Wow - that's a lot of good advices and tips there folks!

I usually use Ernie Ball Slinkies - I used to use GHS Boomers and loved them but I probably fell on a bad batch if such a thing is possible and started breaking e strings non-stop, and since we were gigging all the time, I needed a reliable alternative, quick. Could have been related to the bridge but switching to Ernie Ball fixed it and I never looked back.

But I've been wanting to go back to heavier gauge - at least for E-A-D-G strings, keeping lighter gauge for E and B. (9 and 11). If that's possible. So I'm looking at different options already. And I guess I'll have to take what they're made of into consideration.

I guess we all have our definition of playable strings. Apparently, Tommy Bolin seldom changed strings, yet he sounded amazing. On the other extreme, Metallica had theirs changed many times a day while recording the black album. (I guess they could afford it.)

Rain


Most likely due to the climate change and maybe also the trip on a plane, my new Epi Les Paul seems to need some adjustments (intonation issues). 

And since I'm no guitar tech, especially in the case of a LP, I'd prefer to ask a pro.

I've started shopping around on the internet and I'm also expecting some feedback from the musicians working for Cirque here in Vegas. But I wouldn't take any decision w/o also asking you guys before. 

Since it's the first time I actually have to pay someone to do that, I have no clue what a fair price should be. So far, I've found one guy who does the basic set-up for $85 (seems fair to me).

Aslo, if you've lived here/been here and know of anyone that you'd recommend, please chime in. :)

Welcome to Vegas. I can recommend G.L. Davis- Luthier, at Cowtown guitars, 1009 S. Main Street. Vegas... has a unigue effect on guitars.

I used to like the Blue Steel (Dean Markeley I think) but they were a little too expensive for me. Now I use D'Addarrio XLs. Very good quality and just about the best price for a brand name... especially in bulk.

I used to use Slinkies as a young lad but I think I grew out of them. I'm too aggressive to have the strings wobbling around. Same reason I slowly progressed from .09s to .11s. Bit of a biznotch to bend but my hands are strong enough now and they stay in tune better, last longer, don't break as often and when I do my big nasty open chords they hammer right through even the thickest walls of sound.

Not quite strong enough to jump to .12s like Stevie but I also don't downtune a semitone anymore like he did.

I'm pretty sure the work Rain needs is Vegas climate orientated. Party towns create their own climate, which is never stable, but some  hotshot will try top steal the whole scene and, wham!, your tuning is out and intonation is off. Environment in small spaces.

Craig B. - I usually use a gentle anti-bacterian liquid soap, the stuff we use for tattoos.

Craig - I was hoping you'd chime in - thanks for the advice.


In my SRV days, I've tried .10s, hoping that I'd even progress to .11 - but there's just no way I could bend strings comfortably. I have huge hands but thin fingers, so I was soon back to 9 to 42.

That being said, I could use heavier strings for E to G. Nothing crazy, but, say, 46 and so.

They have 9.5's now (DR is an example).  Maybe that could be a compromise?

Really?

I've just found that there's sort of an alternative standard - 9, 11, 16, 26, 36, 46. Seems right to me, at least as a starting point.

Apparently, EVH, Dimebag Darrell and Ace Frehley all have custom 9-46 sets.


However, I still wish my fingers were strongers. But turning 40 this year made me realize that I'd rather focus on what I have and make the best of it.

Still, if those fingers were as strong as they're big, I'd be in business... :P

Rain


Really?

I've just found that there's sort of an alternative standard - 9, 11, 16, 26, 36, 46. Seems right to me, at least as a starting point.

Apparently, EVH, Dimebag Darrell and Ace Frehley all have custom 9-46 sets.


However, I still wish my fingers were strongers. But turning 40 this year made me realize that I'd rather focus on what I have and make the best of it.

Still, if those fingers were as strong as they're big, I'd be in business... :P

I tried Ernie Ball Hybrid Slinkies a few times. They are 9,11,16,26, 36 and 46.
Nickle-wound steel.
 

For  string gauge I like 10 - 46 on Fender scale or PRS and 10 - 52 on my Les Paul. I hear Billy Gibbons uses 8's. Don't know how he can play a burst with 8's, way too slinky for a hacker like me.

As for my earlier post WRT stainless steel strings. I don't know of any pure stainless strings, but I thing GHS boomers have a stainless alloy wrap. A lot of stuff sold as stainless these days (like an amp chassis) are a soft alloy that has nothing in common with high grade knife quality steel. 

I've got a Martin Backpacker that I take every where that has the 20 year old OEM strings on it.

The darn thing sounds like a Mandolin when I play it and I don't want to mess up the magic with a fresh set of strings.

When a string finally breaks... I don't know how I'm gonna feel about that instrument.






One of my favorite sets of strings lately has been a set of flat wounds I make up by buying a set of Fender light flat wounds and a single "10".

The flat wounds are something like 13-52 but I end up with a 10-47 set, or something like that... I forget the details.


Another favorite set is the Rickenbacker semi flattened 10-42s... those things feel sort of slinky and sort of flat wound. Hard to find... easy to play.

Each of my guitars has different strings and set ups so that they each have something interesting to offer when you grab them.

I usually buy 10 packs of strings when it's time to re supply so I have a big plastic box of all kinda my favorite strings.

  


Fun stuff.



best regards,
mike