String gage for a ES-335

[ParameterMan]

Re: String gage for a ES-335

A vote for the unwound G. An plain 18 such as in EB 11's seems to intonate quite well to my ear and makes the third string much more fun to bend. (EDIT re above: In my personal experience....)

@blueman335: I can bend 3-4 semitones with crazy pitch torturing in between. Are ye thinking wilder than that?

 

[Boogie Bill]

Re: String gage for a ES-335

On my Ibanez Artstar AS-120 and my Hondo 935CHS I use 9-42s; but I am contemplating using 10-46 on the AS-120; or perhaps the 9-46 hybrid.

The ES-335 I have has 10-46, and that seems to be working well for that guitar.

Years ago, I played with another guitarist who used the Ernie Ball Skinny Top/Heavy Bottom 10-52 set on his 1961 ES-335. Great player, great tone.

Bill

 

[blueman335]

Re: String gage for a ES-335

@blueman335: I can bend 3-4 semitones with crazy pitch torturing in between. Are ye thinking wilder than that?

That's some deep bending; if you can do a fast vibrato at the same time, the signature Green/Kirwan sound, then you've got it nailed. The vibrato is very fast & is at least 2 semi-tones, and keeps pumping (not just a bend & hold or a slight wobble). Hardly anyone does bends like that, in person or on CD's. These days Gary Moore does it occasionally. On the Eddie Money song "Shakin'" the ending solo does a couple nice deep vibrato bends. That's what I'm talking about! I have big hands, but can only do the deep bends and fast vibrato at the same time with 9's. What a great sound that is. Hits you in the gut.

Otis Rush may have been the first to do those deep fast vibrato bends in the late 1950's. Clapton, Page, Green, Kirwan, Trower, Grosvenor, Simmonds, and Taylor did it in the late 1960's and then it slowly disappeared as styles changed.

 

[Bludave]

Re: String gage for a ES-335

I use stock D'Adarrio XL115's 11 thru 49. I use these on all my electric guitars though, not just my 335.

 

[PylonRacer]

Re: String gage for a ES-335

That's some deep bending; if you can do a fast vibrato at the same time, the signature Green/Kirwan sound, then you've got it nailed. The vibrato is very fast & is at least 2 semi-tones, and keeps pumping (not just a bend & hold or a slight wobble). Hardly anyone does bends like that, in person or on CD's. These days Gary Moore does it occasionally. On the Eddie Money song "Shakin'" the ending solo does a couple nice deep vibrato bends. That's what I'm talking about! I have big hands, but can only do the deep bends and fast vibrato at the same time with 9's. What a great sound that is. Hits you in the gut.

Otis Rush may have been the first to do those deep fast vibrato bends in the late 1950's. Clapton, Page, Green, Kirwan, Trower, Grosvenor, Simmonds, and Taylor did it in the late 1960's and then it slowly disappeared as styles changed.

I don't know what other's do; but when I do big bends and then vibrato, I end up shaking the neck around. Normal vibrato is usually in the fingers & wrist.

 

[ParameterMan]

Re: String gage for a ES-335

That's some deep bending; if you can do a fast vibrato at the same time, the signature Green/Kirwan sound, then you've got it nailed. The vibrato is very fast & is at least 2 semi-tones, and keeps pumping (not just a bend & hold or a slight wobble).

I see what you mean. I don't normally vibrato like that- I was talking more in the line of Gilmour style weirdness. I can do that kinda stuff for maybe 20 minutes and then my fingertips are totally shot. Maybe have to break out the superglue. I actually have been trying to tame and refine my vibrato, and the heavier strings help. Maybe I should slap some 9s or 10s on and play with that again. Although, in this vid Green looks like he's using some hefty strings. Looks like my guitar.

 

[ImmortalSix]

Re: String gage for a ES-335

I put 11-49's with a not-part-of-the-set 22 wound 3rd last night

Too much string tension for me, the bendy player.

They're coming off tomorrow, I'll deal with the intonation problem.

 

[viewaskew2k5]

Re: String gage for a ES-335

i use 11 48's and have no issues with huge bends. But i have ALWAYS used thick strings from the start. My fingers where cutup for about a year!!!

 

[blueman335]

Re: String gage for a ES-335

I see what you mean. I don't normally vibrato like thatMaybe I should slap some 9s or 10s on and play with that again. Although, in this vid Green looks like he's using some hefty strings. Looks like my guitar.

That's Danny Kirwan featured on that song, vocals & guitar. Peter Green is the guy with the beard that you see for a second or two (Danny was a teenager that Peter was a mentor to). Danny does his bending pushing the third finger up, not sure about Peter, but he probably does it the same way.

For deep, fast vibrato bends I pull my second finger down, and for "normal" bends push my third finger up.

 

[eggman]

Re: String gage for a ES-335

Howdy,

My ES-335 always has 10-46. This is a good compromise for bending and tone for me. I'm more of a rhythm guy, fwiw.

Eggman

 

[blueman335]

Re: String gage for a ES-335

My ES-335 always has 10-46. This is a good compromise for bending and tone for me. I'm more of a rhythm guy, fwiw.Eggman

If I was primarily playing rhythm, I'd use 10's (instead of the 9's I use now), as they have better tones. I've noticed a few Gibson signature guitars of some serious string benders, like Gary Moore & Jimmy Page, came with 9's instead of 10's, at least at some point (if they don't currently).

 

[Bludave]

Re: String gage for a ES-335

Most "NEW" guitars are shipped with 9's. I was just in GC yesterday and pickep a few Strats to play. All were strung with 9's. I pickd up to Pauls...... same thing. Low action and light strings. Kills my tone and my ability to bend the way I want. I use 11's with "acoustic guitar" action on my electrics. For me this works as I play a lot of acoustic guitar also and the transition from electric to acoustic is much easier if I have heavier strings and higher action on my electrics.