String gauges

[Zumbilly(Murdoch)]

Again a question prompted by lockdown boredom.
I have (in My time) owned three pedal steels which I purchased new. I always used the same string gauges which were initially installed by the builder in the belief that He knew better than Me what was best for His creation.
How many Forum members have experimented with different gauges and if so,were the results beneficial.I have always had an 0.11 on the third and am probably going to try a 0.12 when I next change strings.

[Ken Byng]

Billy
I never thought a 0.012 string would work in the 3rd string position. It not only works but it gives a fuller tone and better balanced output.

[Haddock]

I was thinking about this very thing recently and how it would be interesting to have a complete set of different gauges to hand to try out combinations. But when JD does a set of 10 so cheaply its hard to justify changing. Having said that, I just changed my 22 plain on the G# for a 22 wound as I no longer have the full tone drop on 6. I think it improves the wound to plain transition plus it makes my RKL a little lighter.
I also did quite a bit of experimentation on my 11th and 12th strings which most folk on ext E9 seem to have as a 46 and 56. I thought the 56 was a little easy to bend out of tune with pressure but that’s probably just bad technique however after going up as big as a 64, have settled on a 60 which gives a nice solid bottom E.
Cheers
Calum

[Danny Mitchell]

Very interesting topic, and I'd tend to agree with Billy, as in the builder knows what's best for his guitar. But, I have noticed a lightness about the 3rd string and Ken's mention of a fuller tone certainly appeals. And, with regard to Calum's response, was there a noticeable tonal difference going from plain to wound? I felt there was a mismatch between the 6th and 5th strings on my previous (Carter Starter) guitar, the wound string having a softer tone, although the tuning on the wound string seemed more stable. As for tight bottom, give me the full rounded, and somewhat bouncy, everytime, but I can understand Calum's choice as a hardy highlander, whereas I am but a soft city type.
Anyway, I've got 3 sets of JD's SITs to get through before I consider any tweaking. Will I remember? FK.

[dessa]

I personally prefer 1st string .012, 3rd .011.5 and 4th .015. Just my two penneth

[Ken Byng]

Another time, I bought some Live Strings that had 0.020 for the 6th string. I thought that it wouldn't be much of a difference. Wrong! Unbelievably it was a much tauter feel. I quickly bought some 0.022 plain strings and things immediately got back to normal.

I also tried a 0.022 wound on my Sho~Bud, but hated the sound. Didn't have the overtones of a plain string that my ears had got used to over the years. Putting a compensator on the 6th string stopped the problem with cabinet flex being noticeably affected on that string. Without a doubt, the steel guitar manufacturers have got it right through experimenting with their changers.

[Willie Gamble]

Mr Moordotch, methinks you cant count,
Not in correct order of purchase
1. ZB ( which you told me was too long to fit in the booth in the Star Bar and you had to play side on to the crowd)
2. Emmons loafer
3. Zumsteel
4. Rittenberry
At the school I went to that is four.
Oh and by the way my 3rd is an 11.5 stainless Jagwires all the way for me.
Asleep at the steel

[Zumbilly(Murdoch)]

Mr Gamble,Looks like Your school and mine differed greatly;
I can assure You ! was,and still am a veritable wizard with numbers !!
Please read again My original post.
The Z.B. which I owned was not new when I purchased it. Therefore My My post is correctly correct!! I have owned three steels of which I was the first owner .
I may be daft but I am not silly

[Tony Smart]

Dunno what all the fuss is about.
Whatever strings you buy, after a year they all sound the same.......

[Dave Nutt]

Too true Tony, 6 months to a year for me, might be old age or hearing but up till then I can’t hear much difference no matter the brand. (Cheapos excluded)
When the sharpness dies off- add a bit of treble to the amp, I guarantee no punter out there will pull you up because of slightly dull tone or suspect you haven’t changed strings recently.
Incidentally, I’ve had most big brands of steel and rarely break strings, like! One in the past four years and that’s picking for a few hours almost every day.