Like The Maytag Repairman:

[Inspector #20]

Up early, as usual, enjoying my coffee and just pondering. Suddenly, I realized that i have absolutely nothing interesting to share with you guys.

Recently, I decided to just switch over to my Schecter Hellraiser C1FR and Jackson San Dimas FR from my pair of Les Paul's. I never knew how much time I actually spent fiddling around with tuning until this morning.

Literally, I don't even tune these guitars. I just pick them up, hit an open 'G' and it sounds good, so I start my practice session.

I also notice that strings seem to last much longer on the FR guitars than they do on my fixed bridge Les Paul's, and I never break them, but rather they remain bright sounding longer.

I'm 2 months into this set of Ernie Ball Cobalt .009 x .046's on both guitars. I frequently play phrases with step and a half bends and heavy whammy bar use, and they still sound great.

I still use the Les Paul's for in-studio work when a Les Paul is requested, and when a project requires drop tuning, but that really is about all they get used for anymore...and they are popular with my music students.

I can't put a number on it, but I have more time available, both during my morning practice sessions, during my daily work at the studio and during soundchecks. I never fully realized how much time I was investing in tuning until today.

Funny how saving a few minutes, here and there, makes such a big difference during the course of one's day.

Wishing you guys all the very best...

 

[Far Rider]

I thought I was the only person in the world who played 9's.

 

[Clockworkmike]

I recently tried the D'Addario NYXL series and are really digging those. Using 10-52s right now because i like how they hold up in drop tunings but are still light enough on the high strings. But ive always liked 9-42s if its standard tuning and kinda flip flop back and forth

Wish you the very best as well, Robert!

 

[Inspector #20]

I thought I was the only person in the world who played 9's.

I have been playing 9x46 for a very long time...

 

[Inspector #20]

I recently tried the D'Addario NYXL series and are really digging those. Using 10-52s right now because i like how they hold up in drop tunings but are still light enough on the high strings. But ive always liked 9-42s if its standard tuning and kinda flip flop back and forth

Wish you the very best as well, Robert!

I play a lot of rhythm. The 46/36/26 give me a good tone on rhythm passages, but the 16/11/9 allow step and a half bends, like in Hotel California and You've Got Another Thing Comin.

 

[BFT Gibson]

favor 9's..all the shredders have 9's & my fav SGJ

 

[Clockworkmike]

I tried 8s once but it was like playing with angel hair pasta lol

 

[Far Rider]

I don't feel so lonely anymore.

 

[67plexi]

I have two guitars with stainless steel frets as a test on the Parker went 13.5 years on a set of strings zero ware band practice 3 times per week and gig's twice
per week that's around 14,000 hours of play time on a set of strings. Needless to say I'm sold on stainless steel frets. Next I have a 1960 Fender strat neck
that needs a re fret thinking SS frets.

 

[Inspector #20]

I have two guitars with stainless steel frets as a test on the Parker went 13.5 years on a set of strings zero ware band practice 3 times per week and gig's twice
per week that's around 14,000 hours of play time on a set of strings. Needless to say I'm sold on stainless steel frets. Next I have a 1960 Fender strat neck
that needs a re fret thinking SS frets.

That's amazing!!! What strings were you using???

 

[67plexi]

Ernie Ball 10-46 regular slinky nickel wound since 1970 why change.

This is before the string change just nasty pick dust finger grime.

 

[Sp8ctre]

I thought I was the only person in the world who played 9's.

I play 9's

 

[Clockworkmike]

Ernie Ball 10-46 regular slinky nickel wound since 1970 why change.

This is before the string change just nasty pick dust finger grime.

View attachment 51253

How you liking that Parker?

 

[Hackmaster]

I went to .009's on almost everything till I wrecked my hand.
Had real good luck with the NYXL .009 - .042 sets, especially on the Floyd equipped guitars.
Spendy, yes, but they don't break.

 

[Session 5]

I tried 9s, but didn't care for them. All i use is D"Addario 10-46s Nickel wound, in the six years I have been playing, I have never had one break. No reason to change a good thing.

 

[Inspector #20]

I tried 9s, but didn't care for them. All i use is D"Addario 10-46s Nickel wound, in the six years I have been playing, I have never had one break. No reason to change a good thing.

I would like to run .010's, but it restricts my bends...

 

[Clockworkmike]

I would like to run .010's, but it restricts my bends...

The 9-46s you run are a good compromise between 9s and 10s overall. Its a hybrid size i believe

 

[Mitch Pearrow SJMP]

I am still using 10-46’s I don’t play much lead so the bending is not much of an issue for me, but I also have a very heavy right hand and I break the low strings D A E
Mostly the D string, doesn’t matter what guitar either.
Cheers

 

[Clockworkmike]

I am still using 10-46’s I don’t play much lead so the bending is not much of an issue for me, but I also have a very heavy right hand and I break the low strings D A E
Mostly the D string, doesn’t matter what guitar either.
Cheers

Have you ever tried 10-52s Mitch? Kind of a 10-11 Hybrid but they beef up the low strings a bit more. I recently started using them and dont really feel too much of a difference physically but they are a bit stronger

 

[Far Rider]

I kept forcing myself to buy 10's because I do think they sound a little better. After a short time I'm right back to 9's. I don't have the callouses I did in my youth and the 10's make it uncomfortable to play. And I'm too old and cranky to change.