Detuning an Acoustic guitar

[Uladine]

I have one of my electrics setup to tune down to C#, with the 6th string dropping further to B.

Acoustics seem much more fragile and I'm afraid to detune them any further than a step. How could you adjust intonation on one with out any permanent modification? Would it be easier to just use a capo and play parts an octave higher than on the electric?

 

[Track Rat]

I tune the acoustic to pitch and play it transposed. Then sometimes I'll capo and transpose again and do another track.

 

[JR#97]

tuning down won't cause any problems on an acoustic.

 

[Bozman]

I think you have a couple options. The capo you mentioned would work, but I'd recommend alternate cord voicings as opposed to going up an octave.

Overall, repeatedly detuning a guitar is not real good in the long hall. If your guitar is set up for its best performance then you change the amount of string tension, it will affect the guitars performance. It is only natural that the wood/neck of the guitar will change with different pressure applied to it. Different guitars react differently so your mileage may vary. My best advice is to not constantly change between tunings. Unfortunately, I think the best solution is "permanent modification". By permanant, I just mean a new set up each time you want to change your tuning.

If you are just changing a half step, I don't think it is as big an issue, but going down to B is a very significant change.

 

[zer0sig]

i use lots of different tunings, including DADGAD, CGCGCE, drop d, DGDGBD, A#EA#EA#E (want to write songs about cthulhu?), and all kinds of weird stuff, and i've never run into trouble aside from muddiness. i tend to use a mixed string set, 56-42-32-25-16-11 (between med-heavy and light), and that 56 really helps tuck the low end in when i'm hammering on it (i do a lot of thick, bass-heavy rythym), and the lighter other strings seem to balance reasonably well, and have a nice little sparkle in their sound (often celticish top end playing along with the bass). that's the best answer i've come up with. i haven't done this on any guitars for 30 years, but i've done it for 7, often with heavier sets (full-on 56-13 sets, and even using 59's on the heavy e-it's like playing telephone wire), without breakage. i have an epi pr7e and an alvarez sd20-laminated, non-shmancy, playable but not world-class guitars. this is what works for me.

 

[Buck62]

tuning down won't cause any problems on an acoustic.

Absolutely correct!

My friend Teddy (a.k.a. Smartapple) recorded the acoustic guitar tracks for his song "Conformity" at my studio here in Chicago with my Yamaha guitar tuned down to a "B"!!!
No problem at all if the guitar has a straight neck and the frets aren't worn.

Here's the final result if you'd like to hear it.
http://artists.mp3s.com/artist_song/2650/2650880.html

 

[Uladine]

The sample sounded good buck!

Me likes.

Did you have any intonation problems? I just bought an Ibanez acoustic with fishman electronics and its sounds pretty good, I'm just trying to do some research before I tune down.

I have a 6 string electric set up to play in B, but it was set up by I proffessional before I bought it. I don't trust myself with trussrods and what not.

 

[Buck62]

Thanx

Nope, didn't adjust a thing and the intonation was fine.
Teddy just tuned it down and that was it.

Like I said, if the neck is straight and the frets aren't worn you shouldn't have any problems.
The guitar you heard was my old Yamaha FG335 that's never been re-fretted or adjusted in any way. It was set up perfectly from the factory and has stayed that way for 25 years!

She's earned the nickname "Old Reliable" many times over.