Sugartune Posted November 4, 2019 Share Posted November 4, 2019 What string gauge do you use on a sustainblock Sunburst? I use 10s on my Studio Custom, but 10s seem to have a little more tension then I like on the Sunburst. Even at a half step down, which is where I would keep this guitar at. 9s seem like the logical step, but I normally would use a heavier guage for a half step lower tuning. I’m curious if you folks use 9s, 10s or whatever else you might use and why, if it’s different than what you use for other Hamers. Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ARM OF HAMER Posted November 4, 2019 Share Posted November 4, 2019 I always used 9's,EB "REGULAR SLINKYS" on my 2 1979 Hamer Sunbursts as they played easy and sounded great with those......................on a nice Sunburst like that one you have either a 9 or 10 with your string maker preference....................it IS going to sound great! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sugartune Posted November 4, 2019 Author Share Posted November 4, 2019 1 minute ago, ARM OF HAMER said: I always used 9's,EB "REGULAR SLINKYS" on my 2 1979 Hamer Sunbursts as they played easy and sounded great with those......................on a nice Sunburst like that one you have either a 9 or 10 with your string maker preference....................it IS going to sound great! Nice! Thank you Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomteriffic Posted November 4, 2019 Share Posted November 4, 2019 I've always used D'Addarios of a couple of different formulations, but almost always 9-42's. The warranty cards on the earlier Hamers always mentioned using 9's. I don't know when (or if) that changed, but it's what has been the most comfortable and responsive for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sugartune Posted November 4, 2019 Author Share Posted November 4, 2019 6 minutes ago, tomteriffic said: I've always used D'Addarios of a couple of different formulations, but almost always 9-42's. The warranty cards on the earlier Hamers always mentioned using 9's. I don't know when (or if) that changed, but it's what has been the most comfortable and responsive for me. Sweet! Thank you. That's kind of what I was wondering...what the factory spec or warranty card suggested. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
draelyc Posted November 4, 2019 Share Posted November 4, 2019 I'm a big fan of Ernie Balls, fwiw. Grew up playing 9-42, switched to 10-46 for a few years in my mid-late 30s (I'm now 48), but developed some wrist problems (not from the 10s) and have been using Hybrid Slinky 9-46s on all my electrics (Fender and Gibson scale lengths) for many years now. Tried some other brands & gauges here and there over the years, but I always end up back at EB Hybrids. They're cheap, they feel great, and those gauges seem to work well for my hands. That said, I have a Studio but not a Sunburst, so I don't know what the differences might be. But my Mirage is 25.5" scale and my Studio is 24.75", but I've found that they both like the same gauges at the same tuning, and I set them up to feel pretty similar in terms of tension & action. Fwiw, and ymmv, of course. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gtrdaddy Posted November 4, 2019 Share Posted November 4, 2019 Use what ever feels good, and sounds good to you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Travis Posted November 5, 2019 Share Posted November 5, 2019 Years ago I used 10’s on my 25.5” scale guitars and 11’s on my 24.75”. Most were tuned to standard with maybe 1 or 2 that were tuned half a step down. Now that I’m left with only 25.5” scale guitars, I use 10-52 tuned half a step down on all of them... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobB Posted November 5, 2019 Share Posted November 5, 2019 6 hours ago, gtrdaddy said: Use what ever feels good, and sounds good to you. Can I get an amen? Geezus...how hard can it be? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gorch Posted November 5, 2019 Share Posted November 5, 2019 Actually, I’m running .09s on the Talladega. Sustainblock too. If that helps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zenmindbeginner Posted November 5, 2019 Share Posted November 5, 2019 9 hours ago, Travis said: Years ago I used 10’s on my 25.5” scale guitars and 11’s on my 24.75”. Most were tuned to standard with maybe 1 or 2 that were tuned half a step down. Now that I’m left with only 25.5” scale guitars, I use 10-52 tuned half a step down on all of them... +1000 .010-.052 tuned a half step down is my favorite string+tuning combination on any guitar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Disturber Posted November 5, 2019 Share Posted November 5, 2019 I use 010-046 on every guitar I have. Daddario or SIT. I used to buy Pyramid 451 Pure Nickel Classics Regular 010/046 when I played more at home than out with the band. But I've found it's pearls for swines to pay extra for all nickel strings. I can't hear the differnce at all in a band situation. For recording though, I think I will try them on our next album. They do sound a little sweeter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jakeboy Posted November 5, 2019 Share Posted November 5, 2019 10s on ‘Em all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Dave Posted November 6, 2019 Share Posted November 6, 2019 Since I began playing guitar again, I'm using Ernie Ball 'Primo Slinky' which are sort of half-way between a '9' and a '10' set. The string gauges are 9.5, 12, 16, 24, 34, 44. Many years ago when used live close to a city in England, the music shops all had large selections of separate strings of varying brands in a corner of the shop and I used to put my own sets together which consisted basically of the bottom 4 strings from a '9' set with a '10' for top E and a '12' for the B. I've always used Ernie Ball strings on an electric and D'Adarrio Phosphor Bronze '12' set on acoustic. I always found the bottom strings on a 10 set a bit too heavy and the top 2 strings on a 9 set slightly too light. Now I live a long way from any cities and any decent shops I have to buy my strings (and pretty much anything else except food) from an online place and the individual strings are stupidly priced, like £2 each when a full set costs just over £5. The Primo Slinkys are a decent compromise and work fine on either neck scale for me. I remember Stevie Ray Vaughan used a '12' set and put superglue on his fingertips to toughen them for gigs whereas I was very surprised to see that Billy Gibbons uses '7' and '8' sets so I guess it's all down to the individual and the gear you use to get the sound you want. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sugartune Posted November 7, 2019 Author Share Posted November 7, 2019 I went with 9's. I'm good with the strings. I don't know if I like the guitar It sounds sweet, but I don't seem to like the neck. Not really sure why. It needs a lot more playing to be real sure . I'm not giving up on this girl quite yet Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
it's me HHB Posted November 7, 2019 Share Posted November 7, 2019 11s on the 24.75 scale for me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biz Prof Posted November 7, 2019 Share Posted November 7, 2019 Gtrdaddy's right. Go for what feels best. After several attempts to "try on" 10 gauge sets over the last 30+ years, I have reconciled with myself that my ears like 10s, but my hands and fingers prefer 9s. As such, I have 9.5 sets on three guitars right now as a final trial to achieve the perfect balance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillW Posted November 7, 2019 Share Posted November 7, 2019 21 hours ago, Mr. Dave said: Since I began playing guitar again, I'm using Ernie Ball 'Primo Slinky' which are sort of half-way between a '9' and a '10' set. The string gauges are 9.5, 12, 16, 24, 34, 44. Many years ago when used live close to a city in England, the music shops all had large selections of separate strings of varying brands in a corner of the shop and I used to put my own sets together which consisted basically of the bottom 4 strings from a '9' set with a '10' for top E and a '12' for the B. I've always used Ernie Ball strings on an electric and D'Adarrio Phosphor Bronze '12' set on acoustic. I always found the bottom strings on a 10 set a bit too heavy and the top 2 strings on a 9 set slightly too light. Now I live a long way from any cities and any decent shops I have to buy my strings (and pretty much anything else except food) from an online place and the individual strings are stupidly priced, like £2 each when a full set costs just over £5. The Primo Slinkys are a decent compromise and work fine on either neck scale for me. I remember Stevie Ray Vaughan used a '12' set and put superglue on his fingertips to toughen them for gigs whereas I was very surprised to see that Billy Gibbons uses '7' and '8' sets so I guess it's all down to the individual and the gear you use to get the sound you want. It's nice to know I'm not alone in this. I switched to 9.5-44 on all my guitars (except one) about a year ago... Not much selection, brand-wise, but love the feel. 9s were too loose(always), 10s too tight( typically, but not always). I Love the way they feel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sixesandsevens Posted November 7, 2019 Share Posted November 7, 2019 .10-46 for me. Not because I put any research into it, but because I've been playing XL110s for years and almost always have them around. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Travis Posted November 8, 2019 Share Posted November 8, 2019 On 11/4/2019 at 10:11 PM, RobB said: Can I get an amen? Geezus...how hard can it be? I’ll give you an amen cuz it’s easy. Goddammit, play what feels good. Btw, what feels good to me also feels good to @zenmindbeginner so I’m gonna go ahead and accept the win with this right now. Cuz that MF’er knows his shIt. Best endorsement I ever got... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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