Dynamics and output level. Are unwaxed humbuckers are good for metal?

[Seashore]

Care to explain this in more detail? It feels counter-intuitive to me, as someone who has moved to lighter strings for fast thrash rhythm over the year.

Mind you, I cannot physically do 200 bpm downpicking at all.

It makes sense to me. Thinner strings being a bit looser, they don't snap back quite as quickly, and it's easy to inadvertently work harder to compensate for it and wind up over-playing. I do a lot of tremolo picking and I find thicker strings easier to attack.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

Care to explain this in more detail? It feels counter-intuitive to me, as someone who has moved to lighter strings for fast thrash rhythm over the year.

Mind you, I cannot physically do 200 bpm downpicking at all.

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It makes sense to me. Thinner strings being a bit looser, they don't snap back quite as quickly, and it's easy to inadvertently work harder to compensate for it and wind up over-playing. I do a lot of tremolo picking and I find thicker strings easier to attack.

Pretty much this.

The way I see it, it works kinda like a racquet for tennis. The tenser the strings, the more control you have over how the ball is going to bounce off those strings without power being lost on impact. Same with your picking hand against the strings, especially when you're picking hard and/or fast.

I actually like to go as light as I can go without my strings feeling super floppy, so I don't really feel like I'm a hardcore defender of heavier gauge strings. But I've always found heavier strings easier on the right hand when playing hard and fast, and I think that's what most people who play fast and hard agree on for rhythm playing.

 

[weepingminotaur]

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Pretty much this.

The way I see it, it works kinda like a racquet for tennis. The tenser the strings, the more control you have over how the ball is going to bounce off those strings without power being lost on impact. Same with your picking hand against the strings, especially when you're picking hard and/or fast.

I actually like to go as light as I can go without my strings feeling super floppy, so I don't really feel like I'm a hardcore defender of heavier gauge strings. But I've always found heavier strings easier on the right hand when playing hard and fast, and I think that's what most people who play fast and hard agree on for rhythm playing.

So tell me your metal gauges! I'm intrigued.

 

[Phantasmagoria]

There's actually a video from the guy from Sylosis mentioning he went from 10-52's to 10-46's in the studio because the heavier gauges weren't sounding as good. I do agree that lighter strings have a "better" tone, but the consequence for him is he actually hurt his right hand from trying to blast 200+ bpm downpicking hard on the lighter gauges, so I think he ended up settling for 11-49's.

My point, I guess, is yes, Iommi's light gauge tone is iconic, but heavier strings can actually be more comfy for fast, hard, thrashy rhythm playing.

Well, he was right ...they don't sound as good. And the problem is that he was used to punishing his right hand w/ heavy gauge strings & then went down to a "play w/ a lighter touch gauge" w/o re-adjusting his picking style to them. Sure if you're used to ramming your ball down on the tarmac to force some bounce out of it & then shift over to a far bouncier ball while continuing to ram it down as hard..you will have problems controlling it.

The solution? don't ram it down as hard.

Use some finesse, you will control it better/develop better control and your hands will thank you as well..

This goes for lead lines, tremolo picking, chugging, down picking, triplets and w/e else...you will still sound heavy, avoid hitting the threshold w/ every stroke (more dynamics/punch) and side-step that nasty upcoming bout w/ tendonitis to boot

The highest I will go for string gauges is 10-46..& even that is overkill imo...

 

[Chistopher]

I always have a chuckle when I think of all the "metal" players out there that think 'heavy tones' come from ridiculous rope-like gauges of strings..

Enjoy the tendonitis in a couple of yrs...

Oh man, just wait until you learn about the bass guitar...

But seriously, people who use heavy guage strings without suitable drop tuning (except for Dick Dale) are really only hampering theirselves.

I think there's merit to occasionally straying higher or lower than your preferred guage though.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

The highest I will go for string gauges is 10-46..& even that is overkill imo...

So tell me your metal gauges! I'm intrigued.

I'm using 11-56, but I'm in Drop C. The tension is not actually far from 10-46 in E Standard for the first, second, third, and last string. The fifth and the fourth I could afford to go lighter, but that's what the set came with, so whatever.

Like I said, I'm not a hardcore super heavy gauge guy, but if I'm downtuning, 10's definitely don't cut it for me.

 

[Phantasmagoria]

lol, I forgot all about down tuning..but then that's another pet hate of mine :laugh2:

j/k I actually do down/drop tune occasionally ..just not physically (whammy pedal or the like)..so 10's (and 9's) are A-ok for me :bigthum:

As a player I like the control I have with thinner strings...and the more effortless things are the better....

 

[Bowtomecha]

The only unpotted humbucker I’ve played that was fairly resistant to squealing was a shawbucker. Something to do with the tension and wind holding the wire firmly I suppose. Maybe I got lucky and managed to try one that held up well.

 

[Mincer]

I love Antiquity humbuckers, but anything outside of a Tube Screamer will squeal.

 

[weepingminotaur]

I'm using 11-56, but I'm in Drop C. The tension is not actually far from 10-46 in E Standard for the first, second, third, and last string. The fifth and the fourth I could afford to go lighter, but that's what the set came with, so whatever.

Like I said, I'm not a hardcore super heavy gauge guy, but if I'm downtuning, 10's definitely don't cut it for me.

Makes sense. I use 9-42 for 25.5" scale guitar in E standard, or 10-46 for 24.75" scale guitar.

In E flat, it's 10-48.

In D standard, it's 11-52. Same for stuff in E flat with E string tuned to D flat (some Alice in Chains songs).

I may go to 9-46 in E standard, though.