After playing in drop D from playing in C# standard for a while, I've noticed that my playing doesn't sound as sloppy. Mainly because the strings aren't floppy.
In C# standard (and most tunings down from standard), the first four frets of every string sounds fucked up. The first fret makes the same exact sound as the second fret (there is no difference what so ever), and frets 2, 3, and 4 make a sound as if you weren't holding the string down hard enough.
I was wondering, would bigger gauge strings fix all of these problems, or would I have to get my guitar set up for a specific tuning to keep the strings tight, and have the first four frets not sound fucked up?
At the moment, I'm using Elixir: Super Lights, 10 gauges.

Thanks for any help. Let me know if you need more information.

This post was edited by Mathcorey on Oct 18 2009 04:16am

Still in dire need of an answer for this badass question.

Dude...

I don't know..

If you have been tuning all over the place, you may have warped your neck. It is possible, however, that your truss rod needs adjustment. You should bring it to someone who knows how to setup a guitar, and ask them if it needs work. Hopefully they will be honest with you. I wouldn't be able to tell without touching the guitar, so I don't think taking pictures would help.

One of the following:
-Your frets are not level
-Your neck is warped horizontally
-Your tension rod needs adjusting

Have a luthier or guitar tech check it out to identify the exact problem and recommend a solution.

To avoid your neck warping, have the tension rod set for a certain tension and use heavier strings if you are tuning lower, if you use 10-46 for standard, look for around 12-54 for C# to maintain the same tension.

I planned on getting 12-54's on my new guitar. Is it going to mess up if I always switch tunings regardless, though?

This post was edited by Mathcorey on Oct 20 2009 12:36am

If you switch tunings with the same size strings, yes. If you use 12-54 for C# and 10-46 for standard, the tension will be similar enough that it will not cause problems.

Thanks for the info. Guess it's time to start saving for a guitar per tuning.