HB II player: couple questions from a new guy

[zaboaa]

Hi, new PRS guy here. My wife got me an HB II for my Bday. It was my bucket list guitar (great wife ). Been playing it about 2 weeks now. Have a couple questions:

- Strings: I like the PRS strings , it has the 11-49's on it. I mainly play Blues with some jazz and classic rock thrown in. I have broken two of the G strings. It's probably my technique (strong intermediate player), but I don't have this problem on my other guitars. PRS uses a wound G string, this is the first electric I've used with one of those. Seems like 11's are the smallest I would want to play on it, but any recommendations from those who use other strings?

- Amp: My two main amps are Fender 65 Deluxe Reverb and a mesa boogie mini rec. Was thinking of getting a new head to match this guitar. I really like the mesa TransAtlantic TA-30, but was checking out the PRS amps. They look great but don't know anything about them. Any advice appreciated.

Thanks

 

[JMintzer]

D'Addario makes a set of 10's w/a wound G string that I really like.


Jamie

 

[zaboaa]

D'Addario makes a set of 10's w/a wound G string that I really like.


Jamie

Are you playing 10's on your HB II?

 

[AaeCee]

You shouldn't be breaking strings on that guitar. Either you got a bad batch of strings, or there's possibly a burr or rough spot where the string hits the saddle, assuming you have the adjustable saddle set up.

Where are they breaking?

 

[PRSHB2]

Does your HBII have the piezo option? That might come into play regarding amp selection. I've never played through a PRS amp, so I can't speak to that part.

 

[aduayer]

first of all, congratulations. I never like HB guitars and I got my SCHB just because I needed a guitar with piezo and electric for a gig. But I felt in love with my guitar. I play rock, grunge and some blues and this guitar can deliver what I need in any situation.
I agree with AaeCee, it shouldn't be breaking strings. I used to use D'Addario 011 and now I switch for Ernie Ball Cobalt 011 and never had this kind of problem. I hope it's a bad batch of strings.
about amps... I never plugged it in an amp that I couldn't make it sound in a pleasant way, of course, some amps I like better then other, but that's another topic.
I am pretty sure you will have tons and tons of fun. I believe that your guitar came with piezo system, so one last thing, that I learned the hard way. the battery is consumed every time you plug the cable, no matter if you are using the piezo or not. so after you play it, unplug it.
rock on!

 

[JMintzer]

Are you playing 10's on your HB II?

Yup!


Jamie

 

[]-[@n$0Ma☩!©]

Yup!

I thought you used the super-hard-to-find 10.5's with wound G on your HB2?

 

[jfb]

I put Elixir 10's or 11's on everything. Just recently picked up some Cobalts in 10's and 11's. Going to try them out very soon.