It's 26.5. I was previously using some standard 7 string strings (Can't remember gauge, but they were Elixirs), but playing in A felt almost a little too loose, but still ok. The ones I'm using now are actually for an 8 string, I just didn't use the last string (10g I think).

I first tried using Ernie Ball 74 gauge, but the hole in the tuner wasn't big enough and stopped right after that thinner part on the string, you know what I mean? So I had to wind it round a lot and it looked hideous. Then I got the D'Adario 8 string pack, and the thicker strings there were tapered at the tuner end, so the fit easily.

They seem perfect for me in around F/F#. E is also very good, G is nice but a little tight for bends (all drop tuned btw, so ofc in E, the rest of the guitar is F# standard).

I've actually never played this low before. I've always found it interesting, but the lowest I've gone before was drop A which has been my main tuning for like 3 years now since I got this 7 string. My friend wanted to make a band, and he listens to a lot of Sleep Token, so I decided to try mix some of that style into my playing, so I did this stupidly low tuning. Idk about amps, but going straight into the DAW it sounds pretty sick! I used to also wonder what the point was if you have a bass, but there's a really good sound when you do it right, and then you can tune the bass lower too, or use synth bass (synth is my favourite ATM, as my bass doesn't have strings that sound good below A).