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Post subject: Re: Perfect strings for Strat lead playing: 009-046 or 010-0
Posted: Wed May 04, 2016 2:46 pm
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StratDragon wrote:
Screamin Armadillo wrote:
...for some reason, my G&L F100 prefers a set of 10's. I don't know if it's because of the difference in construction, pickups or some other sort of alchemy, it just "feels" and sounds better with the heavier strings.

my ASAT plays bad with .09's. Let me rephrase because it's an excellent guitar, I play worse with .09's and it does not like .12/.13's at all (or I don't) Put as set of .10's - .40x and that thing is off to the races.

Now, that's interesting...
I have owned four G&L guitars--two Nighthawks, an SC-2 (all three gone) and the F-100 (still in my possession), and all of them "felt better" with heavier strings (either 10's or 11's) than 9's.
Maybe there is something in the construction technique of G&Ls that make them prefer heavy strings? :?:


*edited for fat fingers that typed SC-3 instead of the actual model number, SC-2

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Last edited by Screamin Armadillo on Thu May 05, 2016 9:02 am, edited 1 time in total.

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Post subject: Re: Perfect strings for Strat lead playing: 009-046 or 010-0
Posted: Thu May 05, 2016 5:17 am
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In this case I have to agree with the general consensus...it really depends on the person playing.

In the 30+ years I've been playing, I've probably tried just about every brand/gauge of string out there and for my electrics (Strats or otherwise), I always come back to GHS Boomer "Thick & Thins" (10 - 52's). 9's are ok, but I tend to tear thru them too quickly...I'm hell on 10's, so I usually don't get much more than a month or two out of 9's when I'm playing on a regular basis. 8's or lower are absolutely pointless in my opinion...while yes, it is more about the player and technique, 8's ALWAYS sound thin unless you use a ton of compression and such (in which case you're not really hearing "the guitar" anyways). Likewise, as a guy who has rather small hands (at least for someone who's 6'2", 240 lbs), I tend to find that 11's, 12's or higher just wear out my fingers WAY to quickly...yea, 11's sound really great, but what's the point if I can't play them for more than half an hour?

I find the 10's with the thicker bottoms to be my "balance"...and they're close enough to my acoustic strings (Earthwood "Silk & Steels", 10 - 56's) that I don't go thru too much of a shock when I switch from electric to acoustic. Likewise, I've always come back to the Boomers for my electrics simply because for me, they have the best balance of tone, feel and longevity. In a pinch, I have and will use Slinky's...the sound and feel is pretty comparable, but I get better longevity out of my Boomers...and with the 25(ish) guitars currently in my arsenal, longevity is very much a consideration.

And for what it's worth, I use either Rotosound or GHS Bass Boomers on all my basses :-)

Again, this is one of those situations where only you can decide what's right for you. My advice would be to simply choose one or the other and stick with it for a while...if the 9's feel "flappy", go with the 10's, at least long enough for your fingers to get used to them. If you're still not happy, then try something else.

Just my own opinions as usual.


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Post subject: Re: Perfect strings for Strat lead playing: 009-046 or 010-0
Posted: Thu May 05, 2016 5:53 am
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Screamin Armadillo wrote:
...for some reason, my G&L F100 prefers a set of 10's. I don't know if it's because of the difference in construction, pickups or some other sort of alchemy, it just "feels" and sounds better with the heavier strings.



to be fair I tried a pair of EB "Not even slinky" on my ASAT
012 .016 .024p .032 .044 .056
the nut was not happy with the top two strings and I was not about the file but I could tune to B (246.94Hz.) below middle C and be in tune but that guitar with .10s and .11's and it's balanced, but no clue why other than this is how I play? Unfortunately the guy I'd like to ask is no longer here to ask, hopefully he's somewhere building guitars for Jimi and Stevie now.

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Post subject: Re: Perfect strings for Strat lead playing: 009-046 or 010-0
Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2016 1:13 pm
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I believe some types of playing are next to impossible with heavy strings. People thinking they play Van Halen with 010s don't sound good to me at all. They probably feel more comfortable but its against the overall stylistics. I think one should get used to playing whatever gauge the particular style requires.
I really don't know what gauge Johnny Winter plays but he sounds like a heavy-handed player. I think he should be useing heavier gauge. I don't think it makes his bends easier but its a matter of stylistics again.
Not a strat-specific answer but I think it applies in general . My two penny.
I have outdone myself in brashness in talking this sort of stuff with professional musicians.


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Post subject: Re: Perfect strings for Strat lead playing: 009-046 or 010-0
Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2016 4:11 pm
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MusicLaw wrote:
I run D'Addario 10-46 on all my electrics. They are very playable, rich, bright, sweet, full, and are reasonably priced!


Same here.
I have a Strat set for E flat tuning, and I use 11-49s on this, to compensate for the looser feel of the tuning.
Otherwise all electrics have 10-46 fitted.

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Post subject: Re: Perfect strings for Strat lead playing: 009-046 or 010-0
Posted: Tue Jun 28, 2016 12:48 am
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A ponderence - Does the greater spring tension used to ballance heavier strings, with a floating bridge, mean the bridge is less likely to rise during bending?

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Post subject: Re: Perfect strings for Strat lead playing: 009-046 or 010-0
Posted: Tue Jun 28, 2016 6:09 am
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John Sims wrote:
A ponderence - Does the greater spring tension used to ballance heavier strings, with a floating bridge, mean the bridge is less likely to rise during bending?

Yes.
That's why the combination of springs + number of springs + strength/weight of springs + adjustment of the spring claw is so important if you are a heavy or frequent string bender.

That's also why I set the tremolo*** on my Strat flush with the body and then blocked it with a small stack of quarters...the added bendability, added tuning stability, added playability and added sustain more than made up for the fact that I no longer could "rubber butt" (aka "use the tremolo") on the guitar.

If I want a tremolo-infused lick, I just do what Redd Volkaert (sp?) does--push the back of the neck forward while pushing the upper horn/bout of the body backward.


***note: I'm using the term "tremolo" in the same incorrect way Leo used it when he mis-labelled his patented mechanical device "tremolo" instead of the more proper "vibrato".

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Post subject: Re: Perfect strings for Strat lead playing: 009-046 or 010-0
Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2016 1:41 am
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Interesting. I wasn't sure as, while there is greater tension in the springs there will also be greater force to bend the thicker string. Also the inertia of the trem block should be more effective on lighter strings as its weight is proportionally greater to the forces being employed.

I agree that decking and blocking, or buying a hardtail in the first place could be the better option, although I think I prefer the feel of bending against the spring. My floating bridge Strats feel more fluid than the hardtail.

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Post subject: Re: Perfect strings for Strat lead playing: 009-046 or 010-0
Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2016 3:43 am
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Quote:
I think I prefer the feel of bending against the spring. My floating bridge Strats feel more fluid than the hardtail.


Yes, I'll go along with that. I've had a hardtail Strat and it never felt or sounded right to me. I'd buy a different make for a hardtail. All my bridges float, and when I bend strings against others, I tend to stabilise the bridge with my palm. Just another idiosyncrasy in my self-taught 1950's/60's 'technique' - if you'd call it that!

However, I'm a big fan of Robert Cray, and his hardtails sound just fine!

Cheers - Peter.


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Post subject: Re: Perfect strings for Strat lead playing: 009-046 or 010-0
Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2016 8:57 pm
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StratDragon wrote:
Depends on the player.
I prefer .10-.46 or .10-.52 or .09-.38 or .09-.46
... SRV used .13 -.52,...


Indeed SRV used that heavy gage HOWEVER he tuned his guitar down a half step so it wasn't quite as bad. Dick Dale uses a 16 high E and up in standard tuning. Ya gotta have a strong truss rod for that and major strength in your fingers.


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Post subject: Re: Perfect strings for Strat lead playing: 009-046 or 010-0
Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2016 9:04 pm
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String gage is also a function of the type of music you're playing. If you're a country player emulating pedal steel licks, 9's are as thick as you're gonna wanna go. If you're playing surf instrumentals - no bending allowed, 12's are as light as you should go - 13's ideally. I always thought the Jazz guys used heavy strings - and they do for the most part - but I understand that Wes Montgomery used a lighter gage. Chet Atkins playing fingerstyle on that big ol' Gretsch used light strings.


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Post subject: Re: Perfect strings for Strat lead playing: 009-046 or 010-0
Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2016 10:36 pm
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I played an SG for 40+ years (still have it). It was strung with 11-48 almost always. Did not feel right with anything else. I played a Strat for the first time in 2013 and absolutely love the American Standard I bought. Came with the 9 guage set. Tried a bunch of nines over a year and a half. No go. Never happy with the feel and tone. Put on a set of strings (Ernie Ball Super Slinkys set 2221 10-46) and the Strat is just right. Threw a set of 11 in there once for old times sake, but 10 it was. Pure nickels? Nope. Coated? Nope. Flat wounds? Hell nope. By the way, hated the Ernie Balls on the SG.

You'll probably find a different solution than mine. On a Strat, every thing matters. Nut set up and condition, frets, neck relief, neck angle adjustment, bridge set up, pickup type and pickup height. Intonation!!! It only took me a year and a half of fiddling with setting up the guitar to get to learn and do everything right, or at least one version of right. Humidity changes things, dryness does too. Out in the sun? needs adjustment. Cool night? ditto. Oh yeah, string gauge changes things. Everything is interactive.

Don't you just love the constant interaction between you and your guitar?


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Post subject: Re: Perfect strings for Strat lead playing: 009-046 or 010-0
Posted: Tue Aug 02, 2016 10:06 pm
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I always used 10 - 46s D'Addario for close to 6 years now with all my guitars LP and Strats/ Tele but, latelt I've been experimenting with 9 - 46s for easier bends in upper frets. I still like the bigger strings on low end for more chunk and tight rythym sounds.

When I was like 16 years old, I used to play 7 and 8s gauges! :lol: and we played some Nirvana, Pearl Jam tunes....

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Post subject: Re: Perfect strings for Strat lead playing: 009-046 or 010-0
Posted: Thu Aug 11, 2016 6:15 pm
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In '64 I played 12s on a '62 Strat. Today, I am not on a '62 but a 2012 Amn. Dlx with N3 pups. Different guitar and different strings. I tried 9s but they didn't work for my liking. They were okay, but it was like drinking light beer instead of full bodied beer. Both good, but different. I've considered 11s; but, there are ways and means to get close to that heavy string sound with some tweaking and recording techniques. I have done close at hand comparisons with some success. Besides, almost none of the celebrity axe players are constantly using the same strings or gauge as in the past, and I am into original tunes most often anyhow.

So, for me, I believe there is no easy answer. The guitar, amp, and type of sounds one wants will dictate. Rhythm or lead or both? I like playing Surf and Blues, and I am into a variety of songwriting and vocals. Several guitars and multiple string choice would certainly be preferable, and that may happen yet; however, for me 10s are a good compromise for the moment. Also, I found that moving a gauge up from the stock 9s seems to take some edge off the digital amplification IMHO.

I tried different brands and stuck to just 9s and 10s for comparison (rather than adding more confusion to the pot). Who knows? I may decide to change to 11s later, but at least I'll have satisfaction in ruling out the 9s and 10s accordingly. You might just find something to your satisfaction this way and, yes, mixing and matching is an option; but, I would work on the basics first for reference.

Best of luck in your quest.
FSB

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Post subject: Re: Perfect strings for Strat lead playing: 009-046 or 010-0
Posted: Fri Aug 12, 2016 2:56 pm
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I've found .009 to be way too "bendy" and feel like rubber bands after a while of playing with them. I switched to .010's years ago and haven't looked back.

I always use these:
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