[Naren]

Originally Posted by Metal Ken

i know he uses F, i was referring to the above who wants to tune to F#.

HotRod - i have a really light touch as well, and i like to play fast, too ;D
i just found that lighter strings on the 7th string dont have the same character as the rest of the strings. the B string felt weak compared to my E, so i deduced that the B needs at least equal or more tension on it than the E, and if you're using a 46-48 guage E, that puts you around 62-ish for a B, if i recall. Dino might use a .054 for B but i guarantee you on that 8 string he has he doesn't use a .054 or .056 for F#.

I use heavier gauge for the exact same reasons. With the 9-54 set I used, 9-44 sounded tight enough in standard, but the B sounded WAY too loose. So, I tried 10-56 and the 10-46 sounded better (had better tone and a rich sound. I normally use 10-46 or 10-52 sets on my six-strings), but, while the low B did sound better, it still sounded loose compared to the other strings. 58 seems like a pretty good gauge for me, but, even then, sometimes I want to put a heavier gauge on like 60 or 62.

On the other hand, I have a pretty heavy touch. I get a lot of character out of my guitars by the way I attack the strings.

Good point about Dino and that F#, Ken.

[omentremor]

I got a Seymour Duncan Custom SH-5 in the bridge. Should that be alright?

Yeah, I use a .59 for my B

[The Dark Wolf]

Originally Posted by Metal Ken

I Coulda swore you said you used a .060 somewhere. Oh well, i've been wrong at least once before

I've tried a .060 before (and a .059, which was the first size I used. But I experimented alot afterwards). That's probably where you saw me mention it, I imagine, bro.

Originally Posted by Metal Ken

Have you tried bass strings? I use them on my groove tools and like them a lot. i got a .050 for my E and a .065 for my B. the double wrapped string has something extra to it, IMO. when i replace the strings on my UV7BK, i'm gonna try to make a tension matched set that goes from 9-60 or 62 and try to use a bass string if at all possible (i want it to be my 'lead' guitar, and the conklin will probably have thicker strings on it for rhythm guitar sutff.. might bump it up to a .068 or something)

I actually have tried bass strings, but a couple of issues -

1. I guess the most important, I'm very satisfied with a .068 Elixir. It's the best string I've tried (and I've tried quite a few). You know how, if you have something, and you sit around thinking (if only this thing here was different...)? Well, I'm the opposite of that, using this setup. I never even think about it anymore, since it just sounds good.

2. Since my bridge is piezo, the slot in the string saddle is JUST a tiny bit too narrow for a large guage string, even the .068 Elixir. So, I have to run the string backwards through my tuners (not a prob, since I do that with all my strings anyway, for the 'reverse method', ie., ball ends at the tuner), and cut the string end off JUST right so that the tapered end, where the windings get smaller, fits right in the saddle slot. Perfect fit! If I don't, the string doesn't get a good contact with the piezo element in the saddle, and it buzzes. Took me a good year or so to figure that one out. Bass strings don't taper enough to get narrow like a guitar string does. (Mind you, I don't go to the solid steel core - just to where the windings get a bit thinner, and leave about an inch or so from the lock in the saddle, so that it fits the slot just right, but then goes right to the regular winding size.)

[HotRodded7321]

Originally Posted by Metal Ken

i know he uses F, i was referring to the above who wants to tune to F#.

HotRod - i have a really light touch as well, and i like to play fast, too ;D
i just found that lighter strings on the 7th string dont have the same character as the rest of the strings. the B string felt weak compared to my E, so i deduced that the B needs at least equal or more tension on it than the E, and if you're using a 46-48 guage E, that puts you around 62-ish for a B, if i recall. Dino might use a .054 for B but i guarantee you on that 8 string he has he doesn't use a .054 or .056 for F#.

NOOOOO, lol....not the 8 string beast...this was back in 99-2000 when Obsolete came out. And I know what you mean about string tensions, but I couldn't even stand a 59 for more than a week. It just didn't feel/sound right to me. On an 8, however, I would definately step it up a notch for that top string. As far as 7's go, I don't tune past drop G, so I stick with 56's. I'll have to mess around with F# and see how it feels, but I'm really thinkin a 60 would work out if you set it up right.

If you can't tell, I'm bass-ackwards, lol....I play fast on a higher action with lighter strings...my buddy gives me crap for it all the time, but I think it sounds good. It adds a little "bounce" to my rhythms. I'm not the lead-playing type....I learned by playing a LOT of Fear Factory, so needless to say my right hand does most of the work, haha. I don't know, maybe I'm just wierd as hell....

[The Dark Wolf]

^ Yngwie plays REAL high action, with super light strings. Everyone is different.

[HotRodded7321]

Originally Posted by The Dark Wolf

^ Yngwie plays REAL high action, with super light strings. Everyone is different.

Yep, that's why I was saying, it's all just preference and playing style.

I will remember that 68 elixr, however. I'll definately give it a shot once I start moving down to those tunings.

This thread has sparked my interest to experiment again

[The Dark Wolf]

^ I never even had a big problem with a .059, when I was at F#, so, I can see your point.

The Elixir, and Elixirs in general, just sound easily the best to me, personally.

[Metal Ken]

Originally Posted by The Dark Wolf

I've tried a .060 before (and a .059, which was the first size I used. But I experimented alot afterwards). That's probably where you saw me mention it, I imagine, bro.

Ah, that might be it.

I actually have tried bass strings, but a couple of issues -

1. I guess the most important, I'm very satisfied with a .068 Elixir. It's the best string I've tried (and I've tried quite a few). You know how, if you have something, and you sit around thinking (if only this thing here was different...)? Well, I'm the opposite of that, using this setup. I never even think about it anymore, since it just sounds good.

If it ain't broke...

2. Since my bridge is piezo, the slot in the string saddle is JUST a tiny bit too narrow for a large guage string, even the .068 Elixir. So, I have to run the string backwards through my tuners (not a prob, since I do that with all my strings anyway, for the 'reverse method', ie., ball ends at the tuner), and cut the string end off JUST right so that the tapered end, where the windings get smaller, fits right in the saddle slot. Perfect fit! If I don't, the string doesn't get a good contact with the piezo element in the saddle, and it buzzes. Took me a good year or so to figure that one out. Bass strings don't taper enough to get narrow like a guitar string does. (Mind you, I don't go to the solid steel core - just to where the windings get a bit thinner, and leave about an inch or so from the lock in the saddle, so that it fits the slot just right, but then goes right to the regular winding size.)

Every time i've changed my strings on a floyd type bridge, i string them with the ball ends at the tuner, as well. I cant do that on my conklin though, its a strat style bridge. As far as the bass strings, the conklin has locking tuners that pretty much wont accept anything larger than a 56 or so. SO, as a result, i strip the first wrap off the string and then lock it in and tune it up.i would imagine you could strip the bass string where it goes over the peizo.. But like i said above, if it ain't broke...

Originally Posted by HotRodded7321

If you can't tell, I'm bass-ackwards, lol....I play fast on a higher action with lighter strings...my buddy gives me crap for it all the time, but I think it sounds good. It adds a little "bounce" to my rhythms. I'm not the lead-playing type....I learned by playing a LOT of Fear Factory, so needless to say my right hand does most of the work, haha. I don't know, maybe I'm just wierd as hell....

People think the same thing about me, i use friggin small picks, big strings, i play a 7 string, most guys that work at guitar stores think I'm a freak anyway. especially when i buy bass strings and tell them I'm gonna go home and put them on guitars. I play lots of leads but i also like really fast rhythms as well.. i spent a lot of time working on thrash metal rhythm guitar, Iced Earth style rhythms, and whatnot. so i can totally relate about the right hand thing.

Thats the thing though, as far as rhythm guitar goes, I think that bigass low B adds so much brutality to the sound, especially through a tube amp, like a 5150. crank that fucker up and play God Of Emptiness, it sounds like Satan rising up out of my amp and going all bloody blasphemy and eating jesus off the cross. the smaller strings didnt do that for me when tuned to B.

[The Dark Wolf]

Originally Posted by Metal Ken

Every time i've changed my strings on a floyd type bridge, i string them with the ball ends at the tuner, as well. I cant do that on my conklin though, its a strat style bridge. As far as the bass strings, the conklin has locking tuners that pretty much wont accept anything larger than a 56 or so. SO, as a result, i strip the first wrap off the string and then lock it in and tune it up.i would imagine you could strip the bass string where it goes over the peizo.. But like i said above, if it ain't broke...

Tried it.

The thing is, with bass strings, you can strip them to fit through tuners, since the windings around the tuner (of the whole string) hold the outer string windings of the string in place. At a bridge saddle slot, what is there to hold the outer windings?

Nothing, that's what. The whole fucking string came unwound on me when I tried that.

[Metal Ken]

Originally Posted by The Dark Wolf

Tried it.

The thing is, with bass strings, you can strip them to fit through tuners, since the windings around the tuner (of the whole string) hold the outer string windings of the string in place. At a bridge saddle slot, what is there to hold the outer windings?

Nothing, that's what. The whole fucking string came unwound on me when I tried that.

oh, shit, i didn't even think about that