I need to play some songs using 2 and a half step down tuning. I know, there's special kind of baritone guitar, designed for such a low tuning, but I wonder, if regular 6-string can pull this one off. My concern is how bad the instrument can be affected, when mechanical tension of the strings on neck and neck-body joint reduces substantially bringing disbalance in guitar structure.

Also, sound-wise, does extremly low tuning affect action, intonation or the sound frame as a whole? I think, I've heard, that intonation supposed to be changed depending on tuning.

P.S. I used bunch of terms I made up myself and I have no clue what I'm talking about, but, I hope, you know what I mean.

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All 6 string guitars can go to B tunning. You dont need any specialized guitar to tune this low. It will not hurt the guitar either. The only thing you need is a higher guage of strings. 11s - 13 guage are good, I use 1s. If you use anything lower they will detune extremely fast and it will be like playing a slinky.

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yeah, heavier strings, but you gotta set it up properly. eg. intonation is gonna be out, so thats gonna have to be sorted out.

but yeah, any guitar will take lower tunings.

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why would intonation be fucked up?

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because it does fuck up, try tuning to B on any 6 string guitar, and youll find the intonation will be out.

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Yes, that’s also something I was asking about. I read it in my guitar’s manual — that intonation supposed to be corrected on lower tunings.

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Yes, but *why*?

I don't recall having any trouble with intonation when I detuned my Strat to G, though I don't think I played anywhere higher than like the 5th fret. If you could explain why, I would be grateful.

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I've tuned to B before with thick strings and my intonation as fine but if you have a tremelo system, you're going to have some fixing up to do

whats a baritone? sry for the stupid question lol

baritone is a guitar thats made for lower tunings. Alot of people will say its a 7 string, without the high E, but its not EXACTLY that, it just has that power of a 7 string neck. A standard tuning on a baritone is like, i think 3 steps down on a regular guitar, or something. So instead of getting that slinky type string, the baritone will be played lowly tuned, yet the strings will feel like they're fine.

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yeah you'll have to adjust the springs:

http://www.jemsite.com/tech/t_3other.htm#tremthicker

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Can baritones take higher tunings as well? like Closed D and E? If they can than I might get me one, that sounds like a versatile guitar! lol

BodomChild

here's an example of a baritone:

http://www.ibanez.com/guitars/series.asp?s=mmm&l=e

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