The Steel Guitar Forum

OK it's obvious I'm new to this, but I just restrung my D10 for the first time. What, if, any is the difference between pedal guitar strings and electric guitar strings? Are the wound ones constructed differently? I used a plain electric to get by until I received my new set, seemed fine.

Boy the .070 on my Pro II was a challenge to get on, safety glasses next time:-) Any tips on that?


Thanks, Jon

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No diff. PSG strings are constructed the same way as electric guitar strings.

I once bought a dozen .011 electric guitar strings from SIT. Every one broke while trying to put them on my steel at a gig. Played the rest of the night G#less.
A call to sit - and they sent me a about 50 .011's designed for pedal steel free of charge. None of them broke immediately.
I'm thinking it has to do with tempering. This may be the only string that matters as it is under the most tension.

Oh! Another reason you will want to buy pedal steel strings - it's a better deal. You also want to ensure you get the exact same guages every time or you'll be futzing with your linkage mechanisms possibly. The amount of pull required changes with guage/tuned note.

I suggest you purchase Jagwire strings from b0b, right here on the Forum. You will be treating yourself to excellent pedal steel guitar strings and you will also be helping to support the Forum.

Leslie Ehrlich wrote:No diff. PSG strings are constructed the same way as electric guitar strings.

Not true Leslie! Or at least not here at Jagwire they're not.

Danny's right- I'm going on 40 sets on a U-12 and still haven't broken even the .011!

I don't know about other brands labeled for PSG, but the GHS brand has a different wrapping at the ball end for the 3rd and 5th strings.

Not trying to plug a brand here, but I have tried numerous brands and have played Jagwire for several years now. I used to break a fair amount of strings but I can't recall ever breaking a Jagwire string, even the .011. I also think they keep their sound quality longer. Just my opinion.

It's a good rule of thumb to use a chrome plated bar on stainless steel and all other unplated strings, and to use a stainless bar on plated strings. I play Bobbe's Cobra Coil strings exclusively (unplated cobalt alloy) with my BJS chrome bar. Or use a $15 Ernie Ball chrome bar for 90% of the same feel with unplated strings. For guitar, it's pure nickel wrap without exception (EB 2253, Fender 150L, or DR pure nickel wrap).

I buy my PSG strings here from b0b, but have substituted regular electric guitar strings in an emergency. Considering all the "bending" I do on a 6 string, I feel the strings are under as much tension as on a PSG.
I use nickel d'addario on my regular guitars, and Ricky Davis sets on my steels. I do switch gauges, occasionally, particularly on #6 (E9)
Rick

obviously,pedal steel strings are specific to the instrument
always better to put on your favorite set when changing strings
like many, i buy mine from our good Capt'
since i play guitbox & lap steel, i always have regular lektrik strings
in a pinch, i've often used 017,012,011, 038 on my psg

All strings are guitar strings.

No string manufacturer in their right mind would disrupt the production of tens of millions of guitar strings to make half a dozen specifically for pedal steel

I with Richard & Leslie
Rick

Sorry Richard, but you're wrong about this too. However, your logic does make good sense, and for the most part, you're right. Nonetheless, there truly is an exception. Guess who?

You only have to do the maths to realise that nobody is going to cater for pedal steel players consumable items: we're too few and far apart.

We are a neglible percentage of string buyers compared to guitar players, so small that in the grand scheme of things, we don't even register on a string makers radar

Danny, what's the difference?

I'm a Jagwire guy, mainly to help support b0b.

It took many years of working directly the some of the best steel guitar players in the world to develop a string that would perform the way they needed their strings to perform, consistantly and reliably, and in having the capability to raise and lower to exact pitches, yet still maintain great sustain, both below and above the 12th fret. Finding solutions to this took a lot of trial and error, and time. Of course, string breakage was also a constant concern, which we also reduced dramatically, and in many cases, completely.

Although it certainly is understandable that many would think that no wire company would shut down their "standard production guitar string runs" to satisfy a customer, or in this case, a steel guitarist, nonetheless, that is EXACTLY what does happen for the production runs of many of the Jagwire brand strings that we have exact specifications for. This doesn't come cheap, and it doesn't come fast either, nonetheless, it is how Jagwire strings are made. Contrary to what a few might say or believe, no, Jagwire strings are NOT the same as all the others.

With practically every major name in the steel guitar industry endorsing Jagwire strings exculsively, ad to that the many many dedicated players from all around the world we have using Jagwire strings exculsively, I think it's obvious that we did something right in providing them something they were looking for and hoping for in a guitar string designed specifically with their application in mind. Many of you came on board with Jagwire over a decade ago, and we're very proud to say that we still have the same artist/endorsers with us still today, with not even a hint of changing.

It is indeed safe to say the string manufacturers don't give a hoot about the very small industry of steel guitar players, and the answer is simple... there's no big money in this industry to be made. However, the guitar builders certainly do care about the product they make, as do those that provide us with many accessories specific to our use. At Jagwire we DO care about the steel players wants and needs, and it's at least one good reason why we do what we do here.

You have probably noticed that many times Bobby is out of stock on Jagwire strings. It's not because he doesn't order them on a regular basis, it's because we can't produce them fast enough to meet supply and demand for all of those we sell to, both dealers, artist/endorsers, and other individuals. When we place our wire orders, they basically set in a "hold" file untill the standard production runs are made. Jagwire string production requires several tooling changes to their machinery, and that takes time in order to set up a completely different production run for Jagwire string products. Of course, "strings" are not the only thing that can slow us down here, not by a long shot, as there are many other things that have to happen here too in order to make a complete product ready for the consumers. We are also at the mercy of others in some regards.

In any event, I don't mean to make a book out of this post, but the real botom line here is, NO, regardless of any logic or what some may think, Jagwire strings are NOT the same as all the others.

Danny,
Thanks for that clarification, and I'm happy to say that I stand corrected

If I can I get Jagwires in the UK, I'll give them a try

String companies are just like any other business, they take orders with customer's specifications. They do "runs" for the different clients. Typically the production manager schedules the runs. Materials and tooling is then setup for each particular run.

Richard, email me your address, and I'll give you some sets to try for free. Go to the Jagwire web site and pick what you want from there, and then email me with your choices.

Thanks Danny,
That's very good of you

Not a whole lot I can add to what Danny just wrote; as he is sooooo right on the money with everything he spoke of.
But I will say this.
I've had other endorsments and have always thought a string was a string, with small variables in playability.
But when I tried Jagwire; the very very first thing I had to do was re-tune my pedal and knee lever pulls as they were all pulling too far. That right there told me; WOW, there is something way different about the string to where; it take less pull/distance to pull the same guage string. Then I played them...and clarity and sustain was substantially diff. and held their tone/texture much longer as weeks and weeks went by.
So CERTAINLY the jagwire string is made different from other; and after getting to know Danny and the time he has put into research and to cater to the steel guitar; just amazed me. Danny still amazes me with his continued customer service and always wanting to make things right for all customers; that right there folks, is hard to find these days.
What a guy; what a string; and all these things considered, sets Jagwire far apart from any string made.
Ricky

Ricky Davis wrote:Not a whole lot I can add to what Danny just wrote; as he is sooooo right on the money with everything he spoke of.
But I will say this.
I've had other endorsments and have always thought a string was a string, with small variables in playability.
But when I tried Jagwire; the very very first thing I had to do was re-tune my pedal and knee lever pulls as they were all pulling too far. That right there told me; WOW, there is something way different about the string to where; it take less pull/distance to pull the same guage string. Then I played them...and clarity and sustain was substantially diff. and held their tone/texture much longer as weeks and weeks went by.
So CERTAINLY the jagwire string is made different from other; and after getting to know Danny and the time he has put into research and to cater to the steel guitar; just amazed me. Danny still amazes me with his continued customer service and always wanting to make things right for all customers; that right there folks, is hard to find these days.
What a guy; what a string; and all these things considered, sets Jagwire far apart from any string made.
Ricky

There is the absolute truth. Just a word of warning for you guys who double on standard 6 string guitar. DO NOT use Jagwire stainless on your standard guitar. That is unless you don't care about sanding all the callouses off your fingers. The stainless wrapping is so much harder than the nickel. They do sound great on a standard guitar however, if you don't mind sore fingers.

richard burton wrote:All strings are guitar strings.

No string manufacturer in their right mind would disrupt the production of tens of millions of guitar strings to make half a dozen specifically for pedal steel

Danny is out of his mind, obviously!

Seriously, the Jagwire strings are specifically made for pedal steel. The alloys, the ratio of core to winding, the way the ball is attached - these things all combine to make a string set that works better on pedal steel than regular guitar strings.

I actually have to limit Jagwire E9th sales to 4 sets per customer because I can't keep them in stock any other way.