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best strings for blues??

What make or what guage?

Of course I'd HAVE to say EB were the best for the blues!
guage wise I like to bend a lot but don't want too light a string.
10=13=17=26=36=46
but i like to try and do some "Albert Lee" bends so the 17 may go down to a 16 or I may try a 15.
I tried stainless steel strings (not EB although I do have a set to try) and I took them off after a couple of days. I did not like them AT ALL !!!
 
Spudmurphy said:
I'm sure I read somewhere that he used 13's - but he also tuned down a semitone.
Spud
Click to expand...

I believe that's correct.

For blues, I much prefer nickel over SS. Heavier gauge sounds better IMHO, but you have to be able to bend your strings like you want to. ;)
 
Did SRV use 13s all of the time? I thought I read that he had for a while - but they really ripped up his fingers, and after he quit all of his "chemical" use, he went to lighter strings (11s or 12s) so his fingers wouldn't take so much damage. Am I completely wrong here (wouldn't be the first time!)? :D

BTW, I say use whatever strings you're comfortable playing. I now use the Skinny Top/Heavy Bottom (10-52) sets on all but my LP scale length guitar (it gets Beefys - 11s).
 
I hadn't heard about that, but it's entirely possible.

11's are a little hard to bend sometimes on a 25 1/2" scale guitar with standard tuning, but tuned down even a half step (like SRV) they're pretty easy. I usually just play 10-46's on all mine as we play everything standard (tuning-wise anyway ;) )

Like Norrin said, definitely go with the gauge you're comfortable with. :)
 
I used to have a 11-52 set on all my 24.75" scale guitars, and a 10-52 set on my 25" and 25.5" guitars. The last year or so I've been using the 11-52 variety on everything except my 25" scale instruments.
For some odd reason, my PRS guitars just don't feel good with 11's, so I use a 10-52 or 10-46 set on those.

My first 15 years or so playing guitar I used EB's, then went to D'Addarios, because I liked the color coded ball ends on their strings, which makes it easy to change strings in a dark club (when needed). Now I'm mainly using Dean Markleys, because they have a 11-52 set with a plain 3rd string, something I haven't found with any other brand.

Kane
 
guitrr said:
I used to have a 11-52 set on all my 24.75" scale guitars, and a 10-52 set on my 25" and 25.5" guitars. The last year or so I've been using the 11-52 variety on everything except my 25" scale instruments.
For some odd reason, my PRS guitars just don't feel good with 11's, so I use a 10-52 or 10-46 set on those.

My first 15 years or so playing guitar I used EB's, then went to D'Addarios, because I liked the color coded ball ends on their strings, which makes it easy to change strings in a dark club (when needed). Now I'm mainly using Dean Markleys, because they have a 11-52 set with a plain 3rd string, something I haven't found with any other brand.

Kane
Click to expand...

Have you tried Beefy slinkys? I know they go to 54, but they're not that much thicker on the bottom than a "traditional" 11 set - and they have a plain 3rd and sound great! I use them on my LP copy.

Beefy Slinky® 11-15-22p-30-42-54
 
Everybody always says SRV used 13's, but that really isn't true. He really used a *custom* set. He varied the high E between 11 to 13 depending on how his fingers were doing. And he used a big low E string. The other strings were more comparable to what you find in an 11 gauge set.
 
Buddy Guy used 8's for years... as still does Billy Gibbons...

All the tones we love from the early recordings such as Black Magic Woman, etc. etc. by Santana were done with 8's.... (through solid state amps I might add...)

Sanatana (now days), Jeff Golub, Steve Kahn, who all play great slinky-bending blues licks besides jazz... use 9's..

Robben Ford, Larry Carlton, Mike Stern (who are both monster blues player in their own right) all use 10's ...

There's no need to use heavy strings if you can get the right tone with your touch (i.e. finger tips & wrist)-amp, pedals and ability to express yourself...

No string gauge is sacrosanct for playing good blues licks or anything else... stick with what works best for you ...

...I've heard so many guys sense of time suffer when they try to up their string gauge... sure there's an adjustment period, but a lot of guys simply never make it.

And sure you might get an easier achieved bigger tone, but your playing can honestly suffer as a result...

Don't put heavy strings on just because one of your heroes uses 'em... stick to what feels best to you...

As a priority, keep the fun of musical expression first & formost in your playing...

If you find yourself fighting heavy strings.. you're not gonna enjoy gigging and soloing as much...

So forget it if it makes playing less then fun...
 
Last edited:
Norrin Radd said:
Did SRV use 13s all of the time? I thought I read that he had for a while - but they really ripped up his fingers, and after he quit all of his "chemical" use, he went to lighter strings (11s or 12s) so his fingers wouldn't take so much damage. Am I completely wrong here (wouldn't be the first time!)? :D

BTW, I say use whatever strings you're comfortable playing. I now use the Skinny Top/Heavy Bottom (10-52) sets on all but my LP scale length guitar (it gets Beefys - 11s).
Click to expand...



No Norrin, ur correct....
He got "split nails" so he would super glue them.
 
Well, it is simple:

Blues requires heavier strings. However, if u have like ultra hot pickups like lace sensor, u can use lighter gauge. Also, with blues, use a higher action with thicker frets. When I studied SRV's music, I played with 13 gauge, and man, they sure cried....
 
slinkystring said:
Well, it is simple: Blues requires heavier strings....
Click to expand...

This is purely a myth perpetuated for no real logical reason... to play the Blues is about feeling & soul... regardless of string choice... regardless of amp or guitar choice... regardless of race...:cool:
 
I've always found the B and G strings among the most useful for blues.

(Don't forget to tip your waitresses.)
 
Lucidology said:
Buddy Guy used 8's for years... as still does Billy Gibbons...

All the tones we love from the early recordings such as Black Magic Woman, etc. etc. by Santana were done with 8's.... (through solid state amps I might add...)

Sanatana (now days), Jeff Golub, Steve Kahn, who all play great slinky-bending blues licks besides jazz... use 9's..

Robben Ford, Larry Carlton, Mike Stern (who are both monster blues player in their own right) all use 10's ...

There's no need to use heavy strings if you can get the right tone with your touch (i.e. finger tips & wrist)-amp, pedals and ability to express yourself...

No string gauge is sacrosanct for playing good blues licks or anything else... stick with what works best for you ...

...I've heard so many guys sense of time suffer when they try to up their string gauge... sure there's an adjustment period, but a lot of guys simply never make it.

And sure you might get an easier achieved bigger tone, but your playing can honestly suffer as a result...

Don't put heavy strings on just because one of your heroes uses 'em... stick to what feels best to you...

As a priority, keep the fun of musical expression first & formost in your playing...

If you find yourself fighting heavy strings.. you're not gonna enjoy gigging and soloing as much...

So forget it if it makes playing less then fun...
Click to expand...

+1
 
Page allegedly uses 9’s on his shorter scale LP. I believe BB King is using 8’s now, due to arthritis.

Being an older guitar hacker with small hands, I use EB Super Slinky 9’s on my hardtail Axis, and GHS Boomers 9.5’s on my Silo Special. 9’s on the Silo feel too noodley, possibly due to longer strings through the trem block. If EB came out with 9.5’s, I’d switch in a heart beat because I prefer the tone of Slinkys over Boomers.

Wonder what strings Muddy Waters or David “Honeyboy” Edwards used to play the blues? Ones dain’t broke, probably.
 
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