Electric strings Question

[slide496]

Hi Michael,

I was told if I changed the weight of the strings I would have to adjust the intonation, if I went from 10-46 which the epiphone came with. Is that the case? I'm curious to try the MM electric if I can find them in the US. They carry the 13-52 at juststrings.com.

I am mainly playing in open E and A on the electric, which is a Les Paul Special II - and I think my service contract includes setups and intonation adjustments. Can those go on it?



Thankyou,

Peace,
HArriet

[DaveRed]

Harriet,
Often you gan get away without having to reset the intonation. I'd try a heavier set and see how it goes.

Dave

[Michael Messer]

Hi Harriet,

I have not heard that before. The only problems that 'might' occur when fitting slightly heavier strings, are that the slots in the nut might need opening up so the strings don't choke. Also, sometimes with heavier strings the neck can pull forward, but I doubt if it will on your guitar.

My advice is to use the strings you want to use and I am sure your guitar will be fine.

Let me know how it goes



Shine On
Michael

[slide496]

Thank you DaveRed. I'll wait to see if MM has any input as to if they are ok on the Les Paul for E and A, they can reset the intonation for me at Sam Ash where I bought the guitar if needed , but they might freak out at the weight. They raised the action at the nut and didn't wreck anything:)



Peace,
Harriet

[slide496]

Michael,

Thank you, I forgot about that, when I first tried your 59's on the duolian they stuck as the slots were not cut for the heavier strings. I can figure it out.

My service contract includes neck adjustment and they can show me which way to turn it as well.

Peace,
Harriet

[slide496]

I ordered the 13's and while its not a real big deal for me to fiddle with the slots on my other guitars and these strings just go from light to a sort of medium, I am not familiar with the plastic nut so she's going into Sam Ash's to be on the safe side. They'll probably freak out at the weight though and give me a lecture! ;D

I usually get some attention when I go in there and try out stuff anyway as its novel for a woman to be playing electric pre war/north hill slide. One fellow came up and said boy you would never expect that sound to come out you, which I was pleased with and felt I accomplished an obscure goal, although I don't think I play very well at all.

Peace,
Harriet

[Michael Messer]

Hi Harriet,

My pleasure. I am pleased my comments were helpful.

Your guitar shop story is great...

Shine On
Michael

[slide496]

Hi Michael,

Thanks for your kind words on my story, I look forward to experimenting with the heavier strings.

Peace,
Harriet

[slide496]

Hi Michael.
Just to report back on the 13-52 mm electrics. I had the stanfdard 10-46 the Les Paul Special II shipped with. So far pretty happy with them!

The first thing I noticed was that the bass is much less noisy and overwhelming and the melody top strings ring out more, the sustain is improved - experimented with slides till one seemed to get along with both top and bottom to my ear. No intonation problems at all, no issues with the slots being too tight. I tuned to open D for now.

Thanks,

Peace,
HArriet

[Michael Messer]

Hi Harriet,

Thank you - I am pleased you are happy with the strings. What type of slide did you find sounded best with them?




Shine On
Michael

[slide496]

Hi Michael,
I have about 20 green and brown from a bottleneck maker named Davidson who had a deal of 10 for $70 when he was moving and kindly sent me 2 lots as the first wasn't the hoped for variety. Of those 2 worked out. One is a brownish green and the other is brown. And they are both long 21/2 inch or 65mm. A short one doesn't seem to works as well for me, nor the healthy green. I favor the brownish green

Also I have a blue glass slide from Tom Feldmann that sounds good, and the brass dunlop does. Both those have possibilities on the electric.

Since I wrote you last, I tuned it up to E successfully and checked and no issues!

Peace,
Harriet

[Michael Messer]

Hi Harriet,

E tuning - very brave!

Ian McWee can explain this better than me, but the different colour glass has different density and strength. For example; blue bottle glass is not recycled and therefore it is very hard. Brown glass feels and sounds different to green glass...etc... I am currently using a clear glass bottleneck, that I got from Ian, on my electric and it feels very hard and positive on the strings, and is not forgiving in any way. I really like the tone and feel of it.

Shine On
Michael.

[slide496]

Hi Michael,

I thought the green/brown had some "forgiving" panache but when I have better control of the new set up I will try the clear as I have 2 slides in clear. Whereas I need all the help I can get, I would venture that in your case there is very little forgiving to be made!

Both your strings and advice on the shure m57 have been a real asset to my development of a sound so, again, thank you.

Peace,
Harriet

[Michael Messer]

Hi Harriet,

Always a pleasure to be able to help and advise you.

Getting the sound and feel you are comfortable with on an electric guitar can be difficult, because there are so many variables - strings, slide, guitar, amp, and all the various settings on guitar and amp. This is one of the reasons I love using small simple old tube amps with either no tone controls, or just a treble & bass. That way I know that I turn my amp on and my sound is there straight away. I can then vary my sound by using the volume and tone controls on the guitar, and using different slides.

Shine On
Michael

[slide496]

Hi Michael,

Thank you for the idea! I will try bringing it with the new strings into Guitar Center or Sam Ash has had the older tube amp and trying it out on one of them the fall. I can't try it with .010 on the high E, I did after I saw the photo but with no improvement using the factory shipped strings

Right now I have a roland microcube currently on British which is sounding a little like the JC Clean setting the way I have it.

Peace,
HArriet