|
Post by johnreardon on Nov 27, 2020 8:41:16 GMT
on my Les Paul and my 2 Gretsch Jets, I use 10s. I have been using GHS Boomers, but I came into some Gretsch strings(Gretsch is on the package) that I plan to use the next time I change strings. the strings were a "door prize" that I won at a Gretsch gathering in Kansas City. on my '59 Gretsch hollowbody, I use 11s. anything else and the strings rattle. on my acoustics, I like to use John Pearce Phosphor Bronze slightly light gauge. I like to bend the strings. I'm reposting this to keep the thread current.
John, there's no way I could use anything smaller than at least 9s on my Les Paul or my Jets. with 8s, just chording the strings, I would be out of tune. however, arthritis is starting to set in my fingers in my left hand. so, I may have to go with 8s myself. getting old ain't for sissies. I thought the same Brent until I tried it. Soundwise when gigging, there's no difference. My guitar stays in tune, at least enough for playing lead. I can always bend solos into key
|
|
|
Post by Bill h on Nov 27, 2020 23:15:15 GMT
I have just dropped down to 8s as my fingers seemed to have aged the same as the rest of my boy. Using Ernie Ball Extra Slinky 8,11,14,22,30,38. Have I noticed a difference in sound? Absolutely not. My LPs are still as deep as ever. Right now I use ernie ball regular slinky’s. I’ve tried going down to 9’s and only had a problem with pushing chords out of tune a little. I never gave myself a chance to adjust to them before I went back. Going to 8’s, wow, I feel like I might rip the strings right off. I see the sun setting on 10’s coming for the sake of my hands. Was there any kind of adjustment, from a physical standpoint, when you went to the extra slinks?
|
|
|
Post by zontar on Nov 28, 2020 7:41:08 GMT
I use GHS Boomers on my electrics--and I use different gauges depending on the guitar
|
|
|
Post by johnreardon on Nov 28, 2020 9:21:48 GMT
I have just dropped down to 8s as my fingers seemed to have aged the same as the rest of my boy. Using Ernie Ball Extra Slinky 8,11,14,22,30,38. Have I noticed a difference in sound? Absolutely not. My LPs are still as deep as ever. Right now I use ernie ball regular slinky’s. I’ve tried going down to 9’s and only had a problem with pushing chords out of tune a little. I never gave myself a chance to adjust to them before I went back. Going to 8’s, wow, I feel like I might rip the strings right off. I see the sun setting on 10’s coming for the sake of my hands. Was there any kind of adjustment, from a physical standpoint, when you went to the extra slinks? Nope no adjustment at all, other than bending was easier. I haven't changed all my guitars yet, so some still have a mix of 10s & 9s. To be honest, I don't notice any difference when noodling at home. It's playing a couple of sets at gigs I would really notice.
|
|
|
Post by zontar on Dec 2, 2020 1:41:30 GMT
I have a single string on order--I should have ordered 3 or 4. I like a wound G on my hollow body electric. But nobody sell sets I like with them (11-50 on that guitar)
|
|
|
Post by infant on Dec 2, 2020 4:38:55 GMT
|
|
|
Post by zontar on Dec 2, 2020 5:53:06 GMT
I'll check it out--and actually I typed the numbers incorrectly--it's actually 10-52 --I have 11-50 on a Les Paul copy for slide. (Plain G)
|
|
|
Post by infant on Dec 2, 2020 14:28:34 GMT
Well the EXL110W from D’addario are 10-46 with a wound G IIRC. Sounds like you prefer a light top heavy bottom set.
|
|
|
Post by Die Bullen on Dec 2, 2020 17:45:33 GMT
For my archtops, I use Thomastik Infeld Jazz Swing Strings which are a gauge of .13-.53 and flatwound.
My Strat has Thomastik Infeld roundwounds, which are .11-.47. The setup is so nice on that guitar that I decided not to put the heavier string on.
My Jazzmaster has the same TI strings as the Strat, except those are flatwound. I also didn't want to monkey with the setup on that one.
|
|
|
Post by zontar on Dec 5, 2020 8:56:45 GMT
Well the EXL110W from D’addario are 10-46 with a wound G IIRC. Sounds like you prefer a light top heavy bottom set. I like a 50 on the arch top--so the 46 doesn't quite do it for me. I do use 10-46 on another guitar. But thanks for the suggestion. But I have the wound 17 now, and some spare strings to make up a set for my Epiphone Mandobird. (Made up from two 10-46 sets.) So some much needed string changing could be happening tomorrow.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
Likes:
|
Post by Deleted on Dec 6, 2020 1:52:40 GMT
A long time ago, I decided that, if I could find the right thing, it would make imminent sense to find one gauge and type of strings that would be compatible with all my guitars, regardless of type or scale. I tried lots of different brands but finally hit the right thing by accident. I was finishing a new guitar about 15 years ago and realized I didn't have any new string sets. My previous landlord in this house is a musician, so I went downstairs and asked him if he had any new string sets. He showed my four different types...Fender, GHS Boomers, D'Addario, and Gibson. I hadn't used Gibson strings since I was a teenager, but had fond memories how much I'd liked the old Gibson flatwounds. I chose the Gibsons...They were Brite Wires, which I'd never heard of, but they were great...Roundwound .010-046's and they sounded great. I discovered that they stayed fresh-sounding a lot longer than other brands, and the longevity is amazing. This'll make some you cringe, but that first set, which went onto what's now my go-to Strat, is still on the guitar. I took them off about 6 years ago and boiled them, and then put them back on. They still intonate fine and sound excellent. I liked them enough that I bought a master pack of 12 sets and started using them on everything. I've had them on all the different scales....22.5, 22.7, 24, 24.75, 25.25, and 25.5, and they work great. I never get the sensation that they feel flabby the way some brands do and I've never had a bad string out of the package. They even work fine on my Fender acoustic flat-top.
|
|
|
Post by zontar on Dec 6, 2020 6:41:28 GMT
A long time ago, I decided that, if I could find the right thing, it would make imminent sense to find one gauge and type of strings that would be compatible with all my guitars, regardless of type or scale. I tried lots of different brands but finally hit the right thing by accident. I was finishing a new guitar about 15 years ago and realized I didn't have any new string sets. My previous landlord in this house is a musician, so I went downstairs and asked him if he had any new string sets. He showed my four different types...Fender, GHS Boomers, D'Addario, and Gibson. I hadn't used Gibson strings since I was a teenager, but had fond memories how much I'd liked the old Gibson flatwounds. I chose the Gibsons...They were Brite Wires, which I'd never heard of, but they were great...Roundwound .010-046's and they sounded great. I discovered that they stayed fresh-sounding a lot longer than other brands, and the longevity is amazing. This'll make some you cringe, but that first set, which went onto what's now my go-to Strat, is still on the guitar. I took them off about 6 years ago and boiled them, and then put them back on. They still intonate fine and sound excellent. I liked them enough that I bought a master pack of 12 sets and started using them on everything. I've had them on all the different scales....22.5, 22.7, 24, 24.75, 25.25, and 25.5, and they work great. I never get the sensation that they feel flabby the way some brands do and I've never had a bad string out of the package. They even work fine on my Fender acoustic flat-top. Cool, if you can find that. I used to use 9-42 on all my electrics until I got the arch top & modded my LP copy for slide--then it all changed. I could go with 9-42 or 10-46 on everything, but I prefer otherwise -although I use GHS Boomers as much as possible. But using one on everything is cool if it works out.
|
|
|
Post by Die Bullen on Dec 6, 2020 16:51:45 GMT
I'm sure I would break 9's almost immediately because of how I play, also I am used to a lot of tension on the strings so lighter gauges would probably feel like rubber bands.
I remember Ken talking about boiling strings and I always thought that would be neat to try but by the time my Thomastiks go, the flatwound tape is failing because the frets have cut through in spots. TI strings generally last a really long time (not 6 years of gigging to be sure) but i doubt i could recycle them
|
|
|
Post by infant on Dec 6, 2020 17:34:36 GMT
I’ve heard of bass players boiling strings, but not guitar players. I’d be worried that the unwound strings would be very weak where they were kinked thru the hole in the tuning head. I usually change my strings after about 4 gigs or once a year, which ever comes first. Some of my guitars rarely get gigged so those only get a change once a year. Strings are cheap and for the price that I pay for one beer at any bar I’m playing, I can replace my strings for the next 4 gigs. The Long and McQuade store brand strings are rebranded Dean Markleys for $5.50CAD or about $4 US. I buy my D’addario strings in multi packs when they go on sale and they come to approx $6 CAD per set. I hate the feel of old strings as my fingers don’t glide up and down the neck.
|
|
|
Post by Bill h on Dec 6, 2020 17:51:22 GMT
I’ve heard of folks boiling strings for various reasons, never done it myself but always wondered if it actually works.
|
|
|
Post by Die Bullen on Dec 7, 2020 3:46:44 GMT
I’ve heard of bass players boiling strings, but not guitar players. I’d be worried that the unwound strings would be very weak where they were kinked thru the hole in the tuning head. I usually change my strings after about 4 gigs or once a year, which ever comes first. Some of my guitars rarely get gigged so those only get a change once a year. Strings are cheap and for the price that I pay for one beer at any bar I’m playing, I can replace my strings for the next 4 gigs. The Long and McQuade store brand strings are rebranded Dean Markleys for $5.50CAD or about $4 US. I buy my D’addario strings in multi packs when they go on sale and they come to approx $6 CAD per set. I hate the feel of old strings as my fingers don’t glide up and down the neck. Really- after 4 gigs? Jeez after 4 gigs i feel like mine are finally broken in (not kidding). Maybe it is just a flatwound thing but i find they sound way too bright in the first few hours of playing
|
|
|
Post by Sgt Rock on Dec 7, 2020 4:43:10 GMT
I tried flatwounds one time and didn't like them. someday, I may try them again, but for now I'm ok.
|
|
|
Post by infant on Dec 7, 2020 4:53:46 GMT
To me, I love the bright ringing sound of new strings. After 4 gigs, I find sweat and oils get into the windings and deaden them. I'm constantly wiping down my neck and strings between songs just to keep the strings and neck clean. Flat wounds are a different story. The windings are so tight that they don't deaden much more than when they are installed. I once sold an Epiphone Dot, with flatwounds on it, to a friend of mine. I played a gig with him a couple of years later and he was telling me that he still hadn't changed the strings yet! The guitar sounded pretty much the same as when I sold it to him. Flatwounds just sound fairly dead to me from the minute I install them. BUT, I still put them on my ES137 if I have a few dinner music gigs lined up during the year.
|
|
|
Post by zontar on Dec 7, 2020 5:28:14 GMT
I'm sure I would break 9's almost immediately because of how I play, also I am used to a lot of tension on the strings so lighter gauges would probably feel like rubber bands. I remember Ken talking about boiling strings and I always thought that would be neat to try but by the time my Thomastiks go, the flatwound tape is failing because the frets have cut through in spots. TI strings generally last a really long time (not 6 years of gigging to be sure) but i doubt i could recycle them You have to use what you like & makes sense. That's going to be different for different people--and we shouldn't have an issue with that--and be happy there are so many options out there. (Now if GHS would make their 10-52 set with a wound 17.)
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
Likes:
|
Post by Deleted on Dec 7, 2020 7:15:27 GMT
I’ve heard of folks boiling strings for various reasons, never done it myself but always wondered if it actually works. I was surprised when I found out how controversial it can be. I'm participating in and watching a thread over on Bass Talk about string boiling and it's into about 5 or 6 pages now. I'm sure it's something that's always been more common for bass because of the price of bass strings. An interesting story.....In 1974, I bought a 1963 Gibson EB3 from another local player. He used to boil his strings and the bass was still wearing the original strings when I bought it. So, it definitely can stretch out the lifespan of strings. I hadn't done it before with guitar strings, but when I wanted to liven up the sound of my cherryburst Strat, boiling seemed like a logical thing to do. I know some guys claim that old strings reach a point where they don't tune properly or intonate correctly, but that's never been my experience. I saw a definite advantage in reusing the same strings rather than replacing them......I've always hated the process of breaking in new strings - Getting new ones stretched out until they finally stop going out of tune. Reusing the same strings meant that I wouldn't have to go through that horrible stretching-in process, plus the intonation's perfect. I've found fairly frequently with some brands of strings that even if you use the same brand and same gauge of strings, the intonation can be a shade out and need resetting. Boiling and reusing the same strings means that the perfect setup is still perfect after the strings are put back on.
Incidentally, I was amazed to hear how many different ways there are of renewing strings....Some guys boil them in water, some people use various solutions such as denatured alcohol, hell, some guys even throw them in the dishwasher, lol. The key, regardless of how you do it seems to be to ascertain that they're absolutely dry before they're reinstalled. The one new wrinkle to string rejuvenation that I'd never heard, and we're talking particularly about bass strings here, is that some guys will slack the strings right off so they're verging on floppy, flabby tension, and then to do fairly violent pull-offs to shake the dirt out. I've never tried it but it sounds interesting.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
Likes:
|
Post by Deleted on Dec 7, 2020 7:23:31 GMT
To me, I love the bright ringing sound of new strings. After 4 gigs, I find sweat and oils get into the windings and deaden them. I'm constantly wiping down my neck and strings between songs just to keep the strings and neck clean...... Just to make one additional comment, regarding Rob liking the sound of new strings. I've always found that jangle of brand new strings really jarring. To each his own......But, when I hear guys complaining about Tele's and Strat's with horrible ice-pick from the bridge pickups, I always think "What the heck did you expect.....So many guys seem to change strings right before a gig, so they're going onstage and beaming that sound of new metal string jangle right at the audience" It seems to me that's partly why they complain about ice-pick. YMMV.
|
|
|
Post by johnreardon on Dec 7, 2020 11:01:42 GMT
I’ve heard of bass players boiling strings, but not guitar players. I’d be worried that the unwound strings would be very weak where they were kinked thru the hole in the tuning head. I usually change my strings after about 4 gigs or once a year, which ever comes first. Some of my guitars rarely get gigged so those only get a change once a year. Strings are cheap and for the price that I pay for one beer at any bar I’m playing, I can replace my strings for the next 4 gigs. The Long and McQuade store brand strings are rebranded Dean Markleys for $5.50CAD or about $4 US. I buy my D’addario strings in multi packs when they go on sale and they come to approx $6 CAD per set. I hate the feel of old strings as my fingers don’t glide up and down the neck. Really- after 4 gigs? Jeez after 4 gigs i feel like mine are finally broken in (not kidding). Maybe it is just a flatwound thing but i find they sound way too bright in the first few hours of playing Mine usually last a few gigs, but it depends how 'sweaty' the gig is. In summer months they can get a bit gungy. Unfortunately I often forget to wipe my guitars down at the end of a gig. As I'm the 'leader', I have to get the money and also I own the PA so have a lot of equipment to pack up. The others help me load the stuff in and out of my van, but I like to make sure each lead goes in the right place, so I can find it the next gig
|
|
|
Post by Die Bullen on Dec 7, 2020 21:09:54 GMT
To me, I love the bright ringing sound of new strings. After 4 gigs, I find sweat and oils get into the windings and deaden them. I'm constantly wiping down my neck and strings between songs just to keep the strings and neck clean. Flat wounds are a different story. The windings are so tight that they don't deaden much more than when they are installed. I once sold an Epiphone Dot, with flatwounds on it, to a friend of mine. I played a gig with him a couple of years later and he was telling me that he still hadn't changed the strings yet! The guitar sounded pretty much the same as when I sold it to him. Flatwounds just sound fairly dead to me from the minute I install them. BUT, I still put them on my ES137 if I have a few dinner music gigs lined up during the year. Hey that's why they make all kinds of configurations. I do think however that flatwounds last longer and are easier on fret wear. But of course if you don't like the way they sound, why would you buy them anyway!
|
|
|
Post by Die Bullen on Dec 7, 2020 21:13:12 GMT
I'm sure I would break 9's almost immediately because of how I play, also I am used to a lot of tension on the strings so lighter gauges would probably feel like rubber bands. I remember Ken talking about boiling strings and I always thought that would be neat to try but by the time my Thomastiks go, the flatwound tape is failing because the frets have cut through in spots. TI strings generally last a really long time (not 6 years of gigging to be sure) but i doubt i could recycle them You have to use what you like & makes sense. That's going to be different for different people--and we shouldn't have an issue with that--and be happy there are so many options out there. (Now if GHS would make their 10-52 set with a wound 17.) Could you get some single strings from the manufacturer and just swap that one string?
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
Likes:
|
Post by Deleted on Dec 7, 2020 23:33:24 GMT
I seem to recall one source of strings mentioned on a forum that just sells singles, so a guy could order a custom combination that suited his playing style. I assume the wound 17 is a replacement for the plain G/3rd that so many sets come with. I couldn't use one, because I like bending too much, but I can see the appeal for some guys. I've read that a lot of what we'd think of now as primitive bridges with no way to intonate would work fine years ago when wound third strings were commonplace.
|
|
|
Post by Die Bullen on Dec 8, 2020 0:17:02 GMT
SC, don't your strings get gouged from the frets over time?
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
Likes:
|
Post by Deleted on Dec 8, 2020 2:41:48 GMT
SC, don't your strings get gouged from the frets over time? I haven't noticed that happening, dB. On that Strat that I've boiled the strings on, I thought there was a bit of discolouration at the points where the strings contact the frets right after I boiled them and was reinstalling them, but I don't see it now. I set my guitars up with very little relief and the action set really, really low, and I play with a light touch, so maybe that accounts for the fact that there doesn't seem to be any amount of wear.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
Likes:
|
Post by Deleted on Dec 8, 2020 2:55:50 GMT
One other thing I haven't mentioned....Although I've never had a Gibson string with any sort of manufacturing defect, I had one unusual situation happen. I sent a buddy that was going to Long & McQuade in Nanaimo to pick up two master packs of Gibson Brite Wires when they were on sale at an unusually low price. It was quite a while before I had to open them up, and by then it was too late to go back with them and my buddy hadn't saved the sales receipt. They all had spots of blackish corrosion all at the same point in the coiled strings in the packages. I conjectured that a supplier off-shore had mishandled them or stored the stock in a bad place that left them exposed to excessive moisture. I wonder if maybe they realized what had happened, sold the stock in bulk to Long & McQuade at a heavily discounted price, and that's why they ended up selling them so cheap. I ended up using the strings on guitars that I was keeping or that weren't sold yet. They seemed to sound okay, but looked like hell, so when I sold a guitar that had them, I'd restring it with a fresh set of Brite Wires from Best Buy. That was the last time I ever bought strings in bulk though.
|
|
|
Post by infant on Dec 8, 2020 5:27:25 GMT
Ken, don't the sets of Bright Wires come in sealed packages?
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
Likes:
|
Post by Deleted on Dec 8, 2020 6:18:54 GMT
Ken, don't the sets of Bright Wires come in sealed packages? Yes, they do, and that puzzled me. You'd have to wonder how something could corrode inside what's supposed to be hermetically sealed plastic. But I have to think whatever happened, it almost certainly would have to have happened after leaving Gibson's warehouse. Their QC would have to catch something like that. Those master packs of Gibson strings were in paper envelopes, but the six paper envelopes were in sealed plastic, and then those sealed packages were in plastic envelopes that had 5 complete sets of Brite Wires, plus two extra B and 2 extra high E strings in each. I've still got almost a full master pack left in my spare parts that I didn't give away. I think there must have been something shady about where those strings came from....They were about half what I normally paid for Bright Wires.
On a slightly different note, Gibson seems to have a string type that I hadn't seen before but I've read about more recently....They're called Vintage Reissue Pure Nickel-wound. I'd like to try a set of those ones. They're more money than Brite Wires, and more money, but I'm curious.
|
|