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Post subject: Re: Electricus Guitaro Stringum
Posted: Wed Jul 10, 2013 12:54 pm
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I use EB Slinky 10 gauge strings on my Strat. But after reading this thread I might start experimenting.

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Post subject: Re: Electricus Guitaro Stringum
Posted: Thu Jul 11, 2013 4:29 am
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Lightnin MN wrote:
GilgaFrank wrote:
...I was told that all guitar strings are made in one factory and manufacturers just put different labels on the packs


Well, yes... and no...

Virtually no String "Brand" actually makes the strings. They are basically end-finishers and packagers.

Guitar Strings are made of several components - the wire core, the windings, the fittings and the coatings. Consequently, there are several steps to their manufacture as well.

The wire core of almost all metal guitar strings (I couldn't find any exceptions) are produced by one of 2 companies; China Jingzhi Industry Co., Ltd. and The Mapes Piano String Company, Specialty Wire Div. in Elizabethton, TN.

These companies draw the wire core from spools of high carbon steel (usually sourced from Germany or Sweden), which is then sold in bulk to the various Brands who continue the manufacturing process themselves, or contract with other companies using specifications from the Brand itself.

Mapes makes the wire core for most of the major brands, including: Elixir, Martin, D'Addario, GHS, Rotosound, Ernie Ball, Fender, Gibson, Black Diamond, DR, and others.

But, it's misleading to infer that just because the wire core comes from a limited number of manufacturers that all strings are essentially the same, they are not.

The string Brand company's engineers/management produce the design (often patented), arrive at specifications (materials, thickness of strings, coatings, etc.), maybe even where the materials are sourced, and have one of these Wire manufacturers build to these specifications. These specifications vary significantly from company to company (brand to brand).

In most cases, the wire manufacturer is restricted by patents or Non Disclosure agreements preventing them from using technology from String Company 'A' for String Company 'B's' product. This is one reason why strings vary from brand to brand even if they are made in the same facilities.

Another significant difference between brands is the nickel, bronze, phosphor/bronze alloys used for the windings. These are usually proprietary as well. An 80/20 bronze alloy will have a different 'voice' than a 90/10 alloy, etc. The same is true of coatings.

Mapes does do complete manufacture for several companies, incl. packaging. Others, take the drawn wire core and use subcontractors or their own facilities to cut the wires to length, wind them, attach ball/bullet ends and package them. For instance, C.F. Martin does all these things in their factory in Navojoa, Mexico.

cheers!


Yep, this is what I've been led to believe as well.

Thanx for confirming!

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Post subject: Re: Electricus Guitaro Stringum
Posted: Thu Jul 11, 2013 4:47 am
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Ernie Ball Regular Slinkys...they just have the coolest looking packaging! 8)

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Post subject: Re: Electricus Guitaro Stringum
Posted: Fri Jul 12, 2013 10:20 am
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Miami Mike beat me to it. Mapes. Yep.

Fender has not produced strings in Ensenada for a long time.


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Post subject: Re: Electricus Guitaro Stringum
Posted: Fri Jul 12, 2013 10:22 am
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Correction, LIGHTNING beat me to it.
Someone was trying to name the oldest string maker in the USA. That would be Black Diamond I think. They use Mapes wire also.


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Post subject: Re: Electricus Guitaro Stringum
Posted: Fri Jul 12, 2013 10:43 am
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I tend to buy GHS strings. I do like flat wound strings.

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Post subject: Re: Electricus Guitaro Stringum
Posted: Mon Jul 15, 2013 9:29 pm
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This is what I've been using the past 5 years. I used to have to buy 2 sets of strings, until I found these...yup I wasted a lot of money on strings for many years.
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Post subject: Re: Electricus Guitaro Stringum
Posted: Mon Jul 15, 2013 9:47 pm
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Try a few, find the ones you like.

I keep going back to EB Slinkys 10-46. 11's sound good but were too much work, All 9s sound too thin for me, I find the smaller strings easier to make mistakes with.


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Post subject: Re: Electricus Guitaro Stringum
Posted: Tue Jul 16, 2013 5:52 am
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Drubbing wrote:
Try a few, find the ones you like.

I keep going back to EB Slinkys 10-46. 11's sound good but were too much work, All 9s sound too thin for me, I find the smaller strings easier to make mistakes with.


+1 to all that. I play with a high-ish action, quite a lot of neck relief and I like to hit the strings hard to get that clean ringing Strat sound on clean chords. If I play 9's then I have to change my playing style and be ultra careful not to snap them.

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Post subject: Re: Electricus Guitaro Stringum
Posted: Tue Jul 16, 2013 7:44 am
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Asking about favorite guitar strings is liking asking about favorite beer. :wink: Lightning MN's narrative is most informative. Thanks. 8)

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Post subject: Re: Electricus Guitaro Stringum
Posted: Tue Jul 16, 2013 7:46 am
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brotherdave wrote:
Correction, LIGHTNING beat me to it.
Someone was trying to name the oldest string maker in the USA. That would be Black Diamond I think. They use Mapes wire also.

Somehow I wish I didn't both recognize and remember having used this brand of strings on my first acoustic guitar. :?

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Post subject: Re: Electricus Guitaro Stringum
Posted: Wed Jul 17, 2013 3:19 am
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I used EB super slinkies forever, until I got my Jaguar HH a few years back, and it could not be set up for 9s... had to switch to regular slinkies, and it felt amazing. so i switched every other guitar I've had since to 10s. then my friend who did all my set ups for the last couple of years had me try some d'addarios... i really like them. I bounce back and forth between the two.

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Post subject: Re: Electricus Guitaro Stringum
Posted: Fri Jul 19, 2013 2:05 pm
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Got a pawn shop deal today on Ernie Ball Regular Slinky strings. 10 sets of strings for $9.00.

Guess I'm going to give them a try. :D

Jerry

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Post subject: Re: Electricus Guitaro Stringum
Posted: Fri Jul 19, 2013 11:51 pm
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Interesting side-thread about string gauges...

Here's my $0.02...

During our annual trek to New Orleans and JazzFest this year, (see my thread: New Orleans Marathon ), I came to know Walter 'Wolfman' Washington. Turns out Walter lives down the block from where we stay, and I had drinks with him several times at the corner Bar in our neighborhood during our trip (once until dawn).

I had seen Walter play, both with his band - The RoadMasters, and with the Joe Krown Trio during our stay, and in years past.

Anyway, Fast Forward a month after our trip and The Joe Krown Trio was playing at a friend's local Jazz Club here in Minneapolis, so we went to see them.

Before the show, Walter spotted us and came over, sat down and had a drink. Later, at the break, Walter came again and we had a couple during the break, at which time I asked Walter: "Man... next year when we're down in NOLA, I wanna get a lesson with ya... ", that I'd pay whatever he felt was reasonable.

Walter replied: "Man, I'd be happy to come over and jam with you on your porch an hour or so... you bring the Whiskey... but I don't know that I have anything to teach you..." I said that I was sure that I'd get a lot from just jamming with him.

Walter then asked what I played, I told him a Strat, a Tele and a Heritage 535. He asked what string gauges I was using. I said 11's on the Strat & Tele and 10's on the 535.

He said: "The biggest 'secret' I can tell you is to switch to 9's on everything..."... that "9's will let your individual 'voice' and style come through... it's all I use..."

So, I'm gonna start with my Strat when I get it back from warranty (gonna have Hoffman's set it up for 9's).

If I like it... and can adapt, I'll switch all of them.

I mean the guy's well respected and has been making money for 40 years, figure he must know something...

cheers!

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Post subject: Re: Electricus Guitaro Stringum
Posted: Sat Jul 20, 2013 7:47 am
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Fender's strung '9's on pretty much everything save for gear which represents vintage periods in which '10's had been traditionally used. That's direct from the company in response to a discussion on the subject some years back.

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