You want off topic ? GUITAR STRINGS !

You want off topic ? GUITAR STRINGS ! (Full Version)

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Termyn8or -> You want off topic ? GUITAR STRINGS ! (10/28/2007 9:12:37 PM)
Yes, damn things always break at the wrong time, when you are playing. Son of a f_____ this is ridiculous. After years I finally got a fully matched set of DiAdario phosphor bronze on this thing and it has stabilized. I mean you pick it up a week later and it is close enough to play, even with the piano. Son of a bitch, this Ibanez is so hard to tune because it is setup for a modified double action whamee bar. It took months for this thing to stabilize, dammit. Now the process starts again. Does anyone know of guitar strings that do not break ? I can't really bitch about the DiAdarios, they lasted longer than anything else, but what if I were up on stage at the time ? What do the pros use ? There has to be something out there that is a cut above. I am willing to pay for them, I just do not want them to break. Admittedly I would've gone through ten Ernie Balls in the time it took to break, but it doesn't matter. You see, because of the modified action, when a string breaks you can't keep playing. The position of the bridge is dependent on the tension from the strings. When one breaks they rest go sharp right away. That's why it is so F-ing hard to tune. But when you do get it finally tuned, it is within tenths of Hertz at the twelfth fret. I set the intonation myself, it is highly accurate. Mother F........ Thing is, we are hard rockers and we do beat on it. But so do bands. We make it squeal and rattle. With fairly heavy overdrive the sound is pretty good. Rich in harmonics, good sustain, good feedback. And very very accurate intonation. I am a stickler for that. If it doesn't play the note you want to play it is junk. This is critical, I play alot of made up chords that include strings played at like the twelfth, along with open strings. It has to be perfect. It was. At a Chrismas party last year a guy gave me these, telling me they don't break. I gotta admit they lasted a hell of alot longer than anything else I had on there. Problem is I don't even know where to buy them. I guess I'll have to check online. If anyone knows of guitar strings stronger than DiAdario let me know. If I get the same strings I will just change the one (low E). If there is anything out there better, I would like to know. I've broken Ernie Balls so many times it just ain't funny anymore (for some cheap humor insert an " 's " after Ernie) I don't need anything that says it gives me better action or anything, the guitar is good enough to take care of that. Super slinky, screamin demon, I need nothing like that, this guitar would damnear do that with a coathanger. I need strings that DO NOT BREAK. And heavier strings are not the answer. I am using the heaviest that fit. I think it is an .042 low E and like an .013 high E. I don't think anything bigger will fit the guitar. Dammit, this is like a 1960s or 70s Ibanez. My neighbor's roomie who is a budding Joe Satriani says it is among the best guitars he has ever seen. I mean we are talking an eight of an inch at the twelfth and no rattles. The intonation is now (was) absolutely perfect. I mean you could play "Purple Haze" on it and it sounded better than Hendrix. Yes, consider this a rant, but if anyone knows of some really good strings I would like to know. I might just get a string and put it on, but if I replace the whole set it is a real PITA to tune. Actually with the double acting whamee it is never really in tune, but that comes down to how many times can you slice a stick of butter. Once stabilized this thing sounds good with the piano, that is saying something. I know this is about as off topic as it comes, but that is why it is in "Off Topic". T

MrrPete -> RE: You want off topic ? GUITAR STRINGS ! (10/28/2007 9:42:13 PM)
I've been playing acoustic guitar for over 40 yrs and strings still break. In your situation and the way you play strings will break more often. You could try tuning a half tone low and capo back up to key. Sad to say but there is no such thing as an unbreakable string. Any good guitar shop will have a variety of brands D'iadario among them. I've had good service out of Gibson and Fender strings but I'm not as hard on my guitar as you are. Right now I have factory Martin Strings on my Martin 12 string.

Termyn8or -> RE: You want off topic ? GUITAR STRINGS ! (10/28/2007 10:13:18 PM)
I've got a song that SCREAMS twelve string. It is called "Dance of the spider" and is totally instrumental, and totally original. It was in development when my buddy bought his guitar, he took me with him because I know what I am doing. After he "shopped" and bought an Ibanez, I took a stroll. I played a small version of that song on a twelve string. People were looking. One day I will get that song into computer format and share it. I want no money from it, to me that would poison it. Even on a six string, people shut up when I play it. Almost every chord I play is not "in the book". My neighbor and I are trying to write it in tab, and even in that format it looks like gibberish. But when played it is compelling. I have another one called "The answer in the end" and that is hard to put into tab as well from what I hear. It actually has words that I sing. There is another song, an instrumental that is heretofore unnamed. Very fast, pounding in fact. My acoustic does not play quite right because the strings are no longer a matched set, but it is OK. If you play a fuzzed out electric, the tuning is critical, that was the point. The acoustic, hmm, maybe I'll go play that now. Her name is Thelma. Cheapo Washburn, but plays nice. T

luckydog1 -> RE: You want off topic ? GUITAR STRINGS ! (10/28/2007 11:23:33 PM)
Pros change (or have a roadie do it) their strings everytime they play. Generally it is recomended to change them after 8 hours of playing time, or else they sound crappy. Stretch them when you put them on, and after 1/2 hour they should hold a tune just fine. Diadario strings are great, I love em, but they lose thier tone very quickly. I couldn't even imagine wanting to keep a set of strings for a year. Do you strum very close to the bridge? That gives a nice chrunchy sound, but does tend to break strings faster. We have massive shifts in humidity and temperature here, so nothing stays in tune very well, and tuning several times a jam is the norm. Just learn to love to tune, and get your stings on line in bulk, would be my advice. And change the strings once a month whether they need it or not. I am super happy because I just did my first full paying gig, and got to play 6 different instruments durring the show.

Estring -> RE: You want off topic ? GUITAR STRINGS ! (10/29/2007 12:02:27 AM)
Strings are going to break. It doesn't matter what brand. I use GHS strings and they seem to last quite awhile, but they will eventually break. That is why I don't use the floating bridge/locking nut setup. If you break a string you are screwed. Now if I break a string, my guitar stays in tune and I can finish the song and change guitars for the next one.

Satyr6406 -> RE: You want off topic ? GUITAR STRINGS ! (10/29/2007 12:06:07 AM)
I can't, for the life of me, remember the name of the strings but, years ago, I bought a whole case of these strings that were made using the S.P.C. process and were cryogenically frozen. In 1986, they cost me about $12.00 [American] per set but, they were well worth it.

Estring -> RE: You want off topic ? GUITAR STRINGS ! (10/29/2007 12:13:29 AM)
That cryogenic thing seems to be quite popular these days. I have heard that all guitar strings are made by the same three companies. I don't know if that is a fact. I just know that am very happy with GHS.

farglebargle -> RE: You want off topic ? GUITAR STRINGS ! (10/29/2007 12:54:58 AM)
http://www.stringsandbeyond.com/ Stock up, always have 2 sets on hand, and it'll seem like it's never a problem anymore.

mefisto69 -> RE: You want off topic ? GUITAR STRINGS ! (10/29/2007 3:39:11 AM)
you just have to get over it and have 2 or 3 guitars ready to go when one fails

pahunkboy -> RE: You want off topic ? GUITAR STRINGS ! (10/29/2007 4:59:51 AM)
I just talked to Mick and Kieth as they popped in for some tea, lol-= not quite. anyhow- if it is unbearable switch to a sinthesizer. They do a variety of sounds.

Alumbrado -> RE: You want off topic ? GUITAR STRINGS ! (10/29/2007 7:57:39 AM)
Why are you putting acoustic strings on an electric? You're losing a good chunk of your output, since bronze doesn't drive the pickup as hard as more ferrous metals. Anyway, no string is 'break proof', not even Thomastik. I've seen Ralph Armstong pop a bass string in the middle of a solo. If the problem with excessive breakage is due to your attack or setup, you might be better served with something cheaper and harder,... the old Mapes piano wire strings come to mind. Dick Dale used .60s http://www.bigcitystrings.com/mapese.htm And as pointed out, some folks deal with the problem of string breakage on stage by having another guitar ready to roll.

Celeste43 -> RE: You want off topic ? GUITAR STRINGS ! (10/29/2007 7:57:46 AM)
Strings are easy to pick up, any music shop should carry them. My um went through a period where he could only use the small picks, a 45 minute drive to the third music store on the list I finally found some.

JackM1 -> RE: You want off topic ? GUITAR STRINGS ! (10/29/2007 12:18:52 PM)
honestly, i think they just put on new strings before every show and put them under the scope to tune them up. i guarentee you, that any live playing artist does not have just one guitar. there is the practice guitar, the show guitar, the back up, and a guitars with any tuning changes(same with bass's). then again, thats more like PROFESSONAL professonal; like, the kinds of people who have sponsers and labels.... i have to say though, nothing lasts for ever. sometimes, its just easier to keep an extra pack or two of strings to do a quick and easy change when one pops. its happened to me before, so now i have like...2 packs of bass strings with only one or two strings missing from each(oddly enough, one string is the same in both packs, which actually explains why i would have two...). my advice would be to just keep extras around and be gentle when you tune. if you know you need to do some major tuning changes to change the sound, then keep an extra pack nearby in case the strain is too much for the strings.

pahunkboy -> RE: You want off topic ? GUITAR STRINGS ! (10/29/2007 12:25:58 PM)
Yodeling is a lost art. I want yodeling!

Estring -> RE: You want off topic ? GUITAR STRINGS ! (10/29/2007 12:29:00 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: pahunkboy Yodeling is a lost art. I want yodeling! Yodeling isn't lost, it was purposely hidden so no one will find it.[;)]

philosophy -> RE: You want off topic ? GUITAR STRINGS ! (10/29/2007 12:52:07 PM)
...i vaguely remember a quote from Joe Walsh, years back.....(apologies if i misremember the exact words) "You're not a real guitarist until you're on stage, about to play your big solo and three strings have broken and your amp isn't working properly"

Estring -> RE: You want off topic ? GUITAR STRINGS ! (10/29/2007 12:55:09 PM)
Sometimes breaking a string while performing forces you to think out of the box while soloing. It forces you to play differently. Of course breaking three strings at once may mean quit using a knife as a pick.

youngsubgeoff -> RE: You want off topic ? GUITAR STRINGS ! (10/29/2007 4:25:08 PM)
yep, Ive had nights like that. of course, not like I cant just change guitars in 30 seconds or less. thats my thing, I always have at least one backup guitar available for shows. My personal preference is fender .10-.52 gauge strings, they seem to last pretty damn long.

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