What strings for HBII?

[elvis]

I got an HBII largely thinking about Alex Lifeson and his 355/Howard Roberts Fusion tone. So I expected to put my standard set of 0.010s on it and play some rock. However, the set that came on it (unknown gauge, I assume 0.011) has a wound 3rd and sounds amazing with the piezo through my clean amp channel with no particular EQ. Much better than my P245 piezo. However, quite difficult to bend the 3rd.

Obviously I should probably try a few sets, but has anybody found a sweet spot set that gives a great combination of piezo acoustic goodness plus great rock tone and feel?

 

[Dusty Chalk]

I'll preface with: I don't know, as I do mostly clean.

But flatwounds go very nicely on a hollowbody -- they wouldn't perchance be flatwounds would they? I will assume not.

Quite a few strings come with wound G strings -- Ernie Ball (https://www.ernieball.com/guitar-st...d-custom-gauge-electric-guitar-strings#P02208), GHS (http://www.ghsstrings.com/products/11500-boomers-wound-3rd), D'Addario (http://www.daddario.com/DADProductD...d=24&sid=b4fd3309-3e2a-495f-ac49-b5f20d02ac22), and my current personal favourite, D'Angelico (https://dangelicostrings.com/).

 

[bodia]

Shoot these guys an email. Great strings, and great to deal with.

http://www.sono-tone.com/

 

[shinksma]

I play my HB (Spruce) with 11s and a wound G.

IMHO, bending a wound G is not as difficult as you think, it is just different: you have to grab it a bit differently with your finger tip. I bend G strings on my HB and acoustics all the time. I also bend the wound D, A and E strings, as I am sure other folks do on their electrics. Treat the wound G like a thin D string, maybe your technique will modify to suit.

 

[elvis]

Thanks for the suggestions! I checked in with PRS and sono-tone, will try a few of their ideas.

I agree that flats are great, I used to play them when I thought I could be a jazzer, but I'm all rock now.

The wound 3 is just not for me. Hey! A rhyme...

 

[BWV548]

I use nyxl 11s without a wound g and I love the combination. I don’t like wound g strings at all, but not because of bending issues
I will, say, that mine is a newer one with 58/15lt pickups. I might have a different opinion on the nyxls if the guitar had different pickups, as they are pretty bright strings

 

[walrus]

I use D'Addario EXL110W strings on my Hollowbody Spruce. .10 - .46, with a wound third (.18). These are the strings I've used on multiple electrics, and they play and sound sweet on the PRS.

 

[elvis]

I use nyxl 11s without a wound g and I love the combination. I don’t like wound g strings at all, but not because of bending issues
I will, say, that mine is a newer one with 58/15lt pickups. I might have a different opinion on the nyxls if the guitar had different pickups, as they are pretty bright strings

How are they with the piezo?

 

[BWV548]

How are they with the piezo?

I don’t have a piezo model

 

[JMintzer]

I use D'Addario EXL110W strings on my Hollowbody Spruce. .10 - .46, with a wound third (.18). These are the strings I've used on multiple electrics, and they play and sound sweet on the PRS.

I use these as well. Still work great w/the piezo, but easier to bend...

 

[elvis]

I use D'Addario EXL110W strings on my Hollowbody Spruce. .10 - .46, with a wound third (.18). These are the strings I've used on multiple electrics, and they play and sound sweet on the PRS.

I imagine they do, but I don't want a wound third if I can avoid it.

 

[walrus]

We "wound third" people are in the minority, I know! Maybe try the EXL110's with the unwound third. John Mclaughlin's string set of choice!

 

[elvis]

Tried EXL115. They are actually great! No degradation of the acoustic tone, though they are a bit stiff.

Will try EXL110 or the NYXL equivalent and see if all the mojo gets lost.