Your string guages are wrong!

[Dino]

Originally Posted by RSVampire

except a guitar isn't trying to be a piano in any way shape or form. Feel, tone or otherwise.

I also don't hear Satriani's tuning stability or intonation ever sounding awful and he likes his guitars to feel even.

next time he wants to make an argument he should stop trying to compare instruments that have nothing to do with each other.

The piano, although a percussion instrument, has strings like a guitar. Each string is carefully chosen by the amount of string tension when tuned to pitch, in order to even out the volume and tone. The principle applies to the guitar in the same way.

It would be interesting to know what guage strings Joe Satriani uses. Malmsteen uses similar concept to the Z's with his custom guage sets. Maybe Satch does as well...

[GilkyBear]

First of all, what we are doing is not an "outright attack", it is a response to being told we are all stupid. Secondly, I have been to Zachary's site, gave him a fair read and found him to be a bitter idiot who makes ugly guitars and tries to sell them by flaming everything else that's not his (did this guy go to school with Ed Roman or something?)

I am starting to beleive that you are either:
a) Zachary's cousin trying to get him some business or
b) A 'big fan' of conspiracy theories

This thread could have actually had some credibility if you had just used the slightest of tact. Something like...

Hey guys, I was wondering how string tension affects your playing. I was thinking there was something to it and this seems to make sense, what do you think...

I would not have quoted all the rambling bitterness from Zachary's site, and also it doesn't seem like you are interested in getting anyone else's opinion or ideas, you are simply saying everyone else is wrong and we are all stupid if we don't agree with you.

[GilkyBear]

Originally Posted by Dino

I thought the 9-42's were fine also until I restrung my 540P Power with a set of the ZOG 9's. The improvement is there and you will notice it right away if you are in tune with your instrument. Even my friend Dave noticed it right away when he picked up it up.

"Dude. what did you do to this guitar?"
"I changed the strings"
"No, I mean it is different"
"Really?"
"Yeah, it plays better. Like a better guitar."

And he didn't even know what it was until I explained it to him.

"Really? That's it?"
"Yep. That is all I did."

OOOHHH!! You're friend Dave was convinced?!?! Well, why didn't you say so, NOW I'm convinced.

Holy info-mercial, Batman!

[RSVampire]

Originally Posted by Dino

The piano, although a percussion instrument, has strings like a guitar. Each string is carefully chosen by the amount of string tension when tuned to pitch, in order to even out the volume and tone. The principle applies to the guitar in the same way.

It would be interesting to know what guage strings Joe Satriani uses. Malmsteen uses similar concept to the Z's with his custom guage sets. Maybe Satch does as well...

the piano while a stringed instrument... isn't played at all like a guitar. You don't physically strike the strings like a guitar. You push a key and a hammer strikes the notes. A piano also has a freakin crap ton of strings compared to a guitar so making the strings have even tension and tone is a bigger deal. Which is the reason why they invented the tempered tuning process on piano because things didn't sound in tune to each other.

A guitar isn't generally meant to play or sound even. You're supposed to bend, raise, lower, and vibrate strings like a violinist would. BTW a violinist does not use "optimized strings" and these instruments can cost upwards of $100,000. These people are really anal about their tone too.

for the record Joe Satriani uses standard gauge set of d'addario strings 9-42 XL120's


am I trying to say you're wrong and I'm right? no, of course not. I'm not even arguing or denying the fact if they really work. I'm simply poking holes in the weak arguments he is trying to make to say why they may or may not work.

[crevis]

I fully respect someones right to like any product over another for whatever reason but when someone tells me Im a noob because something as subjective as this, give me a break!

[Roland]

Imagine people would have taken the better way - focusing on making as balanced of a set as possible from the get-go. (I actually have no idea how the current standard set-gauges were founded. Seems more like a blindfolded pinata-smash to me.)
Now imagine someone from our "alternate universe" takes a trip to theirs and tells tales of what gauges the string-sets have. "10-46? That's proposterous!", etc.
Sure, an exaggerated and trippy example, but it's perfectly valid. Current string-gauges may not be "wrong" per-se, but a balanced stringset makes so much more sense from an objective point of view. Not to mention it plays and feels a whole lot better.

[The Euphor]

Would a balanced set of strings sound more the same across the fretboard? As in, would the B string 1st fret sound closer to the G string 5th fret, and the D string 10th fret?

The same note, around the neck. Will it sound more the same with "balanced" strings?

[Roland]

Originally Posted by The Euphor

Would a balanced set of strings sound more the same across the fretboard? As in, would the B string 1st fret sound closer to the G string 5th fret, and the D string 10th fret?

The same note, around the neck. Will it sound more the same with "balanced" strings?

That wouldn't be much of a difference, if any at all. When balancing a set of string, most of the change occurs in the bottom half of the set. Lighter A-string and heavier E-string is mostly all that is required to even out a set.

[Algiman]

Drew, apologies for paraphrasing you but:

Originally Posted by Drew

This Optimum String Guage idea is pure BS.

Here's the thing, the whole premise of OSG is that there IS a right and a wrong way to string your guitar. That's utter crap.

But there's no RIGHT way, just what's right for you.

By far the most sensible comments in this entire thread.

[Dino]

Hey guys, I was wondering how string tension affects your playing. I was thinking there was something to it and this seems to make sense, what do you think...

[Roland]

Originally Posted by Dino

Hey guys, I was wondering how string tension affects your playing. I was thinking there was something to it and this seems to make sense, what do you think...

It does make sense. It's not "the end all be all" of guitar gear, but it's way too big to be overlooked by the stringcompanies. It's relieved my playing and I think the consistency and tone of the strings as a whole have improved once I matched strings with proper/progressive tension.

[ibanez2005]

Originally Posted by Dino

Hey guys, I was wondering how string tension affects your playing. I was thinking there was something to it and this seems to make sense, what do you think...

I think its down to personal preference and you should stop asking stupid questions and play yer guitar.

[Jemwielder]

Interestingly enough Ernie Ball had something to do with the inception of the 10-46 set. I like his strings they're pretty good. I use 9-46s on my jem and 10-52s on everything else That has a fixed bridge. They seem even enough to me and play well enough. They aren't the standard sets. They're the "custom gauge" that Ernie Ball offers. This guy makes some interesting points but he goes about it in the wrong way. It puts everyone on the defensive right away, telling us we're idiots.

[GilkyBear]

Originally Posted by Dino

Hey guys, I was wondering how string tension affects your playing. I was thinking there was something to it and this seems to make sense, what do you think...

I'd never actually thought about it before, I always just get the strings I finally settled on. What kind of a difference do you notice? Is it mostly a difference in feel or sound or both? Interesting

[OLIE_ROCKS_THE_80'S]

Originally Posted by Gilk420

First of all, what we are doing is not an "outright attack", it is a response to being told we are all stupid. Secondly, I have been to Zachary's site, gave him a fair read and found him to be a bitter idiot who makes ugly guitars and tries to sell them by flaming everything else that's not his (did this guy go to school with Ed Roman or something?)

I am starting to beleive that you are either:
a) Zachary's cousin trying to get him some business or
b) A 'big fan' of conspiracy theories

This thread could have actually had some credibility if you had just used the slightest of tact. Something like...

Hey guys, I was wondering how string tension affects your playing. I was thinking there was something to it and this seems to make sense, what do you think...

I would not have quoted all the rambling bitterness from Zachary's site, and also it doesn't seem like you are interested in getting anyone else's opinion or ideas, you are simply saying everyone else is wrong and we are all stupid if we don't agree with you.

Well put Gilk!!! like I said before this guy is trying to shove his freaking ideas down our throat!!! Dino I think is time to go back to Fred like a good boy!!!