Hi i hope i can get some fine advice here based on my consideration on committing to getting either the Sg12 or Alto Stick. Thanks in advance.

My first question is what's the lowest possible tuning achievable on the Sg12 and Alto Stick that the intonation adjusters allow?

Tanx

randolf

I had an Alto for few weeks last year and I tried a low MR tuning starting with an F on the bass side so the lowest melody string was an A.
Actually, it was exactly as a 10 strings Matched Reciprocal tuning, a fourth higher like this :

Melody:
F down a 4th
C down a 4th
G down a 4th
D down a 4th
A down a 4th

Bass:
F up a 5th
C up a 5th
G up a 5th
D up a 5th (unison with 4th string)
A up a 5th

Like a 10 Strings 34" starting on the position V (if you see what I mean).

I didn't had a lot of time to try it but it was fine.

Tanx Yannick, that's really helpful. Do u recall what gauge of strings u were using and were they too "floppy" for you?

Hey Randolf,

I found the lowest "good sound" was a G above bass guitar low E, but I have a couple of other strings I recently got and will put them on today and give you a report on what I find.

The issue is not the intonation adjusters, its the combination of tension that's best for tapping, and the ratio of the diameter to the vibrating length of the string. If that ratio is too high (the string is too short for a given diameter), then the harmonics don't seem to sound in tune relative to the fundamental.

Hey thanks for that useful point raised there Greg. Ahhh, it's down to the physics of string tension against string material and string mass against tone, pitch and tactile feel.... I did anticipate there would be a complex range of issues to consider other than just down tuning but didn't know what till you just cleared it up for me. tanx again Greg.

So I checked a couple of plain core .087s just to see if they could do a low E and it's no dice.

The problem is that the tension that makes for good tapping response is such that these thicker strings end up just clanking around.

I'm left with the same conclusion I had before:

Low G is kind of the limit for a decent sounding tapped string on a guitar scale instrument, and it really doesn't sound all that good above the 8th fret, it's just too thick.

"So I checked a couple of plain core .087s just to see if they could do a low E and it's no dice."

It's not much, but what about a low F with that string, is it doable?
1 whole step down EADGCF for the SG would be nice if possible.

Thanks Greg, Thanks Greg

Really appreciate it!

Randolf