Tuning down to 433 Hz for playability reasons

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Rmn

Posts: 308
Joined: May 14 2011

Tuning down to 433 Hz for playabilit...

Hello all.

Since my guitar has a little curve in the neck, it's kind off heavy to play it for a longer period (example 4 groups of dance lessons) because the strings are a little high and they are quite tense. It doesn't have to do with the bridge or nut, so changing the action is not the solution (luthier Otto Vowinkel told me, who has his workshop a couple of streets away from my atelier in Amsterdam).
I notice, behalf of the fact that tensed strings are heavier to play, that you can also put more feeling in the playing when the strings have less tension.
It's a shame because the guitar sounds quite nice and I'm used to it.

So I went experimenting with lowering the tuning to get better playability. I found that tuning down to 433Hz instead of 440Hz has the best playability/sound ratio. I hear though a little bit of overtone loss when it's tuned down.

My question is: is it a wise thing to tune the guitar a little bit lower?
I know 3 reasons that make it not a wise thing:
1. less overtones
2. if I play with other guitarists they will have to tune down, or if there is an other kind of instrument involved then I have to to up again to a tension I am not used to anymore.
3. Not so good for the perfect pitch (hearing/recognizing pitch)

However, I choose the better playability above these reasons.

But if you guys add more reasons to tune up again, then I will do that. So I am curious about your opinion.

Thanks alot,

Ramón

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date May 23 2011 9:05:24

El Kiko

Posts: 2697
Joined: Jun. 7 2010
From: The South Ireland

RE: 433 Hz for playability reasons (in reply to Rmn)

I would think if you had to tune down then make it a even semi-tone (so your bottom E would be an Eb ) and then if you had to play with others you would just have the capo on the first fret or one fret higher than the others, just to make it easy for you .
Maybe you should read a bit about Carlos Montoya who had his guitar tuned down all the time , for different reasons than you I must say, perhaps not applicable but you may find it interesting.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date May 23 2011 9:36:40

Rmn

Posts: 308
Joined: May 14 2011

RE: 433 Hz for playability reasons (in reply to Rmn)

Thanks for your reply Rico. I already tried tuning down a semitone (416 Hz) to do the cejilla trick that you are suggesting, but then the tension would get too low and the guitar will sound dead and buzz all the time

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date May 23 2011 9:45:49

Rmn

Posts: 308
Joined: May 14 2011

RE: Tuning down to 433 Hz for playab... (in reply to Rmn)

well guys, never mind it. I tuned everything up again and man I just luv it this way. You really sometimes don't know what you got till its gone.. The high tension of the strings (I use normal tension Savarez corum alliance by the way) just ads so much punch and power.
I guess I will have to live with the pain in the fingers/wrist

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date May 23 2011 20:59:13

BarkellWH

Posts: 3460
Joined: Jul. 12 2009
From: Washington, DC

RE: Tuning down to 433 Hz for playab... (in reply to Rmn)

Just out of interest, Ramon, when you write that the strings on your guitar are a little high, what do you mean exactly? What is the height (action) in millimeters from the bottom of the sixth (low E) string to the top of the fret at the 12th fret? I know that most flamencos consider 3 mm to be about right, but I think that 3.5 mm is still within reason for flamenco. Anyway, just curious.

Cheers,

Bill

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And the end of the fight is a tombstone white,
With the name of the late deceased,
And the epitaph drear, "A fool lies here,
Who tried to hustle the East."

--Rudyard Kipling

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date May 23 2011 21:20:46

Rmn

Posts: 308
Joined: May 14 2011

RE: Tuning down to 433 Hz for playab... (in reply to Rmn)

To the twelfth fret, do you mean to the metal? or to the twelfth fret on the fretboard (the wood)?
from the strings to the metal fret on the 12th is 5 mm. To the wood is 6+ mm

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date May 23 2011 21:42:19

BarkellWH

Posts: 3460
Joined: Jul. 12 2009
From: Washington, DC

RE: Tuning down to 433 Hz for playab... (in reply to Rmn)

To the metal. Five millimeters is pretty high. If your nut and bridge seem OK, then the neck of your guitar must have an unusually large bow in it.

Cheers,

Bill

_____________________________

And the end of the fight is a tombstone white,
With the name of the late deceased,
And the epitaph drear, "A fool lies here,
Who tried to hustle the East."

--Rudyard Kipling

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date May 23 2011 21:50:11

Rmn

Posts: 308
Joined: May 14 2011

RE: Tuning down to 433 Hz for playab... (in reply to Rmn)

Hi Bill,

That is indeed the case. Also how the whole guitar is built make it heavier than usual (that I have been told by a luthier).
I've tried the light tension strings from Savarez, but they sound really horrible.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date May 24 2011 15:43:55