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macabre

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Feb 3, 2005
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i've been using ernie-ball strings for a while and mostly using the 11 gauge set for playing mostly speed metal though recently i purchased a not even slinky set so i could play some carcass and other death metal band tunes that are 2 and a half steps down. Many of these bands use strings with similar string tension and do not use 7-strings or baritones.

the problem is that the 24 gauge G plain string in the set sounds aweful as if it is too thick for a plain string leaving me unable to solo without getting an aweful sound out of that string.

i use an ibanez sz a guitar which i thought would be suited for this type of low tuning i am wondering if anyone else has had these problems with this string set no matter what tuning they use
 

macabre

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Feb 3, 2005
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no nothing was done special for the string change i am not familiar with what techniques to use when switching a a fairly large gauge string so if u could further expain the proceedure it would be of great help
 

macabre

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Feb 3, 2005
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the guitar does not need a set up because the neck seemed to adjust perfectly to the strings right after i put them on and i even had someone who sets up guitars frequently check and he told me it didn't need it
 

koogie2k

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OrangeChannel said:
Did you file the nut properly?

I'm with ya on this one OC. I think you should find someone who is qualified to file the nut and have him/her look at it. Sometimes when you go to bigger gauges, the nut needs to be filed. I have read on here before that filing the nut is almost an art form, so I would not recommend you doing it if you have no idea what that is.....my 2 pennies.
 

jongitarz

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macabre said:
the guitar does not need a set up because the neck seemed to adjust perfectly to the strings right after i put them on and i even had someone who sets up guitars frequently check and he told me it didn't need it


I set up guitars for a living. The nut slots need to be opened up a bit. The intonation needs to be re adjusted. The truss rod probably needs adjusting.

You came here asking for advice, and you have gotten some great answers, but you then disagree with what people are telling you. I don't get it. :confused:
 

koogie2k

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jongitarz said:
I set up guitars for a living. The nut slots need to be opened up a bit. The intonation needs to be re adjusted. The truss rod probably needs adjusting.

You came here asking for advice, and you have gotten some great answers, but you then disagree with what people are telling you. I don't get it. :confused:

Just so you know, this is the MAN who sets up all the big name players using EBMM's stuff. Petrucci, Morse, Luke, Koogie, OC, Kbaim, NoRM, dwf, ernie and JimiD just to name a few......hehhehheeh....seriously, Jon works at EBMM and is our resident guitar repair guru. So, sounds like we put you in the right direction. Hope you get your guitar up and running perfectly for ya.....BTW, buy an EBMM.....you'll love 'em!
 

DistVibrations

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Aug 12, 2003
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Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
ya i'm having a similar problem i just put these strings on yesterday and as i was stringing up that G string seemed really thick and weird lol i checked the packaging and it has a little p beside the gauge # it doesn't sound horrible but it is a little muddy
 

jongitarz

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The P stands for "plain" as in not wound. Your guitar probably needs a set up as well.
 

jongitarz

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João Lopes said:
I have de same problem with the G string :( help please :(


Ok..I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say your guitar probably needs a setup. :rolleyes:
 

João Lopes

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Nov 17, 2005
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Hi jongitarz thanks for help.The setup is done and the problem is the same, JP6 with Not E.S. in drop C tuned is not ok for me, probably a flatwound problem, sorry i'm gone chance for Medium 013/56 and see what happen.I will use not even s. on a Gibson Less paul to see.
Thanks
 

Shadewalker

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Nov 22, 2005
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Just to clear some things up, are you sure this is drop-C tuning and not C standard? Drop-C (by my definition) is basically drop-D where all the strings are tuned down one additional step. In this case, using 12-56 gauge strings isn't the ideal solution.

I've had the exact same problem with the G string (which is actually an Eb in C tuning). The tension seemed simply too tight, the sustain extremely low, intonation difficult to adjust properly for some reason. When playing with higher gain, the sound coming out was awful. I swapped the string out with a 20 gauge plain one - problem solved, sounds much better, and the tension seems proper compared to the rest of the strings. I'm still wondering why the Ernie Ball guys decided to include such a heavy plain string in the set when it's close to being, in my opinion, unusable. That said, EB strings are still my favorite.

By the way, do any of you know how the JP6 responds to these heavy string gauges? My Ibanez axe's bridge ran out of compensation range for the heavy E string - I had to tilt the floating bridge backwards in order to be able to set the intonation properly.
 

Big Poppa

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A twenty two plain or wound tuned to e flat will not sound as good as a 16, or 17 tuned to g. The string tuned to e flat simply needs a longer scale or string length to do what you want it to. You are putting a big ass tire on a subcompact and then wondering why it doesnt handle like your subcompact. When you decide to play a guitar two steps below what it was designed for the problem isnt your string but your scale length that isnt working. Try putting string bass string on a cello.

Having said that making sure that your guitar is set up optimumly will help mitigate your problems.
 

Biggles13

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Nov 25, 2005
Messages
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I Use c tuning, I had the problem with the Eb string flutering or warbling and i had tried everything till finally i replaced it with a wound string of the same gauge. problem solved. Now its silky smooth. I play a jackson rhoads guitar with a floyd rose. The problem was worse in the higher registers so it sucked for soloing,but now its perfect all over.
It does seem odd that this problem isnt mentioned more often. If my nut needed to be opened up more wouldn't this problem have remained even though i went to a wound string?
Even thought i had this problem those not even slinkys are the shizzle! They rock for me as I am percussive player so i love to have the guitar bite back a little on speed picked passages and so forth! Other strings start to feel like nylon on low tunings and start to feel like playing air guitar! LOL

Thnx!
 

Biggles13

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Nov 25, 2005
Messages
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Still just curious, anybody know? If my nut needed to be opened up more wouldn't this problem have remained even though i went to a wound string?

Thanks!
 
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