Starpeve Posted August 21, 2013 Share Posted August 21, 2013 Hello everybody.I am curious as to which strings other people prefer on their PR5e's. I'm currently running with Ernie Ball Super Slinkys 9-42 but that's mainly because I use them on my Dot Studio. Really love the git and every one of my friends who have picked it up really like it as well. Also I was wondering if the nano flex pickup sits under the bridge or the saddle? And has anybody got any feedback on saddle/ nut swaps in these. I read variously that the saddle is compensated and/ or Tusq. Is either true ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geezah Posted August 22, 2013 Share Posted August 22, 2013 Hello everybody.I am curious as to which strings other people prefer on their PR5e's. I'm currently running with Ernie Ball Super Slinkys 9-42 but that's mainly because I use them on my Dot Studio. Really love the git and every one of my friends who have picked it up really like it as well. Also I was wondering if the nano flex pickup sits under the bridge or the saddle? And has anybody got any feedback on saddle/ nut swaps in these. I read variously that the saddle is compensated and/ or Tusq. Is either true ? Hi Starpeve. I'm using d'addario ej17's on mine, but I may go lighter, but not as light as the electric string you use. I think a slightly heavier string will give you more volume and help the top to move as it should. As for the nano flex, it lies between the saddle and the bridge. The saddle isn't Tusq, and I don't know about yours, but mine isn't compensated and isn't very well made. But it's a $300 guitar, right? It still sounds pretty good, and suits its purpose. I'll probably get a new saddle made and and a bone nut installed. I like mine enough to want to get the most out of it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starpeve Posted August 22, 2013 Author Share Posted August 22, 2013 Hi Starpeve. I'm using d'addario ej17's on mine, but I may go lighter, but not as light as the electric string you use. I think a slightly heavier string will give you more volume and help the top to move as it should. As for the nano flex, it lies between the saddle and the bridge. The saddle isn't Tusq, and I don't know about yours, but mine isn't compensated and isn't very well made. But it's a $300 guitar, right? It still sounds pretty good, and suits its purpose. I'll probably get a new saddle made and and a bone nut installed. I like mine enough to want to get the most out of it. Thanks Geezah, I figured these were a little light. I was pretty sure that my saddle wasn't compensated but I wouldn't know what Tusq looked like having never used it. Sounds good in reviews tho'. I like mine a lot too I quite like the bottom three strings in that gauge, thought I might just go up a gauge on the top 3 and see how it sounds- it's A little strident at times with these strings- mind you I'm splitting hairs there- I really can't put this girl down.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brc Posted September 1, 2013 Share Posted September 1, 2013 Epiphone PR5 and Hummingbird Artist I picked up a new PR5 for $72.00 missing the pre-amp which I then found new for $24.00 and a new Hummingbird Artist for $74.00 . This one had some minor flaws in the finish which I easily repaired, but what I did to both was to change out the saddles for a Martin compensated saddle. Just a little trimming on both saddles, one thin shim each and the intonation on both is almost perfect. It would be a little difficult to get an acoustic intonation much closer than with the Martin saddles. If you are going to change your saddles anyway, check out the Martin saddle. I think I paid either $12.00 or $13.00 apiece for the saddles. After buying those two, I went ahead and bought another Humming bird.For that price $74.00 I figured I could not go wrong Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
milod Posted September 2, 2013 Share Posted September 2, 2013 Strings IMHO depend on how and what you play. I use DR Zebra 9-42 that are designed for AE and work marvelously on the PR5e. I wear heavier strings on my big box flattops that are used as "strummers" as opposed to "fingerpickin' guitars" as the PR5e. I'll also on occasion use a "a la carte" 9-42 acoustic Elixirs since they don't go down to 9s in made-up packages. Neither the Zebras nor "a la carte" Elixirs are inexpensive, but both seem to work well and last well. Again, I'm awfully gentle on strings. Again, I think the PR5e is nearly an ideal fingerpicker plugged in, and it ways I'd match mine against about anything far, far more expensive. OTOH, it's far less ideal as a pure acoustic other than as a parlor guitar. That said, it's done its share of solo gigs with me doing stuff ranging from backing up cowboy vocal material to fingerpicked jazz or such as "Last Steam Engine Train." Gotta admit I'd prefer it, I think, with a shorter scale, but for me, it's a doggone good overall "fit" and gets played far, far more than most of my guitars, either electric or acoustic. m Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinos Repus Posted September 3, 2013 Share Posted September 3, 2013 You should try strings built to use with acoustic guitars.... + 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
milod Posted September 3, 2013 Share Posted September 3, 2013 The DR Zebra strings are designed to be used on AE guitars and are something of a combination sort of string. The windings are alternate nickel steel and phosphor bronze on round cores. I've been using them on several guitars and they work quite well both with various sorts of piezo and with mag soundhole pups as well as on archtops. The Elixirs I use are exactly the same wound strings as in full acoustic sets - but not with a wound G. Yes, I prefer lighter strings because they fit how I play - a light, bare-fingered technique generally similar to playing classical guitar whether done on an AE or an archtop. It's inevitably amped either through a small AE amp or through a PA board. Basically I use the same technique regardless - and similar fingerboards and string gauge make it easier. When I play basically flatpicking backup for "old time" or such material on acoustic, yes, I use heavier strings and bigger-bodied guitars for more volume and depth in the lower registers. String gauge is a matter of preference, how, what and where one plays. Heavier strings on a non-amplified guitar can work well enough with fingerpicks but I find them less friendly to bare fingers especially if one feels the fingerpicking non-amplified must meet the volume of someone strumming. I realize also that string choice and playing style are quite personal and should be dependent on how one plays and what the purpose of playing is at all. The advantage to the lighter gauge strings for fingerpicking is roughly the same as playing a classical guitar. In fact, there are narrower-nut "classical" guitars designed to make playing those fat strings easier for crossover players. My own left hand technique finds certain things can be a tad easier with a standard Gibbie/Epi nut than on the wider classical or even 1.75 inch nut - although there's really not that much difference from roughly 5-6 thousandths that I can feel, and I have relatively small hands. I only use thumb and fingerpicks on the 12-string, banjo or - when I've had one - on autoharp. m Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bejasus Posted May 21, 2014 Share Posted May 21, 2014 I use these on my PR-5e. Elixir #16027 Custom Light in .011-.015-.022-.032-.042-.052 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starpeve Posted June 1, 2014 Author Share Posted June 1, 2014 Do you think that 12-53s will create any problems for me ie nut slots, intonation etc? And would a Martin compensated bridge be a good move? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
milod Posted June 1, 2014 Share Posted June 1, 2014 I'd just say do whatever you're going to do. Strings/scale/nut/bridge... all are variables that may be messed with. If you've been using 9-42 and wish a change, why? Has your technique changed? Your perceived desired sound acoustically? Electrically? What do you expect from the changes, or is it simply a good idea to you to mess with the instrument? My best guess is that a change of gauge from a properly set up 9-42 on a stock PR5e could easily require some messing with the torsion rod. On the nut? Perhaps, perhaps not. A new bridge? Some adjustments may make sense depending on your technique. m Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starpeve Posted June 2, 2014 Author Share Posted June 2, 2014 Milod- more of an experiment/ learning exercise than anything else. I'm on a steep learning curve and I'm just curious! Thanks for the response. Ps just got myself a new Casino! Have'nt picked it up yet but I'm excited!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
milod Posted June 2, 2014 Share Posted June 2, 2014 Star... Just a quick comment... I use those Zebra 9-42 on mine. I did a cowboy music gig in Montana a cupla years ago when there was a Brit video team there. Several of the guys were experienced music video folks. I'd asked them specifically to please ignore my voice and give me feedback on the guitar sound. I was plugged into the board, but nothing fancy at all about the PA in a true "cowboy country" community hall in a village that's unincorporated regardless that it's on the map. Their comments added up to that they thought it sounded exceptionally good... we talked sound systems and settings and this and that - but the bottom line was that regardless of my pickin' or singin', the guitar sounded marvelous as a fingerpicked singer backup instrument. Me, I figure that for what I do, if it ain't broke, I ain't gonna bother trying to fix it. Yeah, I have bigger boxes and other guitars and... but for the PR5e, it's keeping the factory original stuff and those Zebra 9-42s. They're all better than I am. m Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starpeve Posted June 2, 2014 Author Share Posted June 2, 2014 Maybe I'll just stick to the 9-42s ......I certainly don't have any complaints anout the sound of thr PR, she's sweet, but I'm a rank amateur and I was curious as I've got a couple of sets of 12-53s that I mis- ordered online. Oh, well... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
milod Posted June 2, 2014 Share Posted June 2, 2014 Gotta run to do a PR "shoot" of a play, but... Don't worry about the extra strings. They'd likely work well on a dread if you get one, and they're good strumming strings. I'm just more fingerpicky on everything except a cupla dreads that wear heavier- so I'm pretty much all-around a 9-42 guy. OTOH, look at it this way: Many pickers get heavier sets than they intend to play - and use the higher-pitched five as the lower-pitch on the guitar and buy a new light treble. Or wait 'til you get that dread. m Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starpeve Posted June 2, 2014 Author Share Posted June 2, 2014 Now that's using the 'ol noggin....:-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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