What strings on the electros ?

[creolian]

Hello all,

Summer doldrums and the need for thrills have me wondering if maybe some large gauge strings on one of the electric guitars might be a worthwhile venture.   I'm thinking 12s and am currently using 10s.  It takes a few minutes to get my touch right switching from acoustic to electric as I tend to over play, have a hard time feeling the note bend where I want, etc...  My hands have the same aches no matter...  Ive read of a few rock blues gods using 13s on electrics, d tuned etc.  

Any thoughts or experience?

All da best y'all, Jeff

[richclough]

I use 12s on my deluxe tele reissue. Use it mostly unplugged for quiet practice. Had a warmouth neck with a 47 mm nut put on it so can use it for finger style, slide, anything pretty much. Sounds great plugged in too, though the pickups are quite dark and the string gauge accentuates this.
Cheers,
Rich

[Pickers Ditch]

I use a Danelectro DC59 with nickel flatwound 12s tuned down to D.
I'm toying with the idea of stringing up a stratalike with a set of Monel 12s.
...but I'm a daft bass player who uses Rotosound RS77LE, Status Black Nylon and La Bella 1954 Originals on my basses.
Reminder to self - must try some Newtone bass strings.....

[leeophonic]

Another approach which I have been following with interest (Joey Landreth) is use Baritone strings and tune to open C, that has some wallop.

Lee

[Michael Messer]

I like my electric guitars to feel the same under my fingers as my resophonic guitars do. I am always in open D and G tunings, so I use 15 17 26w 36w 46w 56w. If I use lighter strings I lose my accuracy because my touch is so used to the tension and pressure required to play with 15/56s on resophonic guitars.

Shine On
Michael

[blueshome]

11s and get rocking. It’s a different feel and response for an electric anyway.

[bonzo]

Hi guys, Michael I'm about to order up some strings from Newtone and was thinking along the lines of heavier gauge in open tunings for my electric guitar. Are we talking about the dedicated electric strings or the heavy gauge reso ones? Probably a silly question but I have virtually no experience with electrics. Will be sliding of course!

Best wishes to you all, John

[Pickers Ditch]

Bonzo,

Theesyuns are on my Sigma with a Dearmond pickup and work really well tuned to open D.

newtonestrings.com/shop/michael-messer-electric-slide-classics/

[bonzo]

Thanks PD, those are the ones I was thinking about. Must be the 15's, then run for the woods!

Best wishes to you all, John

[Michael Messer]

Bonzo,

Both types of strings work perfectly on electric guitars. The nickel MM Newtone strings have a round core and the MM Slide Classics have a hexagonal core. Mostly I use the Slide Classics, but sometimes I prefer the MM nickels. So it's "horses for courses" as the say.

Shine On
Michael

[pete1951]

Big strings sound best, BUT an 013 (or heavier) tuned to E can be a challenge to bend up a tone when not using a slide. I think Stevie Ray Vaughan used a 13 (down a step) but by the end of a tour he would have an 011.
(can't remember where I heard that, could be fake-news).
For me, an 011-048 or 052 works a a compromise.
I can bend,and (gently) slide.
PT

[bonzo]

Hi Pete, I hear what you say, I'm thinking heavy because I want to slide.
I'll set up the guitar (an olp Ernie ball) as low as possible. With that guitar adjustments are infinite and easy to do! I've recently picked up a sliderig so want to put its through its paces.
As an aside, if any of you guys want an untutored opinion of it let me know, initial rating is excellent++!
I'll start a new thread if anyone is interested.
Best wishes to you all, John

[jono1uk]

Yes Pete, Stevie Ray did use 13 -58 GHS Boomers .013 – .015 – .019p – .028 – .038 – .058 in Eb for most of his career ..and went down to 11's for the last year or so..
i have read several sources stating that at one point he had an 18 gauge on the high E!!
He also use to put super glue on his forearm and then dip his fingers into it .
video below starts at 7 mins 50, just pause it at 7:55 and 8:01 and look at his finger tips ...

[Stevie]

I've settled on 11s for electric too (except my Heritage archtop (whereon I afix a D'Addario coated .012 set- don't ask!) and I've grown to prefer a wound third...

I had a home built Strat set up by a pretty well known "luthier" down here in the south. The neck was a quarter-sawn Warmoth with stainless-steel frets and the neck wouldn't respond to adjustments for me! He made a fantastic job of the set up, but he ignored my .011 requirement and put on .010s. I was not amused, and I imagine neither would he have been if I'd dug my feet in? Ho-hum, I thought the customer was supposed to be right? (sic).

Wound third 11 thou' sets do it for me on my electrics. (Nickelmasters.) .015 MM Nickel on the MMB. Good job I'm not allergic!

e&oe...

[creolian]

Thanks for the inputs. I think I'm gonna backpedal a notch and start with 11s (boomers) and then work up from there. Mainly cuz I've got a Peavy omniac tele type that I won't need to relieve any nut slots.

All best, jeff