String Tension Super Thread (Got a string question? Post it here!)

[danielzabolotny]

I also use Podfarm with my Douglas 7 tuned to G#. Currently, I have a .10 to .59 set and while it's a wee bit looser than I like, my tone is still very good and heavy. Next week when I swap out the stock pickups for Blackouts, I'm putting on a .10 to .74 set, that should tighten things up nicely.

 

[Loomer]

A suggestion here:

Have you tried simply raising the action on the guitar? I find that I sound like doo-doo on guitars with low action and it gets muddy easily, so I suggest you raise them strings a little. That'll let 'em vibrate more freely when you pick them.

And use bigger picks!!
My clearest tone ever was when I used stone picks, regular-sized.

 

[bradthelegend]

thanks to all who posted. the suggestions did help but i'm just not feeling it. the guitar is going to ebay and i'm going to start looking for a seven string with a 26.5 scale length.

If you like the feel of your Ibanez, but just want a longer scale length, you could try out one of the RGD 7s, unless you're really set on getting a Schecter.

 

[pitbulltodd]

If you like the feel of your Ibanez, but just want a longer scale length, you could try out one of the RGD 7s, unless you're really set on getting a Schecter.

actually i just happened to hear a schecter blackjack through the same podfarm presets as i use for the ibanez and the schecter was brutal. the ibanez had better clean tones and the solo tones were about equal but as far as drop tuning rythmn tone the schecter blew the ibanez away. the tone was so different i can't imagine it just being a pickup issue.

 

[bradthelegend]

actually i just happened to hear a schecter blackjack through the same podfarm presets as i use for the ibanez and the schecter was brutal. the ibanez had better clean tones and the solo tones were about equal but as far as drop tuning rythmn tone the schecter blew the ibanez away. the tone was so different i can't imagine it just being a pickup issue.

That's what active pickups'll do for you. And those finishes are beautiful. When they came out with the satin black finishes with gold binding, I had to reconsider my brand loyalty.

 

[DMONSTER]

Yeah TS, I completely understand your situation, I love my rg7621 to death but i keep having to up the gauges for tension and then my tone suffers D'Addario that i just put on there is a 62, brand new even so i expected a good bright clear punchy sound, and i play it and i hear bwwwoooooowww needless to say im saddened haha because my guitar basically lives in A standard as well

 

[danielzabolotny]

Wait, aren't thicker strings supposed to give a stronger, beefier tone in low tunings?

 

[pitbulltodd]

Wait, aren't thicker strings supposed to give a stronger, beefier tone in low tunings?

for me they do but even at a 70 guage it's still not tight enough and i'd rather not go any heavier than 70.

 

[DMONSTER]

Wait, aren't thicker strings supposed to give a stronger, beefier tone in low tunings?

Yes they are and they should but it could be my pickups as well (stock rg7621)
the tension is decent but could be just a hair better

 

[AcousticMinja]

I am looking to do another funky ass tuning..

(low to high) C#-G#-D#-G#-D#-G#-C#

I have most of the string tensions and gauges where I want 'em, but that low C#... I need a bass string for that. AFAIK, Elixir bass strings are the same in construction as their guitar strings minus the ball end. I'm looking for a .110 or .115 but they don't seem to make 'em. Without going custom, what other big brands make bass strings like that?


Also, just for reference, I am using a 7 string washburn with a 25.5 scale. Sounds quite awesome and bright actually. Using a JB and an alder body. Tried low tunings like F# and D# on there and it surprisingly handles them extremely well.

 

[GSingleton]

I lost where it said bulb's strings and I like how he is able to bend his but be tight at the same time.

I own a 26.5 scale RGD7321.

I want a tight tone. Of course I still have stock pups and they are awful, but I keep it in drop Ab.

I currently have D'addario 10-59 7 string set, but a 60 on the bottom. It added some beef but I think with better pick ups I would need maybe even bigger strings. I do enjoy bends btw. Any suggestions?

 

[arctopus]

I had my strings replaced for another tuning; B E A D G B E A was my plan, but it happens they didn't have anything thinner than the high E, so I got B E A D G B E E instead.
I use a RGA8 (27"), which string could I use to get to the high A?

 

[GSingleton]

I had my strings replaced for another tuning; B E A D G B E A was my plan, but it happens they didn't have anything thinner than the high E, so I got B E A D G B E E instead.
I use a RGA8 (27"), which string could I use to get to the high A?

Expanded Range Guitar String Sets

they make higher strings. Search bar does wonders.

 

[thatguy87]

I lost where it said bulb's strings and I like how he is able to bend his but be tight at the same time.

I own a 26.5 scale RGD7321.

I want a tight tone. Of course I still have stock pups and they are awful, but I keep it in drop Ab.

I currently have D'addario 10-59 7 string set, but a 60 on the bottom. It added some beef but I think with better pick ups I would need maybe even bigger strings. I do enjoy bends btw. Any suggestions?

My Apex 2 is 25.5 and I'm using a baritone 6 set with a 10 on top. So I believe it's 10-13-18-30-44-56-72 and it works out great for Ab, which I stay in 99% of the time. bends are no problem. did have to have the neck tension set and the nut had to be filed.

 

[MTech]

I lost where it said bulb's strings and I like how he is able to bend his but be tight at the same time.

I own a 26.5 scale RGD7321.

I want a tight tone. Of course I still have stock pups and they are awful, but I keep it in drop Ab.

I currently have D'addario 10-59 7 string set, but a 60 on the bottom. It added some beef but I think with better pick ups I would need maybe even bigger strings. I do enjoy bends btw. Any suggestions?

Any of these seven sets would work good, just depends how much more tension you want on the other strings.

 

[Dries]

Hello there,

I'm Dries, I'm new here and new to 7strings.
I picked up my c7 hellraiser last friday and I wondered at what string gauge I should look at, considering the longer scale than I'm used to.. The scale is 26.5 as you probably already know and I tune to A#.

My luthier recommands these (.11 - .060) but I'm afraid about it being to tight for heavy vibrato or bends, though I want to avoid any fret clattering at all too, and having the lowest action possible (if this isn't too optimistic )

Thing is, I prefer not to mess around with different gauges too much as it's such a pain in the ass to adjust the floyd rose.

Thanks in forward.

 

[XEN]

(.11 - .060)

Dries, here's the data for 25.5" for a D'Addario EXL110-7 set:
len 25.5"
E .010" PL == 16.21#
B, .013" PL == 15.38#
G, .017" PL == 16.57#
D, .026" NW == 18.41#
A,, .036" NW == 19.54#
E,, .046" NW == 17.48#
B,,, .059" NW == 16.48#
total == 120.08#

ANd at 26.6":
len 26.5"

E .010" PL == 17.51#
B, .013" PL == 16.61#
G, .017" PL == 17.89#
D, .026" NW == 19.88#
A,, .036" NW == 21.1#
E,, .046" NW == 18.88#
B,,, .059" NW == 17.8#
total == 129.68#

The difference is minor. If you're already used to 10-46 the EXL110-7 would work fine for you.

 

[Racman92]

len 26.5"

E .0105" PL == 19.31#
B, .015" PL == 22.11#
G, .018" PL == 20.06#
D, .028" NW == 23.01#
A,, .042" NW == 28.42#
E,, .052" NW == 23.77#
B,,, .070 NW == 24.77#
total == 161.44#

Would this be bad for the guitar with the amount of pressure thats being exerted?
I like my strings nice and taut, so I was going heavy. Is 70 too heavy for standard tuning?

 

[Dries]

Dries, here's the data for 25.5" for a D'Addario EXL110-7 set:
len 25.5"
E .010" PL == 16.21#
B, .013" PL == 15.38#
G, .017" PL == 16.57#
D, .026" NW == 18.41#
A,, .036" NW == 19.54#
E,, .046" NW == 17.48#
B,,, .059" NW == 16.48#
total == 120.08#

ANd at 26.6":
len 26.5"

E .010" PL == 17.51#
B, .013" PL == 16.61#
G, .017" PL == 17.89#
D, .026" NW == 19.88#
A,, .036" NW == 21.1#
E,, .046" NW == 18.88#
B,,, .059" NW == 17.8#
total == 129.68#

The difference is minor. If you're already used to 10-46 the EXL110-7 would work fine for you.

Alright, ordered the strings.
Thanks for the advice

 

[Go To Bed Jessica]

Just curious to know whether ZOG strings are known around here? I know he does 7 and 8 string sets - although I think the 8 set is a recent thing.

His website is, err, interesting... but his string sets (I use his strings on all of my electric 6 strings and won't use anything else) are well put together, prices are reasonable and he is all about the maths when he is making up his sets.

I don't own an ERG yet, but am currently looking into picking up an 8 string as an experiment.