Drop tuning...Morpheus, 7-string, baritone, other???

[Red_Label]

So I just recently joined a cover band that plays a few classics (Maiden, Dio), but is mostly drop-tuned modern stuff ala Chevelle, Saliva, Halestorm, Three Days Grace, Sixx AM, etc... and some more regular tuned modern stuff like Foo Fighters, Velvet Revolver, etc. I think that my new Engl Powerball II is gonna be great for this band!

Anyways... the other player just uses a Morpheus Drop-Tune for the stuff lower than drop-D or drop-C#. I thought about that, but just don't wanna have to put-up with crappy, processed tone. I've considered buying a 7-string for years, but every time I pick one up I'm struck by the neck width (LOVE the thin necks on my ESP Eclipses) and after playing for 28 years... that additional string just tends to freak me out. (Which of course makes an 8 string TOTALLY out of the question!)

I need to get as low as drop-B for some of this stuff, so about the only other option that I can think of is picking-up a baritone guitar. Seems like the Mike Mushok sig PRS SE is the most popular and based on what I've seen, it seems like the one most likely to fit the bill for me. I don't need some high-end guitar, as I still plan to play my Eclipses most of the time (for anything as low as drop-C#). I use .010s and those work fine for that. I'm doubtful that I could stand to play a regular scale length guitar dropped below that, even if I put thicker strings on there.

Any input on the Mushok PRS? Or other ideas/suggestions?

Thanks!

 

[Spaceboy]

I have the Mushok PRS and it's a great guitar for the price. I keep it in D standard, sometimes drop C without any problems. I've mostly played 7 and 8 strings and I think baritones have finally clicked with me and feel like home. It feels like a 6-string, but there's more room on the fretboard for my bigass hands, and more tension without getting telephone cable for strings. I don't have more strings to worry about muting or fumbling across, and I'm more of a rhythm player anyway. I'll probably be getting a couple more low-end baritones soon, probably start with the MIM Fender Blacktop HSS Tele. I'm also eyeballing the Michael Kelly Patriot baritone, but never played a MK guitar, so not sure about it yet. The PRS is a fine choice!

 

[colimofsmoke]

^ sounds like maybe I need a baritone. I also have giant man hands (seriously, I've only met one person that had bigger hands than me, and he was 6'7"), and the extra string on a seven is kind of useless to me. I play in b standard or drop a

 

[Red_Label]

My hands aren't huge (on the contrary in fact), but my fingers are fairly stubby, so that's why the longer scale and normal neck width of a baritone appeals to me.

Gotta pay-off my Powerball first, but just starting to research what my options for drop-tunings are.

 

[Spaceboy]

I think most baritones on the market are fairly cheap, except the Gibsons. There's an LTD, the old Ibanez Mike Mushok, the Patriot, MIM Tele Blacktop, PRS Mushok, Agile has LPs and superstrats, the Ibanez RGD is 26.5" scale for peanuts, the Rob Flynn Epi V but it's hideous, the old Fender Jag... I'm sure there's more out there, excluding those Bass VIs and such 'cause 30" is ridiculous.

 

[ejecta]

As far detune pedals go I think this one works the best.

 

[Red_Label]

As far detune pedals go I think this one works the best.

Interesting. I kind of forgot that existed. Have you seen 'em compared to the Morpheus? Will have to google comparion reviews on that.

 

[Red_Label]

I've been reading reviews of the Whammy and most people seem to prefer the Morpheus over it and the guys whose opinions that I feel like I can trust even more all say that drop-tuning naturally is still the only way to go if one actually cares about tone. So it's looking like I'm stuck with longer, thicker, and/or more strings if I want to do this right (and I do).

 

[mniel8195]

i have a bernie rico jr hesperian 7 and after playing it for a few months and then going back to my esp eclipse the esp feels like a little toy. maybe its just me but i like the fact the neck is wider. I like thin wide necks i guess. Its something you just have to give a little time to adjust. You can always tune to standard and use the 7 a drop note. I tune to drop g# other wise known as " Ab Eb Ab Db Gb Bb Eb and it works great for me. their are a lot more possibilities with a 7 string.

 

[Red_Label]

i have a bernie rico jr hesperian 7 and after playing it for a few months and then going back to my esp eclipse the esp feels like a little toy. maybe its just me but i like the fact the neck is wider. I like thin wide necks i guess. Its something you just have to give a little time to adjust. You can always tune to standard and use the 7 a drop note. I tune to drop g# other wise known as " Ab Eb Ab Db Gb Bb Eb and it works great for me. their are a lot more possibilities with a 7 string.

Yeah... I'm starting to think that I should at least give the 7 string a good shot (beyond fiddling around on one in the shop for a few minutes) before I dismiss it. I would definitely want to go with a standard tuning and drop the 7th. Probably just stick with the standard B-E tuning. I keep one of my Eclipses in Eb and use that for drop-C# as well.

 

[Red_Label]

Hmmm... just got a pretty good review on the Whammy (as long as you stay within a whole step or so up or down) from a well-known fellow Rig-Talker and I'm thinking that I should keep considering it as an option based on that.

 

[hellaboogie]

I just recently picked up an Ibanez 7620 7 string, I'm in standard B tuning, I like playing at a lower tuning without have to use super heavy gauge strings 12-13s like I have on my 6 strings. I wish I would have took the plunge sooner

 

[ejecta]

I've been reading reviews of the Whammy and most people seem to prefer the Morpheus over it and the guys whose opinions that I feel like I can trust even more all say that drop-tuning naturally is still the only way to go if one actually cares about tone. So it's looking like I'm stuck with longer, thicker, and/or more strings if I want to do this right (and I do).

Personally I think a guitar tuned to what you want sounds the best. As far as the morpheus vs the whammy..... I had both side by side and the whammy was much better IMHO.

 

[polaris20]

Another option would be a JT Variax or VG Strat. That'd be in between a real baritone and the drop tune pedal stuff. With the VG strat you could conceivably throw whatever Warmoth neck you like on there, if you want.

I thought Pete Thorn's video of the VG Strat was great:

I'm thinking of picking up a used one, tossing some Dimarzio Areas in there, and a Warmoth neck down the road.

 

[Gainzilla]

I've been reading reviews of the Whammy and most people seem to prefer the Morpheus over it and the guys whose opinions that I feel like I can trust even more all say that drop-tuning naturally is still the only way to go if one actually cares about tone. So it's looking like I'm stuck with longer, thicker, and/or more strings if I want to do this right (and I do).

Personally I think a guitar tuned to what you want sounds the best. As far as the morpheus vs the whammy..... I had both side by side and the whammy was much better IMHO.

That was my finding as well.All my guitars are in Eb and I use the Whammy DT to go up or down a half step and I love it. So much so that for me, it might as well be a guitar tuned to what I need it to...

Digitech needs to turn the DT section into a stand alone box without the whammy..

 

[Red_Label]

Another option would be a JT Variax or VG Strat. That'd be in between a real baritone and the drop tune pedal stuff. With the VG strat you could conceivably throw whatever Warmoth neck you like on there, if you want.

I thought Pete Thorn's video of the VG Strat was great:

I'm thinking of picking up a used one, tossing some Dimarzio Areas in there, and a Warmoth neck down the road.

Yeah, those Tyler Variax guitars have definitely been on my radar for a while. Have to keep that in-mind as well. Haven't read any reviews on them yet.

 

[PBGas]

As far detune pedals go I think this one works the best.

Ace! totally agree and have used one now for a year. A fantastic pedal that is so much better than the Morpheus setup. The only problem with it is that it takes up a lot of real estate on the board but hey, it's the equivalent of 3 pedals so I'm not complaining. I've had 2 Morpheus pedals and even with updated firmware, they just weren't right. I've only had one Whammy DT and it'll stay that way until something better comes out.

 

[Chris O]

The Ibanez RGD 2120Z is amazing. I have a pair - one tuned to D, and the other to drop A-flat. Holds tune great!

 

[ejecta]

I've been reading reviews of the Whammy and most people seem to prefer the Morpheus over it and the guys whose opinions that I feel like I can trust even more all say that drop-tuning naturally is still the only way to go if one actually cares about tone. So it's looking like I'm stuck with longer, thicker, and/or more strings if I want to do this right (and I do).

Personally I think a guitar tuned to what you want sounds the best. As far as the morpheus vs the whammy..... I had both side by side and the whammy was much better IMHO.

That was my finding as well.All my guitars are in Eb and I use the Whammy DT to go up or down a half step and I love it. So much so that for me, it might as well be a guitar tuned to what I need it to...

Digitech needs to turn the DT section into a stand alone box without the whammy..

That would be great idea Kage, I barely use the whammy side.