Seventh string cancelled.

bat69420 · 03-04-2006, 08:07 PM

The most important string on my Ibanez sounds dead, there's a complete lack of tone in it. Its a 54 gauge string (1.37 mm) and it came in a light gauge pack of Dean Markley's. The string sustains alright, and its not my pickups, it does it unamped.

Leon · 03-04-2006, 08:12 PM

could you be more descriptive? is there any damage to the guitar or anything?

bostjan · 03-04-2006, 08:20 PM

Maybe it's a bad string. Lack of tone as in lack of brilliance (upper partials)? I've had bad strings before, right out of the package.

Metal Ken · 03-04-2006, 08:21 PM

dude, i'd say cause its a 54. 54 makes a great E string, but not so much a b string. try getting a 60 on there, at least.

evil · 03-04-2006, 09:27 PM

I agree with Metal Ken. Your strings are probably too light. Beefier strings - beefier tone.

Leon · 03-04-2006, 10:05 PM

i have a 54 for a B as well, and it sounds great. it might just be a bad string.

Shawn · 03-04-2006, 10:22 PM

I use 54 too, and to me, it sounds great and I never have problems with it.

guitarjitsumaster · 03-04-2006, 11:02 PM

How close are your pickups to the strings? Some passive Pu's pull pretty hard especially on the larger strings. A 54 low B has low tension for that note. Some people overcome this with larger gauges that are so tight the magnetism doesnt impede their vibrating and effect their tone. Personally I use EMG's that dont have as much magnetic pull and let the lighter gauge strings resonate more freely without being deadened by strong magnetic field, or you could just have a dead string.

Drew · 03-05-2006, 12:37 AM

Howold's the string? The heavier strings are always the first to sound dead, in my experience.

That said, a .56 is the lightest I'll use for a B, and I think .58's about ideal. Go heavier, young man.

Mastodon · 03-05-2006, 12:18 PM

Lol you guys bombarded him with so many replies.

zimbloth · 03-05-2006, 07:47 PM

Why on earth are you guys talking about his string gauge. He hasn't even said what his guitar is. His pickups could sound like ass, in which case any string gauge he uses will sound like shit. Low B-strings usually don't sound that good unplugged, no matter what the gauge. Honestly going from a .54 to a .60 isn't going to solve this guys problem at all. Dean Markley strings usually sound dull. Try using a brighter string like a DR Hi-Beam or D'Addario if you want it to sound better unplugged.

"54 makes a great E-string, not a B". What the hell? Has anyone ever played a stock Universe? .054 are made to be B strings, not E. Of course you can use any gauges you want, but it's silly to say things like that as if its a fact.

Metal Ken · 03-05-2006, 10:09 PM

Yeah, not like i ordered one from the place i worked at and opened the box myself, Then promptly changed that fucker to a real B string.. i mean, Hell, i didnt own 3 UV's or anything. I must not know what i'm talking about.
Your general set of 10 lite top heavy bottom comes with a 52 on the bottom anyway.

guitarjitsumaster · 03-05-2006, 10:21 PM

Yeah dude, I use 9's and I at least need a 58. Anything lower feels undertensioned. Rusty cooley inspired me to try the 58 for the B and he's a lightgauge lover. 58 just feels the most natural 54 is just way too loose and is suceptible to deadening when using passives.

bostjan · 03-05-2006, 10:25 PM

I know it's personal taste and all, but I honestly don't know why they use such light low b's in packaged sets.

Drew · 03-06-2006, 12:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zimbloth

"54 makes a great E-string, not a B". What the hell? Has anyone ever played a stock Universe? .054 are made to be B strings, not E. Of course you can use any gauges you want, but it's silly to say things like that as if its a fact.

Actually, I thought they shipped with D'Addario 9's, which come with a laughably light .52. I mean, you're right, you can use whatever you want for your low B... But in my experience, anything below a .56 in B tuning is going to "feel" noticeably lighter than a .42 in E, and if you have even a moderately heavy pick attack and don't use thin picks, you really want to go with something heavier than that solely for intonation.

Again, it's not fact, but it's an opinion based on years of experimentation with different gauges, and I think given the situation here it's definitely something he should consider, and IMO a lot less silly than suggesting a brand switch as the Dean Markleys seem to be doing just fine on his higher strings, for the tone he's looking for...

Metal Ken · 03-06-2006, 03:00 PM

Exactly. I dont even remember if it was a 52 or a 54 on my universe when i got it. I remember it was laughably light and sounded like a floppy wet fart.
A 52 or a 54 in B will have about 8-10 pounds of tension. You'd want somewhere around at least 14-16, and mine is at 21 lbs of tension, and that gives it the pop and clarity of the other strings..
54 feels floppy on a 26.5" Scale guitar (Guitar came with it)
54 feels floppy on a 27" Scale guitar, too (Again, guitar came with it).

Not to mention to agree with drew, have fun intonating a B string with a .052 on it .

Drew · 03-06-2006, 03:34 PM

Dude, even a .54 I can make jump about a half step on the initial attack if I dig in hard enough - that's just absurd.

Metal Ken · 03-06-2006, 03:40 PM

Exactly. I dont think a lot of those companies think when they put an extra string in their sets like that.. They obviously arent 7 string players or they'd think about that.

noodles · 03-06-2006, 03:41 PM

I think GHS comes about the closest. Their .010 set comes with a .060.

angryman · 03-06-2006, 03:53 PM

Well guys i've been using standard .10 to .56 D'Addario's tuned to drop A for years & i've never really come across any problems.
I've tried Ernie balls, Dean Markly & all sorts of brands I even used to use a custom made set of .10 to .65's & still prefere the .10 to .56's it's all a case of whats best suited for your needs & for the record my 1527 came with .54's & felt ok but a slight bit lite for my taste.

Metal Ken · 03-06-2006, 04:16 PM

I used 56 for a while, then i realized the problems that came along with using such a light guage, such as intonation, the issues drew was talking about, and among other things, i didnt think the lowest string on my guitar should be the one with the least tension. But if it works for you, more \m/ to you.

eaeolian · 03-06-2006, 07:15 PM

I use a .56, but I had to modify my playing so I don't over-attack the B. It's all about accuracy...

angryman · 03-07-2006, 01:44 AM

^
Yeah i'd have to agree with that i'm not that heavy handed although i do put my Guitars through their paces i just feel comfortable using .56 i guess.

03-04-2006, 08:07 PM	#1
bat69420 ss.org Irregular Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Florida Posts: 9 Thanked: 0	Seventh string cancelled. The most important string on my Ibanez sounds dead, there's a complete lack of tone in it. Its a 54 gauge string (1.37 mm) and it came in a light gauge pack of Dean Markley's. The string sustains alright, and its not my pickups, it does it unamped. __________________ Metallica.

03-04-2006, 08:12 PM	#2
Leon {##[====:::. • Super Moderator • Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Nebula, Ohio Posts: 12,262 Thanked: 81	could you be more descriptive? is there any damage to the guitar or anything? __________________

03-04-2006, 08:20 PM	#3
bostjan Spastic Kitchen! Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Indianapolis, IN Posts: 6,096 Thanked: 8	Maybe it's a bad string. Lack of tone as in lack of brilliance (upper partials)? I've had bad strings before, right out of the package. __________________ Khereb's myspace

03-04-2006, 08:21 PM	#4
Metal Ken Hates the Air • Super Moderator • Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Florida Posts: 17,674 Thanked: 81	dude, i'd say cause its a 54. 54 makes a great E string, but not so much a b string. try getting a 60 on there, at least. __________________ Since the Bible and the church are obviously mistaken in telling us where we came from, how can we trust them to tell us where we are going? Didn't you say... Jesus was coming?

03-04-2006, 10:05 PM	#6
Leon {##[====:::. • Super Moderator • Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Nebula, Ohio Posts: 12,262 Thanked: 81	i have a 54 for a B as well, and it sounds great. it might just be a bad string. __________________

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03-04-2006, 09:27 PM	#5
evil vile Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Seventh circle of hell Posts: 116 Thanked: 0	I agree with Metal Ken. Your strings are probably too light. Beefier strings - beefier tone.

03-04-2006, 10:22 PM	#7
Shawn Ibanez 7s Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Southern Maine Posts: 21,672 Thanked: 141	I use 54 too, and to me, it sounds great and I never have problems with it. __________________

03-04-2006, 11:02 PM	#8
guitarjitsumaster seven times seven Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Texas City Texas Posts: 500 Thanked: 2	How close are your pickups to the strings? Some passive Pu's pull pretty hard especially on the larger strings. A 54 low B has low tension for that note. Some people overcome this with larger gauges that are so tight the magnetism doesnt impede their vibrating and effect their tone. Personally I use EMG's that dont have as much magnetic pull and let the lighter gauge strings resonate more freely without being deadened by strong magnetic field, or you could just have a dead string. __________________ Try to exclude the possibility of suffering which the order of nature and the existence of free-wills involve, and you find that you have excluded life itself.

03-05-2006, 12:37 AM	#9
Drew Fear the Polo! Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Somerville, MA Posts: 21,484 Thanked: 145	Howold's the string? The heavier strings are always the first to sound dead, in my experience. That said, a .56 is the lightest I'll use for a B, and I think .58's about ideal. Go heavier, young man. __________________ "...and everything under the sun is in tune, but the sun is eclipsed by the moon." http://www.metalguitarist.org

03-05-2006, 12:18 PM	#10
Mastodon Songs about My Cats Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Bizurke Posts: 6,643 Thanked: 41	Lol you guys bombarded him with so many replies.

03-05-2006, 07:47 PM	#11
zimbloth Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Boston Posts: 15,112 Thanked: 140	Why on earth are you guys talking about his string gauge. He hasn't even said what his guitar is. His pickups could sound like ass, in which case any string gauge he uses will sound like shit. Low B-strings usually don't sound that good unplugged, no matter what the gauge. Honestly going from a .54 to a .60 isn't going to solve this guys problem at all. Dean Markley strings usually sound dull. Try using a brighter string like a DR Hi-Beam or D'Addario if you want it to sound better unplugged. "54 makes a great E-string, not a B". What the hell? Has anyone ever played a stock Universe? .054 are made to be B strings, not E. Of course you can use any gauges you want, but it's silly to say things like that as if its a fact.

03-05-2006, 10:09 PM	#12
Metal Ken Hates the Air • Super Moderator • Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Florida Posts: 17,674 Thanked: 81	Yeah, not like i ordered one from the place i worked at and opened the box myself, Then promptly changed that fucker to a real B string.. i mean, Hell, i didnt own 3 UV's or anything. I must not know what i'm talking about. Your general set of 10 lite top heavy bottom comes with a 52 on the bottom anyway. __________________ Since the Bible and the church are obviously mistaken in telling us where we came from, how can we trust them to tell us where we are going? Didn't you say... Jesus was coming?

03-05-2006, 10:21 PM	#13
guitarjitsumaster seven times seven Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Texas City Texas Posts: 500 Thanked: 2	Yeah dude, I use 9's and I at least need a 58. Anything lower feels undertensioned. Rusty cooley inspired me to try the 58 for the B and he's a lightgauge lover. 58 just feels the most natural 54 is just way too loose and is suceptible to deadening when using passives. __________________ Try to exclude the possibility of suffering which the order of nature and the existence of free-wills involve, and you find that you have excluded life itself.

03-05-2006, 10:25 PM	#14
bostjan Spastic Kitchen! Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Indianapolis, IN Posts: 6,096 Thanked: 8	I know it's personal taste and all, but I honestly don't know why they use such light low b's in packaged sets. __________________ Khereb's myspace

03-06-2006, 03:00 PM	#16
Metal Ken Hates the Air • Super Moderator • Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Florida Posts: 17,674 Thanked: 81	Exactly. I dont even remember if it was a 52 or a 54 on my universe when i got it. I remember it was laughably light and sounded like a floppy wet fart. A 52 or a 54 in B will have about 8-10 pounds of tension. You'd want somewhere around at least 14-16, and mine is at 21 lbs of tension, and that gives it the pop and clarity of the other strings.. 54 feels floppy on a 26.5" Scale guitar (Guitar came with it) 54 feels floppy on a 27" Scale guitar, too (Again, guitar came with it). Not to mention to agree with drew, have fun intonating a B string with a .052 on it . __________________ Since the Bible and the church are obviously mistaken in telling us where we came from, how can we trust them to tell us where we are going? Didn't you say... Jesus was coming?

03-06-2006, 03:34 PM	#17
Drew Fear the Polo! Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Somerville, MA Posts: 21,484 Thanked: 145	Dude, even a .54 I can make jump about a half step on the initial attack if I dig in hard enough - that's just absurd. __________________ "...and everything under the sun is in tune, but the sun is eclipsed by the moon." http://www.metalguitarist.org

03-06-2006, 03:40 PM	#18
Metal Ken Hates the Air • Super Moderator • Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Florida Posts: 17,674 Thanked: 81	Exactly. I dont think a lot of those companies think when they put an extra string in their sets like that.. They obviously arent 7 string players or they'd think about that. __________________ Since the Bible and the church are obviously mistaken in telling us where we came from, how can we trust them to tell us where we are going? Didn't you say... Jesus was coming?

03-06-2006, 03:41 PM	#19
noodles I'm your huckleberry Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Woodbridge, VA Posts: 17,832 Thanked: 300	I think GHS comes about the closest. Their .010 set comes with a .060. __________________ Noodles Division: American Metal without the suck. kxksales@gmail.com "Somewhere along the way, the Straight Talk Express lost some wheels..." --Barack Obama on John McCain

03-06-2006, 03:53 PM	#20
angryman Djentleman Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Mynydd y Garreg, Carmarthenshire, South Wales. Posts: 1,112 Thanked: 0	Well guys i've been using standard .10 to .56 D'Addario's tuned to drop A for years & i've never really come across any problems. I've tried Ernie balls, Dean Markly & all sorts of brands I even used to use a custom made set of .10 to .65's & still prefere the .10 to .56's it's all a case of whats best suited for your needs & for the record my 1527 came with .54's & felt ok but a slight bit lite for my taste. __________________ www.myspace.com/escaria www.myspace.com/toneworld Tone...........

03-06-2006, 04:16 PM	#21
Metal Ken Hates the Air • Super Moderator • Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Florida Posts: 17,674 Thanked: 81	I used 56 for a while, then i realized the problems that came along with using such a light guage, such as intonation, the issues drew was talking about, and among other things, i didnt think the lowest string on my guitar should be the one with the least tension. But if it works for you, more \m/ to you. __________________ Since the Bible and the church are obviously mistaken in telling us where we came from, how can we trust them to tell us where we are going? Didn't you say... Jesus was coming?

03-06-2006, 07:15 PM	#22
eaeolian The Church of SEVEN • Super Moderator • Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Woodbridge, VA Posts: 8,656 Thanked: 34	I use a .56, but I had to modify my playing so I don't over-attack the B. It's all about accuracy... __________________ Division - American metal that doesn't suck. Much. Even on MySpace, and Soundclick, too.

03-07-2006, 01:44 AM	#23
angryman Djentleman Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Mynydd y Garreg, Carmarthenshire, South Wales. Posts: 1,112 Thanked: 0	^ Yeah i'd have to agree with that i'm not that heavy handed although i do put my Guitars through their paces i just feel comfortable using .56 i guess. __________________ www.myspace.com/escaria www.myspace.com/toneworld Tone...........

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Seventh string cancelled.