what about strings?

[seulb-rd]

i have been searching the forum looking at various factors that could be an aspect of "the dumble sound". haven't found anything about strings. i have been using dr hi beam or pure blues 009-042's exclusivley except on my my archtop which has eb flatwound 011-052's. so what strings/gauges are folks using to get "the sound"?
btw, i play mainly blues and jazz, in case you couldn't tell from my moniker.

[fred_farkel]

Its no secret a set of 9's will sound thinner than 12's just as a Tele will sound thinner than a 347. Although the different gauge may have some influence I would find it hard to believe it would keep one from getting "THAT" sound. I know Larry Carlton has used both a 335 and a Valley Arts Tele and that both sounded great to me! Now all I need is an amp to GET that sound!

[oldmacman]

Fat strings -> fat tone.

Personally, I like fatter strings on a Strat or Tele, and slightly thicker on something with humbuckers.

For lap steel, I use 13s or above.

[Pete]

Personally, I like fatter strings on a Strat or Tele, and slightly thicker on something with humbuckers.

I find I need a little lighter string for Fender. I use .010s for "humbucker" guitar (Gibson)
As I'm sure most people know, the longer scale length Fender will feel stiffer than the shorter Gibson type with the same gauge. (I didn't realize this until relatively late in my career)
IMO the character of the guitar seems to come through with the Dumble better than most amps.

[glasman]

FWIW, I use

10's on my Les Pauls, PRS, Strats and Tele's
9's on my Epi Sheraton
12 flats on my Washburn J6
Havn't a clue whats on my pedal steel. They get replaced when they break . Although I do remember that the high G+ is an 11 and I usually go thru 3 or 4 to get one that will tune to pitch.

I tried 11's for a while on my Strats and Tele's but never really liked the string tonal balance.

Gary

[Bob-I]

I've never been a beliver that heavier strings sound better. There's something about the sound of 9's on a Fender/PRS length neck and 10's on a Gibby length neck. Yes heavier strings sound fatter but is fat better? I'm not quite sure on that issue. There's times when a thinner sound is simply better, especally with a fat midrangy amp like a Dumble.

[Normster]

There's times when a thinner sound is simply better, especally with a fat midrangy amp like a Dumble.

+1

[Darkbluemurder]

I really cannot decide whether to go with 9s or 10s. When I play live I mostly use 10s on my Tele and 12s on my Acoustic. I do not like anything bigger than 10s on electrics because it makes the sound to midrangey IMHO.

[groovtubin]

i have been searching the forum looking at various factors that could be an aspect of "the dumble sound". haven't found anything about strings. i have been using dr hi beam or pure blues 009-042's exclusivley except on my my archtop which has eb flatwound 011-052's. so what strings/gauges are folks using to get "the sound"?
btw, i play mainly blues and jazz, in case you couldn't tell from my moniker.

Hate ta change the subject, i use to live in Elizabeth City , and South Mills NC as a kid, what a time it was back in early 70`s out there!! Soo many great memories... What part are you from? I live in Moravian Falls NC currently. My Mom lived and died in Jacksonville NC. Thanks..jim p.

[seulb-rd]

i'm in jacksonville; here going on 10 years. not familiar with moravian falls. is that down east? i'm not from here: yankee transplant. as the saying goes, i wasn't born in the south, but i got here fast as i could.

[groovtubin]

i'm in jacksonville; here going on 10 years. not familiar with moravian falls. is that down east? i'm not from here: yankee transplant. as the saying goes, i wasn't born in the south, but i got here fast as i could.

COOL! I also lived there in Jax for a few years before parents divorced as a kid. M Falls is Western Carolina, right at foothills of the blue ridge mtn`s, so beautiful up here, but i`m really fond of the coast! So what is your fav Dumble sound? Mine is actually ( to me anyways) "far removed" from the ordinary "typical" Dumble sound, and thats a 97 ODS circuit, i`m a rocker, and man it does that!! Using GT EL-34 Mullard copies, really likem! jp ps. to me this is ALOT more truer to EVH sound than most of the wannabes, i`ve played a few, this is CHOCOLATE TONE CRUNCH!! lol!