The $35 dollar Bariotne conversion

[aen]

For a Fender Jaguar.

1.  Buy a set of mustang saddles  ($30)

2.  Install them

3.  Buy a pack of GHS .70-.11 strings (ZAKK WYLDE!! HEAVY METAL FOREVARRRRR)

4.  Install them, tune to B.


Why the mustang bridge?  I'm not a proponent of fixing what "ain't broke" so there's some real logic here.  When your low strings start getting that huge you hit a point of diminishing returns on the Heavy strings/staying put/tiny grooves equation, and it bercomes kind of like a basketball resting on a crack in the pavement- a rather light touch will set it rolling.

The mustang saddle on the low b is a little touchier than playing with a .54 or .56, but it'll put up with quite a bit of abuse.

[Jay]

Hmmm...  an .011 tuned to B sounds awfully slinky.  Maybe subbing in a couple heavier strings at the top end would work well.  Either way, I quite like the idea.  I've been enjoying tuning around C a lot lately but hate changing out strings just to retune the guitar.

[Aug]

aen:  4 strings or 6? 

hahahahahaha

[jcyphe]

got em!

[aen]

Hmmm...  an .011 tuned to B sounds awfully slinky.  Maybe subbing in a couple heavier strings at the top end would work well.  Either way, I quite like the idea.  I've been enjoying tuning around C a lot lately but hate changing out strings just to retune the guitar.

Okay, I cheated, and my high string is a C# 

aen:  4 strings or 6? 

hahahahahaha

Depends on what you want to play.  If you want to play "hurricane" You'll need four, and only four, but if youw ant to play "empire" you shold really have six.

[TheMilford]

Jazzmaster would prolly work better no?

Longer scale.

[aen]

I haven't got my jazzmaster ATM, but I did do a 4 string version on a telecaster.  They feel pretty much the same as far as tension goes.  The strings are so huge I don't think a 6% scale difference matters much.  I mostly put it on the jag just to see if it worked, and it did, famously.  SO far I've only tuned it B, F#, B, F#, F#, C#  the higher F# strings may feel loose to some hands, but they keep in tune and sound good.