The Billy Gibbons .007 gauge string challenge
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- Опубліковано 10 лют 2016
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the guy on our right forgot to shave his head
Napalmbats music hairy egg
Napalmbats music best comment ever 😂
Napalmbats music and his head
Wow didn't understand until I looked at phillip and the other guy haha
Oh boy
Forget this. I'm putting on 13's and upping my opioid intake.
lmao
Cobain style haha
+joynthis same here bud
For about 5 years, I used 13 to 60, standard tuning, on a 24.75" scale length. I would bend them like they were 9s. During that 5-year span, I was playing on stage 35 hours per week and rehearsing about 20 to 30 hours per week. Pain in my left hand is still a reminder that was a fruitless and unwise attempt in the pursuit of "tone".....and I was also using an agate pick back then......and....no opioids.
OK, but when you decided to lighten up, you didn't put friggin' 007's on, because you would bend them so far off the neck that bystanders might be injured. I'm glad guys like Rev. Willy and BBK can get a nice sound from super light strings, but I can't. And the guitar needs to fight back a little, so stringing it with fly-fishing leader would just feel limp to me.
Billy Gibbons went to 7's because BB King told him too. BB said "Why you working so hard man?" Billy tells the story in a UA-cam video.
Actually that story has been changed and been messed up over time. Originally it was BB King who told Jimi Hendrix to try out light gauge strings. I held Jimi's strat in my arms in '68 and strummed the strings, they were 8 or 9 gauge.
The story goes that Gibbons was using the thickest strings he could find for tone, then BB King told him that he'd be working a lot less hard with lighter ones. But King never used .007s. The custom BB KIng Set is 10-54, and that's what King used to play, at least towards the end of his career.
ua-cam.com/video/w4SCIOV_Q7g/v-deo.html
then BB went to SRV and said the same thing ,so Stevie went really light and never looked back ,realising that he was wasting his time trying so hard, and having the world,s best tone was not really worth all the effort - true story.
Nolan Manley he asked how bb got such a huge tone, and zz was told that it was thin strings.
I've never tried the 7s, but because of chronic illness and me being weak and frail, with lots of pain including in my arms and hands, I switched over to 8s.
I already figured the "thin tone" thing was a myth, since Billy Gibbon's tone is one of the standards for great blues/rock tone. Sure enough, my tone didn't suffer at all.
They much easier on my hands and allow me to play much longer without getting worn out or having pain, and of course they make bending much easier, whereas with 9s they were difficult and impossible with 10s.
But I also found that they have forced me to be a much more sensitive and precise player, as it is easier to accidentally bend a string when you don't want to, or bend too far, or to press a string out of tune.
So, while being easier to play physically, you have to get used to their particular characteristics, and and to play more precisely. So, learning to play them has made me a more controlled, and thus better player. With so much control over the strings you can play with great expressiveness and subtlety.
I already had a pretty light touch, though, so it wasn't a huge jump. Heavy handed players might have a harder time getting used to them.
They also might not work well for thrash/speed metal riffs and the like. But for blues and classic rock, and especially leads and solos with lots of bending and vibrato, they are great.
I have no problem with power chords or anything either. The only issue I occasionally have is the high e string sometimes slicing into my callouses, especially when bending. But it rarely happens and can be easily repaired. It's also something that can be prevented by technique.
So, if you want or need to be able to play with less effort, and if you want to learn to play with a lighter touch and with more sensitivity and precision, I highly recommend trying 8s or 7s. If you're worried about your tone, go listen to Tres Hombres, Fandango or Degüello for a while, and that should assuage your fears.
Besides, they are just strings. They are cheap and you can easily change back. So why not give it a shot? But give them at least a couple weeks to become a bit accustomed to them before you make a judgementn
there with ya - 8s for me
Did Billy use 7’s back in the 70’s , I know he listened to BB , but when?
@@12babyapes59 Billy switched to 8s after talking with BB. He had custom strings made later for his guitars. BB King said that back in the day there was only one guage strings. They would throw away the low E string and move em down. They would borrow a banjo string for the high E string.
@@IRIDEHARLEYS What year?
Stevie Ray Vaughan .013 string challenge???
edveda2 I use 13s (D addarrio Flat wounds) and they terrific!
edveda2 When SRV came out years ago, some guys I know all switched to 13s. I stayed with 10s. It didn't take long till they came down to 12's, then 11's. Now they're back down to 10s with me...lol. SRV was amazing but 13s must be rough !
R Davis
SRV played up to 18's. That's some crazy stuff.
edveda2 he used 15 gauge one time
A little easier if you tune down a whole step. Super glue on your finger tips doesn't hurt either.
Hi Phillip new to your channel I've had a bunch of subscribers tell me I needed to check out your channel. Awesome videos man I have to say I want to try some 7s now!
It would be nice if everyone stopped noodling while talking
Actually i was thinking the same. Its like getting in the studio and everybody just plug and play right after they get in 😂😂😂
The bloke on the left is making noises like he's trying to attract any migrating whales that might be passing by.
Ya super annoying
My thoughts exactly. Three guitar players in the same room: what a fucking cacophony
Typical guitar player
I use the .007 strings on all my guitars & they are perfect for playing rapid arpeggio and scale sequences especially if you prefer the sound of picking every note as I do. They will also help you push your speed levels through the roof, but don't take my word for it, give them a try!
FYI - I remember watching a interview with Billy Gibons talking about his string gauges, he said that he use to play heavy gauge strings with the thought that is what he need for a thick tone. Billy then was turned onto the .08 string from BBKing who asked him,"Why are you working so hard? and since then has played the thinner strings. Just some food for thought!
Nice to know you 3 guys played a few licks amplified, so we could interpret the sound. ~ #
Yes I noticed that too. Kinda stupid right?
The difference is subtle. I actually prefer 8s to 9s or 10s. Lower gauge gives a hendrixy, snappy sound to me, whereas the thicker strings are plunky in sound, even duller in a way.
What are you talking about ? You must have missed from 2:21 to 2:22 & then again @ 3:11 to 3:12.
Beat me to the punch, I was going to make the same comment...it would've been nice to actually HEAR the difference (if any) between the original string gauges and the .007s on each guitar, not just the unamplified noodling around we were subjected to! And, it would've been nice to throw an ES style guitar in the mix...I have an Epiphone Riviera P-93 that I've been playing with .011 - .052s (plain .017 3rd), and I've been tossing the idea around of going lighter due to nerve damage in both hands...figure lighter gauge strings HAVE to make it easier to play, and play longer, but I don't want to give up too much in the feel I get with the heavier strings (once again, the nerve damage makes id hard to actually feel what's going on under my fingers without the bridge cables), or that mighty ringing sustain that my axe has (which I'm sure is due in some part to the Bigsby :-D ). So yeah, an objective opinion on how these weenie lil' strings affect the sustain, feel and playability of a Bigsby equipped ES would've been nice too!
yeah pointless vid
Endless yapping and inaudible playing doesn't tell the story. Plug the f----rs in and give us some sound demos on clean and overdrive.
How about less noodling and a plugged in side by side comparison?
couldn,t agree more
I love the color of your PRS, beautiful!
I just put 7s on my strat and they are awesome. I didn't really play long enough to notice tuning problems but I love how they feel and sound. Great bends and I was afraid they would sound too thin but they don't. I'm looking forward to band practice.
these guys are such noodlers lol
I have these strings and I love them. I have put them on all my gits. I used to use 11s or 12s. These are great and I have yet to break one.
I can't believe nobody played so we could hear the darn things....
Same thing
9's all the way. Not too thick, not too thin.
10s or 11s
JD I need 11s or 12s
Jack Rota 14s!!!
9's not too thin?! I can't even. 11's for standard tuning, maybe 10's...but I can't do 9's at all.
Raijin Thundersoul I feel your pain
I had to get these due to a hand issue. They're great. Now I can bend again. I was using 9-42s my whole life. Not old but your hands can wear out after yrs of bending. Or an injury. I love them.
Tried the 7s but went back to 8s. But thank you guys, you have inspired me to go back and try, try again.
Its amazing how the Rev dont snap those things playing with a real heavy pick. What a guy. Cheers Phil man.
Love your videos Phil! Please keep it up!
Before rock string sets, I started out by using the banjo first and then putting on a regular gauge standard set by putting the 1st on the 2nd, etc down to the 5th on the 6th string. The first packaged rock n roll strings that I remember was the Fender 150 series. It was a .038 set with a .010 on top. The lightest set I used on a regular basis was .009 to .042 which is light enough for me. I usually play .010 to .046 usually now.
Great vid. I really enjoy your channel!
You're the best thank you I've always wondered about those seven gauge I think rubber bands will do the same
It’s interesting to hear the varied experience with going to 7s. I may try them sometime.
that strat that Phil plays is FREAKING BEAUTIFUL!!!
Cool! I've got to try them. Apparently Billy's fellow Texas guitarslinger--Johnny Winter was a fan of very light gauge strings as well.
+univibe23 The older you get, the more you learn!
What is interesting is Gibbons gets a real thick sound,
I have one of those swirl strats. I put an EVH Frankenstein in it, and set it up for 10s. It's great!
I can't even imagine using those things. I'll give it a try. Thanks for the great video.
that cool pedal steel thing you do. my sissy hands can not do it with out the 7s.
I play .008s as well on my strat and I love it, never tried .007s but I gotta try them some time, especially now that I know Billy Gibbons uses them. He is proof that lighter strings don't compromise tone :)
I've used 0.008's since 1966. Power chords work fine if strummed close to the bridge. I found that the 0.008 string tended to break easily on a tunematic bridge until I replaced the brass high E saddle with a nylon one. FWIW, I use this string set (0.008-0.046) on two guitars, both with 24" scales. Not that I think anyone cares.......
I’ve been on 8s for a few years now. It all started when I set up a strat with 8s at my shop, then noodled on it and thought “damn! I haven’t been able to pull off some of this stuff since I was 18”. Later, it became a matter of enjoying the lighter tension over the course of a long gig. I tend to play these 3-4 hour gigs with various Boston GB bands. It makes life a lot easier for the long haul, to be honest...I don’t ever get any cramps. Two 10 packs of daddario nyxl’s a year...that usually takes care of my entire fleet. I don’t regret the switch at all. No noticeable tone loss from my old 11’s....the only bummer is that playing other people’s guitars is a little wacky sometimes since my hands have become so accustomed to them.
I use these 7s on all my guitars since I discovered them last year... most guys find my guitars unplayable (LOL). I've just recorded a video with my PRS (it's on my channel) showcasing the clean tones that come out of them (I love 'em).
I recently used .008s and love 'em
I put 7s on my floyd rose. It may have took me 3 hours to set up but once I got it set up it was fantastic.
Good video Phillip. I've been planning for some time to try out a set of 0.7, 'couse I'm a huge fan of Billy Gibbons.
I always thought that I have to do a setup, 'couse expected the neck release would change because the less string tension. So no excuse now, ;-) gonna order a set right now.
Really curious about the results on my tele.
Thnx, wish you good luck and success.
Thanks for doing that.. I've always wondered how it would be to play 7's. I have a set of 8's but I've never tried them. I like 10's. Thanks for doing it ;)
I bought the Strat that Phillip is playing from his old guitar shop. Didn’t realize it until I watched this video. I would know that beautiful paint job anywhere!
I been using these on my SG for over a year now they sound great but takes a while to get used to he is right about switching back and fourth No going back for me I had always used 10s by Fender but now find its to much effort to use them and these 7s sound sweet
The constant noodling made me have to turn this off omg so annoying
Yep. Me too. I skipped ahead a few times but it was incessant.
Up'ing the gauge to 10's on standard tuned strat-scale guitars was the best thing I've done for my playing in decades. Phil, I'd like to see a similar video on increasing the gauge to 12's or 13's!
Everybody complaining that they talked about the difference in feel but didn’t give us plugged in sound demos - That’s because the sound difference is almost unnoticeable. The reason people use whichever gauge they choose is because of how they want it to feel. Tonally, heavy gauge strings give you a bit more bass than thinner gauges. That’s all there is to know. Just watch Rick Beato’s video on it if you desperately need to hear it.
I remember referencing and old Guitar Player magazine from the early 1980's that Judas Priest was using .007s
Interesting video, especially that no set-ups were needed and no-one broke any. Effortless but suppose more control needed on the bends? can it stay in tune? what happened through the pedals?
I use these on ALL my guitars and tuned to Eb. Only an open Gb slide had 9’s. And yes I have Legacy floating bridge, works fine. Cheers
The first thing said by the guys who played that Strat should have been, "This thing looks sweet!".
Best looking Strat ever! Turquoise rather than that pukey aqua or sea green!!!
Turquoise is a man's color, the others are women's colors! Imagine gold
hardware on that thing!!! I have a black Norton Python 7 with gold hardware.
I should get a paint job. (Had to not be like everyone else, hence no Strat 6, etc.)
Great idea! Norton Gaboon Viper 7!!! Check out Gaboon Viper &
Norton Python & imagine the combination! Tell me what you think!
Probably an expensive paint job, but I'd have the coolest guitar ever!!!
It would be what God would play!!!
Mike Madden No, man...GOLD is a woman’s color.
Platinum probably more so. I guess everyone actually likes as much of either
they can get. I need a new wrist joint to play at all. It would be worth more
than gold, platinum, diamonds or whatever! Have to switch to lap slide. My
left wrist joint was injured in '66, disintegrated in '16 & was removed.
The Author - I'm thinking keyboard or pedal steel. When they removed
that left wrist joint it made my hand permanently palm down & bent
40 degrees to the left. When that joint disintegrated I went from playing
decent to never again in a second. Everything gone in an instant!
who needs hair when you got .7 gauge strings?
Jokes aside, this is a great video Phil. I've been contemplating moving in the lower gauge direction for a while, and everyone's perspective on the Rev's 7's was very insightful. Thanks for this video, keep it going.
Would you put 12at7's in an orange ad30htc? I'm wanting more headroom. Also, would you run a line 6 m9 in front of an amp? My ad30 doesn't have an effects loop. Love your videos, thank you for being so helpful to me!!!
What do you think about Ernie Ball .08 cobalt slinkys. I've been playing them for three years. I love them to especially play the bends on "While my guitar gently weeps. "
I used to use .8 when I started they where easy to learn on.
Hey , Friends of Phil McK,Stevo here. I'm sixty four and play lefty,strike one and recovering from surgery on my right hand,second operation,strike two. I'm really excited about these .007 Billy G strings. I found out about them from the story about BB King., a personal hero I met when I was 17 in 1969! After watching that video Phil made, I really hate that I have an other 4 weeks till I even get out of the cast on my hand,before I can even start rebuilding the muscles. So needless to say I'am ordering a set for my Les Paul (2013) & my SG (1966) but wonder about putting them on my 2014 Suhr Modern, with a trem. Phil thought it would be a nightmare, I believe is how he put it. Anyone got a opinion on that. In general these strings seem to be just what I need with the issues I have with my hand! It's going to be a couple months, but I will report on the outcome. Keep Rocking brothers and sisters!
Feel for you,bro. Just got out of a cast for a broken wrist and two surgeries myself. One more surgery and six months rehab and looking for an SG for my collection as a present to myself getting thru this. Many good vibes your way for a speedy and complete recovery!
Hope you're playing again by now Stephen. I didn't even know they made left-handed strings. What next, a left-handed string winder? lol
Stephen Marksberry I am 61, I feel for you! If 7's feel ok, just get a good overdrive pedal(Boss,$49) to help you thicken your tone, and just have fun with it!!
My left wrist joint disintegrated & had to be surgically removed. I have
to switch to lap slide, pedal steel or (gasp) keyboard. The hand is
permanently palm down & about 30 degrees kattywampus! I'm 69.
i bought 2packs last year very easy to play
I actually use these. Love em
Been using 007 set for 40 years. Equal tension is U007, U009, U012, W017, W022, W029. Plays great.
Black Sabbath's Tony Iommi not only uses super-light gauge strings, but also tuned down(to C# on some songs) due to the industrial accident he suffered severing the tips off of his fretting fingers... this was back in the mid-1960s & he melted liquid soap bottle caps to make his own 'prosthetic fingertips' so he could play again.
I personally had the tip of my middle finger sliced off - luckily on my picking hand! - it's been 5 years and the tip of that finger still feels 'electric', kinda like when you put your tongue on a 9-volt battery to see if there's any juice left.
I've used them ,I love them .
I ran .014-.060's on my Kramer two decades ago, in standard tuning. Yes, I used to use a whammy bar and right-hand hammer-on on that insane set I put together. Nobody could play that thing but me. I can't feel in my fingertips anymore though, LOL.
Still have that guitar today, now it wears .008-.038s.
for the last 30 years or so I've used custom lights (9-46) and replaced the 016 with a 014 so that steel guitar bends are much easier...food for thought
I got a Gibson Custom Shop Billy Gibbons pinstriped gold top LP and it came with .008s on it. I played that for a while and was ok with it but went to a 9-46 hybrid like I use on all my Les Pauls for blues and classic rock. I should add I use 9-42 for my "metal" guitars.
Liked the video and comparison BTW, never pulled the trigger on a set of Rev. Willie's.
A very cool theme for a video.
Great and thank you
Have those on a strat, love them. Tone is the same as with other gauges to my ears.
yea but thats with all gauges:D just feels different for the player.
+Joker Star Not at all. If both of you guys think the tone remains the same when changing string gauge, I am sorry to announce you you're tone deaf.
Must be, all I hear is a volume increase at best, but usually if the gauges are close enough no ...
Julien Prégent might be that thicker strings have little bit more bass and less highs but just eq a little and the difference is gone.
Especialy with lots of gain u cant tell a difference
I'd say only* with lots of gain you can't tell a difference yea
its all preference, i personally like to feel like im playing acoustic all the time so i play 12s, and theyre perfect.
Where did you get them by the box? I have only seen them in
individual sets. Thanks, interesting test. Especially the trick with
using them, unknowingly, to us!
+jim leiss I bought them from Dunlop in box because I needed a few packs to give to the guys. So they do sell them in box quantity.
Love that Steve Morse guitar!
Brian May is another advocate for very light string gauges, in fact he and Billy have the thing in common about using sheer volume and naturally feedback prone guitars to create sustain.
What you guys say about power chords, Malcolm Young used 12 Gauge and even though he took several back up guitars on tour, he NEVER switched because that old beaten up Gretsch of his was like a tank, never went out of tune.
As for me, because I also play bass, I don't really mind having the guitar fight back a little, I have 11 gauge on my guitars and I have played those for 25-odd years, I'm completely accustomed to those.
Billy does a lot of microtone bends simply by pushing down a little more on the fretboard instead of the conventional bending technique. It's for efficiency especially on his notorious gargling licks when he's moving up and down the same 2 strings. That's what makes his sound unique.
I love my Gilmour 10.5 hybrid strings, but I would love to try theese once.
loved this.
I have left hand weakness from a stroke. I used to use 10's before.
I went to 8's and could play them pretty well but you really need a light touch or they bend out of tune.....cant imagine 7's....lol
I think you need to adapt your playing style a bit to play super light strings.
I agree the tone is still there light or heavy.
My most perfect guitar is my white Stratocaster with a maple board. I just always said that and it has had 7s for a year. The tremolo is just fine and with a roller nut and roller saddles. Still a perfect guitar.
I had a wrist fused years ago, went to 7s I still have them on my tele , I think 9s are great overall but try the 7s it’s like butter
I use 9's, but I did try a set of 8's once. I broke the high E. That was over 30 years ago. I went back to 9's and I haven't broken a string since. lol
I'd love to try them if they made a nickel-free set. Might see if I can find some .008s to try in stainless. I think the "loose" feeling is why a lot of players tune down a half-step with regular strings, too. I find the little bit of less tension makes things more fun to play, including pinch harmonics.
do you have a nickel allergie? just asking to see why you want stainless.
+Phillip McKnight Yes. After many years of split and bleeding fingers I finally put two-and-two together and figured out it was directly related to my guitar playing. After starting lessons and practicing for a couple of hours a day, it became very obvious what the culprit was. Since switching to Ernie Ball stainless, my fingers have completely healed, regardless of how long I play. I can't even count the number of visits to the doctor, steroid creams, etc., that I've been through over the years and no one thought to test me.
Also, it isn't that I just built up calluses from playing longer with the finger bleeding thing. Every part of my hand that came into contact with the strings would get an eczema-like rash and start cracking. I tested this on another guitar with nickel strings at home and my fingers started splitting again after using it.
Even beyond the allergy, I really like the stainless strings. They don't "flare" as much after you initially pick the string, so you can set the action quite a bit lower with no buzzing. They also stretch-up and stay in tune much faster than any other strings I've ever used. Could just be the Ernie Ball strings, though - I haven't tried any other brands of stainless. Ernie Ball is the only one I could find that publicly stated their strings didn't contain any (or very, very little) nickel and that they were plated so that you would never come into contact with anything to trigger a reaction.
+Garry Davlin What did your allergic reaction on your fingers look like? I've suffered with what i assumed was eczema on my hands for years and have not even thought about it being a nickel allergy.
Any help on this would be amazing
+Andrew Thompson For me, it starts out with the skin starting to look and feel dry/scaly. It then turns into a reddish patch that kind of hurts (sort of looks like a fungal infection after a while, but it's not). During that time, a little line forms in the affected area that eventually splits open and bleeds (kind of looks like a small cut). This usually happens on the tips of the fingers, the side of the finger nail, and (sometimes) the knuckle joints. I'll also get some broader patches on the inside of my fingers (think touching with bar chords). In all cases, the skins flakes away. It's always worse on my left hand (fretting), and usually gets my thumb and index finger on my right hand (picking). Steroid creams help a little, but usually lose effectiveness pretty quickly.
I also bought a belt with a nickel-free belt buckle. :)
ah right. I might give some nickel free strings a try. the symptoms seem fairly similar to mine! thanks for your help!
Lol I play 11's. I think I could never play these without being sharp 99% of the time playing...
You actually get used to it very quickly. but then you go to play 11's and you think WTF am I playing these "ropes" for?
How did they work with various slides??? Flint glass, Pyrex glass, ceramic and brass? I would imagine not very well!
Good little Video.
And BFG tunes down, sometimes several steps. That must be like handling a handful of angel hair spaghetti.
Surprised they held up and didn't break. Also surprised that Billy Gibbons goes so light with his big hands? Explains part of unique sound ZZ Top has too.
BG gets a big tone from his guitars because he runs everything through an EQ reprocessing his sound to match the EQ profile of Pearly Gates. He's playing a hollowed out Tele with .007s but it sounds like a 9 lb LP with PAFs. Check out Premiere Guitars Rig Rundown.
He could just as well be playing a '64 Harmony Bobcat.
Im trying to relearn to play because of arthritis.My middle finger barely bends.Incredibly painful if it pops from pushing down.Ive been working on an acoustic anyway.Im thinking these might be perfect.I cant wait to try em.
dude the green finish on that PRS is noice!
Guys instead of playing over the top of each other and playing while talking, an amplified clean/distorted/with vibrato/etc breakdown section would've been much more helpful
After using a wild assortment of miss-matched strings (any string is better than no string) I've found a chunky G has a lovely round tone next to a thin B very interesting. Tempted to keep it but it takes some getting used to. I like messing with gauges and it uses up all your odd strings.
I've always played 10s but in my old age thinking about trying 9s but I don't think I would got lower than that. I just put some 11s on a guitar but plan on keeping it tuned down to D. My "baritone".
I'm switching to 7s go ahead and laugh but 9-42s for years although I didn't think we're hurting me. When I got what's called frozen shoulder in both shoulders it took out only my left hand.
all personal preference. i like my tension in standard running hybrids (9-48) but if i ever got so many guitars that i started up-tuning to F or G, then yea id get some 7's. i get nervous about playing 8's but thats just my style, im a heavy player. i dont do a lot of bendy stuff.
I put on some 13-58’s today and I’m very happy
Good video guys !! I live in France and can't find a .007 gauge strings set ... any ideas where I could buy them from ?
I believe the looser the strings the better moving from 11's to 8's, very interested in 7's! Like guitar is hard enough right?
I like Rev.Willys Mexican Lottery strings. I use the 7s on my 6 yr old son's mini squire and they're VERY easy on his fingers.
Played for 25 years, 010's for the first 18 then 009's (with occasional excursion to 008) and I've been playing these 007's for just over a year now. They are superb. Only thing as noted here, if someone hands me a guitar with 010's on, although I can still play it, they are much harder work.
One thing I didn't see in the comments. When you play with heavier strings you get thicker callouses on your fingers, especially if you constantly do 1 note plus bends on a daily basis. Those callouses can provide you with a really fun assist when doing hammer-ons. It's like having little finger picks on the tips of your non-picking hand..
I put 8s on my single cut surprisingly they didn't feel super loose I was surprised because the scale is 24 7/8 it was only til I tried tuning them to E flat that's when they became super loose
how many tones can you bend a string up to? when andertons had a gibbons les paul, i think chapman went 3 whole tones by accident and cap lee was almost a convert lol. i've tried 9s before that did break quite fast but i was a hard hitter lol. once, i put a set of jazz 12s that had a wound g string tuned to concert pitch in my jazz/ SRV phase. heavy picks, sometimes jazz or uber heavy dunlop/ fender picks.
Just put on Billy gibbons 7 gauge 7, 9, 11 but kept the top 3 so hybrid. Have to compensate with upping bass n mids.
I use 13s with a wound G in standard tuning... but I've had to adapt my playing a bit because stretching my fingers too much with that amount of tension hurts my hands. So... they sound great, and feel great, but there are definitely some compromises I had to make.
I haven't read every response to see if any one commented that Picato and Rotosound also do/did make 007s. A very long time ago (late 70's early 80's) I used to use Ernie Ball Super Slinkies but with a Picato 007 high E. I also used the same 007 on my high G on my 12 string.
Here's the answer to "what gauge should I use/play" the answer is tension go for tension, when you find the tension that you like you will then have the gauge of the string to buy, it can make bending easier and help correct intonation problems it can also help hold down strings that don't fret properly, that also buzz. (If you want to know more drop me a line )
What pick gauge works best? I would think light to keep them from going out of tune??
Made by Dunlop, these are now the only strings I use (Reverend Willie's). I use 8's and 9's. Tens on my Strat. The 7's were way too light. I kept pushing the strings off the sides of the fretboard. It was way too easy to simply press the string too hard and make it sharp. You need to be very accurate with your playing to get the most from 7's. For someone with a light touch, though, these are like butter. The other really remarkable thing about them is they stay in tune. The 7's would even stay in tune after a few stretches. I could leave it in the stand for a month, come back and still be perfectly tuned. I've never broken one of Rev. Willie's strings. Against other strings of equal size, these Dunlop strings seem to have more give and better tone. I was loyal to D'addario strings for over 40 years until I found these.