[speedy1]

Hello all,

I've been playing since '81, but I have just now ordered a 7 string from Carvin to expand my playing range.

I do not know which gauge strings would work best for me.

Here's my background: I play with a very light touch; legato, pull-off, and other techniques which require (for me) little finger pressure...my favorite players are Paul Gilbert and Yngwie Malmsteen. I have always played 008's and 009's on my 6 string guitars.

I am looking for a string set that would offer the following-- low string tension on the higher strings for easier bends, and tighter string tension on the low B so that it does not get "flabby" and go out of tune easily/oscillate.

Please don't offer the advice "do whatever you think feels best"... I would really appreciate something more specific, ie; "use a regular 9-42 set and add a 58 (or whatever) for the low B".

I thank you all for reading, and I look forward to learning a lot from this site!

[ZeroSignal]

Maybe a 9-42 set with either a 56 or 58.

At one stage I used a custom 10-68 set in B standard.

[speedy1]

Thanks for the opinion!

Anyone else?

[Desecrated]

What gauge are you using now?

[zimbloth]

9-12-16-24-32-44 w/ a 58 or 59. With that set, the tension will gradually increase as you go thicker. Great sounding/playing set.

[Michael]

If you're used to playing with a light touch, I'd go with a standard 9-42 set and a 54 or 56 for the low B. Works good for me.

[speedy1]

Desecrated-

My guitar is still at the Carvin factory being built...they said they'll string it with whatever I want.

On my six string, I'm playing 9-42's now.

Zimbloth-

I'm assuming you mean put together a hybrid set, and not buy a pre-packaged one, correct?

[zimbloth]

Originally Posted by speedy1

Zimbloth-

I'm assuming you mean put together a hybrid set, and not buy a pre-packaged one, correct?

Yes, from a place like JustStrings.com or whatnot. Although, S.I.T. makes a set thats pretty close (9.5-44) and you can add the B-string of your choice. But the 9/12/16/24/32/44/58-60 would be better tension wise. With that set the tension would gradually go from around 13 pounds to about 17 pounds.

[cyril v]

if you're using the guitar in standard tuning, use whatever you use on your 6's for the first 6 strings, and i'd recommend 54-56 at most for the B-string with a 25.5" guitar.

[Desecrated]

Speedy

Yes, you buy loose strings, if you look at the strings zimbloth suggested:


E .009" PL == 13.13# ( 0.0032gm/cm 329.6hz )
B, .012" PL == 13.11# ( 0.0057gm/cm 246.9hz )
G, .016" PL == 14.68# ( 0.0101gm/cm 196.0hz )
D, .024" NW == 15.77# ( 0.0194gm/cm 146.8hz )
A,, .032" NW == 15.77# ( 0.0346gm/cm 110.0hz )
E,, .044" NW == 16.1# ( 0.0628gm/cm 82.4hz )
B,,, .059 NW == 16.48# ( 0.1146gm/cm 61.7hz )
total == 105.04#

I did the same with 008

E .008" PL == 10.38# ( 0.0025gm/cm 329.6hz )
B, .011" PL == 11.01# ( 0.0048gm/cm 246.9hz )
G, .015" PL == 12.9# ( 0.0089gm/cm 196.0hz )
D, .022" NW == 13.34# ( 0.0164gm/cm 146.8hz )
A,, .030" NW == 14.05# ( 0.0308gm/cm 110.0hz )
E,, .042" NW == 14.77# ( 0.0576gm/cm 82.4hz )
B,,, .058 NW == 15.92# ( 0.1107gm/cm 61.7hz )
total == 92.37#

I added a 058 as the last one, the 056 works to, but it's a preference thing.

I used the string calculation set based on Daddario strings.