Juan Luis Vidal
Not so new member
A mixture of Ernie Ball 10s, 11s and 10-52...depending on the guitar
New Strings…
- Thread starter deepender
- Start date
deepender
Yup
- Joined
- Feb 9, 2017
- Messages
- 547
I used to just accept the fact that it was going to take some time for the strings to “settle in” for some stability after bending. Then I watched a pro change strings and realized I needed to be more aggressive in my stretch technique. Now, after winding the strings on the peg under moderate tension and bringing them into tune, I give each string a hard “Z” stretch, retune, stretch, retune, etc. until the stretch no longer pulls the string flat. Rock solid stability ever since.Interesting - I found if I don't stretch them enough, they definitely have tuning issues after playing, even just from rhythm but especially after bends and lead work. Maybe I just bash them too hard with my right hand?
DISTORT6
NJ Devil
I thought the “What picks?” thread was next.
Victor Vector
Born to Rip
- Joined
- Oct 15, 2023
- Messages
- 136
Nope its the do you bevel your picks thread lol
DISTORT6
NJ Devil
Don’t worry…it will turn into “What pick?”… guaranteed
Lemme help you...
.88 green Dunlop Tortex triangle picks... BUT I sand the tips pointier (usually during online meetings without camera).
EDIT: oops... noticed there's a thread for this now...
https://forums.prsguitars.com/threads/do-you-ever-bevel-you-picks-and-what-your-go-to-shape.57639/
Last edited:
Im a fan of wiping down my strings with plain paper or cloth and every now and then adding string cleaner and a quick wipe down. My sweat seems to be really corrosive so I’m in the habit of wiping down the strings every 1-2 play sessions and wipe down the fretboard every 1-2 weeks. I probably change strings on a guitar 2-3 times a year (full tune up including oiling the fingerboard and body polish). That’s largely because I own so many guitars now. When I was younger I would change strings every 1-2 months. If I pushed it to two months I usually broke a string.
I used Ernie Ball for the majority of my time as a guitarist. I recently switched over to PRS signature and I’m preferring these. They don’t sound as “twangy” as new strings used to feel. I generally prefer the sound of strings about 1-2 weeks after they’ve been replaced but I find the PRS strings seem to hold their tone more consistently then I’m used to.
When it comes to tuning and string stretching, I only remove two strings at a time (one each from bass and treble end, only for floating bridges). I restring and tune that pair before unwinding another pair. As I finish each pair I retune the instrument. Once that’s done I stretch the strings by hand for just a minute or so. I retune again and sometimes a ball bearing will move inside the bridge and I’ll retune again (feels like it’s always only 1 string no matter how detailed I am). At that point I play for a few minutes, usually tune back up to pitch once and the guitar will stay in tune perfectly fine. I credit the string change process and the stretching in maintaining stable tuning. I would imagine removing so much tension all at once to add it back again is more strenuous on the instrument than maintaining a tensile strength closer to the instruments tuning throughout the process but that’s just my speculation.
I used Ernie Ball for the majority of my time as a guitarist. I recently switched over to PRS signature and I’m preferring these. They don’t sound as “twangy” as new strings used to feel. I generally prefer the sound of strings about 1-2 weeks after they’ve been replaced but I find the PRS strings seem to hold their tone more consistently then I’m used to.
When it comes to tuning and string stretching, I only remove two strings at a time (one each from bass and treble end, only for floating bridges). I restring and tune that pair before unwinding another pair. As I finish each pair I retune the instrument. Once that’s done I stretch the strings by hand for just a minute or so. I retune again and sometimes a ball bearing will move inside the bridge and I’ll retune again (feels like it’s always only 1 string no matter how detailed I am). At that point I play for a few minutes, usually tune back up to pitch once and the guitar will stay in tune perfectly fine. I credit the string change process and the stretching in maintaining stable tuning. I would imagine removing so much tension all at once to add it back again is more strenuous on the instrument than maintaining a tensile strength closer to the instruments tuning throughout the process but that’s just my speculation.
Chef T
New Member
- Joined
- Dec 17, 2023
- Messages
- 59
wait… you mean I’m supposed to change my oil filter each time I change the oil?He Probably Doesn't Change The Oil Either...Even More Savings! (In His Mind)
For the past 45 years I've always strung my Les Paul Custom with 10's , as I play a lot of slide on it ( usually Markley's).
I've been using the 9.5-44 sets D'Addario/PRS sets on all my PRS'i and my ES's, and loved them . My '55 Custom Shop Special LP came with what seemed like 11's although they said 10's, WAY stiff but really thick tone and great for slide, just not comfortable for regular playing ... So yesterday I threw a set of 9.5's on and WHOA ..
I've never had so much change from a gauge swap . Sure new strings always soung bright , but these were more than that and of course easier to play. Now the single coil sparkle REALLY shows clean and they still get warm and delicious with the tone rolled off. The biggest change is the volume controls sound much more nuanced than before ..in the middle position . A lot more subtle variations popped out .
Very unusual in my experience. Still works fine for slide .
I'm super happy and surprised , the guitar went from being pretty much slide only to "I can't put it down" status right away ..
IF I want that big thick PAF sound , it's only a string change away ..
I've been using the 9.5-44 sets D'Addario/PRS sets on all my PRS'i and my ES's, and loved them . My '55 Custom Shop Special LP came with what seemed like 11's although they said 10's, WAY stiff but really thick tone and great for slide, just not comfortable for regular playing ... So yesterday I threw a set of 9.5's on and WHOA ..
I've never had so much change from a gauge swap . Sure new strings always soung bright , but these were more than that and of course easier to play. Now the single coil sparkle REALLY shows clean and they still get warm and delicious with the tone rolled off. The biggest change is the volume controls sound much more nuanced than before ..in the middle position . A lot more subtle variations popped out .
Very unusual in my experience. Still works fine for slide .
I'm super happy and surprised , the guitar went from being pretty much slide only to "I can't put it down" status right away ..
IF I want that big thick PAF sound , it's only a string change away ..
Last edited:
Similar threads
