Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum
Forum Ringside => Guitars, Amps and Effects => Topic started by: sgmypod on December 14, 2006, 10:56:25 AM
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What gauge do you use and why
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Me personally mainly 9-42's...because I ain't that good
Am going to try elixer 10's on my guild and gretsch
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None of the above. On my superstrat I use 9-46 for quick legato and bending while maintaining a decent rhythm tone, and on my SG I use 10-52 for extra tuning stability with drop tunings, and a fat rhythm tone.
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i'm using 11s with standard tuning, because i like the feeling of fighting thick strings.
i play faster stuff alot better with 10s though ;) thinking of switching...
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Depends on the guitar
I will use 9-42 on some , 9-46 for extra chunk on chords, 10-46 on Gibson scale guitars and occaisionally 10-52
And guess which brand I like:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v662/felineguitars/Feline%20strings/vince-ray-strings-banner600.jpg)
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There isn't one answer for me either:
.0095-.044s or .009-.046s on Jacksons & Warmoths
.010-.046s on PRS
.010-.052s on Gibsons
The main reason for choosing a particular gauge is getting stability & a feel that I like for the scale length and/or tuning of that guitar.
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I use an in-between
0.095 - 0.44 from DR
They are tight fit roundcore, so they don't have a hexagon inside like others. In my opinion all, feel, sound and durability are awesome on these strings and the 0.095 works both on the long- and short scale guitars (unless you wanna bend 2 full notes on your strat with the pinky:)
The DR strings are a bit softer it seems in terms of the steel being used.
Some people say German steel would be easier to bend than american as it was more elastic. Well, whatever, I stick with the DRs...
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10-46 on everything.
Because - I'm old and boring.
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9's on my Ibanez, 10's on my Pacifica, 11's on my LP custom and junior...
I like light strings on the superstrat, classic standard size strings on the standard Pacifica, and big fat strings on my big fat LPs (one of which is tuned down a semitone)
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0.10 to 0.46 on everything, for that extra bit of chunk on the rythym side, while leaving bends attainable.
Plus, some guitars sound wrong with anything thinner - my Tele came with 009s, sounded thin and weedy, no twang. Put a set of 10s on, and the tone showed up.
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DR 10 - 52 on my PRS and Mockingbird
D'addario 9 - 46 on Ibanez RG and Strat
D'addario 13 - 56 + an extra 70 for my 7 string tuned to F#
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10-46 > No name
10-50 > Fender Strat
10-52 > Guild S-100
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Canadian steve...nice guitar....(S 100) just missed out on one of them a while ago...now have a blusbird(with BKP's of course)
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D'Addario EXL110 10-46 on everything currently.
Possibly going to try some 11s or 12s on my SG soon though to hopefully give it a bit more stability in Dropped-Db which it's currently tuned to.
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10-46-I just prefer them to other guages.
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I used 11s since I started playing up to a few months ago when I went down to 10s just for a change, they seem to last longer due to less tension I suppose. I dont really notice any tonal difference between 10s and 11s, the latter just feel more solid.
I cannot stand anything under 10s, it just feels horrible to play and I find my vibrato/touch is too heavy on 8s or 9s. Probably because I've used 11s most of the time I've been playing.
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I use Newtone 10-44's on my electrics, one with Fender- and one with Gibson-scale. I think that's a quite well balanced set.
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I use DM Blue Steels 11s on my Mule equipped guitar - I love the bright tone from them and the power - I would use 12s if they made them.
On my strats I use Snake Oil Brand Pure Nickel strings in Heavy Top, Light Bottom configuration - I find that have that mellow blues tone Strats do well.
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9's... why coz i can't bend on 10's or anything above.
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I use 11-gauge Dr Duck strings - they're the best strings I've ever used, I just love their feel.
(http://www.ducksdeluxe.com/11es.jpg)
http://www.ducksdeluxe.com/strings.html
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never heard of them but will try anything once, except morris dancin and a***ll sex
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I play 10-52's, Skinny top heavy bottom ernie balls coz i like em :)
However, as bending goes, i played my makes baritone B-B acoustic the other day and i could bend 16-70s fine :), good fingers i guess
Nice
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9's, because I'm a wuss, apparently.
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i got purrfect 10's on the charvel now and they feel and sound great.
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9's, because I'm a wuss, apparently.
I also play 9's, because I'm also a wuss.
I think I will try some 10's again though, because my E and B strings sound far too Thin (and feel it too). When I first started playing, my guitars action was stupidly high, and I strung with 10's because they were "regular" and i didn't know any better. my fingers weren't strong enough for them, and I got the Idea that they were impossible to play with. :oops:
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I use 0.9 strings. I tried .10 on my electric several times (I have a floyd so that wasn't fun to do so often) but it just didn't feel right. I use .12 on my acoustic though. I just prefer my electric guitar to play very very smoothly. Thinking about going hybrid slinky though. I'd like the electric bass strings to be a bit thicker.
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I cant use 9s anymore, if i bend i usually go about 2 tones too high! I dont use any trems anymore either so i can use any gauge i want! sweet.
Joe
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I use 9s, theres noting wussy about using light strings Yngwies tone is wussy and so is steve vais? get over it!
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i've currently got 10's on my Gibsons and Eggles and 9's on my stratty/super stratty guitars. i'm planning on putting 10's on at least one of them as well. i've always found that when i bend with a Floyd bridge, the 9's lighter tension kind of compensates for what you lose with the floyd moving. i'll soon find out how i manage with 10's.
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I use .010 - .046. I've been thinking about trying some .010 - .052 sets just just to see how they feel and see if will help make the bottom end tighter and more massive.
Any thoughts?
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I play 10-52's, Skinny top heavy bottom ernie balls coz i like em :)
However, as bending goes, i played my makes baritone B-B acoustic the other day and i could bend 16-70s fine :), good fingers i guess
Nice
It's a baritone, so the string tension is less :roll:
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I rarely use the same brand twice in a row, its a nightmare for my intonation and truss rod 8)
But I've recently tried Curt Mangan (good feel and sound, cheap, last a reasonable time), DR (good but not worth the hype IMO), SIT (ok but again nothing special), R Cocco (seemed to get corroded really quickly but definately had an air of quality) and I'm now using Elixir nanoweb which sound good, feel better than the polyweb versions and seem very resistant to corrosion (its quite humid here even though its starting to get cold).
In the past I have used most popular brands; Ernie Balls turn to rust, Dean Markley are too stiff but I do really like the Blue Steel range and D'Addario are fine, standard strings that just work.
As for gauge I use 9-42/44 on 25.5 " scales and 9.5/10-44/46 on 24.75" sclae, depending on which are available.
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I play the GHS 10-52s. I used to use thinner strings in a vain effort to compensate for my appallingly slow finger speed, but eventually gave up and moved back to somewhat thicker strings for the better tone. I often think I might as well give up on even these "skinny top, fat bottoms" and just go for "fat everywhere!" :)
I settled on GHS originally for no better reason than they were endorsed by Martin Barre :) but haven't ever felt any reason to change!
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10 - 46s on Fender guitars and 10 - 52 for Gibson.
The 26, 36, 36 bottom end seems to sound clearer and less 'boomy' on a Fender, whereas the 30, 42, 52 bottom end sound more detailed on a Gibson. The difference in lower string choice between the two also seems to equal out the string tension across the neck on these two different scale lengths.
Usually D'addario, as they seem to have more 'bite' on the plain strings and therefore sound more detailed for clean playing and fingerpicking.
For easier bends and a warmer sound, Ernie Ball in the same gauges.
9's sound too thin for clean playing to me, and 11's (whilst lovely and bold) - sound too dark and therefore have a less singing/vocal quality on bends and vibrato etc.
Just my perception anyway ... :D
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I currently have:
DR 10-56 in D
GHS 11-60 one 2 guitars for C#/drop B and B/ drop A (either guitar)
A mix of GHS and D'Addario for 13-70 and B/drop A
The 10s that came with some BKs for E (framus, I think) for E, but I normally use 10-52 for that.
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Always Rotosound Red's (11's) must have hundreds of those extra e strings cos mine never break!
Personally I think they stay in tune & keep their tone longer and there made in England!
:guitar4:
I play 11's cos I kinda bash my guitar about when I play
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Canadian steve...nice guitar....(S 100) just missed out on one of them a while ago...now have a blusbird(with BKP's of course)
Thanks! Only got my Rebel Yells and RS Guitarworks wiring installed a week ago and I can't put the guitar down! I really want a Bluesbird as well - what kind of BKP's do you have in them?
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Daddario 10 - 52. Only takes a couple of weeks to get used to them over 10 - 46 and they sound better.
Andy
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I used to use 8s! for about 2 years, and then I moved onto 11s which were 'stupidly hard to bend' and now I use 9's. I've had periods of using 12s and 10s so basically, try everything!
I find 9s are perfect for me because you can bend them and also play chords on them, and its easy to do some wacky vibrato stuff too!
I use Blue Steel strings, by Dean Markley cos they last longer and they sound more assertive than the standard nickel, they are far more fatter in tone, nickels loose thier beef factor after 1 week or so, Blue steels last a month!
check em
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Personally, I use a combination - on my main guitar (Fernandes Ravelle Deluxe) I use .11's as they really help fatten up the already mighty tone and then I use .10's on my Tokai SG and Strat because I just prefer the slightly thinner tone to match the slightly thinner pickups.
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10-46 on fender scale length, 11-50 on Gibson scle length, 10-48 on PRS. I have a ton of different makes of strings, but all are pure nickel.
I also like to use a 16 G on Fender scale, and 17 on the Gibson and PRS scales.
The main strings I used to use were Scalar, which is Dean Farley's (snake oil), original make. I got them directly from him in the individual gauges. I also use DR, D'Addario and John Pearse.
I was never able to get on with Ernie Ball's or with Rotosound, but I do still have some Fender strings around.
I have tried nickel plated and steel but always found them too brittle sounding for me.
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Thanks! Only got my Rebel Yells and RS Guitarworks wiring installed a week ago and I can't put the guitar down! I really want a Bluesbird as well - what kind of BKP's do you have in them?
Have a set of emeralds in the bluesbird...originally had a set of sd 59's
Just seen a dearmond(by guild) similar to the bluesbird for sale...at £375, bluesbirds if you can find them are still over a grand
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On my strat I use 11's..I didn't think it was that weird but eveyone seems to only use 10's and below on strats...I don't find it that hard to do bends. When I play a LP at guitar center which i'm sure has 10's, I can bend the shite out of it. I guess i use heavier guage because it makes my cleans seem fatter to me. I know John Mayer use 12.'s and Stevie used a lot thicker than that.
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Melody Maker = .009 to .042
Les Paul = .009 to .046
HRF III = .010 to .046
Strat = .010 to .052
No huge preference re: brand, but years ago I used to use Picato strings quite often (not sure they are even still made).
cjpm
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No huge preference re: brand, but years ago I used to use Picato strings quite often (not sure they are even still made).
Looks like they're still around:
http://www.picato.co.uk/
When I was a kid I always wanted Picatos because Blackmore played them, but you rarely saw them in shops. Now I use D'Addarios because I like the coloured ball-ends! And they never seem to break.
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I use D'Addario Stainless Steel Skinny Top Heavy Bottom. The stainless steel adds a lil brightness and output to the tone.
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10-46 on all the guitars I currently own. When I owned a Jem 7v I used 9-42s on that for the easy-playing shred feel, but generally I find 10s to be the best balance between tone and playability.
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9's all the way. You don't tire your fingers out as quickly and you can play for longer :P .
I like my cleans really light and airy too, and if i use any heavier than nines, they go too bassy.
PS: and i have weak hands
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MWAHAHAHAHHAAAAAA :twisted: :twisted: :twisted:
I have just sorted out my 10-64 and 13-64 strung guitars.
WHAHAHAHAHAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
My strat is the 10-64 tuned A#, F, A#, F, A#, F.
My bros tele is 13-64 tuned A#, F, A#, D#, G, C.
They sound brutal, and i have apaches, he has yardbird/piledriver. I will link to to some sound clips after recording next week, YER!
Joe
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9's all the way. You don't tire your fingers out as quickly and you can play for longer :P .
I like my cleans really light and airy too, and if i use any heavier than nines, they go too bassy.
PS: and i have weak hands
Being too bassy is often a problem with fatter strings.... I find with most guitars and pickups 10s are fine though... it's not until you get to 11s where they start to become too bassy...
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I use DR 9-50 gauge on my metal guitars. They're the Dimebag ones and they're good for both lead and chunky rhythm work. Anyone else find DR's are really loud when played acoustically?
My PGM has 9-46's on so that it's really easy to play (fast :twisted: )!!
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MWAHAHAHAHHAAAAAA :twisted: :twisted: :twisted:
I have just sorted out my 10-64 and 13-64 strung guitars.
WHAHAHAHAHAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
My strat is the 10-64 tuned A#, F, A#, F, A#, F.
My bros tele is 13-64 tuned A#, F, A#, D#, G, C.
They sound brutal, and i have apaches, he has yardbird/piledriver. I will link to to some sound clips after recording next week, YER!
Joe
ahahahahhahhahahahaa!!!! AWESOME!!!!!
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Depends on the guitar and the tuning.
For my Strats I use 9-46 for standard tune (which is most of the time), and 10-46 if I'm leaving it tuned down a semi.
For my Les Paul I always use 10-46, whether in standard or down a semi.
I normally keep one of my guitars (either my Ibanez or my BC Rich) tuned down either a tone or a tone and a half, so tend to use 11-54, or sometimes a 12 set.
I don't think 10s make any real difference tone wise on the treble strings, though the heavier strings do give a better sound on the bass side. That's why I normally use 9-46, gives the better bass tone you get from a 10 set but keeps the bending nice and easy at the treble end. I only use 10s on my Les Paul (and my Strats when I tune down) as 9s are too loose on them. Plus 10s on a Les Paul pretty much feel like 9s on a Strat anyway.
Personally I think the thickness of the pick makes more of a difference. I use 2mm picks, which really let you dig in and make it scream :twisted: . If you want that Stevie Ray Vaughn sound, don't bother trying to copy his string gauge (which is way too heavy), just get a nice thick pick :)
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I use 2mm picks
Wuss! 3mm Big Stubbies all the way!
and 11 guage strings work really well on my maverick, which is a real shred machine.
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Had 11s for years, but just now changed to 9s to give my fingers a break.
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.010s on my old Les Paul, 'cause the neck is weak.
It used to be .011s on everything else, but now I am starting to use .012s. I like the big, ballsy sound they make, and my Strat trems actually sort of stay in tune now. Also, they keep me from trying to play too fast when improvising and make me slow down and concentrate.
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I have moved to 12-52. At first it was because I couldn't intonate my Gibson LP properly while tuned in drop Db. But now I bought the same strings for the Epi. It just sound right.Even though bending near the nut get really hard. And I think the skin of my finger tips has double in thickness since I made the move. Was harsh at the start but I got used to it.
Nonetheless, when I'll get a tele, I'll stick to 9s are 10s.
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I like the big, ballsy sound they make, and my Strat trems actually sort of stay in tune now.
I noticed the same thing. My Gibby stays in tune for days since I put some 12s. I actually had issues with the G tuner, as the guitar fell gently but fell nonetheless on this tuner. With the wounded G... it is as if nothing happened.
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In the beginning I used 9-42's Snarling Dogs.
I changed a lot of brands, and currently I like 10-46's DR strings (those tite-fit things), but maybe I should try some of those light top, heavy bottom sets, but I am not sure yet (I am worried about neck balance, paranoia as I am :D )
About strings...does anyone have any recommendations?
I like the DR's but would also like to try something different.
I like the feel and sound of D'addario, but they are getting rusty after 15 minutes of playing, and I don't want to change strings every 15 minutes..
Same goes with the Dean Markley Blue Steels..I find them somewhat stiff in feel, and put them on, and after a 45min. gig they were rusty as hell!
I don't like ernie ball strings, I find them very stiff...
Elixirs are nice, but have a somewhat high presence sound or something..
Any recommendations? :)
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I like the big, ballsy sound they make, and my Strat trems actually sort of stay in tune now.
I noticed the same thing. My Gibby stays in tune for days since I put some 12s. I actually had issues with the G tuner, as the guitar fell gently but fell nonetheless on this tuner. With the wounded G... it is as if nothing happened.
Yeah, what's up with this "staying in tune" thing? A Strat that doesn't go wildly out of tune every time I so much as tickle the whammy bar doesn't seem right somehow.
Although my old Jazzmaster has the finest trem I have ever played. Bend notes up, down, dive-bomb, tuning was always rock-solid regardless of string gauge. And none of the hassles or tone-robbery of a Floyd Rose.
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i play drop C stoner rock on a single piece bridge.... so right now i have 10-52's... but i'm probably going to upgrade to 11-54 if i can find them, i love the tightness and the extreeeeme chunk. I'm just afraid that 11's will rip my bridge right out.
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9-46 (hybrid slinky) on my tele, 9-42 on my mustang. need to change that - they're part of the reason it sounds so thin.
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None of the above.
D'Addario 13s (EJ22), A-E-A-D-F#-B, 3mm stubby triangle (I hate small picks!), miracle man bridge pickup (though I'm thinking I might save up for a ceramic pig...).
The above in an Ibanez RG470F/TBL
New tubes just arrived for my 5150-II, so I'll take it to a tech this weekend. ISP Decimator ordered, awaiting arrival. Then, hopefully, we're away!
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Nothing but 11s. On a tele and sg they are awesome.
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Strat - 11 - 49
PRS - 10 - 46
Ibanez RG - 9 - 46
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Recently put 11s on my Tele and as Badgermark says, awesome. I am thinking of doing the same on my hardtail Strat when I have used up the packs of 10s I bought in the USA.
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I've always used 10s on everything, but I recently put Graph Tech saddles on my hardtail Strat and, strangely, they seem to have made the strings much easier to bend. I guess because the strings are no longer "sticking" at the saddles, so effectively there are a couple more inches of string to stretch?
So I'm thinking of trying 11s on that guitar. Never thought I'd say that.
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I have a ESP LTD EC1000 tuned down to drop C with 12-56. The 6th string is tight and really chunky. But it really slows down the soloing. I played a Ibanez RGT42 at a shop with 9-42's. The 6th string was waaay to thin, but the top was great. I've found I only like thick tight strings because they make the 5th and 6th strings tighter and better for heavy sounds. So I'm really interested in a something like a 9-50 for my next guitar (or like a 10-52 since I'm going to have it down in D standard/drop C). Really easy to play fast but still a good palm muting sound.
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11-56 in C standard, Daddario's, I seem to rust EBs a bit quicker, I prefer DR but they don't do custom gauges
I'm going to make the wounds a tiny bit lighter for easier legato
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13-56 - D'Addario XLS600 Stainless steel Jazz strings.
These strings just won't cop out when theres sweat all about!
I also use DR strings occasionally, but they're not amazing enough to warrant me paying £7 for a set of strings that haven't wowed me like the D'Addario's.
I tune to Bb
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i play drop C stoner rock on a single piece bridge.... so right now i have 10-52's... but i'm probably going to upgrade to 11-54 if i can find them, i love the tightness and the extreeeeme chunk. I'm just afraid that 11's will rip my bridge right out.
11s should not be a problem on any guitar, especialyl if using dropped tunings.
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Ernie Ball 9's. Which apparently sound like shitee, which comes as a surprise to me as i thought they sound rather good in my guitars.
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Ernie Ball 9's. Which apparently sound like shitee, which comes as a surprise to me as i thought they sound rather good in my guitars.
well, I take back my comment about EBs. I realised all mine are EBs at the moment, due to rotosound not being at the shop. and it was only the first lot which had two quick breakages.
my preference would be 10-52 rotosounds
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Ernie Ball 9's. Which apparently sound like shitee, which comes as a surprise to me as i thought they sound rather good in my guitars.
well, I take back my comment about EBs. I realised all mine are EBs at the moment, due to rotosound not being at the shop. and it was only the first lot which had two quick breakages.
my preference would be 10-52 rotosounds
It wasn't your comment I was referring to Will!
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I've got D'Addario 9s in my PRS at the moment, I normally stick with EB but reading through here they don't seem very popular so will keep an eye out for new brands! I used Rotosound 10s before I put 9s back in and they didn't feel comfortable at all!
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I use 10's, but I'm considering getting a 11/10 hybrid set, since I have no problems with chords and stuff on 11's, but find bending much easier on 10's.
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I use 9s, because that's what I've always used and they sound fine to me, and I like the way they feel. I don't feel like putting myself through unnecessary discomfort to go up a gauge for a minimal tone difference, when I can fatten things up with EQ.