in reference to a bridge we know they mean pitch shifter, not volume shifter, which is what a tremolo does. Welcome to the wildly inaccurate world of guitar.

[@NathanielBTM]

i use 11 - 76 on my 6 string 25.5 from anything in Drop C# down to an Octave low G tuning, which is kind of like Drop C, just with the low string tuned down to G. though the string tension suits best for Drop B. if I was going below G. like... drop E tuning... I'd personally get something between around 105 - 113 gauge... a 95 at the very minimum for a low E on a 25.5

[@batkamarri13]

Nice Batman Bed Cover

[@AA-vv5fd]

Wow it sounds like the Wal bass of Justin Chancellor of Tool. I was expecting the intro of Schism from that sound.

[@masonthomas236]

I think I did the opposite of this in high school with my FB-200 and had no idea the B meant baritone (I don't think I even knew what a baritone was) I strung it up like a normal guitar and played it like that for years the scale gave it super jumbo frets and it has a fixed bridge too so you could really beat the crap outta the thing. it was fun to play. I didn't realize it was a baritone until I started owning multiple guitars and google came along and you could look stuff up (i had got it around 2001). I've strung it up as a baritone, but still prefer standard dunno if it's just cuz I'm used to it. I've gone as thick as 52 on the low string but still tuned standard

[@ForsytheVideo]

Sir your fingers must be cucumbers

[@Demon-Knight]

I liked it Richard I thought it sounded pretty cool

[@ForsytheVideo]

Hey thanks man! How have you been?

[@Alzzeth]

Nice bass man

[@ForsytheVideo]

Thanks! Made it m'self.

[@barrymcnicholl4140]

It’s a 6 string piccolo bass. Well done.

[@ForsytheVideo]

Basically! Thanks.

[@fernanditoornopia7850]

Nice

[@ncazrael]

If I was going to do this with 70s, what pickups would you recommend? I have a really nice looking F-50, but yeah the stock pickups are not that great (I mean, for a $200 guitar you can't really expect much).

[@ForsytheVideo]

DiMarzio X2's are sick for downtuned guitar.

[@AcousticSerenity]

Awesome vid. Got a question. I have a 6 string guitar with a 26.5 inch scale. Really wanting to tune to drop a. Whats a good size set that would fit the tuning peg?

[@ForsytheVideo]

I have no idea what type of tuners you have so I can't answer that, but I would get a 7 string set, ditch the high e and use the remaining 6. There is a high probability that a regular low b(.52 to .56 range) string will fit your tuner.

[@AcousticSerenity]

Thanks. I have grover locking tuners

[@MrCaiokem1000]

Did you make drop or tuner standart master?

[@13opacus]

The new viola 😂

[@ryansens6072]

Did you ever end up refinishing it? Couldn't find the video. My first guitar was an LTD f10 starter pack, I used to hate it but now it's gone I kinda wish I had an F shape again. For nostalgias sake

[@ForsytheVideo]

No I ended up getting a good offer for it so I sold it.

[@matthewstacy2451]

Getting ready to do the same but with 7 string for that b string wasn't sure if it would work with 25.5 scale but if that works I should have no problem... Thanks

[@ForsytheVideo]

Yeah that's why I went with an .80 instead of a .72, wanted to get all the tension I could get.

[@sashabagdasarow497]

Using a .74 I was able to go as low as F1, lower it was too floppy.

[@adriellightvale8140]

Alternatively, how to turn a normal guitar into a baritone.

[@ForsytheVideo]

"First, rip out all the frets and extend the neck a few inches. Then move the bridge farther down the body, refret to match the new scale length and string her up!"

[@zAvAvAz]

yeah i prefer a non baritone 6 for tuning the deepest. for personal reasons and secrets i shall not reveal at this time. lol

[@mostlyspace3175]

Wonder if I’d have to go up to 80 gauge on a 30” scale length baritone for Drop E. Maybe I can get away with 72

[@sporkcrx]

Have a 27” seven string I’ve been planning to do this to

[@ForsytheVideo]

That would be a perfect candidate.

[@spookyman5468]

Maybe I missed it in the video, but was wondering what tuning you played it in? Planning on doing this on a cheap guitar I picked up and was wondering just how low I can reasonably go while maintaining intonation.

[@ForsytheVideo]

E to E, but an octave lower than standard.

[@spookyman5468]

ForsytheVideo awesomeee thanks!

[@ForsytheVideo]

@@spookyman5468 Thank yooooo for watching my dumb videos!

[@thesplitking6340]

My warlock does hold it, just stays a few cents off but works well

[@pcbullets8726]

I am now looking through my own collection of guitars to decide which one I am going to do this to.....hahaha 💀🎸🎶

[@ForsytheVideo]

Do it! Hope you been well man.

[@MrRob33]

You said "nut slots" hahahaha

[@ForsytheVideo]

I knew some of my more intellectual viewers were going to say something about that XD

[@ladyjulia4038]

Haha ya nut slots. Hey shut up butthead. This is cool stuff.

[@allofyourdreams]

hey, does it intonate somewhat at the higher frets?

[@ForsytheVideo]

Do you mean go out of pitch? I did have to re-intonate it for these strings to keep it from going sharp in the higher frets. Stays in tune now though, just like a bass.

[@MrCaiokem1000]

video that sounds cool if I want to take the test is it possible to unroll the end of the rope to enter the hole so what tuning to use to not force the arm?

[@ForsytheVideo]

I'm afraid I don't understand the question, but the tuning I used was an octave below E standard.

[@MrCaiokem1000]

@@ForsytheVideo thanks master!

[@hu4lifefuckdeuce]

I would maybe go to f haha but still nice

[@brCharlieNagy]

I was thinking the same thing : turn a regular guitar into super Baritone :-)

[@gmobile6991]

sounds like bfg division on doom 2016

[@METALPLUSGAMING]

much better if replaced by new pickups so it doesn't muddy

[@trecemundos]

9 String Set on a 6 String next, please (also with photos and/or video)

[@ForsytheVideo]

Maybe one day!

[@trecemundos]

@@ForsytheVideo I want to see a guitar with all w strings :)

[@mickthompson5245]

I swear plug ins just make any set up sound good it seems , the round ness from thinker strings seems it can be eqed out

[@ForsytheVideo]

I love your work in Slipknot

[@xxxxoxo1084]

It's so doom, use a mdfkn fuzz pedal, great video! \m/

[@ForsytheVideo]

Thanks!

[@ladyjulia4038]

Would it work well if I tuned the 2 low strings (E and A) to a bass octave but tuned the rest of the guitar to standard E?

[@ForsytheVideo]

Sure, as long as you use smaller gauge strings for the standard tuning. Try it, it could be fun!

[@ladyjulia4038]

@@ForsytheVideo Hey thanks for helping me out. I play in a 2 piece and octave pedals are lame. I stumbled on your video and it got me thinking. Keep killing it friend!

[@ForsytheVideo]

@@ladyjulia4038 Thanks man! Does your duo have any vids up?

[@ladyjulia4038]

@@ForsytheVideo Oh no we are still in the rehearse until it gets tight enough to play live phase. We'll get there though

[@ForsytheVideo]

@@ladyjulia4038 right on. Well, if you remember when you get to that point come back and drop a link. I love checking out new and interesting music!

[@sororitysleepawaymortuary1659]

I've been contemplating doing something like this for a long time. Do you think I could put 9 string guitar strings on an 8 string guitar without having to file it down?

[@ForsytheVideo]

I think at the nine string level they start using bass tuners, so my suggestion would be to get a bass tuner and put it in place of your guitar tuner on your 8 string. You may have to change or trim the tuner key on the bass tuner though to keep it from hitting you other tuners.

[@sororitysleepawaymortuary1659]

@@ForsytheVideo Ah, see that's what I was worried about. I really don't want to file down my guitar incase I want to go back to a set of 8's again. The bass tuner wouldnt be too much of an issue but If the set of 9's wont fit into the string pegs and stuff then that would be an issue.

[@spongebob6664]

Not bad at all

[@akashshesh]

Sounds like intronaut lol

[@pat1012]

I should try this next on my baritone 28" the 6th string hole is wider to fit the fat string easily atleast

[@ForsytheVideo]

Do it!

[@pat1012]

@@ForsytheVideo I'm guessing I would have to do the same thing you did to your 6th string tuning peg to fit the .80

[@jonzambo246]

Your gunna break it!!!!

[@ForsytheVideo]

Hopefully

[@coolguy2873]

6 string djent.

[@aftertheendtimes]

Is it std. tuning ?

[@oddynuff9139]

What size of drill bit though?

[@ForsytheVideo]

One slightly bigger than the existing hole. This was awhile ago so I do not remember exactly.

[@jonathanmerrick9812]

literally mcgordon tone

[@AB-vl6et]

you should've put an overdrive or just equalize the signal, it has way too much bass so it all sounds muddy

[@ForsytheVideo]

If I wanted suggestions I'd star a KZbin channel. Which I did, so thanks for your input!

[@CMDRkarstenvader]

does it djent tho? i was thinking of doing this to record some djenty tunes for fun, because buting 10 dollar strings is better than buying a 500 dollar 8 string guitar.

[@ForsytheVideo]

I sold this ax to a djentleman friend of mine and he loves it. It works but would sound better on a 27"(baritone) scale ax for sure. It's flubby on the 25.5".

[@proxim_24]

do you happen to remember how high the action was? mine’s at around 2.4 mm and people are telling me that’s too high. im also playing drop E on a 25.5 6 string, with the heaviest being a .074 gauge

[@ForsytheVideo]

I don't man sorry, I sold this guitar pretty quick. I know I brought the bass side up a bit to compensate.

[@proxim_24]

ForsytheVideo all good. do you think 2.4’s too high? spent hours adjusting the bridge and the relief but this is pretty much as low as i could get it

[@ForsytheVideo]

@@proxim_24 It's on the higher side but at such a short scale those big strings flop around like ropes so high is fine. Too low and you'll lose your sustain and get fret buzz. So take a lesson from Stevie Ray Vaughn, it doesn't matter how big they are or how high the action is if YOU can play it!

[@proxim_24]

ForsytheVideo for sure! thanks for responses mate

[@NathanielBTM]

Just a note... Bmth's Guitarist played 80's on a 6 string 24.75 Les paul in Drop A# So you should be good. Just experiment

[@iizvullok]

I tried the same thing once aswell. But for some reason the string set for 9 string guitars was even cheaper. So i paid less and got a 105 extra. Of course i had to try it. But it did not work out well at all on my guitar and sounded like crap with almost no sustain. xD

[@sororitysleepawaymortuary1659]

Do you think I could put 9's on an 8 string without having to file down my tuning pegs?

[@iizvullok]

@@sororitysleepawaymortuary1659 I think filing down a tuning peg is generally a bad idea, but i think yes.

[@sororitysleepawaymortuary1659]

@@iizvullok ok cool thanks because i was thinking of putting 9's on my 8 string but I love my 8 string and I don't want to file it down.

[@iizvullok]

@@sororitysleepawaymortuary1659 You have to try it out. Very unlikely that you have the same guitar as me. And of course it also depends on your strings.

[@sororitysleepawaymortuary1659]

@@iizvullok It's an Ibanez. I'm probably going to go to the guitar store soon and talk to them about it.This always happens I talk to them and they stare at me like an alien because they are against ultra low tunings. 10 string guitars should be the underground metal guitar standard at this point and they guitar stores don't even get 9 string guitars in. They are stuck in Led Zeplin Nirvana land and holding back progression. This has been a problem for many years. The reason for the guitar store would be so that I could get a 10 string for a reasonable price and th strings so I can avoid the hassle of ordering it online.

[@sashabagdasarow497]

It's not the pickups that sound muddy. 8 string guitars are pretty hard to make not muddy, that's not because of pickups or else, the notes are just too low. That's normal.

[@ForsytheVideo]

I owned this guitar before I ever did this experiment, and they were still a bit muddy. But yes, 8 string string especially on a 25.5 scale, will sound even more muddy, can't be helped.

[@waterfiltermusic1995]

Song?

[@ForsytheVideo]

Improv.

[@waterfiltermusic1995]

@@ForsytheVideo you mean you improvised?

[@waterfiltermusic1995]

@@ForsytheVideo and also I never thought you would respond:-)

[@ForsytheVideo]

@@waterfiltermusic1995 Yes, improvised. I very much appreciate you checking it out!

[@m1ngl3]

Doom metal🙂

[@LordScourge-ls1pi]

first comment

[@ForsytheVideo]

And super insightful too. XD Thanks for watching.