| Author |
Topic: String tone |
Thomas Kowalchuk
From:
Manitoba, Canada
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Posted 21 Apr 2017 6:12 pm |
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Time to restring.
Coming from an acoustic guitar background, I am well aware of the impact that one's choice of strings has on sound, tone, etc.
There are a lot of choices out there and experimenting can get expensive if not time consuming. So I am just putting the question out there about what people are using to get the tone they like.
Of course, we all want those highs to ring and resonate like an angelic chorus. But I what I want is something not too shrill...I have found that a fatter almost jazzy sound on my PSG really floats my boat.
So my question is, what strings do folks use and what is it about that brand / gauge / composition that helps you get the tone you want?
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Larry Hobson
From:
Valley Grande (Selma) Al USA
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Posted 21 Apr 2017 6:21 pm String tone
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| How much time you got? |
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James Flaherty
From:
California, USA
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Posted 21 Apr 2017 9:24 pm Strings
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I buy my strings individually rather than in sets. I have a 12 string universal so I want my highs to be crisp, clear and resonant without being tiney. I want may midrange to have guts and my lows to have depth. To that end I use:
F# .13
Eb .17
G# .12
E .13
B .17
G# .20 or .22 plain
F# .26W
E .30W
B .38W
G# .46W
E .56W
B .64W
You'll probably have to experiment to find what works best for you. But that is part of the fun. Good luck and enjoy the process. |
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Tim Russell
From:
Pennsylvania, USA
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Posted 22 Apr 2017 3:45 am
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I have used Ernie Ball & GHS for years. I have always been satisfied with both. I have not tried many other brands, so there are probably are better choices out there that I would like even more.
I will say this;
With all of the folks that love the S.I.T strings, I decided to put a set on both necks. For some reason, those strings sound horrible on my Sierra. I lost all of the highs, anything about the 12-15 fret is deader than a door-nail with them.
Very odd - but on other guitars those S.I.T's sing like a bird. A lot of experimentation involved, I suppose...
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Sierra Crown D-10 |
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Jack Stoner
From:
Kansas City, MO
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Posted 22 Apr 2017 4:32 am
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There are many threads over the years on the forum about who uses what. A forum search will turn up most of them.
Basically, the threads turn into what each person likes or a "love fest" on one brand rather than any subjectivity.
_________________
GFI Ultra Keyless S-10 with pad (Black of course) TB202 amp, Hilton VP, Steelers Choice sidekick seat, SIT Strings
Cakewalk by Bandlab and Studio One V4.6 pro DAWs, MOTU Ultralite MK5 recording interface unit |
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Rich Upright
From:
Florida, USA
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Posted 22 Apr 2017 8:01 am
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Never tried S.I.T. on my steels, but they are the absolute BEST on my Tele...great sound, & last the longest.
I like GHS pedal boomers for steel...they seem the most consistent.
_________________
A couple D-10s,some vintage guitars & amps, & lotsa junk in the gig bag. |
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Ken Metcalf
From:
San Antonio Texas USA
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Posted 22 Apr 2017 12:20 pm
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I use SIT and buy 3rd and 6th strings in bulk. They are like $3 a doz.
Strings are like milk and must be fresh. I store in zip-locks with those de-humidifier things. |
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Carl Mesrobian
From:
Salem, Massachusetts, USA
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Posted 22 Apr 2017 2:21 pm
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Try playing without picks
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--carl
"The better it gets, the fewer of us know it." Ray Brown |
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Tim Russell
From:
Pennsylvania, USA
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Posted 22 Apr 2017 2:39 pm
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| Carl Mesrobian wrote: |
| Try playing without picks |
I do that, but it slows me down...
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Sierra Crown D-10 |
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Kevin Fix
From:
Michigan, USA
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Posted 22 Apr 2017 5:12 pm Strings
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| Used them all. Prefer Ernie Balls. (Nickel Wound) |
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Kevin Fix
From:
Michigan, USA
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Posted 22 Apr 2017 5:20 pm Strings
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| Back in the 90's when I was playing large clubs I was using George L Stainless on my Sho Bud Pro III with metal necks. Had George L E 66 pickups on both necks then. The George L strings had a great tone back then for what I was playing. Playing a Mullen now with a wood neck. Ernie Balls sound perfect on it. |
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Billy Carr
From:
Seminary, Mississippi, USA (deceased)
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Posted 22 Apr 2017 9:29 pm psg strings
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| I use the Live Steel Strings. No tuning or breakage problems. At times, I also use GeorgeL's Stainless Steel Strings. No issues there either. |
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Jim Sliff
From:
Lawndale California, USA
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Posted 24 Apr 2017 8:56 pm
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| Quote: |
| I have found that a fatter almost jazzy sound on my PSG really floats my boat. |
I prefer a fatter sound as well
In my experience stainless strings have a brittle top end, and it's accentuated by solid-state amps many steel layers use (I use tube amps).
Nickel wound strings with regular plain steel strings have a smoother, slightly "fatter" sound and I find they are more controllable. Like others I buy them in singles - I'm also a guitar tech so I buy in bulk (I also use some unusual gages). Normally I buy via mail order but I often pick up a half-dozen or so of popular sizes at GC.
Brand doesn't matter much with "normal" strings - there are very few actual string manufacturers - almost all small companies have strings private labeled (often with different color balls or thread wraps) by major makers. There are even fewer that "draw" the actual wire used to make strings!
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No chops, but great tone
1930's/40's Rickenbacher/Rickenbacker 6&8 string lap steels
1921 Weissenborn Style 2; Hilo&Schireson hollownecks
Appalachian, Regal & Dobro squarenecks
1959 Fender 400 9+2 B6;1960's Fender 800 3+3+2; 1948 Fender Dual-8 Professional |
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Tony Prior
From:
Charlotte NC
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Posted 25 Apr 2017 2:20 am
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Over my short term of playing Steel, around 1975 to current day, I have no connection or love for any brand or specific gauges , other than 11's for the 3rd string.
I have pure love for NEW strings which keeps tone consistent from day to day and week to week but not year to year. I put whatever is in the pack on the Steel.
I buy what I can find on sale, various brands . Currently it's SIT but I have others in the string box as well, E Ball, J Pearce, Cobra etc...
It's NEW that matters to me .
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Emmons L-II , Fender Telecasters, B-Benders
Pro Tools 12 on WIN 7 !
jobless- but not homeless- now retired 9 years
CURRENT MUSIC TRACKS AT > https://tprior2241.wixsite.com/website |
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Stu Schulman
From:
Ulster Park New Yawk (deceased)
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Posted 25 Apr 2017 5:44 am
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Currently I'm using whatever Fred Justice sells at the Phoenix show,I think that they're S.I.T nickle/steel,Years ago I tried some stainless strings and they were way to bright for me!
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Steeltronics Z-pickup,Desert Rose S-10 4+5,Desert Rose Keyless S-10 3+5... Mullen G2 S-10 3+5,Telonics 206 pickups,Telonics volume pedal.,Blanton SD -10,Emmons GS_10...Zirctone bar,Bill Groner Bar...any amp that isn't broken.Steel Seat.Com seats...Licking paint chips off of Chinese Toys since 1952. |
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