Strandberg 7 String Players - what strings are you using?

[davem]

Hello! First post here after following for quite a while. Just got my first 7 string yesterday, a Strandberg Boden Original NX7.

It comes with NYXL 9.5 to 64, apparently a custom set developed specially to be optimized for the Boden's multiscale.

I am finding it a bit thick/stiff overall for my liking as I use 9-42 Elixirs on my 6-string guitars. Action is set quite well (low-ish), neck relief is good, so I don't think a set up will change things much or at all with this same string set.

Would like to know what string sets other Boden 7 string players here are using and getting good results with. I am partial to Elixirs as I like the coated strings. In my town, I can get Elixirs 9 - 52 fairly easily but it's not cheap so would appreciate some thoughts from others before trying out different things. D'addario is also pretty available at the local shops (again, not cheap, I'm in NZ ;-)

Thanks!

 

[littlebadboy]

You can order a custom set at Stringjoy. You can email them and let them know that you like the tension of a 9s set so they can suggest a custom set for you. I like what they suggested to me for my multi scale 7.

 

[profwoot]

I use custom Stringjoy 9.5 - 62 for drop Ab and it's perfect for me. If you're keeping it in standard tuning you'd probably want more like 9-56 or so.

 

[davem]

You can order a custom set at Stringjoy. You can email them and let them know that you like the tension of a 9s set so they can suggest a custom set for you. I like what they suggested to me for my multi scale 7.

Great suggestion! I'll see what they suggest. Thanks!

 

[davem]

I use custom Stringjoy 9.5 - 62 for drop Ab and it's perfect for me. If you're keeping it in standard tuning you'd probably want more like 9-56 or so.

I can get a 9 - 54 Daddario locally (it doesn't cost too much vs Elixirs). I am keeping in standard for now). Might give that a go. Thanks!

 

[Dayn]

I use Winspear's 9-58 set for my 7-string Strandberg in standard tuning. I preferred them to Stringjoy and they arrived faster to me in Australia.

 

[davem]

I use Winspear's 9-58 set for my 7-string Strandberg in standard tuning. I preferred them to Stringjoy and they arrived faster to me in Australia.

Thanks for the input! the 9 - 54 D'addario is fairly close to your winspear set in terms of gauges (though notably the 54 low B won't have quite the heft as the 58), so I'll try that since I can get it locally, and go from there.

 

[penguin_316]

Elixir Optiwebs 10 to 46 six string set then order individual 64s (best balanced set, and yes i too prefer elixirs over all others) String Joy is ok, but due to not being coated then don't stay bright like Elixirs. Drop A.

Elixirs stay bright forever, I can really keep a set for months longer than other brands. It sucks how they are getting so hard to find. The strandberg optimized set is good, but i'm not trying to change stings that often.

A set of 9s with maybe a low 60 would work as well but you'd have to play lighter overall...If 9s would stay in tune better I'd use lighter strings all the time. I flip around between light and med light.

 

[davem]

Elixir Optiwebs 10 to 46 six string set then order individual 64s (best balanced set ....

A set of 9s with maybe a low 60 would work as well but you'd have to play lighter overall...If 9s would stay in tune better I'd use lighter strings all the time. I flip around between light and med light.

That's a great idea! Maybe I could just try keeping the low B 64 that's already on there and swapping out all the rest for a regular 6 string 9 - 42 set. Would that work do you think? would it be bad for the neck to have a light top 6 strings and relatively heavy bottom B at 64?

 

[penguin_316]

I’ve done that plenty of times for trail and error but it becomes hard to make good tones when the gauges have such a vast difference. Might want to go with a 60 or 62. That’s for drop A, if standard I think a 59 or 60 is your best bet.

 

[davem]

I’ve done that plenty of times for trail and error but it becomes hard to make good tones when the gauges have such a vast difference. Might want to go with a 60 or 62. That’s for drop A, if standard I think a 59 or 60 is your best bet.

Thanks. I went ahead and tried 9-42 on top and kept the 64 bottom. Love the top 6 strings now, but indeed the the balance is a bit off with the 64. The trick is finding a single 60 somewhere for a reasonable price…

 

[penguin_316]

Order directly from elixir on their website, the single strings are listed under “other strings”. No need to hunt for them…

 

[davem]

Update: I've now found the perfect set for my needs: 9-42 for top 6 strings and indeed as @penguin_316 suggested - 59 or 60 for low B. I managed to get a 59 yesterday at the local shop and that works great. I do think a 60 will be slightly better and will order from Stringjoy to get that - Elixir doesn't ship internationally :-(

Thanks everyone for your input! It really helped! My strandberg plays real nice and buttery smooth for me now, just totally love it! Here it is:

 

[Purelojik]

You can order a custom set at Stringjoy. You can email them and let them know that you like the tension of a 9s set so they can suggest a custom set for you. I like what they suggested to me for my multi scale 7.

+1 for the stringjoy sets, theyre all I use now and the difference is pretty apparent to me after years of using everything else. my old favs were the NYXLs. but for my latest build I mimic'd the feel of my six for the new seven string I built based on the average tension per string and man its perfect.

 

[Ralyks]

Elixir 10 - 52 and a 59. B Standard, but heavy enough guage that I can also do Drop A and ADADGBe.

 

[HungryGuitarStudent]

I used to do like Per Nilsson, 9-42 + 56, NYXL.

 

[davem]

I used to do like Per Nilsson, 9-42 + 56, NYXL.

How did you find the 56? Still a good amount of "girth"? Probably standard tuning?

 

[HungryGuitarStudent]

How did you find the 56? Still a good amount of "girth"? Probably standard tuning?

I liked it. Yes, standard tuning. I think Per now uses a 59 instead for drop A.