Meh...Sickening lack of twang...

[Lerb21]

Hey guys, I was lookin' at my 2006 American Deluxe Ash Tele and I was like, "Heck, I'll put some new Regular Ernie Ball Slinkies on it." So I did.

Anyway I played it for about 1 hour to an hour and a half, then I came back to pick some more about an hour later. I struck the E String.

No Twang.

...

Struck it again

Still no Twang.

"What? This is insanity!" I though. I checked the bridge, string, nut, tuner, and pickups and didn't find anything wrong with them.

The string is just toneless and dead. In fact, all the wrapped strings are dead. Has anyone else experienced this with Ernie Balls? Do tell, I'm dieing of L.O.T. disease.

[Abe]

I went through a string search on my #1 strat about 15 years ago now. I tried everything, and the strings I liked best were D'Addarios, followed by Markley Blue Steels. I now use D'Addario 10's on my 25 and 25 1/2" scale guitars, 11's on the 24 3/4" instruments.

A couple of years ago, my local shop was out of D'Addario 10's and I needed strings. So I bought some Slinkys. Strung them up, and started playing UNPLUGGED. In the next room, my wife shouted "What the heck did you do to your guitar? It sounds AWFUL."

Been back to D'Addario's since. :)

[Lerb21]

Originally Posted by Abe

I went through a string search on my #1 strat about 15 years ago now. I tried everything, and the strings I liked best were D'Addarios, followed by Markley Blue Steels. I now use D'Addario 10's on my 25 and 25 1/2" scale guitars, 11's on the 24 3/4" instruments.

A couple of years ago, my local shop was out of D'Addario 10's and I needed strings. So I bought some Slinkys. Strung them up, and started playing UNPLUGGED. In the next room, my wife shouted "What the heck did you do to your guitar? It sounds AWFUL."

Been back to D'Addario's since. :)

Oh, Thank God it's just not me. I originally bought Ernie Balls to put on my 3 saddle Lite Ash Tele with Seymour Duncans because I heard Dangerous Don Rich used em'. They're alright on that guitar (I tune down a whole step on that one), but they really bad on Modern Tele bridges. Luckily I happen to have some 9-42 D'Addarios here...

[62_Inca_Esquire]

It all depends on your body chemistry and equipment set up. Ernies work well for me...D'Adds too...Boomers, not so well.

[appar111]

Never got on w/ D'Add's, Dean Markley took a nosedive about 10 yrs ago, and Ernie Balls are ok on my guitars, but the GHS Boomers work best for me. 9-42, 10-46, 10-52, they all sound great on my guitars and w/ my setup, but YMMV...

[RomanS]

+1 for GHS Boomers - those have got all the twang you want, and (at least for me) they last longer than any other brand of string I tried.
Oh, and my favorite is the 10-52 set - thin on top for easy bending, but with fat bass strings for those ballsy/twangy Duane Eddy bass runs.

[Aahzz]

I've never had luck eith Ernie Balls, always sound dead to me. Give me good ol' D'Addarios any day.

[voided3]

D'Addarios and stainless Fender strings always seemed good to me. The college book store I work at sells D'Addarios so I get 30% off of them for being an employee (less than $3 a set)!

[6942]

The local guitar shop had a special on Ernie Ball strings.....so I guess I'm gonna find out whether I like them or not?
I've had pretty good luck with D'Addario, GHS Boomers,....only so-so with DR strings (quality control?).

Steve

[FirstBassman]

Could it be that what you all are describing are differences in types of strings and not brands of strings.

It is (RIC CEO) John Hall’s contention, by the way, that all strings in the States are manufactured in the same two or three factories.

[Amby]

I have used Ernie Ball's 10s then 9s for the past 30 years and never had any problems with them.

[Virgman]

Might not be the strings.

Could be all the twang has been used up.

I suggest buying another telecaster.

Let the 2006 model rest for a month or two so the twang can regenerate.

It might be necessary to buy several more telecasters to avoid this problem in the future.

[nasonm]

I went through a search too, only for me it was more about guage than brand. I ended up loving the harder to find DAddario 10.5 set.

Sometimes I even get the urge for the ol-timer strings...flatwounds!

[telemania]

+1 on the tele twang regeneration. four ought to do it, change 'em out every season...

if that doesn't work, i have been using curt mangan strings...9.5 on the e string, seems to give enough weight to get good sound projection but i can still bend the e,b and g strings easilly enough. very happy with these.

[robt57]

Originally Posted by Abe

In the next room, my wife shouted "What the heck did you do to your guitar? It sounds AWFUL."

My wife sez that all the time. ;(

[Abe]

Originally Posted by FirstBassman

Could it be that what you all are describing are differences in types of strings and not brands of strings.

It is (RIC CEO) John Hall’s contention, by the way, that all strings in the States are manufactured in the same two or three factories.

I understand that to be true, however being manufactured in the same facility does not make two strings identical. There could be differences in alloys, tension while winding, core diameters, etc. Depends on what the customer (i.e., string reseller) specs out.

[Lance]

I played one of these that belonged to a friend. No twang at all.
I just think it sounded very tele.

[PeteMac]

I agree with the poster above that mentioned body chemistry ...
I'm sure it has a lot to do with how your strings sound after they've been played.
D'Addario are my fall back strings (always available everywhere) but I have grown very fond of "Super Slinky's" 11 - 48. Love the sound on my Tele, love the feel and they last.
Recently tried Boomers and Rotosound - neither worked for me.

[62_Inca_Esquire]

Originally Posted by FirstBassman

It is (RIC CEO) John Hall’s contention, by the way, that all strings in the States are manufactured in the same two or three factories.

Actually, its four factories. At least thats what it was a few years ago when I was still working in music stores.

[Lerb21]

Originally Posted by Virgman

Might not be the strings.

Could be all the twang has been used up.

I suggest buying another telecaster.

Let the 2006 model rest for a month or two so the twang can regenerate.

It might be necessary to buy several more telecasters to avoid this problem in the future.

+1

I agree, more Tele's are necessary.

[kludge]

I've found that every guitar needs its own strings... there's no universal rule about what works or not. I use different brands/types on pretty much every guitar I own.

That said, I tend to lean toward Ernie Balls for electrics.

[guitreble]

Earnie Balls have always been my main strings, .11's. The Classic Rock ones are good too, because their nickle wound instead of plated. Never thought they sounded bad at all and they bend great.

After reading this thread, I'm gonna try some D'addario's. Do these bend as nicely as EB?

[woodman]

i think it's more the combination of the player, the axe and the style of music. i'm a longtime D'Ad user ... last time i bought strings, they were out of my gauge and i got Boomers. didn't like 'em! yet two of my buds (both good pickers) swear by 'em. different strokes, i reckon.

[wilkat1]

Originally Posted by kludge

I've found that every guitar needs its own strings... there's no universal rule about what works or not. I use different brands/types on pretty much every guitar I own.

That gets the big +1 from me. Some guitars just seem to respond best (and poorly) with certain strings. I have a buddy with a 70s Martin acoustic, and the only strings that he likes on it are D'Addario 80/20 Bronze. Not Martin, not Elixir, not Phosphor Bronze. It just jumps to life with the D'Add 80/20s.

[kludge]

Originally Posted by wilkat1

That gets the big +1 from me. Some guitars just seem to respond best (and poorly) with certain strings. I have a buddy with a 70s Martin acoustic, and the only strings that he likes on it are D'Addario 80/20 Bronze. Not Martin, not Elixir, not Phosphor Bronze. It just jumps to life with the D'Add 80/20s.

I've had a heck of a time with strings on a new-ish acoustic guitar. It was made three years ago, and until the past six months or so, was prone to significant tone changes due to break-in about every other string change. I'd find a string that worked for a while, and then suddenly it'd go dead, and the guitar wanted something darker (or brighter), heavier (or lighter). But it seems to be settling down now, content with John Pearse 80/20 lights.

And now that it's settled, the bridge started to separate and needs repaired. We'll see if it has to go through another break-in period once that's fixed. Sigh. I shouldn't complain, though... it totally boggles everyone who plays it. Most have never played a nicer acoustic.