How Do EMG 81s Take To Lower Tunings?

[zirkonflex]

81's are great for tuning low. Considering the scale lenght it's just a matter of strings, really. Until you get as low as say A, you can get everything sounding well on any guitar (well, probably not a Jaguar ), as long as you use the correct gauge of strings (what most guitarists don't do). Scale length is really just about how big your hands are, having an appropriate length is really going to improve your playing, you can neglect the sideeffects if you use correct string gauges.

 

[Rex Rocker]

Yup, agreed. The 81 has a very controlled low-end response which balances out the often overwhelmingly bassy tone of lower tunings and thicker strings.

 

[egan.]

Scale length is really just about how big your hands are, having an appropriate length is really going to improve your playing

To each his own but the difference in distance from nut to first fret on gibson and strat scale is only .042". That's less than half the width of a jumbo fret and the differences only get smaller from there. You can certainly get accustom to a scale length but it seems unlikely to me it's going to unlock or hinder your playing potential.

 

[Ermz]

Scale length is really just about how big your hands are, having an appropriate length is really going to improve your playing, you can neglect the sideeffects if you use correct string gauges.

Intonation is more a factor of the guitar scale and overall build quality. Using thicker strings tends to have a progressive 'tone sucking' effect, so there aren't any free gains to be had there. It's about hitting a reasonable middle-ground between scale length and string tension to achieve both consistency and a pleasing tone.

 

[JeffTD]

Intonation is more a factor of the guitar scale and overall build quality. Using thicker strings tends to have a progressive 'tone sucking' effect, so there aren't any free gains to be had there. It's about hitting a reasonable middle-ground between scale length and string tension to achieve both consistency and a pleasing tone.

This this this this this.

Intonation is the biggest issue. Second is the issue of insanely thick strings sounding like dogshit.

 

[Keregioz]

I have a 25.5" scale 7 string tuned to Bb and I do not have any intonation issues. The strings I use are a 9-46 set, I replace the 46 with a 52 and I use a 70 for the seventh string. I've also tried lighter strings (46 and 62) and it still was ok. However, I also have a 26.5" schecter and its tuning is more stable (same gauge strings), it's not as easy to get it out of tune. I believe that has to do with string tension mostly; the higher the tension the better strings stay in tune.

 

[zirkonflex]

This this this this this.

Intonation is the biggest issue. Second is the issue of insanely thick strings sounding like dogshit.

You guys are right, I didn't intend to say it that "harsh". But to be honest, I've not encountered huge intonation problems at shorter scales, atleast when tuning to somewhat reasonable pitch (let's say, not any lower than A, anything below that is Djent-Territory), and I'm very anal about tuning usually. It needs some setup for sure, but for something like drop C or B, a 24.75 is still totally ok if you stick with like a 56 on the C-string for example. I'd say a Gibson LP with an EMG 81 and a 56 set tuned to C should result in a rather awesome tone. I'm generally not a fan of tuning lower than B though, it just doesn't sound like a guitar anymore.

@ Keregioz: Tuning stability is basically 100% your bridge and nut. If the string are well stretched, the "give" of the material in conjunction with how easy the strings "slip" dictates the tuning stability (atleast on a regular, well-build guitar that is, if the neck doesn't hold up you might aswell throw the guitar out the window). You can actually lube your nut (no faggotry intended) and I will increase tuning stability vastly.
A string with higher tension will always stay in pitch far better, there is just less movement there.
We really need a thread like "preparing guitars for tracking", since guitarists are mostly retards who believe in magic powers when it comes to the quality and setup of the actual instrument .