DGT Strings

[JasonE]

I run D'Addario 10s on everything, even my DGT.

 

[BigChrisW]

I'll be putting D'addario 11-49 on my DGT SE but I tune down half a step so they feel like 10s

 

[Monahan]

I plan on starting with 10's as I already have a set of DR Pure Blues on hand. Later I may try something lighter... probably first on my CE to see which I like better.

 

[PAFF64]

I used NYXL 11s for a long time, but have noticed a little bit of arthritis in my fingers. Moved down to 10s recently. 11s felt like 10s on my DGT, the 10s feel really light, but much less pain in my fingers. I think the 10s do sound very good. There a slight thinness compared to 11s, but you'd really have to be listening to notice it (especially in a band setting).

 

[azzkkr]

I find the 011s very easy to play on my DGT….use 011s also on my Echopark J(25.5), as well as my SG/JSM100 etc…on my PRS SS Dead Spec, SSky and anything vintage Fender(Strats,Telly)and my Bursts I stick to 010 Balanced Tension(All NYXL). On my 63 Bigsby Casino I use D‘Addario Chromes 011-053….only on my Ibanez AH10 I use 0.95 with a really low string height….on the 62 Jazzmaster again 011 D‘Addario XLE

 

[László]

I'm usually a 10's guy, but considering 9's since watching Rick Beato's "Does Size Matter?" video...

I usually find Rick Beato's musical insights terrific, but on the topic of string gauge he's full of sh!t.

It's easy to hear the difference between 10s and 11s, unless you run everything with a ton of gain.

In fact, you don't have to try the strings yourself. If you want to hear the differences in a video, check out That Pedal Show's string gauge test done a few years earlier. Clear as day.

 

[ruger9]

I usually find Rick Beato's musical insights terrific, but on the topic of string gauge he's full of sh!t.

It's easy to hear the difference between 10s and 11s, unless you run everything with a ton of gain.

In fact, you don't have to try the strings yourself. If you want to hear the differences in a video, check out That Pedal Show's string gauge test done a few years earlier. Clear as day.

Agree on strings. Altho I will say, Billy G has one of the thickest tones ever, and he plays 8's!!

I can't even play a guitar with low action and 9s (anymore). Even on my shredder from my youth (Charvel/Jackson with Floyd Rose), which I used to play 9s on as a kid, has 10s on it now. 10s are the lowest I can go (I also raised the action a bit).

 

[László]

Altho I will say, Billy G has one of the thickest tones ever, and he plays 8's!!

There's nothing wrong with 8s, 9s, or 10s, and there's nothing 'better' about 11s. They're just different, and choosing is a matter of taste.

Strings sound different in various gauges. And they feel different and react to picking and strumming differently.

To anyone whose ears were fooled by the way the amps were set up at Rick Beato's, watch this video all the way through and then tell me that you can't hear string gauge difference - because if that's the case, you need your hearing checked.

The difference is quite clear. Again, that doesn't make one better than the other, it's all a matter of how the sound fits what you want.

 

[Monahan]

Since I started this conversation last year (almost to the day), thought it would be nice to provide an update.

My DGT arrived strung with 10's per request from the dealer (Moore Guitars were fantastic to work with). I played it that way for a bit, but admittedly wasn't overly impressed. Wonderful guitar, no complaints there, but the humbuckers sounded nearly like every other humbucker out there... and again, nothing wrong-- just didn't live up to the hype to my ears. Quite honestly, my CE24 was FAR more pleasing to my ears (but that's a different conversation).

So I started looking into switching strings; first to different brands (DR has been my go-to for decades), to different gauges.

Important note: it's not talked about much-- and maybe it's just me-- but no matter the guitar, I always tweak its controls and/or the amps controls to achieve a sound that's in my head.

With that quirky fact established, a string's inherent tone doesn't matter at all in my situation-- as long as I have various controls within arms reach. To me, strings come down to feel. It's why pure nickel has been my choice for 40-some years.

Enter the DGT. 'Unhappy' (for lack of a better description) with the 10's. Considered going back to the 9s of my youth. Happened upon several videos regarding the subject. Ordered a set of Classic Ernie Ball Rock & Roll Extra Slinky 8-38.

Holy banana peel Batman! These'll put you on your butt!

These strings are just fun to play!

Tone? Yes, different than 10's, but a few tweaks of the amp's knobs and bingo!. The tone has a clear character to it, which I think suits the inherent clarity of the PRS pickups in both the CE and the DGT.

Again, it comes down to feel. Over the years I've worked on having a light touch, mainly due to getting older and having had terrible cases of tendonitis along the way. Fretting "too hard to play in tune..." has not been an issue-- not even close.

All the different videos about string gauges are enjoyable, but remember-- it is their opinion, preferences, and playing style-- not yours (or mine). Most of those videos fail to use or even mention that the guitar and amp have knobs... that turn... and change your sound. The things being used to strike the strings have a role to play as well... you get the idea. Again, that stuff is great entertainment, but not exactly absolute truth.

Downside? Finding them in stock locally can be difficult, and when I do there's only one or two sets available. Not all manufactures offer 8s, so there's that.

Anyway, I've found the 8's have brought new life to my playing because of the fun factor. Less stress on the hands, the clarity of the notes, it's just made the guitar more fun to play. And that's a good thing

 

[El Fenix]

Play what you like

It's rock and roll. There are no rules

 

[Black Dog]

I have 8.5 on my DGT SE.

 

[ruger9]

There's nothing wrong with 8s, 9s, or 10s, and there's nothing 'better' about 11s. They're just different, and choosing is a matter of taste.

Strings sound different in various gauges. And they feel different and react to picking and strumming differently.

To anyone whose ears were fooled by the way the amps were set up at Rick Beato's, watch this video all the way through and then tell me that you can't hear string gauge difference - because if that's the case, you need your hearing checked.

The difference is quite clear. Again, that doesn't make one better than the other, it's all a matter of how the sound fits what you want.

I play a certain way, using a certain technique you could say. I let the guitar tell me what strings it needs to facilitate that for me. I like a little fight in guitars. My action is higher than most people's. On my 25-1/2" scale guitars I play 10-52. Unless it's a strat type with a bar (like my EBMM Luke III), in which case it's 10-46. On my 25" scale PRS it's 11's, which is what it was designed for. On my 24-3/4" Gretsch, it's 11s.

I don't tune down, but my style of playing very much resembles the description given by SRV:

 

[shimmilou]

Sticking with 11s, and only on this guitar

 

[JasonE]

There's nothing wrong with 8s, 9s, or 10s, and there's nothing 'better' about 11s. They're just different, and choosing is a matter of taste.

Strings sound different in various gauges. And they feel different and react to picking and strumming differently.

To anyone whose ears were fooled by the way the amps were set up at Rick Beato's, watch this video all the way through and then tell me that you can't hear string gauge difference - because if that's the case, you need your hearing checked.

The difference is quite clear. Again, that doesn't make one better than the other, it's all a matter of how the sound fits what you want.

Interesting video. I just started it up. It is interesting to see Dan a good bit less gray and Mick with a clean shaven face. I will play this today between meetings. Thanks for posting it.

 

[Prina]

I've found the 8's have brought new life to my playing because of the fun factor. Less stress on the hands, the clarity of the notes, it's just made the guitar more fun to play. And that's a good thing

Can't argue against fun. Or against keeping hands healthy.

My guitars run from 8's to 10's and the 8's get the most playing time, though for clean sounds it's usually the 9.5's or 10's. I played EB 8's for decades but a couple of years switched to D'Addario 8's. To me they just sound better. And apparently they make the PRS strings.

 

[László]

Interesting video. I just started it up. It is interesting to see Dan a good bit less gray and Mick with a clean shaven face. I will play this today between meetings. Thanks for posting it.

I like Dan and Mick for two equally compelling reasons:

1. They're clearly as OCD about guitar audio as I am.

2. If I'm not all that into one of their topics (it happens), I invariably fall asleep watching the show. I can always use a nap.

 

[Greywolf]

The big frets on the DGT make the 11's play like 9.5's for me . I run 9.5's on the rest because of arthritic hands.
I'm thinking of throwing a set of DGT strings on my HBII as the 58/15 LT's lack a bit with 9.5's . I run 11 flatwounds on my Jazz box.

I dropped down a gauge on my '55 LP soapy and it was a huge difference in tone .. Soapies are like that

Strings are the least expensive way to change your tone, try out a few .. you'll settle on what's right for That instrument , and You.

 

[Black Dog]

I went to 8.5 because of arthritis. It seems to be helping.

 

[Mike Duncan]

Using 11-50s since ‘87 on Strats. Learning to play the slack 25” PRSs was a little bit of a learning curve.

I’ve never used anything lighter on a PRS…strings all flopping around.