String gauge used by most of the players

[hansaustria]

Bought last week a HM Signature ( Japan ) fitted ( upgraded ) with easymute tremolo / CS 54 Pickups and strings with gauge 12 - 52 ( wound 3rd ) from Elixier. I was told
that the setup of the guitar is according Hanks specs.

At first I was not very familiar with this string action. But after a few hours of playing this wonderful guitar I got used to these settings. It`s not an
instrument for strong string bendings but it nails the sound of the Shades perfectly through all my different AC 30 amps - fat and with a lot of twang.

I want to know whether a majority of the players in this forum are using such strong string gauge - especially in the LIVE situation. As I said a few
weeks ago - IMO it`s easier to play into the PC or recorder and to get a good result of the Shadows sound with 10-42 - to bring that sound on stage is
another chapter.


Regards
Hans

[dave robinson]

Been through every option and although the heavier strings do give the guitar a louder voice, I have now settled on 10/46 for everything - great sound and easy on the fingers.

[AlanMcKillop]

I use Elixer 11 - 49's on all guitars.

[Bluesnote]

I've tried most gauges of string over the years but now I'm sold on 10/46 guage. I find its a good all round string. I did try the Elixers at one stage too Alan and I found that their 11s play very much like 10s by other manufactures. I almost always use Gibson bright wires when I can get them, I had some Ernie Balls a while back but although I know a lot of guitarist stand by them, I'm not too keen on them myself, I tried their Cobalts last time but still prefer Gibson.
I tried 12s once but they only stayed on the guitar just over a week Gettin too old for all that hard work
It was ok when I was but a boy in my early teens and did'nt know any better, with only heavy gauge Monopole flatwounds and the like for guitar and totally ignorant of what was about at the time.
Hugh.

[Tab]

DR 12-52 and 13-56. I use the 13s most of the time even for non Shadows stuff.

[keithmantle]

I use Newtone electric masters 12-52 w3rd, but have just bought a couple sets of Fender Jazz light 12-50's w3rd to try

[Stratpicker]

I use Elixer 11 - 49's on all guitars.

Me too.

[barryg]

Rotosound Purples 12-52 with wound G string and play them hard to bring out the tone.

Barry

[roger bayliss]

Been using John Pearse 12 -52 for quite a while and I can bend em ... if I put a plain 3rd on I could bend the G as well ! I prefer the tone of the heavy strings and might try some daddrios 12-51 pure nickel soon to see what they are like as they have a thou knocked off each of the bottom 4 strings and might be better for my neck to reduce the pull a bit. Have used DRs as well and Rotosound and Gibson L5 etc. Pure nickel roundwound generally.

[alanbakewell]

I use Elixer 11 - 49's on all guitars.

Me too.

And me.