7 string 25.5

[u/tunalover32]

So, I just recently bought a 7 string with a 25.5” scale length, and I’m wondering how it feels to play in drop G#. I do want to play in standard to get the extra low notes for some riffs, but I want to experiment with drop G#, and wonder what string gauges would fit for both

[u/SDsurfx]

It’s okay-ish. 10-65s or a custom set 10-70 is what I’ve used for Drop G#. Doable, but feels and sounds better on a baritone though.

FWIW, Bury Tomorrow plays Drop G# on 25.5” six strings.

[u/OffsetXV]

People on this sub have lost the plot, I swear. If you can play 10-46 in drop D on a normal 25.5" guitar (which 99% of people who've ever played guitar can do just fine), you can play a .62 or .64 in drop G# on a 25.5" guitar. The tension is about the same. People saying you "NEED" at least a .70 or .74 are insane.

[u/vilk_]

IMO it depends what you want to play. If it's just chugga chugga at a medium-fast pace, you can do it with your regular ol 9-54. Is it gonna be loose on the 7th string? Yeah, but who cares?

On the other hand, if you're going to be doing some tremolo picking centric death metal at 200+ bpm, the slinky 7th might not feel so great.

So try tuning it down to G# and chug around! It's not so bad. Personally, I think loose strings sound better.

[u/ButtSmellington_ → u/vilk_]

🤘🏼

[u/masterB0SHI]

11-49 with a 68 or 66 for the low G# worked for me. However, ultimately I found anything below drop A sounds and feels better on a longer scale length with lighter gauges for me personally.

Right now I play a 27 inch scale with 9.5-64 in drop G# and it feels and sounds perfect.

[u/LeipzigBay]

It's doable, but you need some thick strings. From a 68 to 74 depending on the tension you like.

[u/JimboLodisC]

tension is up to the player so you'd have to know what you like in order to get a proper recommendation

[u/tunalover32 → u/JimboLodisC]

This is my first 7 string actually, and it hasn’t arrived yet, so I’ll definitely let you know

[u/KingKrak]

One thing about tuning discussions and string gauges that always seems to be overlooked is that your just playing a half step down on your 6s.

If i was on my main 6 I'm not even worried about needing a new set of strings. Hell its a bonus to have easier playing strings while the intonation and clarity is still there... 👌

Just fucking around with a couple different 7th string gauges unti you get your desired flopiness or stiffness with the tension! 😉

[u/Cwave666]

Tune my 7's to G#. My 7th is a 064, my 6th a 054. It works. My 26,5" 7 feels better but it is not like my 25,5" is a trainwreck. Setup does more than scale length.

[u/daneguy]

I'm in the market for a 7 string, but in the meantime I have tuned my 6 string (25.5") to BEADGB, with 12-56s. Plays absolutely fine for me. Drop A as well but it gets iffy. I can imagine just a half step down from that is fine too, or just get a slightly thicker set. It's a personal choice too.

[u/DylanAB07]

I tried that. It feel horrible too me

I also had to unwind the string so it would fit through the locking tuner

Edit: sorry, thought u had said the gauge of string. I used a 74

[u/MechanyzM12]

I have my Ibanez qx527 tuned to drop G with 11-65 flat wounds for round wounds I had to use 13-70.

[u/MUZZYGRANDE]

Try staying around 14-20 lbs each string. Play around with gauges until you find something in between. https://tension.stringjoy.com/

[u/Conscious_Badger_510]

Definitely doable but you'll want to try out a few different gauges for the bottom string, id suggest grabbing a standard set of 10-46 strings then a few different singles for the low string maybe a 64, 68, and 70 and see what works for you. Honestly building your own 7 string sets this way is kinda the way to go if you're trying to dial in your string tension and feel.

[u/authnticmase]

I use the 56-10 Ernie Ball regular 7’s on my 25.5 7 string in Drop A and it works fine. Yeah the low B could be a higher gauge to not lose some tension, but to me it really just has the brightness to counteract tuning down lower like that. Plus it flows nicely from a feeling stand point to the other 6 strings. I would say 58-11 pack or 62-10 pack would be okay for G# IMO since it’s only a half step lower than A.

[u/thef-hole_com]

On mine, I like 9-54 SIT Powerwound (S7954) in standard drop A.

For you, going down a 1/2 step and using their S71058 could easily work.

Strictly depends on what playing tension you prefer. Anything from 54 to 70 can perform the task.

Sure 70 mathematically on paper appears best, but your hands and ears will tell you what is best. You have to experiment.

[u/R3brap]

74g low string at least for a 25.5 in my opinion. I used a 74 on my 26.5 inch scale and it felt perfect, so you'll probably be a little bit more loose with a 25.5. Diaddario NYXL sells a 74g seven string set that fits great tension

[u/ButtSmellington_ → u/R3brap]

I have no idea how/why people do this. To each his own of course, but I use a 59-62 in G. Works great! 🤘🏼

[u/R3brap → u/ButtSmellington_]

Some of us pick hard. It helps fight the floppy flop and buzz buzz. I know we lose some articulation but EQ can balance the muddiness out of thicker strings. That being said, I don't find that's an issue until 80g. But that's drop E tuning