I use a modified Dick Dale set that won’t kill my hands as easily
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SurfGuitar101 Forums » Gear »
String Gauges Poll
• New Topic
Joined: Jul 14, 2013 Posts: 345 |
Posted on Aug 14 2020 04:08 AM
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Joined: Dec 25, 2020 Posts: 23 Ardmore, PA 
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Posted on Jan 16 2021 10:13 PM
I just had my strat set up for Daddario 12-54 with a .20 plain G. I have no problem playing these, I love it and don’t wanna go back. In fact the only thing I might want to change is going to a heavier low E, like a 56 or 58 |
Joined: Jan 28, 2021 Posts: 7 |
Posted on Jan 30 2021 09:53 PM
Just started my guitar journey, coming over from the low end. My basses are all using 50-105s. The little JM has 9-42s from the factory. I grabbed some 12-54 Beefy EBs on my way out the door. Probably get to them in a few weeks |
Joined: Mar 18, 2020 Posts: 123 |
Posted on Mar 22 2022 08:21 AM
I put 13-54 pyramid gold flatwounds on my JM and it warped the neck pretty good until I tightened the truss rod. I’m thinking about going lighter. Sounds great though |
Joined: Sep 02, 2022 Posts: 505 Central VA
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Posted on Nov 11 2022 11:19 AM
My surf guitars are strung up just like my "regular" guitars - roundwound Ernie Ball 10s. I keep one guitar tuned down a full step, it gets 11s - that's my only anomaly. —-- |
Joined: Apr 13, 2018 Posts: 1374 New Orleans
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Posted on Nov 11 2022 03:45 PM
AndrewTesta wrote:
I'm soooo happy with the custom .0135 - .060 D'Addario's nickel wound set, on a jag though not a JM. I've never had such balance, every string feels the same and is as loud as each other. It's only on the Squier jag now. All I had to do was run the .060 back and forth a few times in its nut slot, the other strings fit perfectly. Didn't even need to mess with the truss rod. What a difference! I'll be doing this on the AVRI jag and eventually on the real '65 jag. —Daniel Deathtide |
Joined: Jul 24, 2012 Posts: 2762 Finknabad, Squinkistan 
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Posted on Nov 11 2022 04:37 PM
I put 9s on all my guitars and tune to Eb these days. — |
Joined: Jun 24, 2021 Posts: 128 South Bay, CA
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Posted on Nov 12 2022 02:48 PM
D'Addario 9.5 - 44 on my Strat. —-John "...enjoy every sandwich." -Warren Zevon Fender Stratocaster American Pro II |
Joined: Feb 22, 2016 Posts: 442 California
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Posted on Nov 12 2022 04:10 PM
15 22 30 40 50 65 Flatwound. Jaguar. Whole tone down. Ran schooled me. Last edited: Nov 12, 2022 16:11:51 |
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Joined: Apr 13, 2018 Posts: 1374 New Orleans
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Posted on Nov 12 2022 09:01 PM
SandBug wrote:
WOW. That's... amazing. Tuned to D standard? I'm super impressed and I would love to hear that set. —Daniel Deathtide |
Joined: Mar 14, 2006 Posts: 2230 Kiev, Ukraine 
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Posted on Nov 13 2022 04:49 AM
Strat 10-52 and it’s perfect. Waikiki Makaki surf-rock band from Ukraine https://linktr.ee/waikikimakaki Lost Diver https://lostdiver.bandcamp.com |
Joined: Dec 07, 2014 Posts: 1222
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Posted on Nov 13 2022 07:14 AM
- Last edited: Feb 02, 2024 15:42:12 |
Joined: Nov 03, 2011 Posts: 660 |
Posted on Nov 13 2022 09:26 AM
String Joy 10-48 |
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Joined: Feb 22, 2016 Posts: 442 California
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Posted on Nov 13 2022 04:19 PM
DeathTide wrote:
D standard is correct. The main reason i went up in gauge is because they make it easier for me to get closer to what my bandmates are doing rhythmically. Besides fast "micro rhythms" (hard to explain) i can do fast parts easier overall, and with more power, ya know, like really dig in, yet maintain a solid speed and output. In my effort to economize my playing technique over the years i found my playing a bit wimpy when playing along-side Ran. There should eventually be some videos with my Jag with 15s, i'll let you know. |
Joined: Jul 07, 2023 Posts: 20 |
Posted on Jul 07 2023 02:13 PM
Flat 12s on my Jazzmasters (GHS or D’Addario), Ernie Ball 10s on Mosrites and Ernie Ball 11s on the Jaguars. The Ernie Balls are the only strings I’ve used that don’t unravel in a Mosrite tailpiece. I love flatwounds, but roundwounds are cheap and I can bend the 3rd. |
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Joined: Sep 23, 2014 Posts: 1400 Memphis, TN
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Posted on Jul 07 2023 03:25 PM
Standard tuning.
MooreLoud.com - A tribute to Dick Dale. New Singles "Finish Line" and "Paradiso" on Bandcamp and website. |
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Joined: Apr 13, 2018 Posts: 1374 New Orleans
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Posted on Jul 07 2023 05:33 PM
Dang that's a nice looking set. Did you use the calculator to match the tensions? I tried to make a perfectly balanced set and with the low E at 60, behind it was at 13.5. Which is fine because I think those strings are too loud anyway. I would love to put significantly lower gauges on those two plain strings, but I like a balanced feel and a not-warped neck. —Daniel Deathtide |
Joined: May 09, 2008 Posts: 1336 Isle of Kent, MD
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Posted on Jul 07 2023 05:37 PM
Still using 48-10 chromes (flatwound) until hand surgery, then maybe I'll up the guage again. —Surfcat NEW - MARCH OF THE DEAD SURFERS (Released Oct 17, 2024) - Agent Octopus AGENT OCTOPUS - BANDCAMP Last edited: Jul 07, 2023 17:37:46 |
Joined: Mar 09, 2014 Posts: 92 New York
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Posted on Nov 01 2023 11:44 AM
Posted a couple years ago, saying I was building custom sets, but for the sake of simplicity in my life I've moved to Burly Slinkys. It's basically 11's on the plain strings, 12's for the wrapped strings. 11, 14, 18p, 30, 42, 52 to be exact. Makes the lower strings easy to pick out sustained 16th notes, and the higher strings let me bend them for solo type stuff, but still hold up for tremolo picking (though I admit to sort of wanted to swap the high E out for a 12 gauge). —Guitarist for Northern Tides from Hudson Valley, NY. Last edited: Nov 01, 2023 11:46:52 |
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Joined: Mar 14, 2006 Posts: 2230 Kiev, Ukraine
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Posted on Nov 03 2023 02:18 AM
Decided to try these 10-49 with wound G (thanks, Ivan!) and they seem to be perfect. Waikiki Makaki surf-rock band from Ukraine https://linktr.ee/waikikimakaki Lost Diver https://lostdiver.bandcamp.com |
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