Why down tune the guitar like Jake does?

[dillivered]

A.) better crunch?
B.) Vocalist range? (not likely)
C.) Lower String tension?
D.) What the !

I hate having to leave standard tuning, but I think I must on 1 guitar!

What sayest thou?

[sytharnia]

I'm like you and really don't like tuning down......

I think it is partly for vocal range and partly because people think it sounds heavier...which I say BS, just listen to dimmu borgir "puritan" for proof, that's in E and is the heaviest thing known to man

Having said that I have just written a song in drop D (mainly because the riff I write needed the open D string sound and it just sounded better with the E tuned down)...i'm so ashamed

[Shemp]

Most bands tune down ahalf step live for the singer. I have one guitar that stays tuned down a half step. It does make it eaiser to play and bend stings. As for as a more heavy sound, as most guitarist insist, it's really not that noticable. I have been playing a half step down a lot latetly and I must say I really like the the lower sting tention.

[dillivered]

I wondered about that - I know there is a big difference in string tension between my flying v and my strat!

I think I like 25.5" scale apart from the higher tension, but I'm used to it...

[dave1021]

We do it for a couple of reasons.
1. I play in a cover band. It helps the singer get through 36 songa a night.
2. We play tune that were written in "E" , "Eb", and "D". Not to mention Drop "D" and drop "C". Since I don't own 20 guitars ( nor would I take more than 3 to a gig ) to my ears "Eb" is a happy medium of the different tunings.
3. I like the feel of the strings at "Eb" 9-46 half step down \m/

Just my 3 cents.
Dave

[Shemp]

I have a d-tuna on my EVH Wolfgang. that is really cool. I heard that the older ones didn't work very well. This new one I have had no problems with it.

[macheted01]

We play a 1/2 step down, mainly for the vocalist. Alot of bands do this. You listen to there studio recordings and they are in standard and then listen to there live recordings and they are a half step down.