The Steel Guitar Forum

Hi Guys I found out the hard way what a plain vs wound 6th string will do.For you new players the pull does not tune correctly, at least on my guitar it does not .

So my question is what strings are you guys using and where do you get them.I would like to buy the gauges suggested by the manufacturer. but I am finding if you get a plain 6th string others in the set are the wrong gauges.Any suggestions?

Thanks
Shane

I sell them: http://pedalsteelmusic.com/strings/E9.html#cs

Hi b0b

I bought a couple sets of those strings from you. At the time I did not know a wound vs plain 6th string would make a big difference. So I am trying to find the correct gauge strings in a set. The problem I am finding is. The sets with a plain .022 6th string usually have 1 or 2 other strings in the set are the wrong gauge.Do you sell a set with these guages? 12-15-11R-14-17-22p-26w-30w-34w-36w for E9 I could not find a set like this when looking under strings on the Forum. But I could have just missed them.

Thanks for your help !
Shane

b0b, we were discussing this in another thread. Shane has a Carter Pro S-10, not a Carter Starter. Apparently the only difference in what the factory recommends for the Pro model is the plain 6th string.

Oh, sorry, I thought you were having the opposite problem. I can substitute plain .022 for the wound .022, if that's what you need. Same price.

Shane,
I´s recommend b0b´s string as well!
As stated above, you can have your personal customized set with no extra charge.

Fast delivery (even to Europe), and it supports this forum, too.

What a service!
thank you b0b

I've been ordering from b0b, and adding plain 20's to whatever set. Usually the Jernigan stainless, for my Carter.
Rick

Never much thought about it, I have been using packaged sets , currently the Cobra Coil set has a plain .020 for the 6 ( Premium set ).
The Custom set has a plain .022. I have been using the same strings ( packaged ) for easily 5 or 6 years now. My Carter is a 04 /D10. I have had two Carters previous and used the same strings. Never any issues.

Not sure if this helps but it is more data !

t

Hi Shane !

I´m using George L´s strings on my Carter since I bought it new 11 years ago and never had problems with them. I use a wound 6´th string and always buy them from Al Brisco in Canada.

Regards... Thomas

I purchased 7 new Carters sometime ago, when I was playing there guitars. I always used a .020P on the #6 G#. This was S-10D's & D-10's. On the 3 12-U's I had, I found the 7th string,F# note would not tune true past the 12th fret. I switched from a .026W to .024W and fixed that problem. I really liked Bud Carters' designs and work.

Forgot to mention about the string brands I used on the Carters. I rotated between SIT's, Cobra Coils, Frenchy's Steel Mills,GHS & George L's. I couldn't really tell much difference except with Cobra Coils. I've been using nothing but Frenchy's Steel Mill strings since 2006 when I became a dealer for them.

Hi Shane,

I had the same misfortune when I subbed a wound 6th.

FWIW, I really like the Paul Franklin sets that bOb sells. Some of the strings are pretty darn heavy, but I get great tone out of them. I also prefer the nickel wraps - I like the sweeter tone.

Of course, your mileage may vary, and objects in mirror are closer than they appear...

Hi Shane, i had almost the same problem as Billy...i've used SIT EMMONS stainless for years and always had cabinet drop tuning problems with the 6th strings 22p and 7th 26w, i've bought a couple of Jagwire Strings set Stainless E9th (12-36) with a 20p and it helped alot with my problems, i never tried cobra strings but i really like Jagwire strings, i quess it all depends on how you pick the strings it took me a little while to get the sound i wanted out of the 20p 6 string compared to 22p, i've tried 6th wound and didn't like it for my kind of playing.

Thanks for all the replies. Man am I learning alot about strings !! Hey Marke do you have any intonation problems with the heavier gauges in the Franklin set?
And thanks for the info on string substitution b0b.

Thanks
Shane

Shane, I use the Jagwire (Paul Franklin series)
I have used wound strings (6th string)in the past and had to re-adjust the rod on the bellcrank(and use a different changer position) to compensate for the different tuning characteristics of the wound vs. plain. However, after using the wound strings a while and discovering that I didn't like the wound string, I flipped it over and put everything back the way it was and went back to a plain 6th string. I like the heavier gauge of the PF series, but..... when the bar gets down to the 1st fret I have to adjust my approach because I get a little string buzz due to the difference in string thickness. To me it's worth the trade off, because I have a pretty heavy string attack style and the tone is much better with the heavier strings. JMHO

Shane Glover wrote:Thanks for all the replies. Man am I learning alot about strings !! Hey Marke do you have any intonation problems with the heavier gauges in the Franklin set?
And thanks for the info on string substitution b0b.

Thanks
Shane

Hiya Shane,

I'm not noticing any. They make my C pedal pretty stiff, but I've learned to compensate for it. I love the tone of them. For a while I switched all of my 6 string electrics to .11 through .48....big ol fat tone and great for slide, but a real motha to bend!