strat0124 Posted November 17, 2003 Share Posted November 17, 2003 Friday afternoon I swapped strings on my two gigging guitars, and when I finished, I realized that I had bought 11's instead of my regular 10's. Yeah they're harder to bend, but oh my God the difference in the response, tone, and vibe. They rang alot more to my ears, and the bottom was more present. Ten points to anyone who knows who sang that line in my topic........ Who else uses 11's....and DOESN'T tune down? Down like a dollar comin up against a yen, doin pretty good for the shape I'm in Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teahead Posted November 17, 2003 Share Posted November 17, 2003 I use gauge 11's, and I've never tuned down. They're DR strings which are slightly heavier too, but they're compressed or something similar. You won't be able to go back Geenard, bad news is, I still broke E and A strings, even when I tried 12's! On my Les Paul I don't notice them, but the swap to the longer scale Tele reminds me that they are heavy strings, but they are worth the extra effort, as they give so much more punch and sustain. Are you still breaking strings with the 11's? Best Wishes, Tea. Pedal Clips Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
strat0124 Posted November 17, 2003 Author Share Posted November 17, 2003 No...not at all...I played a double this weekend, and it was a roadhouse feast.....I'm still wore out!!!!!!!! Whats funny is my fingers aren't even sore! Down like a dollar comin up against a yen, doin pretty good for the shape I'm in Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Funk Jazz Posted November 17, 2003 Share Posted November 17, 2003 i even prefer 11's on country gigs, bending and all. took some time to get the faux pedal steel stuff going (ouch) but worth it in the end. you just can't beat the tighter bottom end Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
strat0124 Posted November 17, 2003 Author Share Posted November 17, 2003 Well thats part of my whole style, doing pedal steel licks, blues licks, banjo rolls, ect. So yeah it was a bit different, but rewarding. Actually my fingers didn't suffer at all, I figured they would be chewed up...but no. Down like a dollar comin up against a yen, doin pretty good for the shape I'm in Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Funk Jazz Posted November 17, 2003 Share Posted November 17, 2003 i have also played around with "light top heavy bottom" strings, which is basically a hybrid set of 11's low E through D, then 10's G through high E. i think the GHS model is TNT (thick 'n thin?). kind of a best of both worlds deal. pretty cool if you do a lot of bending but want that thick twang on the E 'n A strings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caevan O’Shite Posted November 17, 2003 Share Posted November 17, 2003 Don't you think that the heavier-gauge plain-strings give you a fatter, fuller, rounder, longer sustaining tone that makes those faux pedal-steel licks sound even better, more bell-like? I love that! Same goes for Bluesy licks and "woman-tone" stuff. And the difference for slide!! I play without a pick, kinda my own bastardized fingerstyle, and I've noticed that my picking hand seems to like the .011's, tuned to standard, even more than my fretting hand! Much better responsiveness there. I also swear by DR .011 through .050 sets, my preference being the "Pure Blues" pure nickel wrap tuned to standard pitch. On all of the DR round-wound strings, they use a round core instead of a hex core, and this, along with their compression winding, is key to their excellent feel and tone. Daklander and Teahead and James_Italy and I are sorta in a "DR" club here, even if they don't respond to their customer's e-mails! Oh, well! Take the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 6th strings from a set of DR "Pure Blues" .012's, and the 4th and 5th strings from a set of DR "Pure Blues" .011's; throw'em on a good Les Paul or similar, 24 & 3/4" scaled axe, and tune up to open-D (D-A-D-F#-A-D, low to high). Adjust the action and truss-rod accordingly. Begin playing your favorite "Live at the Fillmore"-type slide licks, and just love that tone and response! Yeah, they're particularly sweet on a Les Paul, and I've also used .011's on a Strat-style axe. That extra clarity and punch and zing when they're tuned to straight A-440 is worth the small amount of extra work, for sure! As to the topic title line: I can't put my finger onnit, Geenard, but I'm sure that I'll go "D'oh!!" and slap my pointy little head when the answer's revealed! If I could only hear the melody with it, I think that I could name that tune! Ask yourself- What Would Ren and Stimpy Do? ~ Caevan James-Michael Miller-O'Shite ~ _ ___ _ Leprechaun, Esquire _ ___ _ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
strat0124 Posted November 17, 2003 Author Share Posted November 17, 2003 Its off Lucinda Williams latest album...... Down like a dollar comin up against a yen, doin pretty good for the shape I'm in Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guitar Geezer Posted November 17, 2003 Share Posted November 17, 2003 Lucinda Williams: see below . . You've got a sense of humor You're a mystery I heard a rumor You're making history Photographic dialogues Beneath your skin Pornographic episodes Screaming sin 'Til its real live bleeding fingers broken guitar strings You are my Prince Charming Draped in velvet robes of all that's alarming Raw and exposed Shattered nerves Itchy skin Dirty words and heroin Better real live bleeding fingers Broken guitar strings (break) I climbed all the way inside Your tragedy I got behind The majesty Of the different shaps In every note the endless tapes of every word you wrote With real live bleeding fingers broken guitar strings (x2) Lynn G Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
strat0124 Posted November 17, 2003 Author Share Posted November 17, 2003 Her latest album is like she knows my life.....almost scary. Really speaks to me. Down like a dollar comin up against a yen, doin pretty good for the shape I'm in Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reachjkh Posted November 17, 2003 Share Posted November 17, 2003 I use 10's and 12's. The 12's are nice and chewy sounding, but I really don't like the midrange that I'm getting out of my mahogany bodied guitar with them, so I may just go 10's on everything. Hey you white boy there Go play that funky music "ok...what's it pay?" first smoke, then silence your very expensive rig dies so gracefully Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guitarzan Posted November 18, 2003 Share Posted November 18, 2003 this past sunday at practice our bass player broke both the e and low b on his spector 5 string bass. he uses DR strings. now that boy has to lighten up! usually he just blisters and bleeds on them. http://www.soundclick.com/bands/pagemusic.cfm?bandID=193274 rock it, i will Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beermouse Posted November 18, 2003 Share Posted November 18, 2003 I just recently made the step up from 10's to 11's too. Love the sound. Much better tone, and I've already strengthened my fingers enough so that my bends are almost back to the level they were at with 10's. Playing on a Strat, by the way. I don't think I'll ever go back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
strat0124 Posted November 18, 2003 Author Share Posted November 18, 2003 I've got em on a strat and a tele. Its pretty much my new setup....I like it that much. Down like a dollar comin up against a yen, doin pretty good for the shape I'm in Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.