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Topic: Are some strings better than others? Sho-bud |
Fred Sicherman
From:
Virginia, USA
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Posted 16 Sep 2008 4:17 am |
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I am sure this is a stupid question but have to ask. One of the best strings I use for my electric guitars are GHS Nickel Rockers. "Pure Nickel roller wounds" Slightly flatter.
They are so damn good on the guitars I want to believe they would be great on the Sho-bud, but all most folks suggest no way.some people emphatic about it...
I suppose you want the brightest sound you can get on a steel...correct?
Has anyone had experience with strings where one type is maybe way better than another? Right now I have regular GHS pedal steel strings and they sound wonderful. So I do not want to screw with perfection on the Sho-bud. But I was just curious becausue they do offer "Roller wounds" for pedal steel.
By the way I order all strings from juststrings.com...real fast and cheap too..
lastly,
Also props to my friend Bobbe Seymour whos foot is in the picture of the sho-bud he sent me. Best wishes and speedy recovery to Bobbe and Wally Bruce from the capital of the confederacy here in Richmond VA. Very soon I will have a newbie pedal steel recording for all to laugh at.. is there a way to upload music ? I have created a number of tunes with backing tracks as a study mechanism. Its been 3 months every day practice and counting.. One day I might even be able to play..
regards
Fred
fred from queens from richmond
Fred
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Jon Light
From:
Saugerties, NY
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Posted 16 Sep 2008 11:24 am
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It wouldn't matter if one string stood out from the rest---you would still get as many answers as there are strings (do a forum search and you'll see).
| Quote: |
| I suppose you want the brightest sound you can get on a steel...correct? |
Not necessarily. There are some who prefer mellower to brighter. Nickel wound, in general, Will be less bright than Stainless wound.
I also use juststrings--I buy generic dozens of each gauge. If I were one day convinced that I FAR preferred any one brand to another then I'd pay the premium for them but I'm not there yet so I can't answer your original question. I average around $4 per 12 string set by buying gauged bulk so there's strong incentive to stay with what I'm doing. |
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Michael Douchette
From:
Gallatin, TN (deceased)
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Jeff Hyman
From:
West Virginia, USA
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Posted 16 Sep 2008 4:23 pm
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| The brand is a personal taste. I personally like Ernie Ball. BUT... I think a bigger issue (around tone) is weither to use a 10 or 11 on #3 and weither to use a 18p or 18w on #5. I use the 10 and the 18p. Also... wouldn't it be nice if there was a sweat and salt resistant set of strings for those hot summer outdoor gigs. BTW: That's a pretty SHO~BUD you got there. |
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Fred Sicherman
From:
Virginia, USA
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Posted 16 Sep 2008 5:35 pm Thanks
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THanks for the good info gang. I think I might just have to experiment.
Since everyone is so helpful maybe you can help me on another issue.
The rubber feet on the Sho-bud are getting a little ragged. Where can I get replacements? I happened to be at walmart and bought some but they ended up being too big. Is there a size I should be looking for ? Or do I have to get originals?
and Thanks for the compliment on the Sho-bud.
fred[/list] |
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John Billings
From:
Ohio, USA
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Posted 17 Sep 2008 11:07 am
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| They're just cane, or crutch, tips. You can find them online, or at a medical supply store if you have one near you. Just measure the OD of the leg, and get that size. I prefer the white ones used on "vision-impaired" canes. Drop a washer into the cane tip before you put them on. Take one of the tips to Sears, and find a washer that fits snugly into the tip. |
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Stu Schulman
From:
Ulster Park New Yawk (deceased)
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Posted 17 Sep 2008 11:54 am
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Fred,I use GHS "Boomers" for pedal steel they work for me,I'm not a fan of really bright sounding steel guitars,I prefer the Lloyd Green tone on Don Williams recordings. 
_________________
Steeltronics Z-pickup,Desert Rose S-10 4+5,Desert Rose Keyless S-10 3+5... Mullen G2 S-10 3+5,Telonics 206 pickups,Telonics volume pedal.,Blanton SD -10,Emmons GS_10...Zirctone bar,Bill Groner Bar...any amp that isn't broken.Steel Seat.Com seats...Licking paint chips off of Chinese Toys since 1952. |
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Chris Johnson
From:
USA
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Posted 17 Sep 2008 12:41 pm
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GHS "Boomers" all day. Nickle plated roundwound for Pedal and Rollerwound for Lap Steel (to mellow things out a bit on the lows). I've tried Jags, Ernie, SIT but always came back to the Boomers.
I heard Cobra Coils were good also.
Anyone still use Black Diamond? |
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Zeke Cory
From:
Hinsdale, New York USA
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Posted 22 Sep 2008 8:47 am Ernie Ball Strings Here
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| Fred. I have used Ernie Ball Strings for nearly 40 years. I have tried various different brands, and most work very good. Guess I just was able to find Ernie Ball singles at our local music store more available. I have tried DiAddario in a pinch but EVERY TIME i put on an .011 guage for my 3rd string it breaks as I am bringing up to pitch, every time. That will get any brand of string on one's "@%$* list". So obviously, it's no DiAddarios here ever. Try different brands and you will settle on one that works for you I am sure. Best wishes. Zeke |
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John Roche
From:
England
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Posted 22 Sep 2008 9:52 am
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| Rubber feet ,I use the one you can buy for walking sticke , cheap as chips |
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Bo Borland
From:
South Jersey -
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Posted 22 Sep 2008 3:48 pm
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| I used Ernie Balls for a long time but they varied from batch to batch a little too much for me. Once I tried Cobra Coils, I never looked back. I peeked once... most guys do, but owned it and went right back to Cobra. |
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Billy Carr
From:
Seminary, Mississippi, USA (deceased)
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Posted 24 Sep 2008 2:36 pm strings
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| Frenchy's Steel Mill strings work for me. Nickel wound. Not a single problem since switching over. My second choice is Cobra Coils. |
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Jim Sliff
From:
Lawndale California, USA
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Posted 24 Sep 2008 4:35 pm
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| Quote: |
| I suppose you want the brightest sound you can get on a steel...correct? |
No, you want the sound that best reflects what YOU play and complements the other musicians you play with.
I rarely play with a really bright sound - I prefer guitars that actually have volume and tone controls so I can dial back the treble a bit like I do on 6-string.
But it all boils down to what YOU want to sound like, not what you THINK others say is what you HAVE to do!
For me, most nickel wound strings and plain steel work best, with a warmer, gutsier tone. I find most stainless to be brittle sounding, or "icepicky", and only use stainless if I'm playing around with flatwounds on 6-string.
There is SO much malarky and marketing BS about strings it's ridiculous - there are actually very few string makers in the wold, and most brands are simply repackaged standard wire types with different colored balls, or fuzzy stuff near the ball.
Cheap generics are usually just fine if you can find your gages.
My favorite strings are (and they are made by the company) Fender 150 Nickel...but they are not available in all steel gages. Stainless are popular because they don't corrode quickly - sorry, I prefer good tone, and if it means I have to change them a bit more often I can suffer through it!
_________________
No chops, but great tone
1930's/40's Rickenbacher/Rickenbacker 6&8 string lap steels
1921 Weissenborn Style 2; Hilo&Schireson hollownecks
Appalachian, Regal & Dobro squarenecks
1959 Fender 400 9+2 B6;1960's Fender 800 3+3+2; 1948 Fender Dual-8 Professional |
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Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 25 Sep 2008 8:23 am
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Since I suffer from terminal GAS, I usually just buy Ernie Ball strings by the gauge. I have everything from single neck lap steels to a quad Fender and everything in between. They seem to work just fine.
BTW, I like the nickel wound rather than stainless. |
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