7 string gauges? What's recommended, especially on the low B?

SquireJapan

So, I've just taken on a 7 string (it's all mine now!).

On my Jem I use 10-46, so I'd guess I'd have the same on this in the first 6, with something fat on the low B.

Any recommendations on this? I'll keep it in standard tuning. Searching online people seem to have string opinions, but not much to back it up.

I think it has 9s of some description, but they're too light for me

Hertz32

Experiment is my best suggestion, i use around a 60 on a 30" scale but I like heavy!

Dalefty

Ernieballsacks that's my favourite brand of strings.

DaLefty

Hertz32

Cant stand EB's. I'd use d'addario if it werent for them using 9-74 for an 8 string set. Seriously?! So I am stuck with labella top 7 and a Daddario 80 for a low E on my 8. But thats not really heavy enough

guitarfishbay

Buy a load of single strings and see what you like. The lightest I'd suggest would be a 56. I would personally buy all increments up to a 66 and try them out. 68 and up feels huge IMO but some like it. Depends how hard you want to hit the low B and how tight you want it.

Dalefty

I won't touch D'addario the Ausrtralian distributor tried to fuck me over once too many times on prices, so I stick to Ernie Balls, I used to use Snarling Dogs but they've become very hard to get nowadays, I've never had any problems with any of the distributors for Ernie Balls, I don't buy single packs of strings, I buy them in bulk usually 100 sets at a time, I generally change my strings at least twice a week.

DaLefty

SquireJapan

guitarfishbay said:

Buy a load of single strings and see what you like. The lightest I'd suggest would be a 56. I would personally buy all increments up to a 66 and try them out. 68 and up feels huge IMO but some like it. Depends how hard you want to hit the low B and how tight you want it.

56 as the lightest you'd go? The standard sets seem to be 10 - 46, with a 56 on the B. I've had a quick search on this, people do seem to complain on it being light in the standard set; I'll buy a few to try.

Thanks!

guitarfishbay

Yes a 56 is light and only really suits people who have a light touch IMO. I play six strings tuned to drop B. 11-56 daddarios with the low string replaced with a 59 or 12-60 with the low string replaced with a 64 depending if I want lighter or heavier tension for that guitar.

I've tried up to a 70, but when you start getting that thick the tone gets noticeably duller.

Hertz32

I would use Earnie ball if it werent for them practially disintegrating on contact with my flesh. Loads of pro's use them, and they sound fantastic. But I dont like the feel or longevity. If I was recording or gigging regularly, I might consider them.

I used an 80 for drop A# on my 24.75" scale Dean. Man that was heavy and had BALLS. Theres a reason Lee Malia uses them

guitarfishbay

Yeah heavy strings have balls but they have less attack and less clarity. They suit people who do a lot of single note stuff but can be a bit more prone to mud if you do a lot of stuff with chords. But that also depends on a lot of other factors (guitar construction, pickups, string age, amp etc)... It is all personal preference really.

SquireJapan

So in essence, the key take-away here is:

"Suck it up, and accept you'll buy a few strings you won't like".

I've got to admit, it makes sense

Thanks!

I'll likely stick with the 10-46 on the top 6 though.

guitarfishbay

Yeah. If you want to do it on the cheap just try out 56 (I'm assuming one comes with the set of 10s?), 60, 64. I would guess you'd be ok on the 60 but it is worth trying heavier too.

Lew

I use 9-42 plus a 68 on my 7 in drop A and have 12-54 on my 6 in B standard at the mo (bit floppy and the G string is a mess). The 12-60 set with a wound third is probably ideal. Always D'Addario. Never Ernieballbags.

FelineGuitars

I always sell standard 6 string sets and let customer select their 7th string from our single strings

It is surprising how light the 7th string that manufacturers put in 7 string sets - way too light usually

SquireJapan

FelineGuitars;568375" said:

I always sell standard 6 string sets and let customer select their 7th string from our single stringsIt is surprising how light the 7th string that manufacturers put in 7 string sets - way too light usually

This is what I'm seeing lots of the more I delve into it with searches. I still have the mentality that strings are a big expense (which they were when I was a teenager...)

I'll buy a few and see what sticks. It doesn't help that I have no frame of reference for what the different strings look like. I like elixir strings, so I wanted to avoid buying something I didn't like. I'll just drop a standard set of 6 string tens on and buy a few to try without the elixir coating.

Cheers!

SquireJapan

FYI (for anyone interested) - I ended up with a 9-42 set (as per my Jem) with a 56 on the B; as recommended by the nice chaps at Feline.

Much nicer feel than the 52 that normally comes with the 7 string pack.

Also, I can't praise Feline enough for the job they've done on my Universe. Thanks again chaps!

mike_l

Use your normal 6 string set, and trial a few different ones for the 7.

You'll soon find one you like.

Hertz32

What brand are you using? I'm using a newtone 10-60 set I got off stringsdirect and they are AWEsOMe

SquireJapan

I'm using Nanoweb, as my sweat is akin to the stuff inside an Alien.

No going back for me, as they now last more than a practice.

56 is absolutely perfect, so I'm set for a while. Will be trying some other tunings with the other 7 string, but not for a while. Need to get used to the extra B, going "chug chug chug" is bound to get boring at some point...

Evilmags

Minimum 59. Rethinking the way you set your amp helps as well. Not all amps like 7 strings

Loobs

Minimum 60 I'd say.

I remember as a kid having an Ibanez RG7 strung 9-52. That makes me laugh now.