String guages, 10-38 anyone?

Neill

It's no secret that Jimi Hendrix used what today is an unusual string set, 10/13/15/26/32/38, but these days when guitarists talk about "hybrid" sets it's usually taken to mean the "thin top fat bottom" variety. 

Just wondering if anyone uses, or has tried, the 10-38 set or similar.

Phil_aka_Pip

I can't imagine how that would work on a Strat. Bottom end must be well floppy.

SteveRobinson

I fitted some to a guitar last week, don't think I'd never seen them before. They worked okay, surprisingly, but wouldn't be my choice!

shefguitar

It does seem like an odd combination to me. Can’t think why you would want those bass strings flabbing around, especially if you’re tuned down to e flat. But if it worked for Hendrix who am I to say?

ICBM

The reason for the 'odd' gauges is because the bottom three were rolled-wound strings - original Fender F150s - so the final diameter is smaller than you would expect, but the mass of metal is the same as for a larger string.

I would guess the wound strings are equivalent in tension to about 28/36/44, so roughly the same as a standard set of roundwound 10s.

shefguitar

ICBM said:

The reason for the 'odd' gauges is because the bottom three were rolled-wound strings - original Fender F150s - so the final diameter is smaller than you would expect, but the mass of metal is the same as for a larger string.

I would guess the wound strings are equivalent in tension to about 28/36/44, so roughly the same as a standard set of roundwound 10s.

That would explain it then!

ESBlonde

Yussss.
I've said before that when I buy a guitar I experiment with gauge and brand to get what suits both me and the guitar, there is no one size fits all to me. For best part of 40 years my Aria PE1000 has been strung with 10-38s. It made it a good sound between the Fender and Gibsons that were then the benchmark and it was for a few short years my only guitar and I've grown to love it like that. I did take it to a gig in December for World Aids Day and it made me smile every time I played it, so I've used it a lot in the interveening month.

It's a bit like the 60s guitarists who bough a pack of strings and a banjo string to get 'lights' when they wern't available. Use whats best not whats obvious on the shop shelf.

Neill

ESBlonde said:

Yussss.
I've said before that when I buy a guitar I experiment with gauge and brand to get what suits both me and the guitar, there is no one size fits all to me. For best part of 40 years my Aria PE1000 has been strung with 10-38s. It made it a good sound between the Fender and Gibsons that were then the benchmark and it was for a few short years my only guitar and I've grown to love it like that. I did take it to a gig in December for World Aids Day and it made me smile every time I played it, so I've used it a lot in the interveening month.

It's a bit like the 60s guitarists who bough a pack of strings and a banjo string to get 'lights' when they wern't available. Use whats best not whats obvious on the shop shelf.

@ESBlonde what brand do you use?  The fenders I presume have long since disappeared and the only complete set I've seen is the GHS Boomers, or do you buy individual strings?

ESBlonde

I've done all sorts @Neill,I thought Fender still did a set but cant find any online just now. I had a friend make up a box of sets from Rotosound singles for me a few years ago. GHS offer ready made sets online. Doesn't seem to be such a common set as was once the case.

lukedlb

I’ve been using 10-38 for the last 4 years d’addario single strings to great effect. Strung half tone down. Really hits the hear my train a Comin tone. 10-48 regular tuning feels solid. I prefer the openness of my selection. 
However, the low e tends to slip. Not for every guitar. My maple strat felt like 9s so I’m trying the 10-48. Next attempt will be 10-42. Or maybe 11-42. 
I recently tried the ghs boomers 10-38 and was disappointed by their lifelessness. I’ve bought a second pack just in case. They are the only manufacturer providing this gauge set. 

flying_pie

Matt Bellamy apparently uses 10, 17, 26, 36, 60 for playing in drop D on his Tele. The huge string is often obvious in concert photos. I can imagine that tension making a noticeable difference on the quick stuff like Stockholm Syndrome