guitar design for drop d?

[korovamilkdud]

I never really thought about it before. What guitar type would be best for drop d tuning? Or best for standard or for drop B dor that matter?

Assuming all guitars were humbucking and used the same string gauge, which type would be best? Wood type? Bridge type?

[dominus]

The one that's most comfortable for you to play.

Then you choose the wood and pickups to match the tone you're looking for.

[metlking]

I usually use a PRS.....

[Jessie's ghost]

I use a Peavey Wolfgang for drop-D (wonder why...) and a 7-string RG for everything else that needs to be lower than Eb.

[DrNewcenstein]

Depends on your baseline reference, I suppose. Collective Soul did well enough with a Les Paul in drop D for Shine. EVH did well enough with a Strat in drop D for Unchained, as did Lynch, DeMartini, et al.

Type O Negative did well with Strat-shapes for baritone stuff.

Iommi didn't do too bad with a P90'd SG going as low as C# using 9s.


As with everything else, "best" is always going to be subjective.


However, let's assume you want a specific voicing without external EQing other than for basic need - overall level boosting for solos and/or feedback notching.

You've got to consider body shape. Strats and Les Pauls are 60-year-old standards, largely due to their comfortable fit while strapped on and their balanced tone - not overly prominent in either of the 3 main EQ bands.
Then you've got Vs and Explorers which tend to focus on certain frequency ranges, notably the mid area.

Then of course you've got the tonal qualities of various woods - bassy, bright, middy, etc.

A mahogany Explorer-shape (Star, Warrior, etc) is going to have a distinctive low-mid punch, while the same shape in alder is going to have a more mid-high bite.
Same with a V, though it's going to be focused more in the upper end of the mids into the low-highs.

[P.A.Foholic]

IMHO string through bridges and toms are best for the chugging/drop stuff. There's just more meat to the sound.

[jalguitarman]

IMHO string through bridges and toms are best for the chugging/drop stuff. There's just more meat to the sound.

I would agree with that for the most part. I would say it depends on how you use dropped tunings. a lot of people just chug with it. While I don't use drop-D much any more I really like how the the lowest string being detuned alters richer chord voicings. meaning it worked great for me on a strat.

[P.A.Foholic]

I would agree with that for the most part. I would say it depends on how you use dropped tunings. a lot of people just chug with it. While I don't use drop-D much any more I really like how the the lowest string being detuned alters richer chord voicings. meaning it worked great for me on a strat.

That's true. Drop D tuning is also very common in classical music. I've got few acoustic ballads that are in drop d. It definitely sounds richer when fiddling with chords.

[Jessie's ghost]

I would agree with that for the most part. I would say it depends on how you use dropped tunings. a lot of people just chug with it. While I don't use drop-D much any more I really like how the the lowest string being detuned alters richer chord voicings. meaning it worked great for me on a strat.

Yep. I like to play quasi-jazzy stuff on my seven-string. I like to play across the neck in certain positions leading up to about the twelfth fret or so, and it's nice to start on a fretted note on the low B string. Those notes tend to sound really good on the Jazz7 neck. (Imagine that… jazz on the Jazz. Doesn't seem right, does it?)

[TeleLubber]

In general.. I've had better luck with the longer scale on dropped tunings.. i.e. Strat-style.. and I've known PRS guys that like the extra scale length..

that being said, by using heavier strings on my SG, I like tuning it down one whole step & even dropping down to Drop-C.. that is because this particular guitar has a really clear bass response to it.. so wood type & shape, thickness are a factor too..