String Guages

[apossibleworld]

I also love the Curt Mangan strings. Plus they even make a 10.5 set. Seems like a small difference but they're actually great.

[101Volts]

Does a Ventures II still count? I haven't strung mine up yet but I'll probably put a set of D'addario 11s on it first. I don't bend strings much and I'm used to a set of 12s on my short scale Tele. I have to wonder if 11s are going to overdrive the amp though, Knowing that Mosrite pickups are so hot.

I have been using Curt Mangan 10-52 on my Hallmark 60's Custom and my Gretsch 6120 as well. Gives me a little more bottom, especially for chords. Something I picked up years ago from Dave Gregory from XTC. It was the 80's and mostly most of the bands I knew were playing metal and using 8's, I just had to be different.

Kind of funny you mentioned Dave. I'm a pretty big XTC fan myself (I know, That's uncommon) though I didn't know Dave's preferred string gauge. I've played with that gauge before and actually prefer larger Low Es than what are usually in a package.

Austin

[Haole Jim]

D'Addario flatwound .011s with a wound 3rd on a Mk I.

Currently have .011s roundwound (again, with a wound 3rd) on the '66 Combo Mk I.

.010s do not seem, "quite enough."

[101Volts]

I've been playing my Ventures II with a set of 10s and although I'd prefer a set of 11s these work very nicely. Also, I think I could overdrive an amp with these MK V pickups even if I used a set of 8s.

Austin

[Dennisthe Menace]

I've been playing my Ventures II with a set of 10s and although I'd prefer a set of 11s these work very nicely. Also, I think I could overdrive an amp with these MK V pickups even if I used a set of 8s.
Austin

You can . I use to do it all day long when I had my Celebrity III (same p'ups as on the MARK V). I miss that guitar, unfortunately, I play guitars with
whammy bars, and ended up with a CE-II with the Trem/System, courtesy of Adam. FWIW, ALL of my Mo's are set up with 8s and they all will overdrive
an amp depending upon how the amp is EQd. But at least I know my '72 CE-III is in good hands with another Forum member .

[JimPage]

Thanks, Dennis; and these good hands will never let it go!!!

I do love that guitar!

--Jim

[oipunkguy]

i been using dr and ernie ball 9's for years, but i been thinking of moving yup to 10's. one issue with a bigger string is the bigger the string the higher you have to have your action. on mosrite it's minimal, but still somehting to consider.

[Dennisthe Menace]

i been using dr and ernie ball 9's for years, but i been thinking of moving yup to 10's. one issue with a bigger string is the bigger the string the higher you have to have your action. on mosrite it's minimal, but still somehting to consider.

Keep in mind that this will also depend upon the style of music you are playing. If you do a lot of bending of the strings for your expression of playing,
it will be a little harder to do such a thing with speed frets. They have a tendency to 'slip out from underneath' your finger(s)....just my 2 cents...

[MOSDAN]

I use D'adario EXL 10's. Gives me great tone through my Twin Reverb setup.

[olrocknroller]

Some guitarists I know "build" their own sets up by buying individual gauge strings in bulk... Seems like a hassle to me; I like to feel a guitar out with 10-46s, and will try 9-46s just to see how the guitar feels. My gut feel is that higher frets can handle heavier gauges without losing the ability to do bends, but often, lower frets, a la Mosrite, will give some players problems with heavy gauges and bending notes. I also find that higher frets tend to distort the note with light gauge strings just with playing pressure...a friend of mine has such a guitar, and had to go back to 11-52's because he grips the neck too hard!

The more arthritic my hands get, the more I find this to be true!