Drop Tuning, Standard Tuning.

Hey guys,

First off, I want to apologize to all administrators if this topic is in the wrong section of the Forums. And secondly, I have two questions

I'm about to ask this question in a rather strange and kind of childish manner, but I don't know how to go about asking these things, so I'll just try to say it. Getting preliminary information out the way, I'm a rock-head at heart. I love those low tuned riffs that just make your head bop up and down, getting you in the mood. I'm always afraid to experiment (which is BAD!) and I feel that Standard Tuning is too "bright" or "happy" in sound. People tell me not to be fooled, because you can still create those head-bopping riffs even in Standard Tuning, which I'm sure is true. I've also heard some actually say that tuning really doesn't even matter (which surprised me a lot because I didn't really agree with that).

I know I'm going a bit all over the place here, but please stay with me here. I want to re-create with my guitar, the sounds that those modern day rock bands create with their instruments. What I'm referring to specifically are those low voiced deep sounds that sound really really "rocky." Just reiterating again, people said that as long as you have the right gear, you can sound as "rocky" as those dropped tuned with the normal tuning. My question is if that is true or not?

If it is, what gear can I get that'll make my sounds have a lot of "bite" to them and just "aggressive"?
If it isn't true...I want to experiment with a drop tuning. I was thinking Drop Db/C#. I have an affinity towards Db/C#. I just love that key. So what kind of strings (gauge, material, brand) should I get for it? Thanks in advance guys!

I Need Lessons In Guitar Gear!

Hey guys,

My name's Dan and I just recently joined GMC sometime yesterday. I've been playing guitar for a little over 3 years now, and only now am I really starting to pick up the pace in developing as a musician. I have a question to all you gear heads out there, because when it comes down to this subject in the guitar world, I am completely lost!

I've heard a lot of people talking about specific details in an amplifier or pedal that I can't hardly even begin to properly understand. Reason being that, there are a bunch of words, lingo, and concepts being thrown about that make it impossible for me to pick up and decipher the message. So this pretty much is my cry for help on this matter. I don't know how to go about becoming better at this. I'm sorry if this seems pretty ambiguous in scope, but anything on this topic would help me out.

I mean I get the details about distortion pedals and whatnot, but compressors, for example, I don't get at all. I don't know what it "does" per say, if you catch my drift. I love guitar for the fact that it's probably one of the very few instruments that you, the player, can add so many colors to in regards to its sound. But what good is having all those colors and not knowing how to use them properly??? So with that said, is there any wisdom that you guys can impart to me? It would be greatly appreciated