tuned down a half step and lost all my tone

[watelessness]

Wow. We tuned down for the sake of vocals and holy crap, I feel like I lost all my tone. Maybe I need a new amp. :vroam:

but seriously, anyone else have remake their entire sound after tuning down a half step? And don't even get me started on how sloppy my playing is. GGGRRRRRRR

 

[sergiodeblanc]

I think I remember Boogie talking about this a while back.

 

[László]

Better to find a new singer.

 

[solacematt]

Kind of makes sense. This might sound stupid, maybe a difference in amps too, but between my Rectifier and Mark heads, in tuning down from drop C (real drop C, not tuning your guitar down a half step and the low E an additional full step) and drop B I did have to re-eq each head a bit because of a slight bit of muddiness going from C to B. I found that the more I tune down, the more I tend to lay off the distortion on the amps distorted channels for the sake of cleaning it up and gaining more clarity.

 

[ViperDoc]

Try stringing up one gauge heavier and see if it makes a difference, especially if you're rocking a tremolo bridge.

What size speakers are you playing through?

 

[Tag]

Try stringing up one gauge heavier and see if it makes a difference,

This. You are going to be driving the top and the entire guitar with less pressure on the bridge. You will even hear a difference acoustically, especially with semi hollow or hollow guitars. Go up a string gauge or two to try and keep the pressure the same as it was before.

 

[sleary]

Definitely a higher gauge ....OR digitech drop pedal.....that works for me

 

[shinksma]

Hmm, tuning down a half-step to Eb (or D# :wink does take some tension off, but to really muck up your sound is quite extreme, IMHO.

What string gauges (and type) do you currently use? Was this on your DC245? The short scale makes for slightly flabbier strings already, so maybe the next gauge up, or a light-tops heavy-bottoms hybrid set might be appropriate.

 

[watelessness]

i've been playing PRS 10's on the 513 through the Archon, into a Mesa vertical 2x12 (v30's) and a Mesa 1x12 (Black Shadow).

 

[markm]

My band has been a half step down for years.
Don't like the tone either. Don't notice as much in the band setting, but playing alone I do.
Guitars , to me sound much better in standard tuning.
I just went the digitech drop route to so I can keep my guitars in standard tuning.

 

[sleary]

10's are the culprit...at least 11's or like I said earlier...a digitech drop,pedal

 

[shinksma]

i've been playing PRS 10's on the 513 through the Archon, into a Mesa vertical 2x12 (v30's) and a Mesa 1x12 (Black Shadow).

All I can suggest is you try a hybrid set (light tops, heavy bottoms) - that might help your tone.

But frankly, it is probably just a case of you not liking the sound because it is "flat by a half-step". As an experiment, try playing the same stuff either tuning up a half-step (to F), or using a capo on the first fret (assuming tuned in Standard E). Does your tone disappear again, only to return when you go back to standard E? That would indicate that you simply don't like the song in those keys, not a tone-sucking-monster-from-the-black-lagoon-of-Eb.

There is a song I sing+play, that is played in F minor on the original recording. That's how I learned it, using a capo on the first fret. When I brought it to the band I play in, we play it in E minor (I just don't use a capo) to accommodate an accompanying instrument. It sounded very strange at first, especially my singing. (Well, stranger than normal...) But now that we've played it for a couple of years, at every second gig if not more often, I'm totally fine with it. Every now and then I sing+play it when practicing at home in the original key, and that sounds good too - not "too high" or anything. Just "different".

So maybe you just need to adjust your ears, along with a slight string change.

 

[DuncanCE22]

I had this problem, for me it turned out to be the trem bridge needed adjusting, I did that and set the intonation and its been great since.

 

[HANGAR18]

This thread has me thinking about my Custom 24 with 59/09's that I am preparing (myself mentally) to set it to Drop C and leave it there. I'm wondering what to expect for the string height/setup, tone and so on. It currently has 10's on it and I'm planning to leave it that way but I do have a package of 11's on stand by.

 

[sergiodeblanc]

Better to find a new singer.

Didn't work so well for Van Halen. :goodnight:

 

[feelthaflo]

Kind of makes sense. This might sound stupid, maybe a difference in amps too, but between my Rectifier and Mark heads, in tuning down from drop C (real drop C, not tuning your guitar down a half step and the low E an additional full step) and drop B I did have to re-eq each head a bit because of a slight bit of muddiness going from C to B. I found that the more I tune down, the more I tend to lay off the distortion on the amps distorted channels for the sake of cleaning it up and gaining more clarity.

The tuning you are describing is commonly referred to as "C standard" - that is, the pitch intervals between each string remain the same, but the key of the instrument is changed. "Drop" tunings refer to your lowest-pitch string being reduced by a whole step, with the key reference being that of this lowest string.

 

[solacematt]

The tuning you are describing is commonly referred to as "C standard" - that is, the pitch intervals between each string remain the same, but the key of the instrument is changed. "Drop" tunings refer to your lowest-pitch string being reduced by a whole step, with the key reference being that of this lowest string.

No, C standard is the whole guitar being tuned down two full steps. I tune the guitar down one whole step and both E strings down an additional whole step.

 

[feelthaflo]

No, C standard is the whole guitar being tuned down two full steps. I tune the guitar down one whole step and both E strings down an additional whole step.

Ahh got it - I misunderstood your intent in the first post. Reading it over, I guess you were wanting to distinguish yourself from folks who only go down to drop C#?

You detune your high E string as well? Never heard of anyone doing that before...what does it do for you?

 

[jimistephen]

No, C standard is the whole guitar being tuned down two full steps. I tune the guitar down one whole step and both E strings down an additional whole step.

I'd call that Double Drop C. Page did some things in Double Drop D where every thing was in standard except the E's were both turned down to D, giving you DADGBD. In this case it would seem that would give you CBCFAC, am I correct?

 

[Boogie]

I think I remember Boogie talking about this a while back.

Yep. It didn't seem like I suffered tonally, more indescribable, I guess...loss of mojo/vibe. It just didn't do well with the DGT Standard. Other guitars, though, might be fine. You might try that, like a longer scale length?