J J Posted January 21, 2004 Share Posted January 21, 2004 ok my tele and elixirs don't mix at all! ever since i put them on I've been breaking at least one string everyday. What other strings bend so well, but at the same time are pretty strong? Oh yea, and cheap?! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanG Posted January 21, 2004 Share Posted January 21, 2004 JJ go up a gauge. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue Strat Posted January 21, 2004 Share Posted January 21, 2004 I like Ernie Ball Slinky's, D'Addario XL's, and Fender 150's, but the EB's get used most. BlueStrat a.k.a. "El Guapo" ...Better fuzz through science... http://geocities.com/teleman28056/index.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jazz Guitar Posted January 21, 2004 Share Posted January 21, 2004 Originally posted by J J: ok my tele and elixirs don't mix at all! ever since i put them on I've been breaking at least one string everyday. What other strings bend so well, but at the same time are pretty strong? Oh yea, and cheap?!I've been around the string block too, and always seem to keep coming back to D'Addario, both for "rock" strings and flatwounds for my archtops. I don't mean to sound like a commercial, but it's the absolute truth. Have you recorded an MP3 today? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J J Posted January 22, 2004 Author Share Posted January 22, 2004 As long as I got this thread going i got another question. I've been toying around with my strings (how far from the fretboard they are) and I've just been pondering how far down i should go. If i go too far is my guitar not going to have as much sustain with the strings so close to the frets? Help me out here, how far should i go? Keep in mind i'm a solo guitar player so i want to go as low as i can without my guitar sounding like shit. BTW thanks for the advice on the strings Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanG Posted January 22, 2004 Share Posted January 22, 2004 JJ, the further the strings (action) is away from the fretboard the louder and clearer it will sound, it will be harder to play - which ain't too much of a bad thing that way your fingers will get a workout. There are no fast rules, its really how you feel about it and what is comfortable for you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue Strat Posted January 22, 2004 Share Posted January 22, 2004 I like my low E about 1/8" off the fretboard at the body fret on my Strat. That gives me a low enough action and it still sounds good without the strings bouncing off the frets. BlueStrat a.k.a. "El Guapo" ...Better fuzz through science... http://geocities.com/teleman28056/index.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J J Posted January 22, 2004 Author Share Posted January 22, 2004 actually come to think of it, i dont really want my strings too far since im going to be playing a lot of slide (once i get one) But thanks a lot for the advice Damn you guys are fast at replying! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanG Posted January 22, 2004 Share Posted January 22, 2004 No JJ, you need a high(ish) action for slide. Just experment, play something on the slide if ti chokes, raise it slightly. Keep doing that until you get your tone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tedster Posted January 22, 2004 Share Posted January 22, 2004 Rory Gallagher! I've had trouble with Elixirs breaking too. "Cisco Kid, was a friend of mine" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue Strat Posted January 22, 2004 Share Posted January 22, 2004 Originally posted by DanG: No JJ, you need a high(ish) action for slide. Just experment, play something on the slide if ti chokes, raise it slightly. Keep doing that until you get your tone.Actually, if you've got the money the best thing to do is get a P.O.S. pawn shop guitar (used Squier Strats are easy to find...) and raise the action up a good bit, then play slide on that. Use something that you can't play lead on for slide. BlueStrat a.k.a. "El Guapo" ...Better fuzz through science... http://geocities.com/teleman28056/index.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanG Posted January 22, 2004 Share Posted January 22, 2004 Yeah, bluestrat's yer man for this To be honest I'm the worlds worst slide player that ever walked the earth. It's something that if not played correctly can sound really pants! All the local cats - as in miaow cats were at my door when I tried to play. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J J Posted January 22, 2004 Author Share Posted January 22, 2004 Originally posted by bluestrat: Originally posted by DanG: No JJ, you need a high(ish) action for slide. Just experment, play something on the slide if ti chokes, raise it slightly. Keep doing that until you get your tone.Actually, if you've got the money the best thing to do is get a P.O.S. pawn shop guitar (used Squier Strats are easy to find...) and raise the action up a good bit, then play slide on that. Use something that you can't play lead on for slide.This actually works out perfectly I've got my les paul (jay turser) that i only use for my bow and the strings are pretty high for that. So now i can make it a "bowslide" guitar Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanG Posted January 22, 2004 Share Posted January 22, 2004 Hey bow-slide, possibly the 'new thing'. As for the quick replying I'm supposed to be woodshedding but I'm being really lazy since I found the forum, I try to spend only 1/2 - 2 hrs a day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee Flier Posted January 22, 2004 Share Posted January 22, 2004 I've always used GHS Boomers and rarely break strings, so that's good. I like really low action and don't find that it hurts the sustain on my guitars. I am also a weirdo in that I learned to play slide with very low action. I like to mix slide and fingers in the same song quite a bit, so I didn't want to go with the specialized slide guitar... and anyhow when I was learning slide I was too broke to even buy a POS. Only had one guitar for a long time so I learned to play slide, tune to altnernate tunings really fast on stage, change strings really fast onstage, etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KARL FISHER Posted January 22, 2004 Share Posted January 22, 2004 I have good luck with the D'Addario XL120 (9-42), they bend well and I have not broken one on my explorer yet. I have them raised just high enough that I can play slide the entire length of the fretboard. They are still low enough for great leads. Karl Skynyrd fan forever! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jazz Guitar Posted January 22, 2004 Share Posted January 22, 2004 Originally posted by KARL FISHER: I have good luck with the D'Addario XL120 (9-42), they bend well and I have not broken one on my explorer yet. I have them raised just high enough that I can play slide the entire length of the fretboard. They are still low enough for great leads. KarlYep, and they last a long time too. Have you recorded an MP3 today? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jazz Guitar Posted January 22, 2004 Share Posted January 22, 2004 Originally posted by KARL FISHER: I have good luck with the D'Addario XL120 (9-42), they bend well and I have not broken one on my explorer yet. I have them raised just high enough that I can play slide the entire length of the fretboard. They are still low enough for great leads. KarlYep, and they last a long time too. Have you recorded an MP3 today? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue Strat Posted January 22, 2004 Share Posted January 22, 2004 Originally posted by Lee Flier: I've always used GHS Boomers and rarely break strings, so that's good. I like really low action and don't find that it hurts the sustain on my guitars. I am also a weirdo in that I learned to play slide with very low action. I like to mix slide and fingers in the same song quite a bit, so I didn't want to go with the specialized slide guitar... and anyhow when I was learning slide I was too broke to even buy a POS. Only had one guitar for a long time so I learned to play slide, tune to altnernate tunings really fast on stage, change strings really fast onstage, etc. I've been known to play slide on my regular axe too. As a matter of fact, I've never really played slide on a guitar with the strings raised high. I use a light touch and an aluminum slide when I do my Jimmy Page In My Time of Dying thing. My Danelectro 59-DC sounds perfect for that in open G. I'm building a lap steel, so I won't have to worry about the slide banging on the frets anymore. BlueStrat a.k.a. "El Guapo" ...Better fuzz through science... http://geocities.com/teleman28056/index.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NMcGuitar Posted January 22, 2004 Share Posted January 22, 2004 I've been real happy with the DR Pure Blues. I use the acoustic DR's on my acoustics too. They just seem to have a well balanced tone to them. Also, the feel is good for me; they seem to be a little easier to bend than other strings of the same gauge. Just my $0.02 May all your thoughts be random! - Neil www.McFaddenArts.com www.MikesGarageRocks.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave da Dude Posted January 22, 2004 Share Posted January 22, 2004 Lee Flier, I've always used GHS Boomers and rarely break strings, so that's good. What gage? Gotta' geetar... got the amp. There must be SOMEthing else I... "need". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave da Dude Posted January 22, 2004 Share Posted January 22, 2004 I had a lot of trouble with Maxima .009's on my Raven (when stringing them new), but then again I had trouble with the DR's too. I think there was a burr(s) that I couldn't see that the guitar tech sorted out when he put the DR's on. No trouble with the DR's since, and good tone. Dave Gotta' geetar... got the amp. There must be SOMEthing else I... "need". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abnorm Posted January 23, 2004 Share Posted January 23, 2004 DRs are it for me too. They're good AND cheap! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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