Has anyone used Dick Dale gauge strings? I'm sure someone here has tried it.
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SurfGuitar101 Forums » Gear »
Has anyone used Dick Dale gauge strings?
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Joined: Apr 21, 2006 Posts: 265 San Antonio, TX |
Posted on May 11 2006 07:22 PM
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Joined: Nov 10, 2000 Posts: -180 |
Posted on May 11 2006 07:30 PM
what does he use 14-gauge? I stopped at 12's. Right now I use 11's ad they feel thin compared to 12's. I am thinking about switching back. I just hate having to pay 50 bucks for a pro set up when I get an urge to check gauges. |
Joined: Feb 27, 2006 Posts: 25309 Anaheim(So.Cal.)U.S.A. 
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Posted on May 11 2006 07:34 PM
There was a DD cover band in So. Cal. a few years back called The Wedge. The Guitar player was right handed, and had a right hand guitar, but strung upside down. He had 16 to 60 guage strings on his guitar. Jeff(bigtikidude) |
Joined: Feb 26, 2006 Posts: 3545 mojave desert, california
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Posted on May 11 2006 08:20 PM
I run .013 - .052 (with a wound G string) ... not quite Dick Dale guage...but, pretty beefy nonetheless. I love the sound, and since I am mainly a bass player, the guage still feels relatively "thin" when compared with the Rotosound bass strings. Ran's .018-.064 setup sounds almost like Bajo Sexto/ Tenor territory!That must be cool to have all that "low-D" territory to explore...he should try a little Bach on that guitar! My Danelectro Six-String Bass runs .024-.084...but that one definately sounds in the Bass/Tenor territory...but with no vibrato/whammy bar. The Dano6Bass is tuned low E to E...It covers all the usual bass territory as well as the first 12 frets in guitar-ville... the upper register chords sound a little ominous on the Dano6Bass... |
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Joined: Feb 26, 2006 Posts: 3545 mojave desert, california
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Posted on May 11 2006 11:24 PM
most of my "guitar playing" friends say my guitar feels "weird and hard to play" because of the higher-tension flatwound heavy guage setup. I think they are used to the Ernie Ball super slinky 80s Van Halen feather-touch whammy-trem shredder-style pointy guitar setup. my set-up messes with their delicate sensibilities and makes their fingers bleed, and then they cry: but, it makes me laugh when they cry -dp |
Joined: Feb 26, 2006 Posts: 1313 Escondido, CA
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Posted on May 12 2006 08:01 AM
My setup is 15-65 flat wounds, and yes I tune down to D but it's because I like the sound, not to make it easier to play. In fact, I wish I could have used even larger strings for that tuning, but that maybe be the max limit on my Jazzmaster. Also, I doubt it's as easy to find any larger flat wounds for guitar. If I would have played regular tuning, 15-65 would have been perfect. It takes a little getting used to, but it really is not that hard to do. The string I use are D'addario flat wound for 7 string guitar, and I discard the thinnest one on the set. |
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Joined: Apr 21, 2006 Posts: 265 San Antonio, TX |
Posted on May 12 2006 11:06 AM
O.K. how about the benefits of thick strings. Sound-wise and Playing-wise. —<img src="klzzwxh:0000"></img> |
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Joined: Feb 26, 2006 Posts: 1313 Escondido, CA
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Posted on May 12 2006 01:07 PM
Soundwise - beefier tone. |
Joined: Apr 29, 2010 Posts: 2460 Venice, CA
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Posted on Nov 08 2011 04:40 PM
Here's a bump to this thread. Insect Surfers |
Joined: May 09, 2008 Posts: 1251 Isle of Kent, MD
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Posted on Nov 08 2011 07:24 PM
No, doesn't really fit the style of surf guitar I play. I'm on flatwound 12's on my Strat, but I've fiddled with half round 12's. Although some think the flatwounds don't work on a Strat, I like the unique sound they give me. Don't worry about Dick's guage, get your sound. (oh no, I'm starting to sound like Jake...) (didn't really read this entire thread, so I may have missed the point of it... just chiming in between "dancing with the stars" and returning band emails-sorry time doesn't always allow me to read the whole post-bad Nitro) Surfcat 2023 SG101 Compilation - Tribute to Noel From Atlantis with Love - Released - July 2023 Surf, the most dangerous of all musical genres... |
Joined: Apr 24, 2011 Posts: 1087 Surf City, NC
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Posted on Nov 08 2011 09:29 PM
Are you crazy??? — |
Joined: Dec 26, 2008 Posts: 122 Binghamton, NY
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Posted on Nov 08 2011 09:41 PM
Yes I have 2 guitars strung up one 14-60 and the other 16-60, it really does help me get that tone. Having been in guitar building and repair I can set them up myself, so cost is not a problem. I also play out with guitars that have lighter strings, for less aggressive songs. |
Joined: Aug 29, 2009 Posts: 1556 Israel 
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Posted on Nov 09 2011 06:16 AM
dp wrote:
Heh, even with my humble .12 rounds (I'd like to go .13) and high action, I get similar shocked comments... most stores here don't even stock them. Guitarists can be close-minded dorks, sometimes. |
Joined: Apr 15, 2008 Posts: 1281
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Posted on Nov 12 2011 12:35 PM
If I had a Strat I'd string it up with DD size strings. I don't like Strat trems anyway, and I'm sure it's impossible to use one with that string gauge. — |
Joined: Jul 28, 2008 Posts: 413
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Posted on Nov 13 2011 02:38 PM
DeadRanchHands wrote:
I have a Stratocaster strung with 11's and I set the trem to float with only two springs. I haven't tried Dick Dale gauge strings, but adding three more springs would be enough to counterbalance the extra string tension. —If it ain't broke, fix it until it is. |
Joined: Feb 25, 2006 Posts: 19194 Des Moines, Iowa, USA
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Posted on Nov 13 2011 03:56 PM
Yes. The genius of the Strat trem is you can add or subtract springs and also adjust the spring tension with a simple screwdriver. —Site dude - S3 Agent #202 "It starts... when it begins" -- Ralf Kilauea |
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Joined: Feb 27, 2006 Posts: 25309 Anaheim(So.Cal.)U.S.A.
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Posted on Nov 16 2011 12:14 PM
For what it's worth, Jeff(bigtikidude) |
Joined: Mar 15, 2011 Posts: 8528 Back in Piitsburgh, Pennsylvania, where I grew up.
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Posted on Nov 16 2011 12:30 PM
Somewhere on Facebook a while back a well-known musician wrote that he had the chance to play The Beast a lot when he stayed at Dick's house, and it badly blistered his fingers. I didn't save the post and can't point anyone to it, but did anyone here see it? Has anyone ever tried the 38 - 60s that Dick says he originally used? —This is Noel. Reverb's at maximum an' I'm givin' 'er all she's got. |
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Joined: Feb 25, 2006 Posts: 19194 Des Moines, Iowa, USA
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Posted on Nov 16 2011 01:25 PM
Noel, here is a post from our old Yahoo Group in which Ivan describes his encounter with "The Beast": http://surfguitar101.com/ygroup/thread/6240/ —Site dude - S3 Agent #202 "It starts... when it begins" -- Ralf Kilauea |
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Joined: Mar 15, 2011 Posts: 8528 Back in Piitsburgh, Pennsylvania, where I grew up.
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Posted on Nov 16 2011 03:57 PM
I still can't find the FB thread, but here's a closeup of Dick's guitar that Unsteady Freddy took recently. And, that was a very insightful piece Ivan wrote. And, he PLAYED Hank Marvin's guitar! Brian wrote: — This is Noel. Reverb's at maximum an' I'm givin' 'er all she's got. Last edited: Nov 16, 2011 15:59:29 |
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