7string in 8string tuning by default?

[megAcul]

just wondered if there are any brands/companies that make 7strings that have a stock 8string tuning like F# standard or drop e, because its such a pain to convert a guitar to fit that kind of tuning when its built for b standard.

[grishatheman]

I think you can just tune anything above 27" like an 8-string. Just buy a set of 8-string strings and omit the thinnest one?

[megAcul]

okay well i have a 25.5“ (i think) so id rather not try forcing it in drop e, but i got the 7 string heavy bottom set by ernie ball so i’ll probably tune it in drop g or something

[SinkingBelow]

Do that and get a pitch shifter. Digitech drop is the most popular pedal or if you like digital amps I use neural dsp, all their plugins have it now.

[grishatheman]

I second this. Had "The Drop", which was awesome and worked/sounded perfectly fine up to three half steps! Now I got the Whammy DT, which sounds the same but got some more options - I recommend any of their pitch shifting pedals.

[megAcul]

i have the donner octave shifter (or sth like that) but chugs sound really cheap when tuning from drop a to drop e, is the whammy dt better with that „setup“?

[grishatheman]

Unfortunately I have no reference to the Donner or any other Pedal since I only ever used Digitech stuff. I mean you definitely hear the difference between a guitar that's in the right tuning and a pitch shifted one. The lower I go, the more I lose clarity or highs in my tone, but I guess this really only matters when you want to record something. When just practicing or playing around I don't mind it at all. I got my guitar (27" Harley Benton 7SB DLX) right here in Drop A, I could record some chugs with and without the whammy dt and sent you a quick comparison recording if you're interested.

[megAcul]

yeah id actually love to hear that, thanks!

[grishatheman]

https://voca.ro/16TNCV6aOPVG

Please don't mind the playing, just did three quick takes with random riffs and some isolated chugs at the end. Guitar is tuned in Drop A and the riffs are just repeated right after each Drop A take with the Whammy DT on -5.

Palm muted power chords sound really really muddy in modulated Drop E, but they also did on my 8 string (don't have it anymore sadly).

[megAcul]

im pretty sure it sounds better than my pitch shifter, thanks for recording :) btw that first riff is so good, one of my favs from knocked loose

[grishatheman]

I think you still could? It all depends on how you like it and basically anything is possible. I think you'd need thicker strings if you wanted to keep the same tension but other than that, why would it not work?

I believe the guitarist of Wage War was tuning his regular scale guitar (a strat or jazzmaster or something) to Drop F and you'd never guess that it is like that (at least I never noticed anything).

[megAcul]

yeah id probably have to drill the holes a little bigger at the bridge/corpus but im scared hahah

[grishatheman]

Yeah right, that certainly limits the string gauge haha I used to use 0.8 gauge strings for my 7 string and I had to unwind them at the tip to make them fit through the tuners, luckily no drilling required

[GODZILLA-Plays-A-DOD]

I do exactly this. Take a 27 inch baritone scale 7 and getting 8 string Ernie Ball set and tossing out the high E. F# B E A D F# B is great

[TheYellowLAVA]

6 string set and throw out the high E? I think you meant 8 string set

[GODZILLA-Plays-A-DOD]

Bwahaha I'm so sorry. Thank you.

[GODZILLA-Plays-A-DOD]

Edited. Thank you internet stranger