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String Gauge
Hi Lisa,
Recently you answered a question about the strings you use”
I use 10s on most of my Electric guitars (Gretsch Duo Jet, Strat, Ephiphone). For me it’s the best compromise of tone and playability. If I’m feeling a little lazy I might put 9s on whatever guitar I use for mindless noodling that I don’t use for recording.
Could you expand on the “lazy” aspect of the 9’s? I know you’re not lazy, by any stretch of the imagination, not one of you, and also changing strings takes a bit of effort, so “lazy” as in “I’m just relaxing” would be grabbing the nearest guitar as is, from my POV.
Since for myself I’m almost always “noodling”, to be using 10’s on lead stuff, specially something like “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” where you stretch tone and a half, can be murder on the fingers if you’re at it for an hour or two. I’m back to 10’s on my Les Paul and it’s a bit discouraging to play those bends. Going back to that video, you were so young, I’m still amazed at the ease with which you play that solo, and you were how old when you recorded it? Were you even 16?
I guess this question, should you choose to accept it, is to pick your brain on how you go about strings and the tone you get out of them. For me tone is 90% in the fingers, and the strings and guitars, influence the way we approach the music, giving us the sound we hear or pushing us away from it.
For example, like you, my Hofner won’t go back to round wounds. Probably my Country Gent won’t either, as I love the mellowness and subtleties the flat wounds bring out of it.
Thank you for your time!
Tomás
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7 Replies
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Hi Tomás,
You’re right, what I wrote there is a little confusing as it sounds a bit like I’d put 9’s onto a guitar IF I was feeling lazy. And of course IF I was really feeling lazy I obviously wouldn’t want to change strings at all 😛
I think what I meant there was that I have a guitar sitting in my room, that I do a lot of noodling on that already has 9’s on, which makes it easier to play. So it might not sound the best (I maybe wouldn’t record with it) but it’s the most comfortable to play.I remember doing the switch to 10’s for live shows and everything felt that bit more difficult but the tone was worth it to me. Everything just had a little bit more oomph.
But you’re right, 90% is about how and what you play anyway. I think the “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” was still played on a lighter gage and yes, I think I must have been around 16. I think my tone has improved/changed a lot since then but mainly due to the way I play.Some people are VERY particular about their string gage and type and pickups and picks and the way they file their fingernails and how many times they wash their hands and what moisturizer they use and and and. For me the guitar just has to feel nice, sound good and if the strings start resembling old fence wires, I guess I’ll change them 😉
I hope you’ll manage to make friends with your 10’s and if not, I don’t think there is anything wrong with using a lighter gage if that allows you to play better. I’m 100% with you on the flatwounds on bass!! (Dad thinks that roundwounds on a Höfner 500/1 are a sin and might be also illegal in some countries ;-))
Thank you for the question!
I hope you’re doing great and all is well and groovy 🙂
Lisa
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Very interesting! When I was young, I played 8’s like all the other young punks I knew back then. I also practically broke a string every night! I switched to 9’s in the early 1980’s and I’ve been playing them ever since. I played Dean Markley strings exclusively for a gazillion years, but lately, I had trouble finding them and switched to DiAdario.
Funny about your Dad’s opinion on roundwound on the Hofner Lisa. I wonder what Sir Paul uses on his?
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I am very much almost sure I heard that Sir Paul got his Most Noble Order of the Garter (a.k.a. MBO) because of only using flatwound strings on his Höfner. The Queen I’m almost pretty sure would not tolerate anything else anyway.
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Lol to Rudi’s reply… ???Good one Rudi?
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?????? As soon as I can compose myself, I’ll try to get some words out!!
Thank you Lisa and Rudolf. The moisturizer comment cracked me up, mostly because its true!
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Thank you Rudi… That just made my day!!! 🙂
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Flatwounds only on my Höfner. Street legal.
I have to make do with a Nikon D90, but I do have a prime 85mm 1.8. Depth of field: 2 eyelashes, indeed.
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