Picking Strings

[hfxrock]

Hey all. I am at a point where I need to get some new strings.

I have an Epiphone SG400. I play mostly metal but my family doesn't like the same genre of music as I do so I do play soft rock, rock as well.

There are SO MANY types of strings which one do I choose? My teacher recommended 10 guage strings for practicing and jamming and they are easy on the fingers. Which one of the Ernie Balls do I choose.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Jeff

[Pekker_Head]

Hey all. I am at a point where I need to get some new strings.

I have an Epiphone SG400. I play mostly metal but my family doesn't like the same genre of music as I do so I do play soft rock, rock as well.

There are SO MANY types of strings which one do I choose? My teacher recommended 10 guage strings for practicing and jamming and they are easy on the fingers. Which one of the Ernie Balls do I choose.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Jeff
For Metal go for GHS Boomers. If your wanting to change gauge of strings you'll need to get the guitar set up for them.

[Blewbyou]

I use Ernie Ball regular slinky and play a wide variety of music from blues to rock to country and I really like them give them a try I think you'll like them and they're cheap

[noob_saioke45601]

i like them first act steel strings they sell at wal-mart for about 2.99. they may not have the best quality but they do sound good and there easy to bend for cheapos. i had myn for about 3 months and they havent broke yet.

[Jstickley]

I use Ernie Ball Super Slinky 8's and play a ton of metal, and 80's hard rock..

Great string, amazing bends and hardcore sound ;)

Jesse

[sheepster]

I have a guitar, and I've never changed the strings. I assume they're 9s. If I buy some 8s to try out, will I absolutely have to change my guitar set-up? And if I really have to, can somebody tell me precisely how?

[Jstickley]

What type of bridge do you have? Floyd Rose? 2 point fulcrum? string through?

Jesse

[sheepster]

It isn't a Floyd Rose. I know that much.

It looks like a flat bar with a large screw on either end. The strings disappear into holes on one side of this bar, and seem to be wrapped around tiny little reels on the opposite side where they come out.

Acutally, I'll just get a picture. This is my guitar. I hope you can make out the bridge, it's a bit small...

http://www.imuso.co.uk/images/Product/EG00540.jpg

[Jstickley]

Thats relativly easy. You can change gauge sizes with no real issues, other than you may have to reset the intonation. Do one string at a time.. Also, when you remove a string, take some graphite and put in the nut groove for that string.. this will help it slide while tuning, and ultimatly make tuning eaiser.

To check the intonation, play a natural harmonic on the 12th fret, and then press at the 12th fret and see if it makes the same sound. If it does great, if not, then you may have to move the saddle forward or back until the sound is exactly the same.. Even if it is off a tad, it will affect its tuning and its overall sustain and tone. This is easiest done with a tuner, a simple LED tuner will suffice. You can use your ear, which is what I do.

I hope this helps you.

Jesse

[sheepster]

Excellent. That helps me immensely. Now I just need to know what the saddle is. I'm guessing it's the thing that the strings are all being held up by, just before the big metal bar thing...

I'm so technical. :)

[Jstickley]

The saddle is the part in the bridge that mvoes back and forth, hence shortening the string or making it longer.

There are little screws on the bridge which will move this saddle.. If the harmonic is flatter than the fretted string, then the string is too long, and you would have to move the saddle towards the neck. If the harmonic is a higher pitch, you will ahve to make the string longer, making the saddle go towards the ball end stay.

Jesse

[sheepster]

Awesome. Thank ye kindly, good sir. I can now change my strings confidently.

[Jstickley]

Glad i could help.. Dont be afraid to ask any other questions ;)

Remember, Change 1 string at a time, OR you will be asking me why the bridge fell off ;)

Jesse

[sheepster]

Aaaah... Glad you clarified that bit. For some reason, I foolishly thought you meant to take them all off, and completely fit and tune one string before starting on the next. That could've led to problems... :o

So take the low E string off, put the new one on. Then take the A string off, and add the new one. And so on?

[Jstickley]

nonono lol..

I remove a single string, replace that string, tune it, move to the next string and repeat the process. When im done with all strings, I will go back and retune a few times, as you have to until the strings stop stretching. I have known some guys to "prestretch" there strings, but ive found that to be a foolish practice, as it MIGHT save you from tuning it one time, and there is a good chance that you can kink the string by trying to stretch it yourself.

Jesse

[ToolFan]

Hey all. I am at a point where I need to get some new strings.

I have an Epiphone SG400. I play mostly metal but my family doesn't like the same genre of music as I do so I do play soft rock, rock as well.

There are SO MANY types of strings which one do I choose? My teacher recommended 10 guage strings for practicing and jamming and they are easy on the fingers. Which one of the Ernie Balls do I choose.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Jeff

I use Ernie Ball power slinkys and I just tried the skinny top heavy bottom ones...Those are fierce! If you are playing metal or anything using alot of drop D or C tunings these are it. I even spent an entire night learning Tool's Parabola which is in drop B. I only had to retune it 2 times for 5 hours worth of playing. Just be careful with the heavier gauge strings you might have to adjust the bridge heigth and it can damage the nut, but the I have found the 52's in the skinny top heavy bottom are not that bad. :)

[Zeppelin_Maniac]

I use the same strings Jimmy Page uses. Yeah, baby!

Ernie Ball Super Slinky Customs (.09) on electric
Ernie Ball Earthwoods (.13) on acoustic

Unrelated... I've tried using the same picks too (HercoFlex 75) but I prefer Dunlop Tortex's for their non-slip finish.