The Steel Guitar Forum

I just go to my local music shop and buy individual Ernie Ball as and when I need them.

Well I've got to hit this!! Yes, Jags on a "Stage One" are fantastic!! I used the "Lloyd Green Artist Series", but with problems going on with them I finally tried "Live Steel Strings". I bought a few sets from them, but I had changed strings not too long ago and was having some problems from brand X which is a good brand I might add!! My 3-4-5 were driving me crazy!! A little buzzy and the "B" wasn't staying in tune!! I bought individuals and changed them out. What a difference that made!!! Four and five now are virtually buzz free, however, number 3 is just a little bit!! The tuning problem is gone, period!! I really can't wait to change the whole set out and hear and feel the whole result!! Just from this experience, these have to be great strings!!!!

If you’re afraid to venture off from your tour guide or put gravy on your tacos once in a while then this is probably not for you.

Here is what I'm using on my Stage One.
12, 14, 11, 14, 17, 21w , 24w, 28w, 32w, 36w. nickel. And yes I had to do some tweaking one time.

I don't like fighting that 15 on the 2nd string with bar pressure to get some pressure on that 11 on the 3rd string so I use a 14 on the 2nd string.

I put a 12 on the first string because a 13 just seems ungodly tight and I cringe every time I run that string up to F#

Hell who’s looking for tone out of those strings anyway. And when you pick that 2nd string by mistake that 14 don’t make near as bad a clam as that 15.

I use smaller gauges on the lower strings to get more twang. This allows me to crank in more bass to cut some of the screaming treble on the high strings and crank in more presence. All of this kind of pushes everything more into the mid range.

I've never been able to use a plain 6th string on any steel without having tuning issues with it.
They just don't seem to sound in tune open and or fret true.