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you guys are blowing my mind twelves and thirteens dang. you don't
bend much do you.flat wounds? of course now i'm going to have to try
them there go my tendons.i use 10-46 ghs (got to support the home
state) as far as 90's strats i use a 95 amer standard custom color
auqua. i have never played another strat that sounds as fat or as
even as this one. the hi's are smooth the lows are clear. i have
always thought that if you took ten strats some would be good some
would be great some would be crap all the same year and model of
course. so if you get a crappy one keep looking.
miller
Give the heavier strings a try. If your using 10s maybe go up to a
set off 11 flats with a wound G. Don't go jumping from 10s to 13s.
Just keep in mind that some flatwound brands bend easier than others,
you'd be surprised how some guitars bend easier than others with
heavier strings.
Bill
--- In , "loscobrassurf"
<loscobrassurf@y...> wrote:
> you guys are blowing my mind twelves and thirteens dang. you don't
> bend much do you.flat wounds? of course now i'm going to have to
try
> them there go my tendons.i use 10-46 ghs (got to support the home
> state) as far as 90's strats i use a 95 amer standard custom color
> auqua. i have never played another strat that sounds as fat or as
> even as this one. the hi's are smooth the lows are clear. i have
> always thought that if you took ten strats some would be good some
> would be great some would be crap all the same year and model of
> course. so if you get a crappy one keep looking.
>
> miller
Funny thing about string gauges. No matter what I try, I just can't
get a Strat to feel or sound right with anything below twelves (for
surf instro). Seems like a handful of mush even just going down to
elevens. BUT--- for general rock and roll and country, I think
snappy little tens and elevens on something like a Telecaster sound
WAY better--- anything heavier is too meaty and loses the twang.
So it depends on the turf, I guess.
Rob Woolsey
Detonators
--- In , "loscobrassurf"
<loscobrassurf@y...> wrote:
> you guys are blowing my mind twelves and thirteens dang. you don't
> bend much do you.flat wounds? of course now i'm going to have to
try
> them there go my tendons.
Guys,
I played flat wound 11's and 12's back in 1964 when I started out (on a
Hagstrom I and a sonic blue 64 Fender Strat) and they were no picnic.
Dick Dale's hype notwithstanding, you don't need such a big string to
get a good sound. And you'll get tendonitis one day if you keep working
with very heavy guages.
Many factors go into making a "fat" sound and string guage is only one
factor. Your amp, your pick attack, what guitar, etc. all play a role
in defining what your sound is.
Les
On Sunday, September 5, 2004, at 07:10 PM, loscobrassurf wrote:
> you guys are blowing my mind twelves and thirteens dang. you don't
> bend much do you.flat wounds? of course now i'm going to have to try
> them there go my tendons.i use 10-46 ghs (got to support the home
> state) as far as 90's strats i use a 95 amer standard custom color
> auqua. i have never played another strat that sounds as fat or as
> even as this one. the hi's are smooth the lows are clear. i have
> always thought that if you took ten strats some would be good some
> would be great some would be crap all the same year and model of
> course. so if you get a crappy one keep looking.
>
> miller
>
>
>
>
> .
> Visit for archived
> messages, bookmarks, files, polls, etc.
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>
> From: Leslie Fradkin
> Guys,
> I played flat wound 11's and 12's back in 1964 when I started out (on a
> Hagstrom I and a sonic blue 64 Fender Strat) and they were no picnic.
> Dick Dale's hype notwithstanding, you don't need such a big string to
> get a good sound. And you'll get tendonitis one day if you keep working
> with very heavy guages.
>
> Many factors go into making a "fat" sound and string guage is only one
> factor. Your amp, your pick attack, what guitar, etc. all play a role
> in defining what your sound is.
I've never had a #1 song on mp3.com, and I wasn't even born in 1964, but in
my limited experience, strings sizes make a *HUGE* difference. I've got 12's
on my Jaguar, and I really don't find them that difficult to play once you
get used to them. It's going back to 9's that is the really funny part. Of
course, the Jaguar has a shorter scale than a strat. The payoff in tone is
enormous.
I've seen guys like Rick from the Volcanos do double stop Chuck Berry style
*bends* with 13 flats on his strat! But I didn't ask him how sore his
fingers were or if he had tendonitis.
Les, please know that I'm just giving you some good-natured ribbing...I
appreciate the different viewpoint (even if you do play a guitar
synth....whoops there I go again). :) :)
Not everyone does use heavy strings in surf of course. Ferenc reported that
Shigeo from the Surf Coasters used lighter strings, maybe 10's...(?). And he
has one huge and amazing sound. Of course he is one of those really amazing
guys that can make anything sound good...me, I'll just have to use the
crutch of heavy strings.
Seriously...best wishes,
BN
(I'm contemplating putting 13's on my Jag next...)
BN,
Yes, your Jaguar has a shorter scale and it IS easier to play with a
heavier guage. When I used them, I did use 11's on them and it felt
like 10's. Stringing up a Jag too lightly results in bad news, no doubt.
But a Strat scale makes these haevier strings problematical for me
personally and since I play Wilson Bros and Strats which have 25 1/2"
scales, something lighter is necessary. I compress my sound all the
time which boosts signal to the amp and also use a pickup booster which
are part of my sound so, for me, string guage isn't as "critical" as it
is for you.
Bending with wide vibrato which moves smoothly from one pitch to the
bended pitch with tightly controlled finger vibrato is part of my
"style" so heavier strings are just too difficult for me to work with
in my specific context. But then, strict "surf music" is only one
component of my sonic equation. I'm interested in other approaches as
well as surf which is why my best instrumental stuff has it's own sound.
BTW, I no longer play any guitar synths. I've gone back to a completely
"organic" sound and effects approach.
While the convience was great for travel, I got tired of the processed
tone.
I have moved my strings up to 010-046. But I still use a 016 unwound
"G" which I need for the neo-classical stuff that I do at the speeds
which I play which are faster than the typical trad surf guys works
with. Nothing wrong with trad, just not the whole picture of what I'm
up to. I just think that at my age, lighter may be easier on the hands.
:-)
My effects include compressor, noise gate, Jerry Donohue Morley JD-10,
a tape echo and spring reverb.
This gives me much better results and more organic power on stage. So
the VG-8 has been retired.
FWIW, I jammed with Nokie Edwards this past weekend at Louiefest in
Tacoma, Washington, and we used his Hitchhiker guitars (He brought two
of them so I "borrowed" one of them). Now, I was quite surprised to see
that he had 009-046 on there which felt quite comfortable. So Noke
evidently, doesn't think that light strings are inhibiting for himself.
HOWEVER, I did notice that his model guitar had a pretty thick and dark
tone which may be his way of compensating for lighter strings. He likes
a mellow sound which suits his "easy-listening" music. When we jammed
on tyhe old Ventures stuff, I noticed that he could still get the old
Mosrite tone out of his axe with these strings. Even on my rhythm
parts, I got the old Ventures sound out of that guitar. And INokie
mentioned that the Ventures used to use much heavier strings. So it
must be the player, not the gear.
Thanks for the ribbing:-)
Best,
Les
On Monday, September 6, 2004, at 09:47 AM, Brian Neal wrote:
>> From: Leslie Fradkin
>> Guys,
>> I played flat wound 11's and 12's back in 1964 when I started out (on
>> a
>> Hagstrom I and a sonic blue 64 Fender Strat) and they were no picnic.
>> Dick Dale's hype notwithstanding, you don't need such a big string to
>> get a good sound. And you'll get tendonitis one day if you keep
>> working
>> with very heavy guages.
>>
>> Many factors go into making a "fat" sound and string guage is only one
>> factor. Your amp, your pick attack, what guitar, etc. all play a role
>> in defining what your sound is.
>
> I've never had a #1 song on mp3.com, and I wasn't even born in 1964,
> but in
> my limited experience, strings sizes make a *HUGE* difference. I've
> got 12's
> on my Jaguar, and I really don't find them that difficult to play once
> you
> get used to them. It's going back to 9's that is the really funny
> part. Of
> course, the Jaguar has a shorter scale than a strat. The payoff in
> tone is
> enormous.
>
> I've seen guys like Rick from the Volcanos do double stop Chuck Berry
> style
> *bends* with 13 flats on his strat! But I didn't ask him how sore his
> fingers were or if he had tendonitis.
>
> Les, please know that I'm just giving you some good-natured ribbing...I
> appreciate the different viewpoint (even if you do play a guitar
> synth....whoops there I go again). :) :)
>
> Not everyone does use heavy strings in surf of course. Ferenc reported
> that
> Shigeo from the Surf Coasters used lighter strings, maybe 10's...(?).
> And he
> has one huge and amazing sound. Of course he is one of those really
> amazing
> guys that can make anything sound good...me, I'll just have to use the
> crutch of heavy strings.
>
> Seriously...best wishes,
>
> BN
>
> (I'm contemplating putting 13's on my Jag next...)
>
>
>
>
> .
> Visit for archived
> messages, bookmarks, files, polls, etc.
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>
<<FWIW, I jammed with Nokie Edwards this past weekend at Louiefest in
Tacoma, Washington, and we used his Hitchhiker guitars (He brought two
of them so I "borrowed" one of them). Now, I was quite surprised to
see
that he had 009-046 on there which felt quite comfortable. So Noke
evidently, doesn't think that light strings are inhibiting for
himself.
HOWEVER, I did notice that his model guitar had a pretty thick and
dark
tone which may be his way of compensating for lighter strings. He
likes
a mellow sound which suits his "easy-listening" music. When we jammed
on tyhe old Ventures stuff, I noticed that he could still get the old
Mosrite tone out of his axe with these strings. Even on my rhythm
parts, I got the old Ventures sound out of that guitar. And INokie
mentioned that the Ventures used to use much heavier strings. So it
must be the player, not the gear.>>
I think the Ventures or at least Nokie got into lighter strings
pretty early on. When you listen to them in Japan in '65 its obvious
they are using roundwound strings and Nokie certainly has a steel G.
I've often compared Nokie's sound around that time to James Burton's,
who was using banjo strings at the time. I wasn't alive back then
but I do know guys used to swap "b" strings for "g" strings. Both
Nokie and James had a pretty shrill sound.
I used to play a Telecaster with 9s on it because James Burton was
the reason I started playing, and now I use a Jag and Jazzmaster
strung with 13s and 12s. Having big hands I don't think I'll get
tendonitis. But I do notice when I dig out the Tele or play a Strat
in a guitar store it is almost impossible to double pick on those
strings as well as I can on the heavier ones.
Has anyone heard if Dick Dale complains of tenditis? It would be interesting to
know.
-Marty
----- Original Message -----
From: Leslie Fradkin
To:
Sent: Monday, September 06, 2004 6:56 AM
Subject: Re: [SurfGuitar101] strings and strats
Guys,
I played flat wound 11's and 12's back in 1964 when I started out (on a
Hagstrom I and a sonic blue 64 Fender Strat) and they were no picnic.
Dick Dale's hype notwithstanding, you don't need such a big string to
get a good sound. And you'll get tendonitis one day if you keep working
with very heavy guages.
Many factors go into making a "fat" sound and string guage is only one
factor. Your amp, your pick attack, what guitar, etc. all play a role
in defining what your sound is.
Les
On Sunday, September 5, 2004, at 07:10 PM, loscobrassurf wrote:
> you guys are blowing my mind twelves and thirteens dang. you don't
> bend much do you.flat wounds? of course now i'm going to have to try
> them there go my tendons.i use 10-46 ghs (got to support the home
> state) as far as 90's strats i use a 95 amer standard custom color
> auqua. i have never played another strat that sounds as fat or as
> even as this one. the hi's are smooth the lows are clear. i have
> always thought that if you took ten strats some would be good some
> would be great some would be crap all the same year and model of
> course. so if you get a crappy one keep looking.
>
> miller
>
>
>
>
> .
> Visit for archived
> messages, bookmarks, files, polls, etc.
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>
.
Visit for archived messages,
bookmarks, files, polls, etc.
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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
I have always loved Johnny Winter's sound. He must be using 9's or tuned-down
10's. The strings have a thinner twangier sound and he bends the hell out of
'em. It's not a surf sound.
-Marty
----- Original Message -----
From: reverbrob
To:
Sent: Sunday, September 05, 2004 10:46 PM
Subject: [SurfGuitar101] Re: strings and strats
Funny thing about string gauges. No matter what I try, I just can't
get a Strat to feel or sound right with anything below twelves (for
surf instro). Seems like a handful of mush even just going down to
elevens. BUT--- for general rock and roll and country, I think
snappy little tens and elevens on something like a Telecaster sound
WAY better--- anything heavier is too meaty and loses the twang.
So it depends on the turf, I guess.
Rob Woolsey
Detonators
--- In , "loscobrassurf"
<loscobrassurf@y...> wrote:
> you guys are blowing my mind twelves and thirteens dang. you don't
> bend much do you.flat wounds? of course now i'm going to have to
try
> them there go my tendons.
.
Visit for archived messages,
bookmarks, files, polls, etc.
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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
I do more sliding than bending using heavy strings in surf.
-Marty
----- Original Message -----
From: loscobrassurf
To:
Sent: Sunday, September 05, 2004 6:10 PM
Subject: [SurfGuitar101] strings and strats
you guys are blowing my mind twelves and thirteens dang. you don't
bend much do you.flat wounds? of course now i'm going to have to try
them there go my tendons.i use 10-46 ghs (got to support the home
state) as far as 90's strats i use a 95 amer standard custom color
auqua. i have never played another strat that sounds as fat or as
even as this one. the hi's are smooth the lows are clear. i have
always thought that if you took ten strats some would be good some
would be great some would be crap all the same year and model of
course. so if you get a crappy one keep looking.
miller
.
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bookmarks, files, polls, etc.
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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
I don't see how you can double pick that well with
lighter strings. I started out on bass and didn't
touch a guitar for almost two years. When I finally
got curious about those little six string things I
picked it up and thought it would be absolutely
impossible to play strings that small. I immediately
went to 11's to learn on, went to flatwound 11's which
I found easier to trem pick on, and am about to try 12
rounds because I find the 11 rounds too slack now that
I'm back to those. I'm not the world's greatest, but
with the 11 rounds I'm unbearably sloppy. I just
can't keep it under control, even with a lighter pick.
I always assumed that the only way to really double
pick that fast (like Dick, or faster) and get that big
a sound was to have 13's or larger.
Richard
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Dear Marty,
I don't think Dick has ever mentioned it. But... 2 years ago, I just
happened top opening for him here in Denver at the Bluebird Theater and
I happened to pick up his guitar (which is strung for a righty although
as you know, he plays upside down as a lefty). In any case, I found
that guitar NOWHERE near as hard to play as I thought it would be. Now,
I realize that Dick had a "set" of 18-060's in his case (his roadie
proudly displayed them) but that guitar just didn't SEEM to be strung
anywhere near that heavy.
But I'd hate to break a myth... :-)
Les
On Monday, September 6, 2004, at 11:30 AM, Marty Tippens wrote:
> Has anyone heard if Dick Dale complains of tenditis? It would be
> interesting to know.
> -Marty
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Leslie Fradkin
> To:
> Sent: Monday, September 06, 2004 6:56 AM
> Subject: Re: [SurfGuitar101] strings and strats
>
>
> Guys,
> I played flat wound 11's and 12's back in 1964 when I started out
> (on a
> Hagstrom I and a sonic blue 64 Fender Strat) and they were no picnic.
> Dick Dale's hype notwithstanding, you don't need such a big string to
> get a good sound. And you'll get tendonitis one day if you keep
> working
> with very heavy guages.
>
> Many factors go into making a "fat" sound and string guage is only
> one
> factor. Your amp, your pick attack, what guitar, etc. all play a role
> in defining what your sound is.
>
> Les
>
> On Sunday, September 5, 2004, at 07:10 PM, loscobrassurf wrote:
>
>> you guys are blowing my mind twelves and thirteens dang. you don't
>> bend much do you.flat wounds? of course now i'm going to have to try
>> them there go my tendons.i use 10-46 ghs (got to support the home
>> state) as far as 90's strats i use a 95 amer standard custom color
>> auqua. i have never played another strat that sounds as fat or as
>> even as this one. the hi's are smooth the lows are clear. i have
>> always thought that if you took ten strats some would be good some
>> would be great some would be crap all the same year and model of
>> course. so if you get a crappy one keep looking.
>>
>> miller
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> .
>> Visit for archived
>> messages, bookmarks, files, polls, etc.
>>
>> Yahoo! Groups Links
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
>
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> messages, bookmarks, files, polls, etc.
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>
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A Gibson Firebird has a very different tension situation from a Fender
since it has mini humbuckers that sonically resemble Fenders but a
243/4" Gibson scale. So any light guage will feel slinky on that puppy..
I wonder if anyone uses a Firebird for surf?
Les
On Monday, September 6, 2004, at 11:36 AM, Marty Tippens wrote:
> I have always loved Johnny Winter's sound. He must be using 9's or
> tuned-down 10's. The strings have a thinner twangier sound and he
> bends the hell out of 'em. It's not a surf sound.
> -Marty
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: reverbrob
> To:
> Sent: Sunday, September 05, 2004 10:46 PM
> Subject: [SurfGuitar101] Re: strings and strats
>
>
> Funny thing about string gauges. No matter what I try, I just can't
> get a Strat to feel or sound right with anything below twelves (for
> surf instro). Seems like a handful of mush even just going down to
> elevens. BUT--- for general rock and roll and country, I think
> snappy little tens and elevens on something like a Telecaster sound
> WAY better--- anything heavier is too meaty and loses the twang.
>
> So it depends on the turf, I guess.
>
> Rob Woolsey
> Detonators
>
> --- In , "loscobrassurf"
> <loscobrassurf@y...> wrote:
>> you guys are blowing my mind twelves and thirteens dang. you don't
>> bend much do you.flat wounds? of course now i'm going to have to
> try
>> them there go my tendons.
>
>
>
> .
> Visit for archived
> messages, bookmarks, files, polls, etc.
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That's what I have to do as well when confronted with heavier strings.
Les
On Monday, September 6, 2004, at 11:49 AM, Marty Tippens wrote:
>
> I do more sliding than bending using heavy strings in surf.
> -Marty
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: loscobrassurf
> To:
> Sent: Sunday, September 05, 2004 6:10 PM
> Subject: [SurfGuitar101] strings and strats
>
>
> you guys are blowing my mind twelves and thirteens dang. you don't
> bend much do you.flat wounds? of course now i'm going to have to try
> them there go my tendons.i use 10-46 ghs (got to support the home
> state) as far as 90's strats i use a 95 amer standard custom color
> auqua. i have never played another strat that sounds as fat or as
> even as this one. the hi's are smooth the lows are clear. i have
> always thought that if you took ten strats some would be good some
> would be great some would be crap all the same year and model of
> course. so if you get a crappy one keep looking.
>
> miller
>
>
>
> .
> Visit for archived
> messages, bookmarks, files, polls, etc.
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If you listen to my CD's, I'm double picking faster than Dick on some
of the tunes ("Surfin' The Classics, Part 1" for example), and I'm
doing that with a .042 on the bottom E.
Of course, I'm also "palm muting" to control "flap" so maybe that's why
I can do this the way I've described.
I think every guitarist evolves his / her own way of solving problems
and defining approaches. What works for A may be useless for B.
By way of example, I love Jeff Beck and rushed out to buy his 1st
signature Strat many years ago, you know, the one with the FAAAAT neck.
I couldn't for the life of me, figure out how he could play that. And
yet, that guitar sounded great for him. But not for me....
Yngwie Malmsteen plays with an .008 on top and that puzzles me as well
as regards certain licks he does.
But he's evidently adapted a individual technique to do it that way...
as I have to do things my way...as you have to do things your way.
Coming from bass, I can definitely see how light guitar strings could
feel like rubber bands to you.
Les
On Monday, September 6, 2004, at 12:29 PM, Richard wrote:
>
> I don't see how you can double pick that well with
> lighter strings. I started out on bass and didn't
> touch a guitar for almost two years. When I finally
> got curious about those little six string things I
> picked it up and thought it would be absolutely
> impossible to play strings that small. I immediately
> went to 11's to learn on, went to flat-wound 11's which
> I found easier to trem pick on, and am about to try 12
> rounds because I find the 11 rounds too slack now that
> I'm back to those. I'm not the world's greatest, but
> with the 11 rounds I'm unbearably sloppy. I just
> can't keep it under control, even with a lighter pick.
> I always assumed that the only way to really double
> pick that fast (like Dick, or faster) and get that big
> a sound was to have 13's or larger.
>
> Richard
>
>
>
> __________________________________
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>
Thanks for sharing your experience playing with Nokie Edwards....interesting
observations.
I remember reading on Dick Dale's own website that he was using "slightly
skinnier" strings these days. Ivan Pongracic posted a great "hands on"
review of "The Beast" a few months back.
BN
Dear Supertwang,
I swapped strings to get lighter sets as well. That became especially
important as the 60's moved along and blusier styles took hold.
Like I said in another post, my palm muting skill (which I learned thru
many years of messing about with pedal steel guitar) has served me well
in achieving very fast double picking speeds on lighter strings. This
was necessary to do both surf technique and bending on the same guitar.
I also use knuckle blocking for keeping strings under control at those
speeds.
FWIW, the Wilson Bros bridge on my VM-65 is cast like an American
Standard Strat so it doesn't have screws that stick upwards like a
vintage Fender Strat setup. This allows more secure muting with cutting
my hand up.
You can lean on that all day without a sweat.
Les
On Monday, September 6, 2004, at 11:21 AM, supertwangreverb wrote:
> <<FWIW, I jammed with Nokie Edwards this past weekend at Louiefest in
> Tacoma, Washington, and we used his Hitchhiker guitars (He brought two
> of them so I "borrowed" one of them). Now, I was quite surprised to
> see
> that he had 009-046 on there which felt quite comfortable. So Noke
> evidently, doesn't think that light strings are inhibiting for
> himself.
> HOWEVER, I did notice that his model guitar had a pretty thick and
> dark
> tone which may be his way of compensating for lighter strings. He
> likes
> a mellow sound which suits his "easy-listening" music. When we jammed
> on tyhe old Ventures stuff, I noticed that he could still get the old
> Mosrite tone out of his axe with these strings. Even on my rhythm
> parts, I got the old Ventures sound out of that guitar. And INokie
> mentioned that the Ventures used to use much heavier strings. So it
> must be the player, not the gear.>>
>
> I think the Ventures or at least Nokie got into lighter strings
> pretty early on. When you listen to them in Japan in '65 its obvious
> they are using roundwound strings and Nokie certainly has a steel G.
> I've often compared Nokie's sound around that time to James Burton's,
> who was using banjo strings at the time. I wasn't alive back then
> but I do know guys used to swap "b" strings for "g" strings. Both
> Nokie and James had a pretty shrill sound.
>
> I used to play a Telecaster with 9s on it because James Burton was
> the reason I started playing, and now I use a Jag and Jazzmaster
> strung with 13s and 12s. Having big hands I don't think I'll get
> tendonitis. But I do notice when I dig out the Tele or play a Strat
> in a guitar store it is almost impossible to double pick on those
> strings as well as I can on the heavier ones.
>
>
>
>
>
> .
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> messages, bookmarks, files, polls, etc.
>
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>
>
> Dear Supertwang,
> I swapped strings to get lighter sets as well. That became
especially
> important as the 60's moved along and blusier styles took hold.
>
> Like I said in another post, my palm muting skill (which I learned
thru
> many years of messing about with pedal steel guitar) has served me
well
> in achieving very fast double picking speeds on lighter strings.
This
> was necessary to do both surf technique and bending on the same
guitar.
> I also use knuckle blocking for keeping strings under control at
those
> speeds.
That's pretty good that you can do that Les. I agree, alot of tone
does come from your hands, but still I cannot imagine some surf songs
sounding the same on lighter strings. For example Dick Dale's "Night
Rider" that just sounds right being double picked on heavy strings
being forced through a reverb tank. Also alot of Eddie Bertrand
stuff. For example his solos on "Scratch" would sound different with
lighter strings. As much as you can say that tone comes from ones
hands there is something to be said for using heavy strings and
hitting them hard, exspecially in the surf genre. I've always
thought that the guitarists who I enjoy that use lighter strings have
a weaker sound than those I listen to who use heavier strings. I
love James Burton and his playing was ahead of its time, however, his
tone wasn't really all that great. But that's just an opinion I
guess.
Bill Aqua
ok i get the picture.i have a fender cyclone 2 (mustang body,three
jagwar pickups,strat trem,and short scale)i'll give it a try.thinking
about it i do have a fulldrive 2. i use it with just a touch of drive
and a clean amp it does fatten my sound up alot.we play about 25%
surf and the rest rock instro so i do alot of bending.the problem
with going to big strings (besides my tendons)is doing a new nut. all
the modern guitars come with 9's . just a thought back in the day
when surf ruled couldn't you only get big strings?
miller
--- In , "supertwangreverb"
<supertwangreverb@y...> wrote:
>
> > Dear Supertwang,
> > I swapped strings to get lighter sets as well. That became
> especially
> > important as the 60's moved along and blusier styles took hold.
> >
> > Like I said in another post, my palm muting skill (which I
learned
> thru
> > many years of messing about with pedal steel guitar) has served
me
> well
> > in achieving very fast double picking speeds on lighter strings.
> This
> > was necessary to do both surf technique and bending on the same
> guitar.
> > I also use knuckle blocking for keeping strings under control at
> those
> > speeds.
>
> That's pretty good that you can do that Les. I agree, alot of tone
> does come from your hands, but still I cannot imagine some surf
songs
> sounding the same on lighter strings. For example Dick
Dale's "Night
> Rider" that just sounds right being double picked on heavy strings
> being forced through a reverb tank. Also alot of Eddie Bertrand
> stuff. For example his solos on "Scratch" would sound different
with
> lighter strings. As much as you can say that tone comes from ones
> hands there is something to be said for using heavy strings and
> hitting them hard, exspecially in the surf genre. I've always
> thought that the guitarists who I enjoy that use lighter strings
have
> a weaker sound than those I listen to who use heavier strings. I
> love James Burton and his playing was ahead of its time, however,
his
> tone wasn't really all that great. But that's just an opinion I
> guess.
>
> Bill Aqua
Dear Bill,
"Also alot of Eddie Bertrand stuff. For example his solos on "Scratch"
would sound different with lighter strings."
Well, Eddie Bertrand plays with me on my new CD's so the scoop is that
he now plays with 010's. And he sounds the same (when he wants to) as
he ever did in the old days. Eddie and I have discussed this ad
nauseum. Mostly, we're after new sonic territory which should be
obvious to all who hear what we've done.
"For example Dick Dale's "Night Rider" that just sounds right being
double picked on heavy strings being forced through a reverb tank."
You're right, Dick gets a very large tone on that tune. But that's his
sound. If I copied it, there would be little reason for the likes of me
in instro circles.
" I've always thought that the guitarists who I enjoy that use lighter
strings have a weaker sound than those I listen to who use heavier
strings."
It depends on your specific taste. We gravitate toward defending that
which we admire. We perceive our perceptions. By taking Dick's double
picking and mixing it up with neo-classical riffing from Pagannini,
Mozart, Bach and Yngwie, I've moved into my own turf (...err, surf)
with what I'm doing. Blend that in with Ventures melodicism and a dash
of Jeff Beck and you've got what I'm doing. The shift and sacrifice to
accomodate all these things at once makes heavy strings for me a
non-starter. For someone who likes the older trad style, heavy is the
way to go for nailing that sound. For my sound, quite the opposite.
"I agree, alot of tone does come from your hands, but still I cannot
imagine some surf songs sounding the same on lighter strings."
I sound the same no matter which guitar I use and generally, regardless
of type of string. This is because I have my own sound. As does Dick
who picked up MY guitar that night in Denver and sounded the same on
mine as he does on his.My setup was, arguably, less suitable for his
level of hand attack but that's because he needs that big string to
acheive the sound HE'S after. (Of course, he broke a string trying,
but I forgave him for that! :-) I do prefer nickel wound because they
last and don't exaggerate finger noise. (Fender 150's to be exact.)
Regards,
Les
On Monday, September 6, 2004, at 03:02 PM, supertwangreverb wrote:
>
>> Dear Supertwang,
>> I swapped strings to get lighter sets as well. That became
> especially
>> important as the 60's moved along and blusier styles took hold.
>>
>> Like I said in another post, my palm muting skill (which I learned
> thru
>> many years of messing about with pedal steel guitar) has served me
> well
>> in achieving very fast double picking speeds on lighter strings.
> This
>> was necessary to do both surf technique and bending on the same
> guitar.
>> I also use knuckle blocking for keeping strings under control at
> those
>> speeds.
>
> That's pretty good that you can do that Les. I agree, alot of tone
> does come from your hands, but still I cannot imagine some surf songs
> sounding the same on lighter strings. For example Dick Dale's "Night
> Rider" that just sounds right being double picked on heavy strings
> being forced through a reverb tank. Also alot of Eddie Bertrand
> stuff. For example his solos on "Scratch" would sound different with
> lighter strings. As much as you can say that tone comes from ones
> hands there is something to be said for using heavy strings and
> hitting them hard, exspecially in the surf genre. I've always
> thought that the guitarists who I enjoy that use lighter strings have
> a weaker sound than those I listen to who use heavier strings. I
> love James Burton and his playing was ahead of its time, however, his
> tone wasn't really all that great. But that's just an opinion I
> guess.
>
> Bill Aqua
>
>
>
>
>
> .
> Visit for archived
> messages, bookmarks, files, polls, etc.
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
