[djpharoah]

Right on. Thanks.

[NegaTiveXero]

Originally Posted by djpharoah

Noice - was it boomy at all? Or was it similar to tone to the rest of your strings?
Like if your playing a power chord on the E+A strings and play another power chord on the B+E strings does the tone sound simlar? Or is the second power chord just bassier and less tonal?

No, I actually just tried it for F# tuning (it was actually a 72, now that I recall). It was a bit flubby, so I tuned it up to A and it was way too boomy. I use 9-54 for nowadays, I'm done fucking around with heavy strings, they sound like shit compared to light strings. I think I might upgrade just the 54 to a 56 though.

[Edroz]

i experimented with heavier strings (.10 - .52 with a .64 or .66 for my lowest string) for a short period, and while i liked the way they felt, after awhile those heavier lower strings just ended up sounding more like a distorted bass to me . i prefer the sound i get with a .10 - .56 or .59 set. all my sevens are tuned ADGCFAD.

it's really just trial and error in finding exactly what gauges work best for YOU, i think some of you guys get a little too carried away with this optimal string tension thing. just because the string gauges you're using aren't an optimal, precise, even tension set doesn't mean it's wrong. if it feels and sounds good to you, go with it!

[ibznorange]

Originally Posted by Edroz

i think some of you guys get a little too carried away with this optimal string tension thing. just because the string gauges you're using aren't an optimal, precise, even tension set doesn't mean it's wrong. if it feels and sounds good to you, go with it!

Thank you, and you couldnt be more right

except that you, like i, are wrong

naw, but once i was informed that i was wrong for liking the way a set that wasnt quite balanced felt more than a given balanced set, and that the balanced set in fact felt better, and that i just didnt know what i was talking about.

lol but seriously, just get what sounds and feels the best man
Experiment. thats what i use my EB's for, before i settle on something and buy nicer sets of that. Im always switching around gaues, so i dont wanna blow a shit ton of money on expensive strings that arent gonna be quite what i like. id rather spend 4 bucks on what i dont like

[zimbloth]

You really didn't know pickup height/etc affected the tone? Anyways, the Elixir 068 shouldn't be boomy. I did decide I liked the tone/tension of the Elixir NanoWeb bass .065 more though. You won't find a string that is clearer on the heavy gauge strings than Elixir.

Ed/Ibz: You don't have to use optimum tension strings of course. That said, it's not hype or anything. Consistent tension does yield to better playability and tonal balance. The 10-14-18-26-36-49-65 set I use now feels and sounds amazing.

[Edroz]

Originally Posted by zimbloth

Consistent tension does yield to better playability and tonal balance. The 10-14-18-26-36-49-65 set I use now feels and sounds amazing.

personal preferance, not fact.

i definitely don't think consistent tension is hype, by any means. the gist of my post (which i thought i made pretty clear) is that every guitarist owes it to themself to experiment and find out what works and sounds best for them, and to not get sucked into going by the numbers.

Originally Posted by ibznorange

except that you, like i, are wrong

unoptomized string tension and high action FTW!

[ibznorange]

Originally Posted by zimbloth

Ed/Ibz: You don't have to use optimum tension strings of course. That said, it's not hype or anything. Consistent tension does yield to better playability and tonal balance. The 10-14-18-26-36-49-65 set I use now feels and sounds amazing.

im with you, i agree or i wouldnt be using optimized sets myself
i think the benefits just get overexagerated some. like by that noob who pm'ed me on the ibanez site

[ibznorange]

Originally Posted by Edroz

personal preferance, not fact.

i definitely don't think consistent tension is hype, by any means. the gist of my post (which i thought i made pretty clear) is that every guitarist owes it to themself to experiment and find out what works and sounds best for them, and to not get sucked into going by the numbers.

bingo. for most of my playing, i use an optimized set. but one one 6 i have in a slightly altered tuning, ive found that this set of EB's have the best tension for my writing in that tuning, and i really prefer it to the balanced tension set i tried putting together.
it actually, if the tensions vary enough between sets, can help to alter the feel enough to where you write different stuff

Originally Posted by Edroz

unoptomized string tension and high action FTW!

and purple!

[djpharoah]

Originally Posted by zimbloth

You really didn't know pickup height/etc affected the tone?

I didnt at the time think that pole pieces would affect the tone that much. I have some what contained the .068 on the UV, but feel like I would enjoy a 7th string closer to 60/62. Well whenever these elixirs run out or my patience runs out I will get that.

[simo1609]

Hey people, on the note of string thickness and tone
does anyone know what guage an Ibanez Apex comes with???
iv had my Apex for ages now, the black 1 with the tremelo.
but what really pisses me off is i dont know what guage the strings are?
and if one snaps where to get some new ones from???

PLEASE CAN SOMEONE HELP

thanks