ics1974 Posted June 12, 2009 Share Posted June 12, 2009 Just wondering... 1. What gauge strings do you use on your SG? 2. How often do you change them and how much usage before changing them? Right now I am using Ernie ball regular slinkies (10's) and change them about every month and a half. I play about an hour per day if I'm lucky. I'm also considering upping from 10's to 11's. Will this require a setup? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DiamondJig Posted June 12, 2009 Share Posted June 12, 2009 Any change could need a setup. The heavier gauge string will bow the neck a little more which is like raising the action and could throw the intonation out, so you'll be battling heavier string higher action, you may want to tweek it to your liking, then again putting on 11's may make the guitar come together and you'll love it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeRom Posted June 12, 2009 Share Posted June 12, 2009 I still have the original strings on (only a few weeks old), brite wires most likely. My strings tell me when it's time to be changed ... as soon as they no longer hold their tuning they gotsta go. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimmiJAMM Posted June 12, 2009 Share Posted June 12, 2009 For some reason I always end up waiting WAY too long to change my strings. Just another one of those things I mean to stay on top of but never do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dickey Posted June 12, 2009 Share Posted June 12, 2009 I change strings about every 3-4 gigs on my Tele & Strat, but on my '61 I change whenever they get too crummy to play,since I don't use it too much onstage. I use 10-38's 'cause I think they balance out better for country chicken-picken. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyingarmadillo Posted June 12, 2009 Share Posted June 12, 2009 Super Slinkys (9-42) Change em whenever they need it - usually about every 15 - 20 hours of playing time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hbomb76 Posted June 12, 2009 Share Posted June 12, 2009 With most of mine... 1) I mostly use either Ernie Ball "Regular" Slinkys (lime-green pack...10-46's) or the "Skinny-Top/Heavy-Bottom" Slinkys (reddish-orange pack...10-52's), and occasionally me and the other axeman in LOCKBOX ba$tardize sets of the "S-T/H-B" and "Beefy" Slinkys (11-54's) wherein he takes the wound strings from the 10's and pairs up with the high strings from the "Beefy" set, leaving me with the heavier wound strings along with the "Skinny-Top" portion of the other set. Works out well for me, as I like that snappy "punch" (a la Malcolm Young) you get from thicker wound strings, but I like the ease of lead playing on the 10's. I've used all kinds of gauges from 9's to 13's (currently use 12's or 13's on my Malcolm Young Gretsch...that's the only way to really get his tone because you have to learn how to play like him feel-wise and BEAT the thing to death), but 10's give me what I need all around, regardless if I'm playing cheesy covers or ballkicking originals. 2) I change strings when I break 'em (and if I don't have a mysterious "loosey" of that gauge or similar gauge to get by on for "one more show"). I'm pretty good about wiping my strings down with an armband or an alcohol prep pad after a gig, but eventually if I haven't snapped 'em and they get too funky or completely die (won't hold tune and just sound like crap) I'll restring. When you're playing weekly gigs and you alternate guitars, sometimes a guitar can go 3 or 4 shows with a guitar before that becomes a problem. Or those nights when your frontman in one of your bands decides to get $hitfaced and leaves you with guitar AND vocal duties while he pulls a Jim Morrison & neglects his onstage responsibilities and you just beat the crap outta' your strings sometimes you just have to go ahead and concede to swap 'em out. Depending on how "well" your guitar's set-up and how you like your action to feel, you may or may not need a new setup done. Sometimes a slight lowering of the bridge can fix the higher-action caused by the increased inward-bow on the neck, and sometimes you just have to pop the truss rod cover and give the rod a quarter-turn or so (DON'T OVER-TIGHTEN lest ye buy a new SG) to compensate. Either way, RARELY would this require you to go pay some halfa$$ tech at a guitar shop to do it. Now, going from 9's to 12's...yeah, pay someone if you're not comfy doing it yourself. But going up or down a gauge usually requires such minimal adjustment you can do it yourself if you're patient and use common sense. H-Bomb Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yoda Posted June 12, 2009 Share Posted June 12, 2009 10's d'addarios XL, couple of weeks of moderate playing. 4 gigs in a row. if i haven't played a gig in a bit, always when i get to the gig. most i decide how well it stays in tune. my g string is always the first to drift out of tune, then i restring. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alfa Corse Posted June 12, 2009 Share Posted June 12, 2009 I tested many brands and I use Elixir 10-46. Sound stays bright, no rust and a very good feeling Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Murph Posted June 12, 2009 Share Posted June 12, 2009 Ernie Ball 10/46 Lime Green (2221's). My #1 right now is my ES-339 and it gets 3 gigs and a change. The backup SG is for home use, practice, jams, and backup. It may go a few months, but when they feel funky, they're gone..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boston004681 Posted June 12, 2009 Share Posted June 12, 2009 I just buy the bright wires (10s), but im thinking of changing to 11s. ??? But after what DiamondJig said, i don't know if i wanna go messin' with my intonation. ... ??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bert plays a SG? Posted June 13, 2009 Share Posted June 13, 2009 I've started using the TITANIUM 10-46 from Ernie Ball. There's a huge difference (for me): they stay without any rust for like, twice the time I would normally play with the Rock'nRoll or the regular strings. They are a bit less bright than the Rock'n'Roll but I really don't mind. I can play with the TITANIUM 6 to 8 times instead of 3-5 before seeing a difference in the feel/tone of the strings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bert plays a SG? Posted June 13, 2009 Share Posted June 13, 2009 About the 11's... I've tried it and it was ok. A bit stiff in the bottom strings... Came back to 10-46's because it is the right gauge for that guitar... IMHO, 11's are good for sliding. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hellion102792 Posted June 13, 2009 Share Posted June 13, 2009 Ernie Ball Power Slinkys 11-56, needed to adjust the intonation afterwords. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yucancallmepatty Posted June 13, 2009 Share Posted June 13, 2009 i like d'addario 12's on my sg i like the higher tension, and the thicker guage i probably change my strings once a month. which would roughly be about 48 hours of use. i play 2twice a week at my church which involves practices too also daily practice and recording adds up to a little over 50 hours. but there are times where my playing isnt so often, so my strings will stay on for longer than a month i usually decide to change when i can feel that the strings are kinda dead. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kjr Posted June 14, 2009 Share Posted June 14, 2009 I LIKE THE 10S Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cwness Posted June 14, 2009 Share Posted June 14, 2009 I've been using Dean Markley Blue Steel. The Strings are all Cryogenic Activated. It makes the Steel molecules line up Iin a strong structure. Brighter and last long. All my guns I have cryoed for better accuracy. Even my Benelli shotgun was cryoed from the factory for better patterns. The bottom line is they last and sound better longer. CW Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twiz Posted June 14, 2009 Share Posted June 14, 2009 Ernie Ball Regular Slinkys are my favorite. When I change them varies. Mostly it depends on how much playing time I put on 'em. Usually it's around once a month. I also try to throw on a new set 2 or 3 days before a gig if possible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dub-T-123 Posted June 14, 2009 Share Posted June 14, 2009 I use DR nines and change them after they turn black and lose their brilliance. (about every month and a half or so) I would string it more but I'm saving up for a new Gibson. Which, for me, is quite a feat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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