Is it safe to change tunings with these new strings?

Question

I just got new strings put onto my BC Rich Warlock Bronze Series. I previously only had .10's put on it, but since I usually play in Drop C, I had .13's put on it this time and I had it tuned to Drop C at the store. But now, I need to put it into Standard tuning. I started tuning the strings, but when I was turning the tuning pegs, it felt really tight, like the strings were gonna pop if I played on them, so I stopped tuning after the first two strings. I've never dealt with these thicker strings before so I need to know if I needed to adjust anything on my guitar to safely tune back to Standard. I have a feeling that it's just because the thicker strings make the tuning pegs a bit harder to turn, but I just wanted to make sure before I tried. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you very much!

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

If you normally de-tune your guitar to play it fitting a set starting with a "13" makes sense I guess. But why, then, are you trying to tune to standard tuning?

So far as standard tuning goes on electric guitar I would say that sets starting with "9", "10" or "11" should be fine and would hopefully require no adjustments. A set starting with "13" though? I wouldn't like to try it without expecting to need just about everything adjusted, and then I would still expect to find it virtually unplayable. Really, I wouldn't like to play an acoustic with those gauges. If you are able to play it please be gentle with anyone you shake hands with.

tootall1121 · Answer

I use 13's all the time, I generally use open D tunings. Thing to do is bring them up to pitch slowly, since they've never been stretched that far before. In fact, loosen them until you can get them out of the nut slot, and run a pencil through the nut slot several times, until it leaves some of the graphite in the slot. This will lube the slot and make tuning up easier. Take them up one note above your usual at a time, let it stand a bit, then continue. However, if you had .10's on it, and went to 13's, you may need truss rod adjustment and or action adjustment once you get it up to standard tuning. If so, take your measurements, then slack them back off while you make the adjustments. Be prepared with an extra set of strings anyway, you never know. I've even broken G and low E strings from time to time because they got old. How old are the strings you're using? If it's been a few months at drop C, then it will tougher to stretch them than if they were put on yesterday. 13's produce a fatter sound, so stick with them if you like that fatter sound.

Russell E · Answer

Get Ernie Ball Skinny top Heavy Bottoms.

.12's on the wounds, but .10's on the high strings.

? · Answer

That would be a medium gauge on an acoustic, and most electric strings are  lighter than acoustic extra-lights!  Personally, I wouldn't risk it.  I've only owned one Dean, but that one had a neck like spaghetti.

? · Answer

13's...holy crap!! Sure, you can tune new strings any way you want, but I could never use 13's in standard tuning.

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Is it safe to change tunings with these new strings?

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