JeffB
Let it B
:reporter:
I did ALOT of experimenting with string brands and gauge lately on my Dean ML..some of you may have seen my thread form sev weeks ago when I was livid about a certain brand of strings.
It was a VERY frustrating experiment at times: I went through over 2 dozen sets of strings from several different manufacturers..back and forth..back and forth..re-setting the guitar up every single time (truss, bridge, pup heights)...a couple packs of 9-42s but mostly 9-46 and 10-46 gauge.
Prolly the MOST revealing thing I found is that the overall tension/feel is changed markedly by the top 3 strings moreso than by the bottom 3. At least on this type setup (string through, TOM bridge, 24.75" scale)
e.g. the difference between a 9-42 set and a 9-46 set on your guitar is not as big as going from 9-46 to a 10-46 (or vice versa) on the same exact guitar.
How I found this out was that I wanted "easier bending" on the top 3 strings. But I also wanted to keep the tightness in the lower strings. So I dropped from my normal 10-46 to 9-46...unfortunately the WHOLE guitar became WAY too slinky and the low strings flopped around like noodles. I then tried a set of 9-42s of the same brand vs the 9-46 thinking it may "balance out" better. The difference was slight on overall tension going from 9-46 to 9-42...nowhere near the difference going from 10-46 to 9-46.
One other thing I noticed was that the overall tone of 9-46 was much darker than the same brand/type in a 10-46. I.E. Slinky 9-46 were much darker than Slinky 10-46, etc....D' adarrio 9-46 were much darker than D'adarrio 10-46, etc...whether I re-set the pup heights or not to compensate for the high strings or not. 9-46 just made for a notceably darker overall tone.
I'd also put out there that string brand and gauge makes for a drastic difference in tone. This one guitar would take on a whole new feel and tone going from one set to the next. From a floppy feeling harsh sounding mess, to really warm and tight...or warm and sloppy to icepick and tite. Just from strings. As I said, I was adjusting the pups (well the bridge anyway) to compensate.
After doing the 9-46 thing and being dissapointed with everything, I realized I now had to just go through various brands until I found the optimum 10-46 set which gave me the slinkiest bending without the low strings getting way too floppy. Of course they had to have decent tone and longevity too.
I finally found the optimum set for tone and feel in Dean Markley Nickel steels 10-46...for whatever reason...and I'd assume it was they way they are built/tensioned...they bend easier than all the other 10-46 sets, yet the low strings are tensioned better and are not as floppy as D'addario/GHS/Gibson/Ernie Ball/DR in either 10-46 or 9-46.They also had the nicest tone barring the DR tite fits: They are very "crisp" and have great clarity without going too harsh/brittle/steel-ey, nor are they too warm/dark/muddy.
It was a real PITA, but def worth the time and effort cos now when I pickup the guitar it always feels "right". I don't feel the need to warm up for a long time to get my bending strength up, nor when I *am* warmed up , do I overpower the strings. Kinda like the ultimate bowl of porridge :laugh2:
I did ALOT of experimenting with string brands and gauge lately on my Dean ML..some of you may have seen my thread form sev weeks ago when I was livid about a certain brand of strings.
It was a VERY frustrating experiment at times: I went through over 2 dozen sets of strings from several different manufacturers..back and forth..back and forth..re-setting the guitar up every single time (truss, bridge, pup heights)...a couple packs of 9-42s but mostly 9-46 and 10-46 gauge.
Prolly the MOST revealing thing I found is that the overall tension/feel is changed markedly by the top 3 strings moreso than by the bottom 3. At least on this type setup (string through, TOM bridge, 24.75" scale)
e.g. the difference between a 9-42 set and a 9-46 set on your guitar is not as big as going from 9-46 to a 10-46 (or vice versa) on the same exact guitar.
How I found this out was that I wanted "easier bending" on the top 3 strings. But I also wanted to keep the tightness in the lower strings. So I dropped from my normal 10-46 to 9-46...unfortunately the WHOLE guitar became WAY too slinky and the low strings flopped around like noodles. I then tried a set of 9-42s of the same brand vs the 9-46 thinking it may "balance out" better. The difference was slight on overall tension going from 9-46 to 9-42...nowhere near the difference going from 10-46 to 9-46.
One other thing I noticed was that the overall tone of 9-46 was much darker than the same brand/type in a 10-46. I.E. Slinky 9-46 were much darker than Slinky 10-46, etc....D' adarrio 9-46 were much darker than D'adarrio 10-46, etc...whether I re-set the pup heights or not to compensate for the high strings or not. 9-46 just made for a notceably darker overall tone.
I'd also put out there that string brand and gauge makes for a drastic difference in tone. This one guitar would take on a whole new feel and tone going from one set to the next. From a floppy feeling harsh sounding mess, to really warm and tight...or warm and sloppy to icepick and tite. Just from strings. As I said, I was adjusting the pups (well the bridge anyway) to compensate.
After doing the 9-46 thing and being dissapointed with everything, I realized I now had to just go through various brands until I found the optimum 10-46 set which gave me the slinkiest bending without the low strings getting way too floppy. Of course they had to have decent tone and longevity too.
I finally found the optimum set for tone and feel in Dean Markley Nickel steels 10-46...for whatever reason...and I'd assume it was they way they are built/tensioned...they bend easier than all the other 10-46 sets, yet the low strings are tensioned better and are not as floppy as D'addario/GHS/Gibson/Ernie Ball/DR in either 10-46 or 9-46.They also had the nicest tone barring the DR tite fits: They are very "crisp" and have great clarity without going too harsh/brittle/steel-ey, nor are they too warm/dark/muddy.
It was a real PITA, but def worth the time and effort cos now when I pickup the guitar it always feels "right". I don't feel the need to warm up for a long time to get my bending strength up, nor when I *am* warmed up , do I overpower the strings. Kinda like the ultimate bowl of porridge :laugh2:
It seems the Markleys apples to apples provided for easier bending, while still keeping good tension on the low strings. None of the other strings did that..either at all...or for long. Some were way too tight even after break-in (Brite Wires, Tite Fits). Some got sloppy real quick (Boomers) or even started off that way (Slinkys).
