HEVYDEVY FORUMS

Hi all,

First post! I've been deep in thought on how to set up my 1996 RG570 (Edge Trem) for Devin's Drop C tuning. Right now the only guitar I have it set up on is my acoustic, but you all know it only goes so far.

I remember reading Dev uses .10-.52 strings. Since the RG is supposedly set up for 9's, should I be ready for a headache messing with the trem springs, possibly the truss rod? Should I be ready for multiple tune-ups each time I pick it up?

Or shall I quit this banter and just go get a fixed bridge axe and be able to be more versatile?

Thanks all!

changing string tension or tunings on a floating bridge is ALWAYS a fucking pain

He plays in open C

If worse comes to worse, just go to a guitar shop and have it set up for you. Shouldnt cost too much and you wont have to worry about messing anything up.

True, I should have a pro do it. The thing that stinks is that the nearest "tech" is about an hour and change away.

I was just hoping I could gut my way through it, save some scratch and carry on.

With the Edge Trem, its just a bear to tune it flat and have it hold for more than one session without loosening springs and tightening trem posts and stuff. Ugh.

I saw on YouTube that one dude was playing "Truth" on a Petrucci model, so I know it can be done, just looking for the longevity thing.

Thanks all!
-Chuck

ac1chuck wrote:True, I should have a pro do it. The thing that stinks is that the nearest "tech" is about an hour and change away.

I was just hoping I could gut my way through it, save some scratch and carry on.

With the Edge Trem, its just a bear to tune it flat and have it hold for more than one session without loosening springs and tightening trem posts and stuff. Ugh.

I saw on YouTube that one dude was playing "Truth" on a Petrucci model, so I know it can be done, just looking for the longevity thing.

Thanks all!
-Chuck

Hey there,

I am sure somebody here will be able to give you specific advice, but I have been on a similar quest myself recently.

When tuning down to Open C my floyd-rose-esque-ish floating bridge (on a cheapy old Marlin Loner!!) would slacken because of the reduced tension, lowering the strings and making the guitar quite hard to play. Rather than adjust the springs and probably mess things up further I experimented with sets of strings of different gauges.

After a few cockups I found that tuning to open C with 10-52s (Ernie Ball 'Skinny Top/Heavy Bottom') the bridge was balanced as happily as it was in standard tuning.

So, fitting a set of 10-52s worked for me! Maybe you should try that. And anyway, where are all the guitar people that actually know what they are talking about? Aaah!

Good luck with your problem though.

-Mongatron

Thanks Monga,

I was hoping to hear from the DevyForum masses that "hey, no biggie, just xxxx", but to no avail. The strings sound like a good bet.

I'll hit the GC this next week I hope and try and hook up the tuning, 'cause this playing along with "Truth" on an acoustic is terrible.

-Chuck

If you haven't messed with floating bridges before, you should probably have it set up by a pro.
I learned it by trial and error though. Took me some time to get used to but nowadays I know how the system works.
I tune my ESP mirage custom with 10-52s D'addarios and that gauge really fits my needs when playing in open C.

Hey there,

I tuned that tuning with an Ibby 560 and 470 with the 10-52s in open C. You'll need more strength in the springs so make sure to have 4. At that point its a balancing game between string tension and spring tension. Make sure that your trem is floating parallel with the body and just go slow with minor adjustments until you get it right. The best way to learn is to do it yourself with some trial and error. Just go slow and do minor adjustments and you shouldn't run into any big problems.

Wow, 4 Springs...

But, I'll try anything I guess. I was able to hold a wacky D tuning DADADD on my JS model without any heartache. I was hoping for less drama, but I think the RG will stay in open C 'til the cows come home, once I get it there.

Thanks Billy,

Chuck

I have an Ibby (1986 RG 410) with a licensed Floyd Rose, currently tuned CGCGCE, with no problems. I use 4 springs & a 10-56 string set (DR Jeff Healy). I like that slightly bigger 6th string.

I just tuned my RG1527 to GCGCGCE. You just have to tighten the screws a lot, and you'll do fine (I guess). I love this tuning I use a D'Addario 0.10-0.52 set + 0.62 for the seventh string.

The only guitar/string set I've ever had great success with the Dev tuning is a Paul Gilbert model (PGM301 I think) with Ernie Balls from .013 to .052 I think. Perfect string tension, awesome chunk and sounded glorious clean. Of course, the PGM was an awesome guitar...but, still.



Except mine had a routed end with a floating bridge....never had any tuning issues. Why the fuck did I sell it..?

*crais*

Kuljukka wrote:I just tuned my RG1527 to GCGCGCE. You just have to tighten the screws a lot, and you'll do fine (I guess). I love this tuning I use a D'Addario 0.10-0.52 set + 0.62 for the seventh string.

Dayum, a .062 tuned down to G? I use a .064 for B!

CGord wrote:

Kuljukka wrote:I just tuned my RG1527 to GCGCGCE. You just have to tighten the screws a lot, and you'll do fine (I guess). I love this tuning I use a D'Addario 0.10-0.52 set + 0.62 for the seventh string.

Dayum, a .062 tuned down to G? I use a .064 for B!

Yes indeed. Keep in mind that Dev uses a .60 for his G. I used to have a .66 for my B but I didn't like it that much. After that I tried a .54 for my B, but that was way too light
But I've settled with the .062 for now. I could use a thicker one if I had a baritone scale or something...