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Post subject: Best Strings for Classic Player 60s Strat?
Posted: Mon May 20, 2013 8:49 am
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Hi,
It is time to change my strings (having had my Classic Player 60s Stratocaster for about a month now), and I am interested in recommendations for the Strat.

Would you suggest going with the Fender® USA Super 250R, NPS, (.010-.046 Gauges) 'bullets', recommended by Fender, or other strings?

I do like the .010 - .046 range and feel, but I am wondering if there are other strings which others may find bring out different characteristics of the Strat.

Also, I read in a review of the CP 60s on Musician's Friend that the recommended string height for the CP 60s is 1.5mm at the 17th. fret, but I cannot find this recommendation anywhere on the Fender webiste.

Does anyone know where I can find those recommendations (I will have to dig out the 'manual' that came with the guitar to check it because I cannot find a CP 60s Strat manual on the website, either).

Thanks,

drutgat


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Post subject: Re: Best Strings for Classic Player 60s Strat?
Posted: Mon May 20, 2013 1:20 pm
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drutgat wrote:
Hi, It is time to change my strings (having had my Classic Player 60s Stratocaster for about a month now), and I am interested in recommendations for the Strat. ...
    Hi drutgat, and welcome to the forum. :!:

    Although I've heard opinions to the contrary, I don't believe that one type of string is better for a Strat than another. The choice of string type and gauge is really a matter of personal preference and everyone has their favorite or favorites. What I like for my Strats (Fender Original Bullets, 11-49s) may not be what you like or someone else likes, so I would recommend that you try various sets and decide what's best for you.

    As for setting up your Strat, a good place to start is the Stratocaster Setup Guide. Keep in mind that the figures listed are 'recommendations', or starting points. They are not absolute so feel free to experiment.

    HTH

    Cheers!
    BM

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Post subject: Re: Best Strings for Classic Player 60s Strat?
Posted: Mon May 20, 2013 1:58 pm
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+1 Bluer Monkey

To my ear, the NPS are a bit brighter sounding as compared to the "Pure Nickel Wound". Of course this is only for the wound strings, as the unwound are steel on either type. I don't care for the bullet ends, JMP.

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Post subject: Re: Best Strings for Classic Player 60s Strat?
Posted: Mon May 20, 2013 5:54 pm
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Hi Bluer Monkey and shimmilou,
Many thanks for your replies.

(Bluer Monkey, I have actually been on the forms for a while, having picked the wise brains of several people here in my quest to buy the right Strat for me a few months ago – I went through the Squier Classic Vibe 60s, and Fender Classic Series 60s, before settling on the Classic Player 60s, which turned out to be the right guitar for me. The people on this forum, and another on the net, were wonderfully helpful resources to me in that process).

your replies were exactly the types of thing that I was looking for, and I think that I will actually end up using different types of strings over the next 6 – 8 months, based on the replies such as yours.

As I said in my posting, I do like .010's - .046 or .050's (for all my guitars), so the gauge is a variable which I have eliminated.

One other thing that I should have said is that I do not like too bright a sound.

Thanks, once again, for your replies.

All the best,

drutgat.


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Post subject: Re: Best Strings for Classic Player 60s Strat?
Posted: Mon May 20, 2013 8:12 pm
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Hello and welcome Drutgat,I hope that you can stick around,this forum can be a great reference tool for any Fender info that you would ever need to know.For as long as I can remember I used D'Addario .008-.038 nickel wound strings,I do a lot of very deep bending and a super light gauge is pretty well a necessity.Lately I have switched to Billy Gibbons spec. Rev. Willie's Texas Lottery .007-.038 strings that allow for such outrageous bends that you can almost push the B and G strings off the neck!!Contrary to popular belief thin strings don't equate to thin tone and super light gauges can provide very heavy tones as guys like Jimi,Billy Gibbons and Tommy Iommi have shown.If you do agressive and deep bends-or you would like to,these gauges would be perfect.

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Post subject: Re: Best Strings for Classic Player 60s Strat?
Posted: Mon May 20, 2013 9:36 pm
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Thanks guitslinger,
I really appreciate the reply.

Having played for so long I am embarrassed to say that I did not even know that .008's are available!

I will add these to my list of strings to try.

Thanks, once again,


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Post subject: Re: Best Strings for Classic Player 60s Strat?
Posted: Mon May 20, 2013 9:48 pm
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There are so many types of strings available, it really comes down to personal preference. I was pleased to find out recently that I really like the Fender 250R 10's set. This after having been loyal to a totally different brand of strings for years. If you can find a set that enhances your playing experience, use it and abuse it. :mrgreen:


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Post subject: Re: Best Strings for Classic Player 60s Strat?
Posted: Tue May 21, 2013 5:22 am
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I use GHS Boomers 11s. I have used them for many years and love em.
Even with that I dig them the most after a few hours are on them. Thats when they really get nice. Any slight harsh edges is gone.
All personal pref as has been said...


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Post subject: Re: Best Strings for Classic Player 60s Strat?
Posted: Wed May 22, 2013 1:19 am
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I dont know what grade of strings my modern player came with (perhaps someone can answer that), but to my ear they sounded , well, Chinese?
Had my local music store not closed 2 years ago after being burned out in the Croydon riot; I would have gone along and sorted a custom set .09..011 .016 .026 .036 .048.
Instead I went with a set of Fender 250RH .010 -.052 which seem to suit far better than the originals.
Have to say that materials IMHO are as important as gauge , if not more.

theres a pretty good guide @ soundunlimited that includes the following-

Quote:
Stevie Ray Vaughan. .013 - .056 Gauge dropped down half a step
Brian May. Optima Golds light gauge.
Joe Satriani. D'Addario EXL120 strings .09 - .042
Jimi Hendrix. Fender strings. Pure Nickels - Later career Nickel Plated .09 - .038
Metallica. Ernie Ball Slinky's
John Petrucci. Ernie Ball Slinky's
Eric Clapton. Ernie Ball .010 - .046
Jimmy Page. Extra light D'Addario - Ernie Ball
Yngwie Malmsteen. Custom gauge .008, .011, .014, .022, .032, .048
Eric Bloom Dunlop strings 10-46 gauge
Buck Dharma strings 9-46 gauge


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Post subject: Re: Best Strings for Classic Player 60s Strat?
Posted: Wed May 22, 2013 12:34 pm
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Hi Toronado, mxvin, and DonX14,
Thanks for your sage replies - more grist for the mill.

I really appreciate you sharing your suggestions and opinions.

All the best,

drutgat.


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Post subject: Re: Best Strings for Classic Player 60s Strat?
Posted: Fri May 24, 2013 8:16 am
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Hi there,

Gauge is obviously a matter of taste - I prefer 9-42 half a step down (yes, I know - rubber bands!) - but as far as make goes, I only buy D'Addario.

Reason being that they're sealed in the bag and can't rust. The number of times I've bought strings in British music shops to later find that they're pitted with rust! Must be the climate...

Cheers - Peter.


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Post subject: Re: Best Strings for Classic Player 60s Strat?
Posted: Fri May 24, 2013 1:04 pm
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Hi Peter,
Thanks for your reply.

Interesting what you say about your experience of buying strings in the UK which have turned out to be pitted with rust.

I live in the UK from 1971 – 1986, and never experienced that, but things do change.

And thank you for mentioning the fact that D'Addario strings are sealed – one part of my brain knew that, but the other part had not really process that's the point of realizing that it is a kind of safeguard for the strings.

Thanks, once again, for your message.


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Post subject: Re: Best Strings for Classic Player 60s Strat?
Posted: Fri May 24, 2013 11:23 pm
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I am currently using GHS Boomers Hybrid 9-46 strings and to my ear they sound a tad deeper then the fender strings. I also use Ernie Ball 9-46 strings aswell. Buy a couple sets from different companies and give them a try till you find the ones you like best.

Dave

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Post subject: Re: Best Strings for Classic Player 60s Strat?
Posted: Sat May 25, 2013 5:47 am
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Thanks for the reply, Dave.

I have been having a bit of a problem with my Classic Player 60s Stratocaster which I wonder about in terms of whether it might be lessened or worsened by using higher gauge strings.

Specifically, the 1st (E) string has a tendency to pop out of the string tree and nut - this does not happen all the time, and I did try to use some graphite in the hope that doing so might prevent this from happening, but it's pretty worrying for a brand-new guitar.

Does anybody think that using a higher gauge (i.e. thicker) 1st string would exacerbate this problem (my question comes from the assumption that the group in the nut is not deep enough for the string at the present time, and that a thicker string will sit even less 'security' in the groove of the nut)?

Thanks,


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Post subject: Re: Best Strings for Classic Player 60s Strat?
Posted: Sat May 25, 2013 8:19 am
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Hi again,

I've had the problem of the 1st string jumping out of the nut too! And mine was on a new Custom Deluxe, which, for the money (in GB) I did NOT expect.

On that model there are no string trees fitted either, which - together with my tuned-down-half-a-step 9-42's - didn't help.

The solution was that I took it to Fender GB, who said the nut was badly cut and fitted a new one under warranty. Cured! Not great for a Custom Shop guitar though, even if it is a great looking and sounding Strat (Fiesta Red).

As a matter of interest, I later fitted a pair of string trees, which I feel ARE necessary (with my setup), and also stopped the strange tones you can get from strings vibrating behind the nut - usually 3rd string - when hit hard with palm muting and with distortion. I'm sure someone will point out that I've ruined the originality (and therefore value) of a CS Strat, but I don't care - it's got to be playable.

Have done the same with other of my Strats where 2 trees aren't standard. They're cheap and easy to fit, and a spot of 3-in-1 oil stops any creaks when using the trem.

So coming back to the point, I would get a new nut...!

Cheers - Peter.


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