25.5 vs 26.5 for G#

[u/SonYoku2]

I've owned two 7s both 26.5 but never a 25.5, I am looking at an RGA and I love finishes on them but I've sort of hesitated cause they're 25.5, I naturally tune down to G# sometimes F# and pitch shift to E and D#, how much does it matter? I already know about the rules of intonation and string guages thats not what I'm worried ahout. It's just the low string clarity, thats all I needa know, how much clarity am I gettin.

[u/KershawsGoat]

Drop G# or G# standard is probably fine on a 25.5" scale as long as you're okay with larger string gauges. Past that, your low string is gonna get awfully floppy.

[u/waltplaysbass]

I haven’t been able to get my 25.5 to sound good any lower than A

It can be done but I’d go 26.5 every time

[u/ParkTheFnShark]

There’s a lot of “it depends” with this question, but ultimately:

25.5” - it’ll be fine
26.5” - it’ll be better

[u/SonYoku2 → u/ParkTheFnShark]

yeah kinda where im at, tis a shame I like the RGA finishes but clarity is far more important to me

[u/crice07]

Always 26.5”… you’ll thank me

[u/authnticmase]

I tune to Drop A on my 25.5 7 with 56-10 and it feels good. A little light on the low B but nothing crazy and it adds a little brightness to compensate dropping it, so I would say 58-11 or 62-10 should be fine for Drop G#.

[u/AnimeLiteweight]

I play a 25.5" in Drop G# using a 10-62 set and have no complaints.

[u/Just-Efficiency-5859]

I have a 26.5 and a 25.5 7 string both tuned to A. I almost exclusively play my 26.5 one because I think even A doesn't really feel good with 25.5. Just my opinion I know some people don't mind it

[u/JimboLodisC]

would be fun to give it a try, I typically put a limit of A1 on 25.5" for my own preferences (tension, gauges) but that doesn't mean I haven't dipped lower to experiment, I don't think a half step down from A1 will be too much to ask of a 25.5" scale length

if your concern is clarity, then thinner gauges will have more clarity, which means if you tune down without increasing the size of the gauges then you'll lose tension, and the way to combat that is to get a longer scale length, so you're swimming in the wrong direction here

[u/Budget-Reality-9599]

i have a 25.5" 6 string in drop G with a .074 and a 26.5 7 string with a .065 in drop G#/A. they both sound fine in clarity

[u/Psychological-Will29]

25.5 in G# with 70-11 and just pitch shift when I want no complaints

[u/Sour_Cream_Pringle]

I did it on my 25.5 7 string it worked but felt a little loose, I think a thicker set of strings would probably fix most of that that though. Either way it worked and held tune alright. The lower strings tuning wandered a bit more than they would of in Drop A but as long as you check the tuning every now and then it was okay

[u/Melancholy_Custard]

I think it depends on how much floppyness you can tolerate.

But IMO, G# should be fine on 25.5 with 62 gauge, you just have to adjust the neck and bridge saddles for tighter tone and strings response.

[u/PezLuv]

You can do Drop G# with a 68 bottom on 25.5. I did it for years, recorded and played shows. Sometimes used a 64 but 66+ is better. If you're doing drop running, 9 or 10-46 with the 68 works, if doing G# standard, I'd go with at least 11-52 with that 68 bottom on a 25.5".

[u/Toastyboat]

I like playing 9s so 26.5 feels necessary.

[u/Masonator618]

I play in drop G on a 25.5. I use a 74 on the low G it’s not bad.

[u/alexnapierholland]

It depends on your style.

Stoner rock? You might dig the loose string tension.

Technical metalcore? I wouldn't.

[u/DistributionOver5733]

I have a 10-59 in drop g# in 26.5 is very good

[u/kkarthik1098]

I have the Ibanez RGA7 (25.5") and play with a drop F# tuning for stuff like Spiritbox. Its not as bad as people say it is. Go for it, it's a stunning guitar!

[u/ArtComprehensive2853]

Both will be just fine. I like to run something like 10-65 string set for Drop G#.

[u/derpderpderp1985]

I do Drop G# on a 25.5 and it’s great. I don’t use super thick strings on it either. It has an Evertune though, so that’s probably a factor.

[u/MadYarpen]

I tried drop G on 25.5 inch xiphos 7 string some years back. I used something like 72 or 74 string gauge and pitch drift was too much. When I was buying a 7 string again now after a break, I chose heylmuns signature instead of of a solar because jackson is 26.5 inch and solar 25.5 (i'm rr guy so not much to choose from). And im tuning to drop A only now.

Side note - I still have the key fob i have made of that string lol.

[u/ruisantos9999]

Drop A max on a 25,5, for lower tunings you will get less clarity so you need a 27. I can definitely tell the difference in drop A let alone G or F.

Or you can just use a (good) pitch shifter