Strings for rhythm guitar?

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SurfGuitar101 Forums » Gear »

Strings for rhythm guitar?

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Dodger Joined: Oct 27, 2020 Posts: 34	Posted on Jan 14 2022 07:34 PM I play a strat and play the rythm guitar. What gauges of string should I use? Last edited: Jan 14, 2022 20:31:41 Top
DannySnyder Joined: Mar 02, 2006 Posts: 11076 Berkeley, CA	Posted on Jan 14 2022 08:31 PM .10's are good — Danny Snyder "With great reverb comes great responsibility" - Uncle Leo I am now playing trumpet with Prince Buster tribute band 'Balzac' Playing keys and guitar with Combo Tezeta Formerly a guitarist in The TomorrowMen and Meshugga Beach Party Latest surf project - Now That's What I Call SURF Top
JohnnyMosrite Joined: Jun 14, 2006 Posts: 910 New York City area	Posted on Jan 14 2022 10:06 PM The heaviest gauge strings your hands, fingers, and your guitar neck can handle. You need maximum sound with rhythm guitar. Don Wilson of the Ventures felt this way from articles I read over the years. Leave the string bending and lead guitar to the light gauge stuff. Your job as rhythm player is to pulse some real sound behind the lead guitar. The heavier the string, the more sound you will be able to provide. J Mo' Top
ArtS Joined: May 09, 2008 Posts: 1399 Isle of Kent, MD	Posted on Jan 15 2022 05:24 PM Play with whatever allows you to do what you want musically and what fits the band's sound. If you are a rhythm player that does a lot of counterpoint or nuanced playing, go lighter 9s, 10s. If you are part of the engine room with the drums and bass, Johnny Mosrite's on point. Joe Atkins, our wonderful rhythm guitar player with Reverb Galaxy, had 2-3 guitars at a show, strung differently, plus assorted pedals to help shape and color our music. — Surf.The most dangerous of genres... Surfcat MARCH OF THE DEAD SURFERS! (2024) - Agent Octopus THE JOURNEY HOME - Free download (2025) - Agent Octopus (Single) BANDCAMP - Agent Octopus YOUTUBE - Agent Octopus Surf BANDCAMP - Reverb Galaxy Last edited: Jan 15, 2022 17:28:08 Top
Dodger Joined: Oct 27, 2020 Posts: 34	Posted on Jan 15 2022 06:39 PM ArtS wrote: Play with whatever allows you to do what you want musically and what fits the band's sound. If you are a rhythm player that does a lot of counterpoint or nuanced playing, go lighter 9s, 10s. If you are part of the engine room with the drums and bass, Johnny Mosrite's on point. Joe Atkins, our wonderful rhythm guitar player with Reverb Galaxy, had 2-3 guitars at a show, strung differently, plus assorted pedals to help shape and color our music. Ok, I have never played this kind of music before. I'm going to join a band and was looking for some strings that should work with "everything" or at least something basic to start with. Top
ArtS Joined: May 09, 2008 Posts: 1399 Isle of Kent, MD	Posted on Jan 15 2022 06:55 PM Follow Johnny Mosrite, heavy strings. — Surf.The most dangerous of genres... Surfcat MARCH OF THE DEAD SURFERS! (2024) - Agent Octopus THE JOURNEY HOME - Free download (2025) - Agent Octopus (Single) BANDCAMP - Agent Octopus YOUTUBE - Agent Octopus Surf BANDCAMP - Reverb Galaxy Top
DannySnyder Joined: Mar 02, 2006 Posts: 11076 Berkeley, CA	Posted on Jan 15 2022 07:12 PM Obviously string choice is very subjective and I'm not going to contradict JM and Art. However, if you find you don't like the thicker strings, don't feel it's a failure of any kind to go to thinner strings. Millions of players use .10's. FWIW I play 12's and 13's and have so for many years. I started doing so because I felt my Jag/Jazzmasters responded better to the thick strings but eventually I've come to prefer them. — Danny Snyder "With great reverb comes great responsibility" - Uncle Leo I am now playing trumpet with Prince Buster tribute band 'Balzac' Playing keys and guitar with Combo Tezeta Formerly a guitarist in The TomorrowMen and Meshugga Beach Party Latest surf project - Now That's What I Call SURF Top
ArtS Joined: May 09, 2008 Posts: 1399 Isle of Kent, MD	Posted on Jan 15 2022 08:23 PM DannySnyder wrote: Obviously string choice is very subjective and I'm not going to contradict JM and Art. However, if you find you don't like the thicker strings, don't feel it's a failure of any kind to go to thinner strings. Millions of players use .10's. Danny's always on point. Ugh, now I sound like I'm waffling between Danny and Johnny. Maybe this will help - 1) Are you an experienced player looking to get a traditional surf sound? 2) A less experienced player just looking for general tips? 3) What type of guitar do you have? — Surf.The most dangerous of genres... Surfcat MARCH OF THE DEAD SURFERS! (2024) - Agent Octopus THE JOURNEY HOME - Free download (2025) - Agent Octopus (Single) BANDCAMP - Agent Octopus YOUTUBE - Agent Octopus Surf BANDCAMP - Reverb Galaxy Top
LosVenturas Joined: Feb 10, 2011 Posts: 443 Antwerp, Belgium	Posted on Jan 16 2022 07:49 AM Is there a correct answer. Indeed it is both flavor and 'coming through'.. Fwiw.. I started out on rhythm guitar with d'addario 56's on it. Sounds very good, punchy, splashy,.. a lot of expression, let's say. After a set of an hour or more my hand and forearm was quite exhausted but maybe I wasn't trained enough. Anyway. Over the years after, I evolved to d'addario 52's and thomastik 50s. I use the thomastiks for over 10 years now. As I don't play lead that much, at least not in a band, I think they'd suit a rhythm guitar player very well. You (I) can handle the tension pretty long,they are very playable and keep the punchy and splashyness what you want or expect from the rhythm surf guitar. This is all my opinion of course. In addition I must say the surfy Drip switch is a must have for the rhythm surf guitarist these days. Oh boy, I wish I had one of those back in the days. I had to dial in the reverb for some songs but a lot of the time I wanted to dial in IN the song. This could all be so simple with this great pedal. Mel and Surfy Industries, thank you for bringing this great invention to the crowd. Much appreciated!! Having said this... Cheers, Andy — www.LosVenturas.be Top
DannySnyder Joined: Mar 02, 2006 Posts: 11076 Berkeley, CA	Posted on Jan 16 2022 10:13 AM Cheers Andy Yes all you surf guitarists who don't know about the Drip Switch need to check it out. I too struggled for years finding a good solution to needing 2 levels of reverb as the 2nd guitarist in a surf band. Who knew it would be my own bandmate Mel to come up with the genius way to do it. If only he thought of it 10 years earlier — Danny Snyder "With great reverb comes great responsibility" - Uncle Leo I am now playing trumpet with Prince Buster tribute band 'Balzac' Playing keys and guitar with Combo Tezeta Formerly a guitarist in The TomorrowMen and Meshugga Beach Party Latest surf project - Now That's What I Call SURF Top
Dodger Joined: Oct 27, 2020 Posts: 34	Posted on Jan 16 2022 02:09 PM ArtS wrote: DannySnyder wrote: Obviously string choice is very subjective and I'm not going to contradict JM and Art. However, if you find you don't like the thicker strings, don't feel it's a failure of any kind to go to thinner strings. Millions of players use .10's. Danny's always on point. Ugh, now I sound like I'm waffling between Danny and Johnny. Maybe this will help - 1) Are you an experienced player looking to get a traditional surf sound? 2) A less experienced player just looking for general tips? 3) What type of guitar do you have? I’m more the number 1 guy. For this purpose I have bought a stratocaster and a ”the Ventures” guitar. Top
ArtS Joined: May 09, 2008 Posts: 1399 Isle of Kent, MD	Posted on Jan 17 2022 10:08 AM Amp, guitar most important. Strings I'd suggest 11-12s, but see link below for prevous forums on this subject. Best of luck and remember if you feel the surf, you'll play the surf. Link SG101 Forum 1 SG101 String Thread — Surf.The most dangerous of genres... Surfcat MARCH OF THE DEAD SURFERS! (2024) - Agent Octopus THE JOURNEY HOME - Free download (2025) - Agent Octopus (Single) BANDCAMP - Agent Octopus YOUTUBE - Agent Octopus Surf BANDCAMP - Reverb Galaxy Top

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