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Post subject: SRV and String Gauge: Article
Posted: Fri Jul 04, 2008 2:24 pm
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Was stumbling around on the net, and found this quick article on Stevie Ray Vaughan and his equipment. Thought lots of folks in here would find it interesting. I found this particular excerpt impressive:
"To help get his h-u-g-e tone Stevie tuned down a semitone (to Eb Ab Db Gb Bb Eb) and experimented with different string gauges, generally using heavy gauge GHS strings - 0.013, 0.015, 0.019 (unwound), 0.028, 0.038, 0.058. If his fingers weren't holding up he'd compromise with a 0.012 to 0.058 set although at one point Stevie even strung his guitar with 0.018 to 0.074 :shock: (`it was insane,' he recalled, `but I played a lot more simply')." Note the "shock" smiley is not in the original article.

http://www.djnoble.demon.co.uk/ints/STEVIER.VS.html

Two things come to my mind:
1) I just cannot believe he could play for even 30 seconds before those strings cut all the way to the knuckle,
and,
2)That is one amazing Strat to be able to handle the torsion of boat cable gauge wires and not go out of tune, or even collapse.


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Post subject: Re: SRV and String Gauge: Article
Posted: Fri Jul 04, 2008 2:37 pm
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[quote="WhatsThatSmell"]Was stumbling around on the net, and found this quick article on Stevie Ray Vaughan and his equipment.

Let's not discount the Diaz modified amplifiers among others, as well as the rest of the doodads.

Nor the incredible technique with BOTH those hands.

Strings were just the beginning. Had pretty heavy duty neck on that instrument. It too was a mongrel.....a 59/62 combo lifted out of a pawn shop which kind of 'spoke to him' if I have the story right.

Thanks for the heads up.

Doc. :wink:


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Posted: Fri Jul 04, 2008 2:49 pm
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When I first got my Voodoo Strat the previous owner was apparently an SRV fan. Either that or he played metal. The strings on it had to have been 13's. I wish I still had the sound clips. The strings would boom like a piano. I loved the tone but I just couldn't bend properly with such huge strings, especially considering I was coming off a set of 9's. I just use 10's now. Hoping to step up to 11's soon.


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Posted: Fri Jul 04, 2008 3:09 pm
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I know a professional blues guitarist who is working his way down from heavy gauge strings. He plays in a style a lot like SRV. Bending those big boys over the course of several years will take it's toll on your hands. He wants to keep playing so the gauges are getting lighter.


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Post subject: Re: SRV and String Gauge: Article
Posted: Fri Jul 04, 2008 3:16 pm
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WhatsThatSmell wrote:
Was stumbling around on the net, and found this quick article on Stevie Ray Vaughan and his equipment. Thought lots of folks in here would find it interesting. I found this particular excerpt impressive:
"To help get his h-u-g-e tone Stevie tuned down a semitone (to Eb Ab Db Gb Bb Eb) and experimented with different string gauges, generally using heavy gauge GHS strings - 0.013, 0.015, 0.019 (unwound), 0.028, 0.038, 0.058. If his fingers weren't holding up he'd compromise with a 0.012 to 0.058 set although at one point Stevie even strung his guitar with 0.018 to 0.074 :shock: (`it was insane,' he recalled, `but I played a lot more simply')." Note the "shock" smiley is not in the original article.

http://www.djnoble.demon.co.uk/ints/STEVIER.VS.html

Two things come to my mind:

almost like he used coat hangers














1) I just cannot believe he could play for even 30 seconds before those strings cut all the way to the knuckle,
and,
2)That is one amazing Strat to be able to handle the torsion of boat cable gauge wires and not go out of tune, or even collapse.

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Posted: Fri Jul 04, 2008 3:31 pm
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theres alot to be said for thick strings, the tone is superb and they make a great practice tool. i did it for years practiced and recorded with 11's and gigged with 9's. the only downside is that you need atleast 2 guitars you cant just switch from one to the other without making adjustments. On my first guitar a rose morris les paul i used 12's to compensate for the poor sound of the guitar.

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Posted: Fri Jul 04, 2008 3:33 pm
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nikininja wrote:
theres alot to be said for thick strings, the tone is superb and they make a great practice tool. i did it for years practiced and recorded with 11's and gigged with 9's. the only downside is that you need atleast 2 guitars you cant just switch from one to the other without making adjustments. On my first guitar a rose morris les paul i used 12's to compensate for the poor sound of the guitar.

the perfect gauge for me are 10-46

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Posted: Fri Jul 04, 2008 3:43 pm
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I'm playing 9's and 10's and my hands still hurt after a long session.


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Posted: Fri Jul 04, 2008 3:46 pm
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stratmansteve wrote:
I'm playing 9's and 10's and my hands still hurt after a long session.

how long do you play?

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Posted: Fri Jul 04, 2008 4:14 pm
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On a weekend, I can go for several hours at a time, but I've been playing for many, many years. I'm hoping arthritis isn't kicking in.

I loved weightlifting but had to give it up because my shoulders are shot after too many years of lifting too heavily. So today I pay more attention to what my body tells me.


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Posted: Fri Jul 04, 2008 4:17 pm
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highwayoneplayer wrote:
the perfect gauge for me are 10-46


if 10's weren't any good they woudnt be so popular. Im using 10's on my 3 guitars with floyds on, they always seem to balance better than any other gauge, and the style of music those guitars are used for superthick tone isn't needed. Theres 11's on my white strat and 9's on my esp ltd with a kahler trem. Im supprised more people haven't caught on to the heavy practice light gig gauges trick, it makes you fly. the 9's feel effortless after slugging it out with 11's.
Aren't 10's fenders statutory gauge that all their electrics come fitted with?
if so that says alot about the gauge being universally popular.

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Posted: Fri Jul 04, 2008 4:24 pm
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nikininja wrote:
Aren't 10's fenders statutory gauge that all their electrics come fitted with?
if so that says alot about the gauge being universally popular.


Actually, the new ones come with 9's now. Many of my guitars are setup with 9's now, too.


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Posted: Fri Jul 04, 2008 5:19 pm
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There is no replacement for the tone you get with large strings. My 1994 Strat Special has never had a problem with the bigger strings that I've been using for years (.013,.016.019w.032.042.059) while playing SRV style blues and rock with no problems (although it is far from stock now) . .09's and .010's sound like a twangy banjo with no body to me now. Breaking lighter gauge strings becomes really easy after you have gotten used to playing with bridge cables. I moved up a gauge at time waiting until I was comfortable with them before moving on to a higher set.


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Posted: Fri Jul 04, 2008 5:24 pm
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No argument about the tone. Take care of your hands.


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Posted: Fri Jul 04, 2008 6:43 pm
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I'm surprised at the difference you guys are claiming to get in tone when you pump up a size. I always switch to 10's whenever I get a guitar, but maybe I'll jump up to 11's and give then a try. As you increase size, is there any style guitar that accepts them better than others?


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