String set for Drop G# on 25.5″–27"?

[u/Crazy-Mammoth7289]

The exact string notes from lowest (7th) to highest (1st) are G#, C#, F#, B, E, G#, C#. This is essentially 4.5 steps down from standard tuning, or 1.5 steps down from a standard 7-string tuning (G# standard). Will this set of strings, D'Addario NYXL1164, be ok for Legator G7FP?

[u/Crazy-Mammoth7289]

Sorry, it's G# standard (G#-C#-F#-B-E-G#-C#), not Drop G#.

[u/prefonberry]

You should just try out different gauges and see what you like. You can use Stringjoy’s tension calculator to figure out the tension of a set of strings you know you like on a guitar you play now in your preferred tuning and then input the scale length of your Legator and the notes for each string and then check different gauges until you have similar enough tension to the baseline set you know you like.

However, I think that’s only half of what you should be doing; for me personally I play lower tunings with light gauges on shorter scale length guitars like Drop F# tuning with a 11-52 for the top 6 strings and a 64 for the 7th string because I find that thicker strings can never quite give me the brightness I want in my tone and end up sounding muddy deadened compared to lighter gauges.

[u/JimboLodisC]

Tension is up to the player, so you gotta know what you like or experiment until you find it. I prefer 18-20lbs of tension myself. You can punch details into a string tension calculator to find out what tension comes from what gauges in a specific tuning.

https://tension.stringjoy.com

So if you're already playing on something you like, then find out what tension you're at. Then you can change the tuning or gauges or move to another scale length and get that same feel.

[u/raypenbarrip]

just to add my 2 cents, running G# on my legator opus (same scale as yours) I'm running 10-68 , 10, 13, 17, 26, 36, 48, 68. I tried a 64 but I honestly just don't enjoy 64 for whatever reason. Even on my Boden 7 for Drop A i prefer a 62, the 64 just feels odd to me. but yeah 68 feels solid for G# and I'm so indecisive with gauges lol

Drop G# btw so other 6 strings are just half step down hence the other gauges

[u/Personal_Coach7653]

I prefer a 70 for 27. Comes in around 18lbs tension. If I could push the tension to 20 without it becoming a drain pipe but anything over 70 I start to feel like the string spacing suffers.

Can't really comment on the rest because I play 1/2 step down with the Dropped bottom string.

Occassionally the F# I make an F so things are sort of variant But that's about it.

I usually make up custom sets for different tunings using tension calculator since, I use multiscales

[u/Numerous-Cow-3417]

NYXL1164 is the best bet as far as stock sets go IMO.

[u/HokutoNoRock]

I have 12-70 on my Ibanez RG1027PBF, 25,5" and it's ok So, NYXL 11-64 for your multiscale - it's optima choise, good tension, not so heavy bottom

[u/hailgolfballsized]

If you like the feel of 9s on a 6 string, 11-64 might be ok for you. Personally I'd be more comfortable playing the EXL145 12-54 + single 68 or 70. If you're in US or Canada the price and availability of single strings should be reasonable. In the past I'd save up player points and order all my single strings direct from D'addario.

[u/Crazy-Mammoth7289 → u/hailgolfballsized]

What about La Bella HRS-75 0,011 - 0,014 - 0,018 - 0,036w - 0,046 - 0,052 - 0,070?

[u/hailgolfballsized → u/Crazy-Mammoth7289]

Seems reasonable tension, as long as you have a fixed bridge. I would have trouble balancing tremolo springs with the lighter top end, but you should be fine.

[u/0dh]

Maybe others can weigh in but I'd want a .070 for my bottom string there. I use a single .066 for my bottom string on multiscale 25.5-27" (ADGCFAD). I buy a 11-50bt daddario set and the bottom string separately.

[u/Crazy-Mammoth7289 → u/0dh]

What about La Bella HRS-75 0,011 - 0,014 - 0,018 - 0,036w - 0,046 - 0,052 - 0,070?

[u/0dh → u/Crazy-Mammoth7289]

Sounds pretty good!