Drop tuning?

[Rob Friedman]

Hi everyone, just got my first PRS after dreaming about one for 15 years. It’s a CE-24. I’m curious if dropping the low E string to A# for a song here and there (all other strings in standard E flat tuning) could do any damage to the neck or tremolo system long term?
Don’t know much about the mechanics of the guitar, also don’t really care if the tuning doesn’t stay too well as im just messing around, so long as I don’t mess up the ability to keep in tune when i come back to standard tuning.

Thanks

 

[Rider1260]

It will be fine , will have to touch up the tuning a bit sounds like fun

 

[DISTORT6]

Unless you block your trem or fully “deck” it (down only), dropping the low string will knock the rest out of tune.

 

[Rob Friedman]

Unless you block your trem or fully “deck” it (down only), dropping the low string will knock the rest out of tune.

thanks. When you say that though do you mean that when i try to come back to standard the guitar would have problems maintaining tuning? Or just for that one song i drop down for might sound a bit sloppy after a few minutes

 

[DISTORT6]

Dropping down will knock the tuning out.
Going back up should put you back in tune.

 

[alantig]

When you drop the low E, you’ll have to retune the other five as well. Likewise, when you go back up. It’ll seem like a pain at first, but you’ll get the hang of it and it’ll eventually become quicker.

 

[Ovibos]

To summarize:

1. No, it won't damage the guitar.
2. Dropping one string decreases tension on your floating bridge, letting the springs it pull harder, causing the need to retune the others.
3. It won't be intonated super-well when you drop-tune, unless you rejigger the bridge saddle (which isn't your quick switch case).
4. A# will also be pretty floppy with standard strings, and so you have to fret really lightly and make sure you're not bending the string.
5. It will come back to regular tuning fine, but you'll have to retune.

3&4 are why I keep a dedicated drop-tuned guitar (in my case drop-C) where the intonation is set right and I have fatter bass strings.

And congrats on your CE-24! They're great.

 

[DISTORT6]

1. A# will also be pretty floppy with standard strings, and so you have to fret really lightly and make sure you're not bending the string..

This is what my answer was directed at.
Without heavier strings, dropping down to A# will make all the strings so loose, they’ll probably stick to the pickups!
Yeah, dropping to D is one thing...

 

[The Guitar Hunter]

When I had a CU24 I got a Tremel-No for mine when I switched tunings. Are you saying that wasn't necessary? I figured I'd have to re-float the bridge each time I switched things up.