misterwhizzy
Well-known member
Re: Favorite strings again...
This thread took an unexpected turn.
This thread took an unexpected turn.
Favorite strings again...
- Thread starter misterwhizzy
- Start date
the guy who invented fire
Fuzzy. Guitars
guitfiddle
firstlessonologist
Re: Favorite strings again...
Still rocking the EB Power Slinkys. I've tried various pure nickel strings, and they are always just a shade too dark for my tastes, and adjusting in more treble on the amp makes the plain strings too bright. I like to have a bit more treble from the wrapped strings that I can either use or get rid of with the tone knob, while leaving my plain strings in the zone.
I used DRs for a while, but noticed the same intonation issues TGWIF had, so they had to go.
Still rocking the EB Power Slinkys. I've tried various pure nickel strings, and they are always just a shade too dark for my tastes, and adjusting in more treble on the amp makes the plain strings too bright. I like to have a bit more treble from the wrapped strings that I can either use or get rid of with the tone knob, while leaving my plain strings in the zone.
I used DRs for a while, but noticed the same intonation issues TGWIF had, so they had to go.
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thespricket
New member
Re: Favorite strings again...
I'll use Daddarios, Ernie Balls, Dunlop, or GHS, all coated strings. Of all things that impact tone I don't think very much about most of the subtle differences people claim they notice between different brands of strings. Yea flatwounds, pure nickels, and nickel plated steel strings sound and feel different. But I'm really not picky about what brand I use. I do prefer coated strings because I also don't hear at least a negative difference between coated strings and non coated. I like that I can use one pair pretty heavy for two or three months.
Having said that, I usually go with D'Addarios because they're usually easy to get and they sound like a guitar string should.
Guitar->pedals->amp
I'll use Daddarios, Ernie Balls, Dunlop, or GHS, all coated strings. Of all things that impact tone I don't think very much about most of the subtle differences people claim they notice between different brands of strings. Yea flatwounds, pure nickels, and nickel plated steel strings sound and feel different. But I'm really not picky about what brand I use. I do prefer coated strings because I also don't hear at least a negative difference between coated strings and non coated. I like that I can use one pair pretty heavy for two or three months.
Having said that, I usually go with D'Addarios because they're usually easy to get and they sound like a guitar string should.
Guitar->pedals->amp
Phantasmagoria
watch where you point that sabre
Re: Favorite strings again...
I'm now using Sfarzo Screamers or SFT Screamers (9's/10's) on all my guitars except my AXL LP knock-off (EB pure nickel Rock n Roll's). They sound a bit like regular EB's but maybe a bit richer & they last way longer, best of all they really feel great especially the high strings..they're noticeably smoother/rounder (no sharp edges) than any other string I've used which is great because with the D'addario's I was using before (9's) I would often peel my fingertip skin bending/sliding (especially if I had'nt played in a while) & that can be a pretty bad thing if you have a gig coming up...
I'm now using Sfarzo Screamers or SFT Screamers (9's/10's) on all my guitars except my AXL LP knock-off (EB pure nickel Rock n Roll's). They sound a bit like regular EB's but maybe a bit richer & they last way longer, best of all they really feel great especially the high strings..they're noticeably smoother/rounder (no sharp edges) than any other string I've used which is great because with the D'addario's I was using before (9's) I would often peel my fingertip skin bending/sliding (especially if I had'nt played in a while) & that can be a pretty bad thing if you have a gig coming up...
Bludave
New member
Re: Favorite strings again...
Over the years I've tried just about every string out there. The Elixers feel odd under my fingers and the tone was too bright for me. I do like the DR strings but they break way too easy. Maybe the round core has something to do with that. Thomastik Infeild strings I thought sounded bad. So I keep coming back to D'Adarrios. I use the XL 115's on my electrics and the J17's on my acoustics. I can't remember the last time I broke a string and I get a nice warm tone from them. Done. About a year ago I tried some if the Dean Markley Jimi Hendrix strings which I thought sounded really good but I didn't sound anything like Jimi did so.......
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Over the years I've tried just about every string out there. The Elixers feel odd under my fingers and the tone was too bright for me. I do like the DR strings but they break way too easy. Maybe the round core has something to do with that. Thomastik Infeild strings I thought sounded bad. So I keep coming back to D'Adarrios. I use the XL 115's on my electrics and the J17's on my acoustics. I can't remember the last time I broke a string and I get a nice warm tone from them. Done. About a year ago I tried some if the Dean Markley Jimi Hendrix strings which I thought sounded really good but I didn't sound anything like Jimi did so.......
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Brian Griffin
New member
Re: Favorite strings again...
Darco. It is cheap, don't rust as easily as Ernie Ball, bright, and feels actually thicker than D'Addario of the same gauge.
Darco. It is cheap, don't rust as easily as Ernie Ball, bright, and feels actually thicker than D'Addario of the same gauge.
Re: Favorite strings again...
Nope...surprised me too, talked to a dealer/teacher/pro artist buddy of mine, he confirmed. You just wont notice because of the feel until you string up a floyd with em, but DR nickel rounds (true blues, ddts) have OBSCENELY high pull tension. A set of 11-50s took 5 springs and some added turns of the screws to evenly float on an Ibanez LoPro Edge (original)
Nope...surprised me too, talked to a dealer/teacher/pro artist buddy of mine, he confirmed. You just wont notice because of the feel until you string up a floyd with em, but DR nickel rounds (true blues, ddts) have OBSCENELY high pull tension. A set of 11-50s took 5 springs and some added turns of the screws to evenly float on an Ibanez LoPro Edge (original)
JeffB
Let it B
Re: Favorite strings again...
On a Ironic note: GHS has been making Gibsons strings the past few years.
On a Ironic note: GHS has been making Gibsons strings the past few years.
~Vintage~
New member
Re: Favorite strings again...
The evolution of my string choices are as follows: ....in the beginning there were only Ernie Ball Super Slinkys on my geets, then came the D'Addario's phase-------------followed by Dean Markley Blue Steels-------------then onto Elixers and now I'm digging DR as my string of choice.
Does anyone see any potential problems with using XXL Heavy 12-60 DDT strings tuned to E? Just pondering over something here recently...
The evolution of my string choices are as follows: ....in the beginning there were only Ernie Ball Super Slinkys on my geets, then came the D'Addario's phase-------------followed by Dean Markley Blue Steels-------------then onto Elixers and now I'm digging DR as my string of choice.
Does anyone see any potential problems with using XXL Heavy 12-60 DDT strings tuned to E? Just pondering over something here recently...
Re: Favorite strings again...
DDT 11s are plenty soft @ Estd/DropD, so likely not...though the idea of tuning to E on 12-60s, intuitively, seems kinda scary.
Potential problems: WILL need truss rod adjustment, WILL still be somewhat gnarly if your axe isn't quality enough to pull off shredderiffic low action, MIGHT blow non-hard maple or bad mahogany necks - midrange korea and up, all japs and all yanks should be ok
...use w/ caution on "indochina" = india indonesia china guitars...seen VERY soft neck woods on otherwise serviceable and decent sounding guitars. bass example, i know, but had a junker gio 200 ibanez soundgear that sounded awesome w/ an active seymour lightnin rod P pup (bass $25 pickup $35 lol), but couldnt take ANY string gauges except the very lightest
DDT 11s are plenty soft @ Estd/DropD, so likely not...though the idea of tuning to E on 12-60s, intuitively, seems kinda scary.
Potential problems: WILL need truss rod adjustment, WILL still be somewhat gnarly if your axe isn't quality enough to pull off shredderiffic low action, MIGHT blow non-hard maple or bad mahogany necks - midrange korea and up, all japs and all yanks should be ok
...use w/ caution on "indochina" = india indonesia china guitars...seen VERY soft neck woods on otherwise serviceable and decent sounding guitars. bass example, i know, but had a junker gio 200 ibanez soundgear that sounded awesome w/ an active seymour lightnin rod P pup (bass $25 pickup $35 lol), but couldnt take ANY string gauges except the very lightest
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LReese
Sausage Gravy
Re: Favorite strings again...
Hmm - Tension is based on diameter of the string. While tolerance will cause actual tension to vary a little, an EB .046E = D'Add .046E = DR .-46E if outer diameter is exactly the dame. Core diameter will make the string feel looser or tighter.
So quality = the ability to get shredderific low action?? So I guess Fenders with the 7 1/4" radius are not quality guitars. I like lowish action myself but not too low.
What do I know? - I use GADAWFUL D'Addario strings.
Hmm - Tension is based on diameter of the string. While tolerance will cause actual tension to vary a little, an EB .046E = D'Add .046E = DR .-46E if outer diameter is exactly the dame. Core diameter will make the string feel looser or tighter.
So quality = the ability to get shredderific low action?? So I guess Fenders with the 7 1/4" radius are not quality guitars. I like lowish action myself but not too low.
What do I know? - I use GADAWFUL D'Addario strings.
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blueman335
Mojo's Minions
~Vintage~
New member
Re: Favorite strings again...
Sorry :hijacked:
It's an American strat that I'm "Metalfying". I actually have two brand new sets of DDT 12-60 and I tried the low E in my LRS nut and IT FIT!! So I was like cool I'll use these super heavy gauge strings tuned to E, because that's what I play in. I knew a truss rod adjustment would be in order but wasn't sure about any other negative effects....
Sorry :hijacked:
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Re: Favorite strings again...
ABILITY, yes, if wanted... Low quality stuff doesnt follow tight enough tolerances to get stuff nice straight and superlow w/o anything buzzing anywhere. It's all about FIT. well, that and not blowing any parts screwing everything down far tighter and lower than at factory, yet with waaay higher string gauges (ex. - korean licenseds can get chewed up by hex wrenches...yet german OFRs and japanese Original Edges chew the *wrenches*)
Also...dont see what radius has to do with actions. Heard of adjustable saddles? Set heights to follow the curve of the board, and voila... Setups 101.
Regarding gauge and tension, DR shrinks/compresses theirs - they flat out say they start with a higher guage wire and tighten it down somehow in the manufacturing process. Also, nickel bronze steel and various alloys thereof are simply different materials, dude. With different properties.
ABILITY, yes, if wanted... Low quality stuff doesnt follow tight enough tolerances to get stuff nice straight and superlow w/o anything buzzing anywhere. It's all about FIT. well, that and not blowing any parts screwing everything down far tighter and lower than at factory, yet with waaay higher string gauges (ex. - korean licenseds can get chewed up by hex wrenches...yet german OFRs and japanese Original Edges chew the *wrenches*)
Also...dont see what radius has to do with actions. Heard of adjustable saddles? Set heights to follow the curve of the board, and voila... Setups 101.
Regarding gauge and tension, DR shrinks/compresses theirs - they flat out say they start with a higher guage wire and tighten it down somehow in the manufacturing process. Also, nickel bronze steel and various alloys thereof are simply different materials, dude. With different properties.
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~Vintage~
New member
LReese
Sausage Gravy
Re: Favorite strings again...
Here you go again - find a Fender with 7 1/4 in radius and set it up with something like 3/64 at the 12th fret... That high E going to fret out when you bend.
School of hard knocks dude. Some of us have been around a while. I've owned a good number of Fenders with the old 7 1/4 radius as well as newer ones with the later flatter radiuses.
I'll acknowledge the materials used might have a little difference - but its going to be slight. Not enough to warrant a truss rod adjustment, unless your neck is really thin and susceptible to the slightest change in tension. GHS Burnished Nickels are also compressed and I never have had to make an adjustment with those when I use them.
Here you go again - find a Fender with 7 1/4 in radius and set it up with something like 3/64 at the 12th fret... That high E going to fret out when you bend.
School of hard knocks dude. Some of us have been around a while. I've owned a good number of Fenders with the old 7 1/4 radius as well as newer ones with the later flatter radiuses.
I'll acknowledge the materials used might have a little difference - but its going to be slight. Not enough to warrant a truss rod adjustment, unless your neck is really thin and susceptible to the slightest change in tension. GHS Burnished Nickels are also compressed and I never have had to make an adjustment with those when I use them.
Re: Favorite strings again...
Fenders tolerances SUCK, btw... Youll NEVER get pick-thickness low action buzzfree and w/o fretouts on an axe where you can stick credit cards (or stacked picks!) into neck pockets.
Remember, Leo designed a module-based CHEAP assembly line instrument for the 20th century industrial age, NOT a blueprint for master luthiers to build by hand to.
Fenders tolerances SUCK, btw... Youll NEVER get pick-thickness low action buzzfree and w/o fretouts on an axe where you can stick credit cards (or stacked picks!) into neck pockets.
Remember, Leo designed a module-based CHEAP assembly line instrument for the 20th century industrial age, NOT a blueprint for master luthiers to build by hand to.
