Best Strings?

John Booth · From: Columbus Ohio, USA

Couple questions,
I want the BEST sounding strings on my Mullen RP.
Not as concerned with long-life as I am with tone.

Suggestions? (10 string)

Also I saw n interview with Paul Franklin where he said he used a "12" on his 3rd string. I cant find any sets with that gauge. Do y'all know what he uses?
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Jb in Ohio
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GFI S10 Ultra, Telecaster, a Hound Dog, and an Annoyed Wife
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Bill C. Buntin · From: Cleburne TX

Hey John. I am not sure about what Mr. Paul plays on his 3rd string. But I can say that Gene Fields suggested the .012 to me over 20 years ago and I've been doing it ever since.

Paul Franklin Sr. used to sell strings that were of a really high quality and I used them for a long time on a couple guitars.

It is a subjective topic simply because everyone hears things differently. For my ears, plain round wound nickel still sounds "better", although D'adario and Geo L stainless have become more reliable to me. Longevity maybe is the only reason. They tend to last. When I was using nickel, I was changing strings once a week, but with the D'adario and Geo L's they last much longer.

If you call 1-800-251-1930 or email georgels@bellsouth.net Sandy at Geo L's and tell them what you want, they will make up a custom set for you. I just talked to them a few days ago, for example, I use the .012 in place of the .011, .018 in place of .017 and a .022 in place of .020, .038w in place of .036w.

~Bill

Ken Campbell · From: Ferndale, Montana

Live steel.

Lane Gray · From: Topeka, KS

Live Steel and Jagwire.
Both of those will also do custom sets at no extra charge.
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Roger Francis · From: kokomo,Indiana, USA

Pauls set use to be 13 15 12 15 18 20 26 30 34 38, dont know if he still does or not but if you buy a Paul Franklin set that was the gauges you got
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Jack Stoner · From: Kansas City, MO

Best strings??? Who knows, but there will as many suggestions as there are noses. Everyone has their favorite and they will post they are the best.

The last interview I saw with Paul, a youtube interview, he mentioned he was using D'Addario strings. However, they don't have a "Paul Franklin" gauged set (that I know of). Just standard "Nashville" gauges. Also, his gauges are because of his "Franklin Pedal" changes. If you don't have the Franklin pedal some of the string gauges aren't needed.

John Booth · From: Columbus Ohio, USA

I noticed that about D'adario

I just went to LIVESTEEL and ordered a custom set
13 15 12 15 18 22P 26 30 34 38
This will make strings 3, 6 & 7 a tad heavier

I think this will be good but I will have to adjust pedals/levers for the heavier strings.

Thanks guys
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Jb in Ohio
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GFI S10 Ultra, Telecaster, a Hound Dog, and an Annoyed Wife
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Billy Knowles · From: Kenansville, N. C. 28349 usa

Live Steel without a doubt!!!
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Erv Niehaus · From: Litchfield, MN, USA

I have always been disappointed with the tone of the high 3rd string until I put on a set of Live Steel strings. And I also use a 12 on that string.

John Booth · From: Columbus Ohio, USA

Chuck Blake · From: West Virginia, USA

John I use LIVE Steel Strings also. (On my Rains guitars)

Also I use a 12 on my 3rd string. When I was playing GFI guitars I switched from the 11 to a 12. After moving to Rains Guitars I used a 12 for the 3rd also.

For the 6th I moved from a wrapped to a plain string. After switching string gauges I had to do the pedal/lever re-tune but well worth the effort.
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Jack Aldrich · From: Washington, USA

I've never bought strings in a set. I buy them individually. That's how I get the 0.012 string. I prefer Ernie Ball strings because they have more windings around the ball than other brands, resulting in fewer string breaks. Ernie played steel, and he used his experience to design the strings.
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Frank Sprague · From: Custer , Washington, USA

Live Steel Strings for both my Mullen G2's
Custom nickel sets with 12's on the G# . .
I find I don't notice that good tone slipping away until I put on a new set - then it's like "Wow" - there tis !
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Marty Forrer · From: New Zealand

I suspect Live strings may be made by either Ernie Ball or Dunlop, based on the look of them. There are only a handful of string manufacturers in the US, D'Addario, Ernie Ball, Dunlop, LaBella, DR, and GHS are the main ones. Most all other brands are either repackaged or made by one of those manufacturers to their specs.

John Booth · From: Columbus Ohio, USA

I've used SITs for years, but really didn't notice a difference tonally from most others.
This'll be my first shot at LiveSteel strings. Sounds like y'all like em
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Jb in Ohio
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GFI S10 Ultra, Telecaster, a Hound Dog, and an Annoyed Wife
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john widgren · From: Wilton CT

The best strings only make any kind of difference when played by the best player on the best guitar through the best amp.

Aaahahahahahah
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Richard Sinkler · From: aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana

Live Steel Strings with Jagwires a very close second.
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Paddy Long · From: Christchurch, New Zealand

Jagwires for me, and have used Live Steels as well - I have used a .012 on the 3rd for about 34 years - always sounded better and had longevity with regard to breakage! Not that I ever break strings these days...
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Richard Sinkler · From: aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana

Itried a .012 and it lasted until my next string set change, maybe a month. I tried putting another .012 on with the complete set change, but it broke after I hit the pedal once. Tried again and popped that one too. Went back to .011, but relly liked the sound of the .012 better. Oh well...
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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 55 years and still counting.

Roger Rettig · From: Naples, FL

I agree with Marty! (And John W)

It's Jagwires for me - I've always had great service from Danny and, whoever makes them they're consistently satisfactory.

I've also gone to a .012" third string and an .018" fifth. I like the better tone they give me.
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Roger Rettig: Emmons D10, B-bender Teles, Martins, and a Gibson Super 400!
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Richard Sinkler · From: aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana

Has delivery on Jagwires gotten better?
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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 55 years and still counting.

George Kimery · From: Limestone, TN, USA

I used Jagwire's with good results. Then Danny had the heart attack and they got hard to get. I switched to Live Steel and loved them also. This past year, I have been using SIT's because my local music store sells the Buddy Emmon's endorsed E-9 sets for $6.75. It seems like the 6th string goes dead awfully fast on the SIT's. I usually put a new set on about once a month. I noticed the dead sounding 6th, so I put a new set on last week. After one gig and a few hours of practice at home, it sounds dead again. I guess you get what you pay for. My next string change will be back to Live Steel.

One positive thing I will say about the last couple of set's of SIT's that I used: The thirds never broke, just like the Jag's and the Live Steel strings. The set's come with an extra third, but I haven't needed them. Before this, the SIT's did break thirds and I used up the spare string. I don't know if they have changed the thirds or not, but I just know the last two set's have not had any breakage problem.

Jeff Newman also used .012's for his 3rds. He said they were not as "tinny" to his ears and that because they were larger in diameter, they didn't break as easy. But, you have to tune them tighter, so I am not sure how that balances out. I used .012 for several years until Jaqwire came out with the .0115, so I split the difference and switched.

Now what was the original question? Oh, yes Live Steel in my opinion is at the top of the heap for now.

Richard Sinkler · From: aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana

I've always hated SIT 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 55 years and still counting.

Edward Rhea · From: Medford Oklahoma, USA

Jagwires are my preference, but I had a very good run with Curt Mangan strings, and wouldn't hesitate to use them again. Oh, and yes, .12 on the third string!
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Quentin Hickey · From: Nova Scotia, Canada

How good are cobra coils??

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