Some Low Notes

[Gary James Peters]

Hi Ken
Very interesting info. I wish you played a U12, I might try and persuade you to sell me a couple of sets. I don't think they make U12 sets, right? It's getting the low 70 that's a pain. And, also not easy to get Live or Jagwire in the UK? I have thought about the latter, but I thought they went bust? I know nothing as you can tell already.

Cheers

Gary

[Ken Byng]

Hi Ken
Very interesting info. I wish you played a U12, I might try and persuade you to sell me a couple of sets. I don't think they make U12 sets, right? It's getting the low 70 that's a pain. And, also not easy to get Live or Jagwire in the UK? I have thought about the latter, but I thought they went bust? I know nothing as you can tell already.

Cheers

Gary

Gary,
Jagwire have resurfaced after a blip, and I use their Buck Reid series of stainless strings. However, the Live Steel strings have incredible longevity. I bought some of my strings when I was in Nashville, but I bit the bullet and bought a load of E9 and C6 sets straight from the supplier. 2 of my pack-a-seats are full of strings.

Try Bobby Lee's Steel Guitar Forum. He sells individual strings here. https://www.steelguitarshopper.com/cate ... e-strings/

[Haddock]

I like the loop thing Gary. Shades of Crimson in there! I’ve also got form on recording the things you’re not meant to hear. Was once working on a track with a band and trying to get a guitar sound when I realised that the perfect sound was the telecaster miked up acoustically. Worked great.
On strings, I used to have a guitar shop and grew used to changing them whenever I felt like it. Still really enjoy getting the pegwinder out. I do think though that its very hard to do a proper AB comparison with strings if you take longevity out of the equation as the new ones will always be livelier. Plus having forked out £15- £20, you wouldn’t want to admit they were worse than what came off.
Cheers

[Jif]

Indeed, stingy bastard myself when it comes to strings. I was using Live Steel strings but found Jagwire worked better for me. I tried Live again recently for a comparison and was disappointed with the tone I was getting compared to Jagwire. The problem is you can only buy them from the US and whilst the price of the strings is good postage doubles the price to mid £20.

So I decided to have another look at getting strings in the UK. I had read some good reports on these strings,

Ghs Pedal Steel Americana Series E9 Tuning Nickel-Iron Alloy Strings PF600

So decided to give them a go, only problem is they only come in a 10 string packet, so on the recommendation of Calum I bought Dunlops for the two bottom strings. I was very pleased with the result and will use this combo again. I know the nickel fades more quickly than the stainless, but I prefer the tone from nickel so this over rides the stingy bastard element for me.

Of course being unable to play atm I'm in full stingy bastard mode

[Gary James Peters]

Thanks Ken, I'll check that link out.

And thanks Calum: I assume 'shades of crimson' refers to King Crimson, or have you come over all synesthetic on me?

And thanks Geoff for your suggestions too.

G

[Haddock]

In case it gives folk something new to think about, the reason I recommended the Dunlops for Geoffs low strings, apart from the fact I got them for free, is that I discovered the core was significantly thinner than the Ernie balls that I had been using which has a good consequence when it comes to tension. As I understand, the windings on a string have nothing to do with tension so picking strings with a different core can change the whole feel of the guitar. Perhaps this has a lot to do with preference for different brands?
Cheers
Calum

[Gary James Peters]

Strangely, I have never come across Dunlop strings before, so yes worth thinking about. They certainly get good reviews, especially by Heavy Metal guitarists, so that'll suit me just fine then!!

G