It is 1974...what strings do you use?

[JeffB]

This is a question obviously for our most experienced players.

I kmow that in the mid 60s Ernie Ball started the rock & roll string revolution, but by the mid.70s were they the defacto strings? What were other popular brands? Had the pure nickel strings gone the way of the do-do ? I did not start playing until the early 80s, and all I recall are EB, Boomers, Dean Markley, and Fender bullets. My dad had a pile of black diamonds laying around from the 60s that were like concertina wire.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: It is 1974...what strings do you use?

Back then I was using Ernie Ball Heavy Bottoms/Light Tops.

Black Diamonds were more of a 60's thing - always thought of them as being a cheaply made string.

I was probably wrong.

But I sure remember seeing them: in a big bottle on the counter of Ron Henry Music in Detroit.

The first light gauge strings with an unwound third that I ever used were Fender Rock N Roll strings....not Ernie Ball. About 1967.

First time I played them I felt like I could bend them all the around the neck.

I'd been playing with a wound third up until then.

 

[Simon_F]

Re: It is 1974...what strings do you use?

I started playing in '74 and the strings I remember from the 70s are Fender (Rock 'n Roll and Super Bullets), Rotosound, and Picato. I became aware of Ernie Ball Slinkys around '79 (by which time I was working in a music shop), then Dean Markleys from '81 or so. This is a UK perspective of course...

Ritchie Blackmore endorsed Picato and I think I bought my first Fender Rock 'n Rolls when I read that Francis Rossi used them.

 

[GoldenVulture]

Re: It is 1974...what strings do you use?

La Bella " Super Slinkys ".
The current La Bella range equivalent is probably these.

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: It is 1974...what strings do you use?

I used the Fender strings also...

 

[Rockstar216]

Re: It is 1974...what strings do you use?

Back then I was using Ernie Ball Heavy Bottoms/Light Tops.

Black Diamonds were more of a 60's thing - always thought of them as being a cheaply made string.

I was probably wrong.

But I sure remember seeing them: in a big bottle on the counter of Ron Henry Music in Detroit.

The first light gauge strings with an unwound third that I ever used were Fender Rock N Roll strings....not Ernie Ball. About 1967.

First time I played them I felt like I could bend them all the around the neck.

I'd been playing with a wound third up until then.

So you were playing 12s? I know some people say the older guitars an players used heavy string but was it because thats all their was or was it just the norm?

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: It is 1974...what strings do you use?

So you were playing 12s? I know some people say the older guitars an players used heavy string but was it because thats all their was or was it just the norm?

Strings were heavier gauged and with a wound G string...It's when some of the blues guys started using banjo strings in lighter gauges on those first 3 strings,that made it easier to do those blues bends..But yes..The gauges were heavier and more like .011s and .012s on the first string..I was only around 11 when I started playing,so some of the older guys than me can chime in with more accurate info..I do remember using Fender strings though and Fender picks..

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: It is 1974...what strings do you use?

Forgot to mention also,that the original pickup pole staggers were based around string gauge and that wound G...Making that G pole higher..

Found this photo..Notice the lack of string gauges on the packages..

 

[crusty philtrum]

Re: It is 1974...what strings do you use?

I had been using La Bellas because they had a set with 008 the top before 1974. Then i probably graduated to 9s or 10s with Gibson strings, and Fender Bullets when they appeared. At some point I was using Ernie Ball Skinny Top/Heavy Bottoms (10-52).

 

[MetalManiac]

Re: It is 1974...what strings do you use?

Fender lights

 

[Dr. Vegetable]

Re: It is 1974...what strings do you use?

In '74 I was just learning to play "Down in the Valley" on my mom's Silvertone nylon string acoustic. When I picked up electric a few years later, it was Ernie Ball, then later EB Extra Slinkies. I played mostly .010's for years and have only recently begun putting .009's on more of my guitars.

I have only ever used banjo strings on my mandolin, in a pinch.

 

[JeffB]

Re: It is 1974...what strings do you use?

Ooops. Completely whiffed on Gibson. Had plenty of those back when I started.

So it would seem there was just as much variation as there is now, or at least a healthy dose of variation.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: It is 1974...what strings do you use?

Strings were heavier gauged and with a wound G string...It's when some of the blues guys started using banjo strings in lighter gauges on those first 3 strings,that made it easier to do those blues bends.

Shoot, I started playing just before the Beatles and Rolling Stones showed up, but that's when I got serious. Early 60's. But I never used an unwound G string until that Fender Rock N Roll set came out. I hated the tone of those strings at first.

What guys used to do (not me but some guys in Detroit that I knew) is they'd buy a regular set of strings like .013 - .056 or .012 - .052 and throw away the low E string...the .056.

Then they move all the string down so the A string was the low E, the D string was the A, etc.

Then they'd use a light banjo string (.010 or .011) for the high string.

First guy I ever saw do that was a blues and R&B player in Detroit everyone called Joe Mama. Great player too! His real name was something like Joe Doriti or Dougherty. Never saw his name written down.

 

[bluesbend]

Re: It is 1974...what strings do you use?

I was using Fenders.

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: It is 1974...what strings do you use?

I'd have been using EB R-n-R's more than likely...I've used them lately and liked them alright so I guess I'd have used them.

I still use them when I can't get the GHS strings I like.

 

[Bludave]

Re: It is 1974...what strings do you use?

When I first started playing the strings that we used were Black Diamond. As Lew said there really weren't a lot of choices. We didn't have the gauges that are available today. You either bought electric or acoustic that was the choice. I don't remember when but I started using Ernie Ball Super Slinky's because they came with 2 high E's & 2 B's(what did that tell you) And at some point I switched over to D'Adarrio and haven't switched over since.

 

[Rockstar216]

Re: It is 1974...what strings do you use?

Were strings back then pure nickel or steel wound on nickel core? I know the construction of strings were diff back then I just dont know how.

 

[tonello]

Re: It is 1974...what strings do you use?

I wasn't born until 1980. I don't think I can help you.

 

[crusty philtrum]

Re: It is 1974...what strings do you use?

I'm loving being back here in 1974 ... thanks for the opportunity ... I've got all my hair back !!!

 

[helpme10]

Re: It is 1974...what strings do you use?

I have an old pack of Gibson strings, I don't remember what year they are, maybe 1956. They are pretty dang thick for strings, I wouldn't be surprised if the E is something like a 14 or 15. My brother likes 12s and they are bigger than them.

Posted by Andrew Lamprecht