String Recommendations Casino Elitist - Bass Player Needs Help with Sore Fingers!

[NLS]

Hi,

 

I'm new to the forum and am returning to playing a six-string guitar after many, many years of bass playing. I'm looking for some string recommendations for my Epiphone Casino Elitist. I apologize in advance if this discussion has taken place in the Epiphone forum already, but I could use some clarification.

 

My initial goal is to become a tolerable (to be able to play so that my wife and cat do not leave the room!) rock rhythm guitar player.

 

I've read some discussions about string brands and gauges and realize that there is always a degree of subjectivity and personal choice involved. Unfortunately, at this point, I don't have enough experience or information that will prevent me from spending a small fortune on various string sets - not to mention all the time spent traveling to the music store or changing strings when I should be practicing!

 

Can someone offer some points I should be aware of for example - why use a wound or unwound G string?

 

As far as the string gauge - why use 9s or 10s versus even larger gauge strings for my Casino?

 

Any other input is very welcome.

 

Thanks,

Neil

[lostindesert]

I would start with .010s with a plain G-string. This is what i use on my Epi B.B.King Lucille.

Most players on here probably use .011s or .012s on their archtop guitars.

As for the G-string, if you like string bending a plain string is easier to bend.

If you play mostly rhythm guitar i would go for .011s with a wounded G.

Extreme switches involve maybe nut dressing, setting neck relief, adjusting action and intonation.

Don't go from .009s to .013s.

 

Good luck with the string search,

 

Peter

[NLS]

Petyer, thank you for the response. Any thoughts on string brands - I see the D'Addario name come up often in the forum?

 

You also bring up other important points that haven't been a regular concern with my basses - that is nut dressing, neck relief, adjusting action, etc. I need to learn even more!

 

Thanks again,

Neil

[lostindesert]

Petyer' date=' thank you for the response. Any thoughts on string brands - I see the D'Addario name come up often in the forum?

 

You also bring up other important points that haven't been a regular concern with my basses - that is nut dressing, neck relief, adjusting action, etc. I need to learn even more!

 

Thanks again,

Neil[/quote']

 

Neil, i spelled my own name wrong, it's Peter.

On my electric guitars (Fender Tele,Strat and Epi Lucille) i use D'Addario strings.

All strung with D'Addario Bright Round Wound EXL110 Regular light gauge .010 - .046.

 

Peter

[lostindesert]

Btw maybe another forum member knows what strings come factory equiped on the Elitist Casino.

My guess would be .011s with wound G-string.

 

Peter

 

I just looked on the Epiphone String Gauge site and the Casino has .010s installed.

[JefferySmith]

Flatwounds may ease the pain a bit.

[VillageIdiot]

Hi' date='

 

I'm new to the forum and am returning to playing a six-string guitar after many, many years of bass playing. I'm looking for some string recommendations for my Epiphone Casino Elitist. I apologize in advance if this discussion has taken place in the Epiphone forum already, but I could use some clarification.

 

My initial goal is to become a tolerable (to be able to play so that my wife and cat do not leave the room!) rock rhythm guitar player.

 

I've read some discussions about string brands and gauges and realize that there is always a degree of subjectivity and personal choice involved. Unfortunately, at this point, I don't have enough experience or information that will prevent me from spending a small fortune on various string sets - not to mention all the time spent traveling to the music store or changing strings when I should be practicing!

 

Can someone offer some points I should be aware of for example - why use a wound or unwound G string?

 

As far as the string gauge - why use 9s or 10s versus even larger gauge strings for my Casino?

 

Any other input is very welcome.

 

Thanks,

Neil

 

 

[/quote'] I really like Gibson Bright Wires , .010 to .046 for all of my electrics. They are not the cheapest but they are long lasting, sound great and is what Gibson puts on a lot of their new electrics when they ship out. I also have a Casinoand it came with .010- .046 and I think they are Bright Wires.

[byrds1965]

Pretty sure all the Casinos come strung with 10s.

 

I use the Dean Markley set, 11 gauge.

 

Inside each one of the Markley 11 sets it comes packed with either the plain or wound G string so you can take your pick.

 

Like the guys say here if your playing lead then I would stick with 10s, but for rhtythm I would go with 11s. Due to the smaller scale if your playing a Strat with 10s, 11s on an Epiphone/Gibson feel no different.

 

I like the heavier gauage on the hollow bodies but keep my SGs strung with 10s.

[bobo]

excellent, long lasting strings are

'cleartone'.

really, really good.

also 'dr' strings are good as well.

the cleartones are more expensive

but last months.

[TWANG]

I'm just gonna toss this out.

 

An epi elitist casino.

 

I'd start with .009s. I'd use Musicians Friend Rogue sets.. you guage them yourself.. buying six in a package of each string guage.

 

why?

Because .009s are easy to play. Like nothing there. The casino wont need anything, just put 'em on, and it'll still have plenty of tone.

You get used to them faster. they are cheap. they sound good. They last a long time.

 

We can talk all we want about tone, or what's better for this or for that.. but what's important right now is you get by the new callouses as easy as possible. work on YOU, not on the holy grail of anything.

But the time you've run through six sets, spending very little, you'll know a lot about what you don't like, and what you do.. You'll have plenty

of time to get your hands and fingers accustomed to playing guitar, and you'll have plenty of time to learn the other things instead of jumping right in.

 

After that, I'd try .010s.. and again, I'd stay away from name brands or expensive strings.

Really the cheapys will do the job, just fine.

 

After a set of .010s I'd try some flat wounds or go to a wound G set, but stick to the lightest guaged set I could get with a wound G.

 

Switching to .010s will give you a little more tone.. and flatwounds and a wound G set will give you even more tonal experience. along with showing you what these differences are in playing as well as sound.

 

By the time you've done that, you should have learned quite a bit.. not only about playing but about what it takes to use different guages.. and all in no rush, and for cheap.

 

I personally never recommend a beginner, even on with some playing experience, just jump right into spending big bucks on strings and set ups

and so forth IF he's starting with a guitar as good as yours.

 

Rogues will last pretty much as long as most strings. They will sound pretty much as good as most.

 

Really great strings wont do anything for your learning to play.. similar guages all feel the same..

 

Get the practice in. learn about tone and set ups etc, as you go..

 

Play other guys guitars as you get a feel for yours.. for first hand experience in learning to compare.

 

work on developing your touch.. the most common mistake bass players make, and I was a bass player first and most..

is they put too much effort into it.. learn a light touch.. and with .009s it's called for.. you'll develop dynamics in your pick hand,

and your fret hand wont have to work hard.. fewer cramps and tension.. callouses grow slower but it will bug you less.

 

You'll be mostly chording.. the G string wont really bother you EXCEPT as many things bother beginners, that is, they aren't used to it yet, and

they tend to blame things on the guitar in some way.. and they get frustrated at slow progress and well. we're consumers.. and quick fix artists..

we tend to want to buy something when we don't really need it.

 

The sooner you get the habit of being patient and doing the work.. the sooner you'll make real progress.. something strings can't do for you, no matter what you pay for them.

 

Later, you'll become more of an afficianado.. you'll have a better idea of what you really want.. rather than an idea of what others think you want or need.

 

All the suggestions made are ok.. not disagreeing with any of them.

You can do that, too.

But me, I'd take it easy, spend little, work more. get really used to one guage, put the time in.. compare to other guitars.. and move up when the time was really optimal and efficient.

 

TWANG

[stan 58]

Finger Ease. Stan.

[tonedeaf1281734100]

I agree with TWANG. Start with .009s. You can always move up. Guitar strings are much cheaper than bass strings.

[charlie brown]

Ok..my 2-cent's worth. If Rhythm is what you're going to be doing, mostly...if it were me, I'd go with 10's! 9's

are a bit light for someone going from bass strings to guitar stings...and can easily be fretted (heavy enough) to

go out of tune (sharp). 10's are less prone to that, as are the heavier guages. 10's are also light enough, that

if you want to learn some lead riffs, phrases, and "bends," you can still do that, easily. Lot's of folks that do only

rhythm use 11's (round or flat wound), depending on the tone/sound you're after. Again...just my opinion...not

carved in stone.

 

CB

[Ron G]

Can someone offer some points I should be aware of for example - why use a wound or unwound G string?

On that point, I can offer an interesting article:

http://images.onstagemag.com/files/46/0202Setuptxt.html

 

I returned to regular playing last year and found that callouses built up rather quickly

[snookelputz]

Finger Ease. Stan.

 

Used this for 3 days, once. Was very pleased with how smoothly my fingers slid on the strings. Then I discovered that the stuff builds up and gets sticky. It catches dust and cakes in the strings. Took 3 days to clean the guitar.

[rafaelh]

 

Used this for 3 days' date=' once. Was very pleased with how smoothly my fingers slid on the strings. Then I discovered that the stuff builds up and gets sticky. It catches dust and cakes in the strings. Took 3 days to clean the guitar.

[/quote']

 

Darn snooks...LOL...where you store your guitars:)

 

Been using Finger Ease on all my guitras for ovcer 10 years?, at the least anyhow, never had any problems at all. As a matter of fact it seems to make my strings last longer.

 

 

FWIW...I run 10s on my Casino.

[TWANG]

I can go with Charlie.. .010s are probably just as good to start with.. not that much harder to use.. and will sound a bit better

chording.

I think either one will do pretty well..

 

 

TWANG

[stan 58]

Been using Finger Ease every day for 25 years and never had a prob. Stan.

[snookelputz]

 

Darn snooks...LOL...where you store your guitars:)

 

Been using Finger Ease on all my guitras for ovcer 10 years?' date=' at the least anyhow, never had any problems at all. As a matter of fact it seems to make my strings last longer.

 

 

FWIW...I run 10s on my Casino.[/quote']

 

Just off the freeway. northern california, home of 2,347 kinds of grass. 2,342 of them burnable every summer. sometimes I think I'm living in a vacuum cleaner.

 

 

BTW, THIS is MF's Stupid Deal today - TI 9-42 strings. Haven't used this string, but I'm totally sold on every other string of their's I've ever tried. This is just under $6/set -- great price for this level of string.