Guitar Gear Forum

Charvel E and Eb
PRS 408 E and Eb
PRS 594 E only
LP E only

I've tried different tunings, different gauge strings, adjusted truss rods and they either sound good or don't depending on the tuning. I guess its the scale length that dictates it?

You should try D Standard on the Charvel. Brings the DOOM.

I could put any of my guitars in E or Eb.... BUT 10s for E and 11s for Eb so they more or less feel the same..... some do need to set up tweaks if I'm going from E to Eb though.... just minor tweaks

I have a bass that sounds like a monster in Eb, but for some reason it sounds kinda bland in E. No idea why.

My guitars try to tell me what tunings they want to be in, but they can get fucked. They don't own me. Some bullshit.

I only play in E Standard so that's what all my guitars are tuned to. Well, actually, I have a partscaster in Eb just for when I need to learn a song that is originally in Eb like VH etc...


Regardless, I do agree that some guitars sound better in an specific tuning. I think there is something to do with the frequency guitar resonates vs the frequency it's tuned to.

But I think you can somewhat work around that by changing the string gauge and set up a bit. For example a guitar that sounds great with 10s in E standard, may need heavier strings and a bit higher action to sound good in Eb or D. I know for a fact that my main Les Paul sounds best in Eb because that's how I used it in my previous bands and when I tuned up to E I immediately felt a difference. But over the yeaqrs I was able to dial it in where it sounds great in E now. It's a bit of a balancing act.

Most my electrics are kept in E standard, my strat is usually tuned down a half step or full step. I think strats sound and feel better when you tune them down.
Acoustics, I always keep 12 strings down a half. 6 string acoustics, I play around with different tunings on those.

I agree about Strats sounding better tuned to Eb, just adds something nice. My Pacer seems to be ideal in E, the other 3 are pretty flexible.

Chris Z wrote: ↑Mon Feb 05, 2024 10:46 pm My guitars tell me what tunings they want.

Man, I haven't taken in mushrooms in forever....

macaronisalad wrote: ↑Tue Feb 06, 2024 7:19 pm I agree about Strats sounding better tuned to Eb, just adds something nice. My Pacer seems to be ideal in E, the other 3 are pretty flexible.

Funnily enough, I was thinking the same thing the other night, my Strat prefers Eb over E or D.