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Topic: string gauge for 3rd string |
Tommy Boswell
From:
Virginia, USA
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Posted 27 Apr 2021 5:53 am |
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Anybody using 12s for the 3rd string on e9 tuning? Is that too much to ask of a 12 gauge string?
I would try 11.5 if available, but it's not in the strings I'm using (NYXL). |
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Dale Rottacker
From:
Walla Walla Washington, USA
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Jerry Overstreet
From:
Louisville Ky
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Posted 27 Apr 2021 6:01 am
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Been using a 12 for years. I haven't tried the NYXL set, but I like the way the medium set gauges are laid out. That's the set with a 12 for the third string. Gonna have to give them a go.
Yeah, you should be just fine with the 12. You'll just have to adjust your pedal tuning a tad. |
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Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 27 Apr 2021 6:49 am
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12s for me. 
Erv |
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Richard Sinkler
From:
aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana
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Posted 27 Apr 2021 7:10 am
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| Dale Rottacker wrote: |
I went the other route back in the day... .009 .010 and of course .011... Been using .012 now for several years and to me the difference is HUGE... Not only do they sound better and more substantial then the smaller gauges, but they feel better when picking them too. AND, as a side benefit, DON'T Break with the frequency of the smaller gauges.
BTW, I too use the 12-38 NYXL's ... best strings I've used |
.012s for me too, but will use .011 or .0115 if that is what is in whatever pack of strings I am using at the time.
Speaking of using thinner strings, when I ordered my first guitsr (ZB) at a music store, they loaned me a Fender PSG. It had no roller nuts. I ended up using it as a non-pedal guitar because the 3rd string would break almost immediately when pressing the B pedal. I got down to trying a .008 (the smallest the music store had), and it still broke. That thin string could barely be heard when picked with other strings.
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Carter D10 8p/8k, Dekley S10 3p/4k C6 setup,Regal RD40 Dobro, Recording King Professional Dobro, NV400, NV112,Ibanez Gio guitar, Epiphone SG Special (open D slide guitar) . Playing for 54 years and still counting. |
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Tony Glassman
From:
The Great Northwest
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Posted 27 Apr 2021 8:35 am
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| .012 used for decades. Better tone, less breakage. |
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Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 27 Apr 2021 8:57 am
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I use a .012 for the third string and I get the best and fullest tone out of that string with the Live Steel brand of strings.
Erv |
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Michael Hill
From:
Arizona, USA
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Posted 27 Apr 2021 11:03 am
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| I switched from 11 to 12 a while back. I had to retune of course and I also had to change the bell crank hole to get the timing back in sync with string 6. |
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Jerry Kippola
From:
UP Michigan, USA
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Posted 27 Apr 2021 12:21 pm
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| .o12 never breaks-- |
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Larry Petree
From:
Bakersfield. Ca. USA
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Posted 28 Apr 2021 5:46 am 11.5
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| I have used 11.5 for many years. They sound and hold up very good. Well worth a try for anyone. |
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Pete McAvity
From:
St. Louis, Missouri USA
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Posted 28 Apr 2021 6:44 am Go .12
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I’ve fought w/ .11 gauge waaay too much. I’ve got a 25.5†scale Excel, and all would snap at random places when raised from pitch EXCEPT reinforced George Ls (I think) that I would get here in town from Scotty’s, since unavailable. I thought that going up in thickness would just create more tension & breakage, but I put a .12 Ernie Ball reinforced on there & it’s made it for 4 mos. of 2-6 or so hrs./ week play. Got mine on Amazon, the seller was First Stop Music Shop. Seller is a former music equipment rep that does his own distribution & buys in bulk from manufacturers, so you can look him up on Google & give him a ring (I did- very helpful guy) if you’re in need of a specific gauge/manufacturer/reinforced, etc.
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Excel Superb D10, Sarno Black Box or Freeloader, Goodrich L120, Boss DD5, Baby Bloomer, 1965 Super Reverb chopped to a head, feeding a mystery PA cab w/ a K130.
They say "thats how it goes". I say "that ain't the way it stays!" |
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Dick Wood
From:
Springtown Texas, USA
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Posted 28 Apr 2021 6:24 pm
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I have used a .011 (George L's) for years and for the last 2.5 years on my MSA Legend XL with no problems. I thought I'd try a .012 for kicks a few weeks ago and it broke after one weekend.
Back to .011's
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Cops aren't paid much so I steel at night. |
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Paddy Long
From:
Christchurch, New Zealand
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Posted 28 Apr 2021 7:10 pm
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I've used .012's on every guitar I have owned in the 44 years I have played PSG.
Minimum string breakage and a lot fatter tone !
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14'Zumsteel Hybrid D10 9+9
08'Zumsteel Hybrid D10 9+9
94' Franklin Stereo D10 9+8
Telonics, Peterson, Steelers Choice, Benado, Lexicon, Red Dirt Cases. |
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Asa Brosius
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Posted 28 Apr 2021 7:26 pm
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| I've used 12's since the civil war, in every sewing project/steel guitar/surgery. I like the feel/tone more than thinner gauges-not too much to ask of a guitar- a cheap experiment I'd recommend. |
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Larry Hobson
From:
Valley Grande (Selma) Al USA
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Posted 29 Apr 2021 6:19 am String gauge
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| What is a reinforced string? How much larger is a .012 than .0115 string? .(0005). Is the tolerance on string manufacturing that close (.0005) ? Or is this some type of averaging? Did machine work ,.0005 is clooooose.If quality controll isn't good,then a string may have a thin spot or alloy problem and break regardless of it's advertised size, may , just wondering, no way of knowing . Bottom line seems to be, what works best for you is the best string, regardless of the advertising (and sometimes other sources of input) just saying or just wondering, pondering ? |
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Pete McAvity
From:
St. Louis, Missouri USA
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Posted 29 Apr 2021 7:20 am Reinforced string
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Larry, the reinforcement is at the ball end of the string- it’s wrapped w/ some type of filament (I suppose) to support where it’s wound, sort of like an ACE wrap supporting an injured joint (more supposition and conjecture). I couldn’t find any .11 reinforced, so I had to go .12. I didn’t do any A/B recording between the two, but I have it in my head that the .12 sounds out more prominently, so it must be so, right?
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Excel Superb D10, Sarno Black Box or Freeloader, Goodrich L120, Boss DD5, Baby Bloomer, 1965 Super Reverb chopped to a head, feeding a mystery PA cab w/ a K130.
They say "thats how it goes". I say "that ain't the way it stays!" |
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Gary Newcomb
From:
AustinTexas, USA
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Posted 30 Apr 2021 9:59 pm
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I used a .12 for a few years and liked the way it felt a lot but on my rig it sounded kind of “disembodied†from the other strings tonally. Using 11.5 Livesteels now.
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Sierra Session U12, Milkman 1/2, Goodrich Omni, Divine Noise Cables, BJS, Solid cosmic gold, baby 👶🻠|
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