ERNIE BALL Skinny Top Heavy Bottom!?

Re: ERNIE BALL Skinny Top Heavy Bottom!?

astrozombie said:
I used to used that string gauge a lot but I got sick of how little ernie ball strings lasts in the humid climate I live in.

I stopped using them once I made the move to .11

D addarios are the longest lasting... I wish I could find sets bigger than .10
Click to expand...

I live near Philadelphia PA. Our local shops carry all sizes of D'Addario and they carry all their singles as well! You can't find those?

I may try 10-46 or 10-48 on all guitars because I don't want to get stuck in the heavies! LOL. We play everything in Eb which is a half step down but only some cover songs require drop #....and that is the only time the light gauges or low E (C#) becomes an issue. Maybe I learn to live with it!
 
Re: ERNIE BALL Skinny Top Heavy Bottom!?

You guys are going to laugh! I started experimenting last night and am thinking I might move away from these hybrid sets and take my guitar tech's advice and go straight sets since we mostly play in straight half step down tuning and only drop D once in a while. I was afraid of fret buzz like I used to get with lighter wound strings but these days I play with higher action....because I am not a shredder and feel I can dig in better wit higher action and the tone is more acoustic and loud with higher action and everything is more dynamic with higher action.

What would you guys do with these different scale lengths? I am changing my mind.
Gibson, PRS and Fender? The tough one is the PRS, do I use the Fender gauge set of the Gibson set? I am thinking this since trying some D'Addarios last night! All guitars in Eb.

Gibson LPs and SG - D'Addario EXL110+ 10.5-48 in Eb tuning
Fender Strat - D'Addario EXL150 10-46 in Eb tuning.
PRS - ???
 
Re: ERNIE BALL Skinny Top Heavy Bottom!?

I've been using 10-52 for years. Used to use the dimebag dr's, now using GHS. I'll definitely try the EBs as well to see if I like them. Did your tech say why you shouldn't use 10-52s? Is it harder to set up? My guitars are not usually set up well, but I aim to change that at some point. I don't want to make setups and harder than they need to be so maybe I should consider 10-50 or 10-46?
 
Re: ERNIE BALL Skinny Top Heavy Bottom!?

Franknfilms said:
I've been using 10-52 for years. Used to use the dimebag dr's, now using GHS. I'll definitely try the EBs as well to see if I like them. Did your tech say why you shouldn't use 10-52s? Is it harder to set up? My guitars are not usually set up well, but I aim to change that at some point. I don't want to make setups and harder than they need to be so maybe I should consider 10-50 or 10-46?
Click to expand...

He said it is fine whatever I want to use. But I am not the metal player or heavy down tunes guy I used to do, and I don't shred so my action is much higher now for better feel and dynamics. I also think lighter strings offer better dynamics so going to try straight up sets. My tech has some of the best tone in town. All his guitars get 9-42 for standard tune and drop D.
 
Re: ERNIE BALL Skinny Top Heavy Bottom!?

My tech told me tonight it may be a good idea to go back to straight sets and avoid hybrid sets as they can be hard on the neck!
 
Re: ERNIE BALL Skinny Top Heavy Bottom!?

My tech says hybrid gauges twist necks so I may avoid.
I think I need to find the tension equivalent to my favorite standard tune gauge which is 9-12-16-26-26-46. I need to find the equivalent for Eb. Maybe those 10.5-48.
 
Re: ERNIE BALL Skinny Top Heavy Bottom!?

Love the gauge for eb and d tuning. Not a earnie ball fan though. I like dr Dunlop and d addario
 
Re: ERNIE BALL Skinny Top Heavy Bottom!?

papersoul said:
My tech says hybrid gauges twist necks so I may avoid.
I think I need to find the tension equivalent to my favorite standard tune gauge which is 9-12-16-26-26-46. I need to find the equivalent for Eb. Maybe those 10.5-48.
Click to expand...

could try the Dunlop heavy core 10-48
 
Re: ERNIE BALL Skinny Top Heavy Bottom!?

This really sucks....since changing to 10-46, the low E which is Eb, is buzzing all over with higher than.usual action. :( starting to miss heavier strings already.
But my tech says avoid hybrid sets or ruin the neck.
 
Re: ERNIE BALL Skinny Top Heavy Bottom!?

I used EB power slinky, and then switch to EB Heavy Bottom on my Ibanez RG1570, which is my metal guitar. It works very well with drop C and drop D tuning. On standard tuning, there's huge jump in tension from 3rd to 4th string. I never had any problem with the neck twisting though, and you know how thin Ibanez neck is.
For Eb tuning I would not use 10s, even on standard tuning they're too light. 11s, or maybe 10.5s?
 
Last edited:
Re: ERNIE BALL Skinny Top Heavy Bottom!?

Dr.J4ckal said:
I used EB power slinky, and then switch to EB Heavy Bottom on my Ibanez RG1570, which is my metal guitar. It works very well with drop C and drop D tuning. On standard tuning, there's huge jump in tension from 3rd to 4th string. I never had any problem with the neck twisting though, and you know how thin Ibanez neck is.
For Eb tuning I would not use 10s, even on standard tuning they're too light. 11s, or maybe 10.5s?
Click to expand...

Why would you say 10s are too light? I mean, I think 9-46 is PERFECT for standard E tuning, so 10s should be great for Eb!

Did a lot of experimenting last night....I think this works well on a strat in Eb:
10-13-17-28-38-48 or 10.5-13.5-17.5 for the plain strings but it is hard to tell the difference with half gauges!
For my Gibsons and PRS in Eb:
11-14-18-30-40-50

Wish someone sold these gauges in sets.
 
Last edited:
Re: ERNIE BALL Skinny Top Heavy Bottom!?

Have you tried Zakk Wylde dunlop heavy core sets? They're 10-46 so they intonate just fine.
I think there's some company like Snake Oil strings and La Bella selling customized gauge for their customer. I would buy them if I live in the US.
 
Re: ERNIE BALL Skinny Top Heavy Bottom!?

Dr.J4ckal said:
Have you tried Zakk Wylde dunlop heavy core sets? They're 10-46 so they intonate just fine.
I think there's some company like Snake Oil strings and La Bella selling customized gauge for their customer. I would buy them if I live in the US.
Click to expand...

My tech said every customer he has tried to intonate Dunlop Heavy Core strings, he just can't them to intonate properly!
 
Re: ERNIE BALL Skinny Top Heavy Bottom!?

D'addario 10-52s in standard and drop-D (just the low E dropped a tone. Sorry, that seems to confuse people).

Ernie Balls can eat my sh!t.
 
Re: ERNIE BALL Skinny Top Heavy Bottom!?

I like 10-52 on a few of my guitars, although I use these strings:

feline%2010-52.jpg


They are our own label strings - I have them made for me by Picato strings.
I had fun designing the cover art with popular artist Vince Ray.

Been really happy with Picato strings - I find they last really well and sound good.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Rex_Rocker
Anybody using D'Addario NYXL?
Replies
14
Views
570
chadd
chadd
IMENATOR
What happened to Planet Waves cables?
Replies
5
Views
615
fretburner
F
Rex_Rocker
Who here buys custom string gauge sets? Thoughts?
Replies
18
Views
723
Zerberus
Zerberus
Rex_Rocker
Do y'all use plain or wound 3rd strings?
Replies
17
Views
605
marcello252
marcello252
Rex_Rocker
String gauge to try Drop Bb out?
Replies
6
Views
273
Seashore
S
Back
Top