String gauge

[Bertotti]

I really like the feel and playability of the TI’s.

I use these

View attachment 200300

These and Bebops but these may make their way onto all of my electrics

 

[Desirsar]

I use 10s in Cobalts with a wound third. Goes from a 17 plain to 22 wound to get a wound Cobalt, but it doesn't cause any problems for me. Slightly higher output across the whole range than nickel, and most Gretsch pickups don't mind the extra help from the strings.

 

[charlie chitlins]

There is always someone who says this, and even though there is some truth to it I have been in a position where I asked for string advice which led me to where I am. The ideas suggestions and reasonings aren't useless unless you want them to be. Some of us use that info as arbitrary or subjective as it is to help us learn what an average opinion about an item may be. I do agree that at some point you will need to try some.

Well...next time you're off to the ice cream stand, PM me and I'll pass along a few suggestions

 

[6stringcowboy]

D'Addario 11s on everything I own.

 

[stevo]

Hello all hope you're doing well! I have a Gretsch 2410 and its time to change the strings, been about 4 months of playing almost every day. I am thinking of D'addario .11. Any thoughts. My playing style is blues and rock. Thanks, opinions welcomed.

I had .11s on my 6128 and liked them. A little stiff for heavy bending etc, but they did have a bit stronger output. In the end, I went back to .10s and they're good. The D'Addario XL NIckel mentioned above by Pemberton are what I use and like them. For rock and blues, I think they strike the right middle ground.

However, I might go to the pro steel ones once just to see if I like them. I also have a set of NYXLs I need to try. Pure Nickel/all nickel strings that I've tried tend to a bit weak for that Gretsch tone.

The cool thing about strings is that they're generally not expensive and you can have fun trying different ones out.

 

[stevo]

I love the feel of flats and they sound great as well. However due to the Mrs running a daycare in our house I play more without the amp than I do with the amp Monday - Friday. And flats don't sound as good when using my hollowbody like an acoustic guitar. One day I'll buy a Jim Dandy and have the best of both worlds.

One compromise to flats is the GHS Burnished Nickel Rockers - they're not fully flat wound but smoothed down just a bit to give them a more slippery feel. I used to use those a lot on my Strat until I ran out. Need to buy some more.

 

[GretschPlayer101]

If you guys haven't tried these on your classic Gretsch archtop yet, then try a set and retire from the string chasing race:
View attachment 200190
I kid you not...

Too bad Gibson stopped making flatwounds. They stopped about 15 years ago. Their flatwounds were good. I use Thomastik and Pyramid but forget how Gibson flats compare but I recall they were good.

 

[GrandpaPete]

Being an old geezer with a bit of arthritis in my left hand, my gauges have dropped over the past few years but have found a happy medium with flat wound 10s on hollow bodies and round 9.5s on the solids. I'm liking the 9.5s a whole lot more now as I can do easy jazz tunes or really bend the heck out of them when the muse strikes, and they are much more stable than 9s for staying in tune.

 

[Danno]

Being an old geezer with a bit of arthritis in my left hand, my gauges have dropped over the past few years but have found a happy medium with flat wound 10s on hollow bodies and round 9.5s on the solids. I'm liking the 9.5s a whole lot more now as I can do easy jazz tunes or really bend the heck out of them when the muse strikes, and they are much more stable than 9s for staying in tune.

10.5s are my favorite on electrics but since I play my Gretsch acoustic most.of the time I went up to 11s. Lower gauges are nice on the hands for sure. Used 9.5s on a Strat I traded in to buy the Gretsch.

I've broken my left wrist multiple times in my teens and 20s skateboarding or racing bicycles. Early 40s now and I struggle to do barre chords or using my pinky with any string gauge.