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Post subject: Mixing Strings?
Posted: Wed Mar 01, 2017 4:11 pm
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Anybody here mixing string brands and/or non standard string gauges. If you are tell us about it.

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Post subject: Re: Mixing Strings?
Posted: Wed Mar 01, 2017 4:43 pm
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I haven't done so recently but I often designate a guitar as a drop tuned guitar.
Usually drop D and I'll use a mixed gauge set.
I swap out the low E for a .049".
I'll buy a half dozen or so single strings just to have some on hand.
Since stores will only use one brand for their singles I guess that means I mix brands too.
I use to keep a supply of wound .017" strings as well but they break so fast I stopped it.
I only used them on Les Pauls anyway.
I find LPs sound out of tune even when they're in tune and the intonation is good.
Something about the Gibson scale length being further away from natural than Fender or some such.
Same kind of reasoning as the A432 vs A440 thing.
I never put a lot of stock in it but a wound 3rd did make it slightly better.
I can count on one hand the number of times I reach for the Les Paul in a year so I don't worry about it.
The older I get the less Gibsons appeal to me.

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Post subject: Re: Mixing Strings?
Posted: Wed Mar 01, 2017 5:47 pm
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Thanks, for getting this going, Matt. Good to hear of your experience.

I knew of this practice, but I have yet to refine it. The E string seems to be a like/dislike for me. I still remember grabbing and mixing a different gauge or a different brand for my long gone 12 string only when I needed to for lack of a proper one. I've played 12s, 11s, and currently I use 10s, and I know if I get another electric I will likely dedicate dropped tuning on one.

Eventually I should be content with or without mixing strings. Yeah, right. :lol: I'm definitely in the same camp as you when it comes to sound versus breakage. Thankfully, the sweet sounding strings aren't crystal.

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Post subject: Re: Mixing Strings?
Posted: Wed Mar 01, 2017 6:23 pm
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Location: On the loo, regretting that gas station burrito.
I've once mixed Coke with Pepsi to see if it would cause a matter/anti-matter explosion, or something like that. I think it just wound up tasting like RC Cola. :P

Seriously though, never really thought about doing that, especially for bass, because those strings aren't exactly cheap to buy a lot of. I put so little time into playing any guitar, so that wouldn't be worth it, either. Although, I've thought about trying out a dobro or lap type string set that is comes in an open tuning, like E or G. I'd wonder if that would work on a Telecaster or not.

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Post subject: Re: Mixing Strings?
Posted: Wed Mar 01, 2017 6:25 pm
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Interested in the topic, though I haven't yet ventured into the possibilities. I am pondering a wound G for the Strat and Tele after thoroughly enjoying the thicker tones from a set of flats on my hollow body. It'll probably be difficult to find the right balance though and figure there will be some compromise vs the larger diameter tone from the flats in general.

Nice Paul, I used to be a fan of RC myself.


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Post subject: Re: Mixing Strings?
Posted: Wed Mar 01, 2017 6:59 pm
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Thanks, for your comments, Paul and sfceric64. Mixing strings on basses has it's own possibilities for sure. I'm guessing slide guitar may as well?

Mark me down for RC cola (and a moonpie). As a kid I preferred Canada's KIK cola which ended in 1984. 2010 brought KiK cola to Sri Lanka; although, I don't know if it's the same. RC cola reminds me a little bit of KIK. Always the bridesmaid, never the bride.
:D
FSB

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Post subject: Re: Mixing Strings?
Posted: Wed Mar 01, 2017 7:17 pm
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Yes, for down tuning.

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Post subject: Re: Mixing Strings?
Posted: Wed Mar 01, 2017 10:31 pm
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On one of my guitars, I have a set of .008-.038s, except that I've discarded the .008 and added a .048. That gives a .011-.048 set with a traditional wound G, without having to buy jazz strings.

A wound G string is what the Telecaster 3-part bridge was made for, so it gives far better intonation. It's also what the vintage Strat staggered pole pieces with the g pole highest were aligned for.


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Post subject: Re: Mixing Strings?
Posted: Thu Mar 02, 2017 12:18 am
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Good info. Chris. Unless I'm mistaken (naw, that never happens) :lol: yours looks to be a similar setup for the wound G string that sfceric64 was considering.

So do you have a preference or are the setups just different? TIA.

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Remember to mention if brands are mixed too Forumites. :wink:

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Last edited by Fender Strat Brat on Thu Mar 02, 2017 9:25 am, edited 1 time in total.

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Post subject: Re: Mixing Strings?
Posted: Thu Mar 02, 2017 3:00 am
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Many years ago I used to swap out the wound third on Dean Markley 11-56 sets. Always replaced the third with the heaviest unwound single string I could get from the same maker.
I never saw a Dean Markley set in that gauge with a plain 3rd.

I stick to sets these days, and all of the guitars here have D'Addario strings on 'em.
D'Addario (and Ernie Ball) seem to cover most of the bases as far as set permutations go.

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Last edited by stratmangler on Fri Mar 03, 2017 1:00 am, edited 2 times in total.

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Post subject: Re: Mixing Strings?
Posted: Thu Mar 02, 2017 8:05 am
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Fender Strat Brat wrote:
Good info. Arjay. Unless I'm mistaken (naw, that never happens) :lol: yours looks to be a similar setup for the wound G string that sfceric64 was considering.

So do you have a preference or are the setups just different? TIA.

I'm not Arjay, but for a Tele with a traditional 2+2+2 bridge, I fully recommend it. Without a wound G, it is very hard to get acceptable intonation for both the D and G strings.
Ernie Ball sells singles, so you can buy a set plus a single and be all set.
And make a cheese slicer with the leftover .008 :)

I also find fingerpicking is easier with thicker and more wound strings, but that is a personal preference.
For most guitars, I still have 3+3 and not 4+2. My goto-guitar (Yamaha Revstar) has a lyre tailpiece that is 3+3 staggered, so 4+2 isn't a good option.


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Post subject: Re: Mixing Strings?
Posted: Thu Mar 02, 2017 9:58 am
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arth1 wrote:
Fender Strat Brat wrote:
Good info. Arjay. Unless I'm mistaken (naw, that never happens) . . .
:x
I'm not Arjay. . . :?: :oops:
Well, I'll be a hog swalllowed Pygmy. How did I do that? Must have been the jelly beans kicking in at 4am or the auto correct or just me and the smart a-- phone . I plead guilty. Beat me a thousand times with a wet noodle, arth1(and Arjay). I deserve the punishment and ask forgiveness.

Anyhow, big thanks for adding an update, Chris. I'm sure that will add to the conversation, bro'.

- Clem Kadiddlehopper (FSB)

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Post subject: Re: Mixing Strings?
Posted: Thu Mar 02, 2017 6:47 pm
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Quote:
On one of my guitars, I have a set of .008-.038s, except that I've discarded the .008 and added a .048. That gives a .011-.048 set with a traditional wound G, without having to buy jazz strings.

Arth1, did you end up doing some nut work to get the new .048 and the larger strings to move freely?


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Post subject: Re: Mixing Strings?
Posted: Thu Mar 02, 2017 11:03 pm
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sfceric64 wrote:
Quote:
On one of my guitars, I have a set of .008-.038s, except that I've discarded the .008 and added a .048. That gives a .011-.048 set with a traditional wound G, without having to buy jazz strings.

Arth1, did you end up doing some nut work to get the new .048 and the larger strings to move freely?

I pulled the wound G string up and down the nut a few times, but otherwise, all the strings fit just fine and keeps in tune. A .011-.048 set is not much bigger than the .009-.046 that modern Fenders come with.
(It needed a truss rod adjustment afterwards, but that is par for course whenever changing string tension.)

Mind, this is a Tele without a whammy bar - for a Strat, you might want the slots a tiny bit roomier so they slide easier. I'd still think .011-.048 should work fine for most of them.


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Post subject: Re: Mixing Strings?
Posted: Fri Mar 03, 2017 9:04 am
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Thanks for confirming what I was thinking. I have a couple sets left of my current setup, so maybe another couple months before I try something new.


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