Strings

David Rupert · From: Mesa, Arizona (Hometown: Mahopac, NY & Pennsylvania).

I'm getting ready to change the strings on my Mullen D-10. I'm playing through my NEW, Peavey® Nashville™ 112. I really love the 112, BTW!! Crying or Very sad

I usually have my S.I.T. Strings, in my SKB case. Well, I don't have any sets! Embarassed

All they had at the local music store, were "Ernie Ball" strings. And the brand that makes the "boomer's." GHS...I believe?

Anyway, I had the girl that works the counter; make me a E9th & C6th set, from there single strings. Ernie Ball®.

I haven't used EB strings...in many years, so I forget how they sound.

Question: Would you use Ernie Ball® strings? How good/bad...do they sound?

Also, I found a set of E9th...& C6th strings that are at least...3 years OLD. Rhetorical, but are these S.I.T. Sets..."dead?". Or...can I use them? Without...the "boiling solution."

Any feedback...would be greatly appreciative!

Thanks, in advance!

Gotta go eat...I'll be back in spell!
_________________
David "DJ" Rupert

"Music. Without it, life itself...would be impossible."

https://www.reverbnation.com/daviddjrupert/

Gary Cosden · From: Florida, USA

There are only 2 possibilities. You will either like them or you wont. Why would you not try them? Why not sooner than later when there is more chance you wont like them? I would predict you will find them quite usable regardless of what some may say about the shelf life of strings.

David Rupert · From: Mesa, Arizona (Hometown: Mahopac, NY & Pennsylvania).

Gary Cosden · From: Florida, USA

Sorry - I did not mean to ignore your first question. I used to use Ernie Ball strings years ago and I thought they sounded fine. I bet they would do well enough in a pinch. I like SIT as well but like many here on the forum I use Jagwires and love them. Supports the forum as well. That being said I would not hesitate to use Ernie Ball strings in a pinch. New Ernie Balls will almost certainly sound better than just about any brand that has been on the guitar too long. I hate changing stings too but that is the price you pay to sound your best. I hope this is in some way helpful. Winnie Winston would use any strings he could find and never found one he liked that much more than others or at least thats what I recall him saying. Use up them old SITS!

Jack Stoner · From: Kansas City, MO

I use George L's Stainless steel wound strings on my Franklin. I've used them since the Bill Lawrence string days. In a pinch if I run out of George L's, I'll use the GHS Supersteel's which are also SS and very close to George L's (GHS makes a lot of private label brands including George L's).

Bob Schorell · From: Vero Beach, Florida, USA

I have spare strings that I got from Sho-Bud back in the early seventies(probably around 30 of them). Haven't tried to use them yet but I think they would work in a pinch.

Jerry Overstreet · From: Louisville Ky

David, I like to keep several sets of steel guitar strings either in my seat or on a shelf. Sometimes 5 or 6 sets for each neck. It might be 2 or 3 years before I get to some of them. Never had any problems due to age. They are GHS, Geo. L's, SIT's, E and C sets in no particular order.

Storm Rosson · From: Silver City, NM. USA

Been usin D'Addario Pro-steel lately, like 'em quite a bit , although I use a 18 wound for the 6th string instead of the 17 plain in the set... Smile

Jody Sanders · From: Magnolia,Texas, R.I.P.

I use Frenchy's Silent Series nickel. These strings are semi-flat wound so that you still get the brillience of round wound and the playing ease of flat wound. Jody.

David Rupert · From: Mesa, Arizona (Hometown: Mahopac, NY & Pennsylvania).

David Rupert · From: Mesa, Arizona (Hometown: Mahopac, NY & Pennsylvania).

Thanks very much, to everyone who replied to my questions!! I appreciate all of the great information & feedback. You really answered my questions, very well! I'll print out everyone's reply, for future reference.
Thanks again...& take care!! Smile

_________________
David "DJ" Rupert

"Music. Without it, life itself...would be impossible."

https://www.reverbnation.com/daviddjrupert/

CrowBear Schmitt · From: Ariege, - PairO'knees, - France

Jagwires & i get them from b0b
it's my way of supporting the fo'.. ...................bro' Winking

http://pedalsteelmusic.com/strings.html

Larry Bell · From: Englewood, Florida

(put on flame suit)
When I look at who tends to talk up a particular brand of 'designer PSG' string, it is often one whose name is associated with that brand -- like an owner, vendor or an endorser.

Another is one who has been (IMHO) indoctrinated (or sold a bill of goods) by someone who they respect (who may well be one of those owners vendors or endorsers)

I have no such prejudice. I have found no 'magic elixir' in any of the jag-cobra-diamond-coated -- whatever strings.

Three secrets:
1. Use a GOOD BRAND of FRESH string that is stored properly -- heat and humidity will degrade any string over time. What is a good brand? Any brand that sells well -- as Jack Stoner mentioned some of the larger mfgrs (like GHS) actually produce the strings in some of those 'designer packages'. For my money, GHS and SIT are as good as any, but I've used Rogue (subsidiary of Fender), Fender, Gibson, and many other brands. All are acceptable as long as the strings are FRESH. I like GHS and SIT because they are popular and don't sit around a store or warehouse for long.

LEARN TO THROW OLD STRINGS AWAY. Look at one you've had for several years -- run your finger down the length of it -- you are likely to find minute pits that will cause intonation problems and physical weakness and early breakage. It's not worth it to keep old strings. They aren't THAT expensive.

2. Change your strings at least once a month -- more often on the 3rd and 5th E9 strings -- and more often if you play a lot of gigs (more than a couple of nights / wk) or practice 3 or 4 hours / day. If a string sounds 'zingy' -- CHANGE IT. If you can't tune it properly or it doesn't fret accurately above the 12th fret -- CHANGE IT. Learn to HEAR what a string sounds like when it's about to break.

3. Keep your strings CLEAN. Wipe them off after playing. It's like brushing your teeth -- strings WILL ROT. I use a treated Blitz cloth, and have for years, but any clean cloth will work fine -- just get the gunk off before you tear down your guitar after a gig.

Now I'll jinx myself:
I haven't broken a string onstage in more than 5 years by ensuring that my strings are
* A GOOD, REPUTABLE BRAND
* NOT MORE THAN A MONTH OLD

I pay between $7-8 for a set of SIT Stainless 12- string universal strings. I alternate between my three guitars and usually play 3 or 4 gigs per week and rarely practice more than an hour a week.

THERE IS NO MAGIC STRING BRAND THAT WILL SOUND BETTER AND ELIMINATE STRING BREAKAGE FOR GOOD. If you raise and lower a .011 string enough times IT WILL BREAK -- regardless of the alloy or mfg technique. And, yes, FRESH Ernie Ball strings should work just fine. If you didn't know, Ernie Ball was a steel player. Smile

This is just my opinion, but, more importantly, my EXPERIENCE of playing thousands of bar, theatre, concert, and recording gigs over almost 40 years. I used to just leave them on until they broke, then tried to get really good at changing strings onstage. Believe me, it's better to keep them clean and fresh. They sound better, tune up better, and break FAR LESS OFTEN.
_________________
Larry Bell - email: larry@larrybell.org - gigs - Home Page
My CD's: 'I've Got Friends in COLD Places' - 'Pedal Steel Guitar'
2021 Rittenberry S/D-12 8x7, 1976 Emmons S/D-12 7x6, 1969 Emmons S/D-12 6x6, 1971 Dobro, Quilter ToneBlock 202 TT-12

Alfred Ewell · From: Virginia, USA

b0b · From: Cloverdale, CA, USA

Dick Wood · From: Springtown Texas, USA

b0b,I'd like to order some of them fresh strings like I often do but it says everything is out so how can I get some?
_________________
Cops aren't paid much so I steel at night.

Larry Bell · From: Englewood, Florida

Wonderful way to support the Forum and be guaranteed that you start out with fresh strings. Smile

Keep them clean and change them when they're due and you'll minimize breakage when playing and ensure they fret accurately and tune properly.

I have no bone to pick with Cobras or Jags -- I've used both from time to time. I just go through a lot of strings and tend to buy 6 or more sets at a time and also buy dozen paks of individual strings. You get a pretty good price break buying in bulk -- but only if you need and use them. They will degrade with time.

Go b0b
Smile

Elton Smith · From: Texas, USA

I don't care for the hex core strings.They seem to cut the windings.
_________________
Gibson Les Paul
Reverend Avenger
Paul Reed Smith
Fender Telecaster
MSA S10 Classic
ShoBud
Old Peavy Amps

b0b · From: Cloverdale, CA, USA

Jack Goodson · From: new brockton,alabama (deceased)

i ordered strings from b0b last friday, sent a check by regular usps and got the strings yesterday (i live in new brockton alabama which is in the southeast corner of the state)....you definitely cannot beat the service and for sure the jagwires....thanks jack

Paul Norman · From: Washington, North Carolina, USA

I buy Jagwire strings from b0b and it helps support this forum and they are also the best strings you can get. You have a choice of nickel or stainless wrapped. b0b keeps the price low for our convenience.

Elton Smith · From: Texas, USA

Let me say this,I live in a town over 150,000 and the biggest music store around don't even furnish strings ,or anything else for steel guitars.I've looked to the forum many times for strings for standard E9th and they have been out.That might explain the demand.Seems like more guys are playing steel or starting to learn than ever.Thats a good thing.
_________________
Gibson Les Paul
Reverend Avenger
Paul Reed Smith
Fender Telecaster
MSA S10 Classic
ShoBud
Old Peavy Amps

Elton Smith · From: Texas, USA

One other thing that would help me and most beginers would be a colored string at the right spacing.I have already checked on this and there is nothing out there.String 8 green 6 red 5 blue 4 plain 3 yellow ,2 any color that will let me not hit it unless I want to.This is just a thought.But site is a must for beginers.I know what some may think that have been playing forever I don't even look at em.But at this stage I have to.This thing is like plucking a harp.
_________________
Gibson Les Paul
Reverend Avenger
Paul Reed Smith
Fender Telecaster
MSA S10 Classic
ShoBud
Old Peavy Amps

Larry Bell · From: Englewood, Florida

If you think that will help, then get a bunch of magic markers and knock yerself out. Smile

It will encourage you to look at your fingers while playing. Not a good habit -- especially looking at the fingers of your right hand.

As a beginner you would be served well to practice the major chord grips for 15 minutes or longer every time you sit down to your guitar. Play the following string grips:
10 8 6
8 6 5
6 5 4
5 4 3

You should be able to do this WITHOUT THINKING (and, more importantly, WITHOUT LOOKING). From the bottom up (as shown) and top down (reverse). You'll save a lot of money on magic markers that way AND will feel a confidence in playing you won't have if you're 'just fishin' for it'. Set your metronome for about 60 beats per minute. You should eventually be able to change the grips that fast without mistakes. Start out giving each grip 2 or 4 beats, then graduate to a beat each at 60 bpm. Once you home in on those grips you can find 1,2,7, and 9 more easily and can start working on how to use those non-major-chord tones to your advantage.

I sincerely believe that a good steel guitarist should be able to play in the dark or on a guitar with no fretboard.

Just a suggestion.

I assume you know that you can use regular ball end guitar strings. If you can find individual guitar strings to make up your set, it's not necessary to buy the pedal steel E9 set -- they're the same strings. Just be sure to get the correct gauge strings and avoid mixing stainless wound strings with nickel plated steel strings.
_________________
Larry Bell - email: larry@larrybell.org - gigs - Home Page
My CD's: 'I've Got Friends in COLD Places' - 'Pedal Steel Guitar'
2021 Rittenberry S/D-12 8x7, 1976 Emmons S/D-12 7x6, 1969 Emmons S/D-12 6x6, 1971 Dobro, Quilter ToneBlock 202 TT-12

Don Sulesky · From: Citrus County, FL, Orig. from MA & NH

I've used the GHS SS for over 10 years now and find them to be very consistant in tone and reliability.
Since they make strings for many other brands that tells me something right there.
Don

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