Strings

[Hammurabi]

I've always been led to believe that thicker strings sound better, but I've noticed that many artists such as Pat Martino use 9s.

So, what's your all's opinions? How much does string size effect tone?

[Tele Master]

I guess, what sounds come off your strings are your own opinion. I like 10's because they aren't as thin(I find they feel better on my fingers) and I like the sound of them. I use GHS Boomers. They last long, and sound good.

I love Jimmy Page's sound, but he used 9's.

[Slasher]

I use 11-48s. Not too thin not too heavy. Ernie Balls what I use. They feel good and you get a good warm tone. I've been playing with the idea of putting heavier strings on the low E,A,D n lighter strings on D,B,E. Anyone ever tried this?

[Hammurabi]

Ernie ball makes hybrids 9-46, I think.

So are you all saying it's a matter of feel, or does thickness effect sound?

[Slasher]

It does affect the sound. I used 52s by accident once (stoopid guitar shop) n it did sound a lot heavier than usual.

[SPL]

The gauge of strings you use does affect your sound. I play with 11's simply because I think they sound fuller and have a better feel...

[the fool]

i guess it depends on your style. if you like to do a lot of bending, go for 8's or 9's. If not then use any string you want. The lighter the gauge the brighter, while the thicker the gauge, the more fatter and warmer tone. I have two guitars- a fender equipped with d addario 12's and my epi hollowbody with ernie ball slinkys 8's. I use the fender for rhythm work, fingerpicking, power chords etc. while I use my epi for solo and lead guitar playing.

[Hammurabi]

Would a hybrid set of strings fro mthe top end of 9s to the bottom end of 11s twist the neck or something like that?

[the fool]

No- as long as you have it set up properly. You always have to set up your guitar if you change your gauge- it doesnt matter even if you're going from regular to hybrids. My friend even finds that he had to get his guitar set when he's switiching from a different brand, even though he's using the same gauge. I used to do experiments on my strat. Since I like to do a lot of bending when I play lead and I like to pick and play the bass at the same time while playing rhythm, I wanted to get the best of both worlds so I experimented by putting very thick strings on the bass and 9's on the treble strings. It sounded terrible at first so I have to have it set up so that the neck could properly accomodate the different string tensions. After the set up, the buzzing and the sharpness of some of some of the notes disappeared.

[the fool]

If you're using hybrid light strings, I don't think it will twist the neck. You'll just hear a lot of rattling and buzzing because your neck is much more used to the different tension of your previous gauge. If you're talking about really heavy gauge strings- then you might just twist the neck if you don't set it up properly.

[hairbndrckr]

I have been using .009's for years. Never tried any other guage.
Also I am a cheap bastard, so I use Dean Markley Toneblasters. (Watch for shameless plug) They come in a twin pack, so I get 2 sets of strings for the price of one. I get them here (http://www.geetarshop.com) for $5.99 a pack. He also carries .010's for those of you who like that guage.

[Jolly McJollyson]

I do prefer the tens. The nines play WAY too fast and slippery. Tens give you a fuller tone AND a firmer string.

[PRSplaya]

I use D'Addario's that are 10-52 which I think are basically 10 on the treble and 11 on the bass. I like the extra chunkyness when doing rythm stuff and the slightly brighter 10's accompany the chunky 11's very nicely. I also tune down 1/2 to a whole step so 9's just aren't very practicle for me. Plus I played the acoustic a long time before moving to an electric so that's another reason I use heavier strings. 9's feel too brittle and sound too thin to me.

[TheWizard]

how long do strings last normally for you guys?

I mean how long do they have that new string twang?

mine seriously last for less than 3 days because of how much my fingers and hands sweat, it really sucks

anyone else have this problem?

off the subject but does enyone know how much it costs to replace a plastic nut with a brass one?

[Slasher]

I can go for 6 months without restringing. I no I should more often but I simply cant afford to do it to 6 guitars that often. Gunna have to soon tho cos I snapped the high E on 1 o my Les Pauls today. I have been hammering that string quite hard tho...

[iamthe_eggman]

EVH changes his strings as they break. I guess there must be a happy medium in there, somewhere.

I like 10's, GHS Boomers are my brand of choice right now, and I use Elixirs exclusively for my acoustic. Everything you've heard about Elixirs (for acoustic) is true (well, the good things you've heard).

[Lordathestrings]

I use only D'Addario strings. There may be better strings out there, but I'm happy with these, so I stick with 'em. My Yamaha SBG1000s wear EJ21 jazz strings .012 - .052. My Washburn A20-CS and my Odyssey V have EXL110 .010 - .046. My bass has light strings on it to make it easier to change back and forth from the six-string guitars. And my acoustics all run 0.12s, again to make the change from electric to acoustic easier.

Effect on tone? Big time! The jazz strings on the SBGs give me a really solid sound. It makes playing clean such a joy, because there's so much rich depth to the tone. The guitars with .010s on them sound good, and I can bend notes, but I've gotta admit that after playing the heavier strings, they seem to be missing something.

[the fool]

amen to that mr. moderator. I use d'addario too- 11- 12 guage strings on my strat- I think they're the best out there that I've used so far. I haven't tried the 8's though. Are they better than the 8 guage (well, a lil bit thinner than the normal 8 guage- its hybrid i think)ernie ball slinky's?

[Azrael]

i used to use the 009ers from Elixier ( i abslutely love those strings ) but on my new guitar (it should be finished very soon) i will use a 010 set, not sure what to do with the remaining 40 packages of 009 elixiers though.. *LOL*

[the fool]

You can send me one.... (or two?)

[Leedogg]

I use ernie ball super slinkies (.009), I think they are a good fit for how I play.

[Azrael]

has anyone ever tried the .007s by dáddario? man those things are thinner than a hair *LOL* and they sound not very good, ut holy hell - you can make like octave bends *LOL*

[Death55]

I dont like getting strings that are really thin. It makes me worry more about breaking them !

[progg]

Originally posted by Death55
I dont like getting strings that are really thin. It makes me worry more about breaking them !

Same here. I hate E1. Replaced it with a thicker one this last time I restringed the damn thing and I feel more comfortable playing with this one. Replaced the .009 with a .010. Doesn't feel like it's gonna break everytime I bend more than 1/2 step.

Btw, bending is not really for men either.

[iamthe_eggman]

Originally posted by progg
Btw, bending is not really for men either.

Hear, hear!!!

...

wait a second, what did you say, again?

[Leedogg]

Do you mean gender bending?

[Lordathestrings]

Haarrr! Real men play .012s! :D

[the fool]

Quote:
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Originally posted by Azrael

has anyone ever tried the .007s by dáddario? man those things are thinner than a hair *LOL* and they sound not very good, ut holy hell - you can make like octave bends *LOL*

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I've never heard of the .007s but they must be very fragile, sound too bright, and wear very quick.

[metal_carnage]

Im experimenting with string gaunge too.

Normaly im using 0.9 from D'Arrio but when I changed to Erie Slicky's I noticed I could tune my guitar in only 3 minutes playing and it would stay in tune. The other strings I could tune for like 3 days before they would stay in tune.
I also have a 0.11 on the Warlock ATM, also from Erie, I like the thinker lower strings.. gives a frim grip and sounds realy heavy :)

I once tried the 0.8 (D'Arrio) it snapped after 1.5 hours of playing, and yes, I like to do some bending or tremelo usage (or raping lol)
I also noticed that with a 0.8 I cant seem to get grip om the string it's realy slippery and when I wanted to bend sometimes I completely missed the string *lol*

For now I think the Erie 0.9 and 0.11 are great :)
Gonna try Fender strings next time I think.

[the fool]

Really metal_carnage? I thought the ligther gauge Ernie ball slinky's were notorious for being hard to tune. When I replaced the d'addario 10's in my lp with Ernie Ball Slinkys 8's, I need to to keep on bending, pulling, and tuning the new strings for hours arounf 3-4 days before the string gets stable and it wouldn't go out of tune. I've never tried the extra light d'addario's but are they really that bad?

[the fool]

Quote
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Originally posted by Lordathestrings

Haarrr! Real men play .012s!
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LOL
What about women with really thing calluses????

[Axl_Rose]

I change strings every couple of weeks. Id say after... hmm... about 10 hours playing you seriously notice a drop in sustain and tone. I use 10s.

[Hammurabi]

It also depends on some other stuff, like if you wash your hands before playing and wipe the strings down afterwards. I've actaully done an experiment with that, using the same type and gauge of strings one without washing my hands before every time I played and one just playing with them, and the difference in life was like 4x. Definitely worth the effort.