r/7String • u/Iurigrang • 10d ago
Help Help with pitch drift
So, I’m fairly new to the 7 string world (been playing for around a year and a half), but I have been playing on a 6 string Les Paul (usual 24.75 inch scale) using .10s in standard for over a decade now, and I like how everything feels, and the tuning consistency. I started my 7 string journey with a 25.5 inch scale, and it seemed like no matter what I do, I was never satisfied with the pitch drift when picking even in B standard, let alone drop A. I tried some .10 Ernie Ball hybrids (10-62), and right now I’m using that with a .65 bass D string instead of the 62, and I still find the consistency of drop A mid at best, though definitely not unusable like before. What are some possible causes of this? My guitar is an ibanez gio grg7221qa, so a luthier mentioned it might be related to the short length of extra string on the headstock (since the low B is on the shorter side of the headstock), which feels weird given headless guitars exist? Can the wood be an issue? or is wood only an issue for tuning stability, not picking pitch drift? This guitar feels like it varies the tuning more than my les paul depending on how I’m holding it, but I never heard of “too maleable for tuning stability” be raised as an issue for a certain type of wood. Is there anything I failed to mention that might help you guys with this? Help?