Holy 11's Batman!

[knopfler74]

So...

 

As some of you that have gotten to know me since I registered for the HOC know, I used to play trumpet professionally. After 17 years I realized that doing that was stupid. I picked up a guitar, took some lessons and proceeded to rock...as a hobby.

 

This fall I bought my first 'big boy' guitar...a beautiful 157 Blonde that I scored used for an awesome price. The other day I was practicing a song I really like, and it called for the guitar to be tuned up a half step. I immeadiately noticed some things when I did that...things that should have been obvious but weren't, because after a couple of years of doing this, I'm still a bit of a noob.

 

1. The 157 was 10x's more stable with intonation when tuned up a half step.

2. Low notes were tighter, with less 'flab' in the sound (I have no idea what flab is...outside of that crap on my belly anyway...)

3. High notes had a much more 'ear friendly' frequency...less ice pick, more...screamish goodness

 

So, observing this I called a luthier pal of mine in Flagstaff, AZ - where I did my masters in education. Here's what he told me, and yes, this should have been self-evident to me, but hey, I'm a moron so....

 

He said 24 3/4 scales gits much prefer heavier gauge strings, not only for tone, but also for tuning and a more even sound from top to bottom. He also told me that I would get much better 'return' to pitch with bends and also with returning to standard tuning after whatever sort of alternate tuning abomination against true guitar skill that I chose to commit.

 

So last night I finally took the plunge and went from 10's to 11's and WHOA! ( insert Joey Lawerence voice here)

All I can say is, well, HAPPY MATT! (that's me)

 

I proceeded to rip a backing track off the youboob and chuck it into protools.

Here's a clip and a list of what the gear used was. Now mind you, I am NOT A GOOD GUITAR PLAYER! I'm finally at a place, after a couple years, where I officially "don't suck too much", so go easy on the playing critiques - I practice regularly, and I'll get there...I promise...

 

Gear used

Peavey Delta Blues 2x10 w/ Eminence Ram Rods

Boss compressor

DMB Cosmic Crunch OD pedal

Hardwire RV-7 reverb pedal (best on the market IMO)

Some delay ala guitar nerd god of your choice via plug ins I have in protools

Audio Technica 2020 large diaphragm condenser mic

MBox preamps

Waves C4 compressor plug (master track only, none on guitar's actual track whilst recording)

Solo Clip- Short.mp3

[H555rocks]

That was very good matt.

[knopfler74]

That was very good matt.

 

Hey thanks! I was listening to Andy Timmons last night, so I got the whole 'drenched in delay' thing on the noodle today

[bolero]

hey, that sounds awesome!!

 

I prefer .11's on Heritage Gibson as well, they seem to match the feel of .10's I use on G&L/Fender too

 

although Jimmy Page did some great stuff with light strings

[JeffB]

Sounds great. Nice tone. Nice playing. Thanks for posting.

[Hfan]

Mr Knopfler, Very nice playing, how long have you been playing? You prior years as a muscian are coming through with you phrasing or musicality..I suppose it's in the ear? Nice touch.

 

And the .11s make sense, I may try them one day. My 575 likes 12s. A side benefit you may notice is increased finger strength if you ever pick up a guitar with lighter gauge strings.

[knopfler74]

Mr Knopfler, Very nice playing, how long have you been playing? You prior years as a muscian are coming through with you phrasing or musicality..I suppose it's in the ear? Nice touch.

 

And the .11s make sense, I may try them one day. My 575 likes 12s. A side benefit you may notice is increased finger strength if you ever pick up a guitar with lighter gauge strings.

 

Thanks! I've been playing for about three years, but I only started taking it seriously in the last two years. I was doing a masters degree before that, and thus I didn't really practice much. Nowadays I try to get an hour a day in or so...

[DetroitBlues]

I like the tone of 11's on my 140, but when I played lead guiar for four straight hours, two nights in a row, my fingers physically hurt however when I first strung it up, I was 1/2 step tuned down. I've since switch to 10's since I'm playing in standard tuning now. But I use a hybrid 10's/11's like these:

 

[knopfler74]

I like the tone of 11's on my 140, but when I played lead guiar for four straight hours, two nights in a row, my fingers physically hurt however when I first strung it up, I was 1/2 step tuned down. I've since switch to 10's since I'm playing in standard tuning now. But I use a hybrid 10's/11's like these:

 

ya know, as I get more experienced and maybe play a little more this might be a solution for me if I experience the same thing.... thanks!

[schundog]

I have 11s on my Gibson 335, but I've not put them on any of my Heritages yet, probably because I'm just a lazy creature of habit, and have usd D'Darrio 10s on everything for forever. I really need to try some different strings, though. The 150 I just got from Marty had some sort of halfway flatwounds on it, and I really like the feel. Nice clip, by the way, I hope you stick around and enjoy the mahem, er, discussions we have here.

[knopfler74]

I have 11s on my Gibson 335, but I've not put them on any of my Heritages yet, probably because I'm just a lazy creature of habit, and have usd D'Darrio 10s on everything for forever. I really need to try some different strings, though. The 150 I just got from Marty had some sort of halfway flatwounds on it, and I really like the feel. Nice clip, by the way, I hope you stick around and enjoy the mahem, er, discussions we have here.

 

I've been wanting to try flat wounds for a while now, and I think I'm gonna pull the trigger on that little project this week. Oh, and I'm gonna stick around here for quite a while. I really like the people here and the discussions have taught me a lot, and of course, are a lot of fun!

[brentrocks]

your tone is incredible!!!

[Hfan]

 

I've been wanting to try flat wounds for a while now, and I think I'm gonna pull the trigger on that little project this week. Oh, and I'm gonna stick around here for quite a while. I really like the people here and the discussions have taught me a lot, and of course, are a lot of fun!

D'Adarrio 10s have been common for me as well, like them, ready to order more but was wondering aboute alternatives..

[Guest HRB853370]

So...

 

As some of you that have gotten to know me since I registered for the HOC know, I used to play trumpet professionally. After 17 years I realized that doing that was stupid. I picked up a guitar, took some lessons and proceeded to rock...as a hobby.

 

This fall I bought my first 'big boy' guitar...a beautiful 157 Blonde that I scored used for an awesome price. The other day I was practicing a song I really like, and it called for the guitar to be tuned up a half step. I immeadiately noticed some things when I did that...things that should have been obvious but weren't, because after a couple of years of doing this, I'm still a bit of a noob.

 

1. The 157 was 10x's more stable with intonation when tuned up a half step.

2. Low notes were tighter, with less 'flab' in the sound (I have no idea what flab is...outside of that crap on my belly anyway...)

3. High notes had a much more 'ear friendly' frequency...less ice pick, more...screamish goodness

 

So, observing this I called a luthier pal of mine in Flagstaff, AZ - where I did my masters in education. Here's what he told me, and yes, this should have been self-evident to me, but hey, I'm a moron so....

 

He said 24 3/4 scales gits much prefer heavier gauge strings, not only for tone, but also for tuning and a more even sound from top to bottom. He also told me that I would get much better 'return' to pitch with bends and also with returning to standard tuning after whatever sort of alternate tuning abomination against true guitar skill that I chose to commit.

 

So last night I finally took the plunge and went from 10's to 11's and WHOA! ( insert Joey Lawerence voice here)

All I can say is, well, HAPPY MATT! (that's me)

 

I proceeded to rip a backing track off the youboob and chuck it into protools.

Here's a clip and a list of what the gear used was. Now mind you, I am NOT A GOOD GUITAR PLAYER! I'm finally at a place, after a couple years, where I officially "don't suck too much", so go easy on the playing critiques - I practice regularly, and I'll get there...I promise...

 

Gear used

Peavey Delta Blues 2x10 w/ Eminence Ram Rods

Boss compressor

DMB Cosmic Crunch OD pedal

Hardwire RV-7 reverb pedal (best on the market IMO)

Some delay ala guitar nerd god of your choice via plug ins I have in protools

Audio Technica 2020 large diaphragm condenser mic

MBox preamps

Waves C4 compressor plug (master track only, none on guitar's actual track whilst recording)

 

So....

 

First, playing trumpet is not stupid at all-that instrument ruled in the 30's and 40's with big bands! I happen to love trumpet music, I just can't play trumpet. And thinking of all the great R&B bands of the 60's that had horn sections, well trumpet rules!!

 

Second, tell me about those Ram Rods, and why you chose them? I have the identical amp you do, with the factory Blue Marvels (which by the way are made by Eminence for Peavey). What do the replacements give you over the stocks?

 

Third, I like the Boss FRV-1 reverb stompbox, probably much less expensive than your Hardwire pedal (have you compared the two?). I find the reverb unit on the Delta Blues rather weak.

 

Fourth, what are the gauges you are installing on your guitar ( you mentioned 11 as the high E string, but what are the other gauges?)? I'd like to know what you have on your low E string, and in between, as well as the brand/type of strings you switched to.

 

So....now I will give your tracks a listen...............

[Guest HRB853370]

 

So....

 

First, playing trumpet is not stupid at all-that instrument ruled in the 30's and 40's with big bands! I happen to love trumpet music, I just can't play trumpet. And thinking of all the great R&B bands of the 60's that had horn sections, well trumpet rules!!

 

Second, tell me about those Ram Rods, and why you chose them? I have the identical amp you do, with the factory Blue Marvels (which by the way are made by Eminence for Peavey). What do the replacements give you over the stocks?

 

Third, I like the Boss FRV-1 reverb stompbox, probably much less expensive than your Hardwire pedal (have you compared the two?). I find the reverb unit on the Delta Blues rather weak.

 

Fourth, what are the gauges you are installing on your guitar ( you mentioned 11 as the high E string, but what are the other gauges?)? I'd like to know what you have on your low E string, and in between, as well as the brand/type of strings you switched to.

 

So....now I will give your tracks a listen...............

 

Nice playing, I can hear trumpet in that guitar phrasing!

[knopfler74]

 

So....

 

First, playing trumpet is not stupid at all-that instrument ruled in the 30's and 40's with big bands! I happen to love trumpet music, I just can't play trumpet. And thinking of all the great R&B bands of the 60's that had horn sections, well trumpet rules!!

 

Second, tell me about those Ram Rods, and why you chose them? I have the identical amp you do, with the factory Blue Marvels (which by the way are made by Eminence for Peavey). What do the replacements give you over the stocks?

 

Third, I like the Boss FRV-1 reverb stompbox, probably much less expensive than your Hardwire pedal (have you compared the two?). I find the reverb unit on the Delta Blues rather weak.

 

Fourth, what are the gauges you are installing on your guitar ( you mentioned 11 as the high E string, but what are the other gauges?)? I'd like to know what you have on your low E string, and in between, as well as the brand/type of strings you switched to.

 

So....now I will give your tracks a listen...............

 

I was wondering if you'd check out this thread, mostly because we have the same exact amp, so her goes...

 

I really like the Eminence over the stock speakers because the bass is tighter without sounding sterile or weak. Lots of thump...without the flab I perceived on the low end with the stock speakers. The mids are stronger too, and because the amp has mids, highs, and lows on the EQ I can more easily dial in both scooped American sounds and mid-heavy Brit rock tones. I also think the top end of the Ram Rods are smoother...less brittle.

I also considered the new Celestion Greenback 10's, but was worried they'd have too much bass in a 2x10 configuration. I think that fear was unfounded, and as time goes by I may put a set of those in and see what happens. I've got to pay the rest of the cash for my KBP right now, so that will have to wait. I've heard from people that the top end of the greens are amazingly smooth, and I really hate ice pick highs, so I may check it out, but I'm pretty darn happy with the amp as it is now. It really sounds great IMO.

As far as the reverb pedal you mentioned goes, I can't say much because I've only heard that pedal in demos. I like the Hardwire ($150 retail) because it has 7 different Lexicon reverbs in one pedal. I guess I see it as a lot of bang for the buck. I like the reverb on the Delta. Actually, I like it a lot better than the reverb on the Deluxe Reverb Reissue I had and promptly sold due to ice pick high end that I just couldn't get out of the amp no matter what speaker I put in it.

 

The strings I'm using are Ernie Ball 11's with gauges that go like this 11.14.18p, 28,38,48. I haven't found them too big or hard on my fingers at all yet, but who knows, right?

 

Anyway, hope that answers your questions

[bolero]

hey DetroitBlues, thx for the headsup on those hybrid strings....I may try them out, good idea!!

[eljay]

on the basis of this thread--power of suggestion--i just put d'add xl 11s on one of my R8s. very impressed, so far.

 

knopfler, you are an NAU man? iyam.

 

schunsterbrian, flatwounds are marvelous on certain gits of mine: jag and jazzmaster and 335. i swear that i can play licks flawlessly on the 335 that i could not when it had rounds (dr pure blues).

 

tired of discussing guitars? amps? how about strings!!??

[sonar]

I like Thomastic-Infeld "Be-Bops" in 12's on my H575 (archtop duties). They have a plain third.

 

On my solidbody partsocaster I use GHS 10's, but that's a 25.5" scale length neck. I used to use 11's on Fender scale length when my fingers were in shape but that's been a while. I like power steering when I bend.

[knopfler74]

your tone is incredible!!!

 

Wow! Hey, Thanks, Brent! You should check out the OD box I use. It's only $100 and it's AWESOME! DMB Cosmic crunch..really works well with a lot of different amps I'm guessing...because of the cut and boost toggle they put on it..

 

on the basis of this thread--power of suggestion--i just put d'add xl 11s on one of my R8s. very impressed, so far.

 

knopfler, you are an NAU man? iyam.

 

schunsterbrian, flatwounds are marvelous on certain gits of mine: jag and jazzmaster and 335. i swear that i can play licks flawlessly on the 335 that i could not when it had rounds (dr pure blues).

 

tired of discussing guitars? amps? how about strings!!??

 

 

Yeah, I got my Masters in education at NAU. I freaking loved the place! I've never been treated so well by a college in my life! Wish I had gone there for my undergrad too! I miss Flag quite a lot these days...

[Guest HRB853370]

 

I was wondering if you'd check out this thread, mostly because we have the same exact amp, so her goes...

 

I really like the Eminence over the stock speakers because the bass is tighter without sounding sterile or weak. Lots of thump...without the flab I perceived on the low end with the stock speakers. The mids are stronger too, and because the amp has mids, highs, and lows on the EQ I can more easily dial in both scooped American sounds and mid-heavy Brit rock tones. I also think the top end of the Ram Rods are smoother...less brittle.

I also considered the new Celestion Greenback 10's, but was worried they'd have too much bass in a 2x10 configuration. I think that fear was unfounded, and as time goes by I may put a set of those in and see what happens. I've got to pay the rest of the cash for my KBP right now, so that will have to wait. I've heard from people that the top end of the greens are amazingly smooth, and I really hate ice pick highs, so I may check it out, but I'm pretty darn happy with the amp as it is now. It really sounds great IMO.

As far as the reverb pedal you mentioned goes, I can't say much because I've only heard that pedal in demos. I like the Hardwire ($150 retail) because it has 7 different Lexicon reverbs in one pedal. I guess I see it as a lot of bang for the buck. I like the reverb on the Delta. Actually, I like it a lot better than the reverb on the Deluxe Reverb Reissue I had and promptly sold due to ice pick high end that I just couldn't get out of the amp no matter what speaker I put in it.

 

The strings I'm using are Ernie Ball 11's with gauges that go like this 11.14.18p, 28,38,48. I haven't found them too big or hard on my fingers at all yet, but who knows, right?

 

Anyway, hope that answers your questions

 

Sure did thanks. I have to explore a swap, but maybe my ears are not refined enough to warrant it. I have a Deluxe Reverb and I am trying to figure out the ice pick description, as I have not noticed that when playing through it. I am not saying the reverb is bad really on the Delta, but I can get a more vintage reverb with the Fender box. Are you a teacher now knopfler?

[nicknickhall]

I like Thomastic-Infeld "Be-Bops" in 12's on my H575 (archtop duties). They have a plain third.

 

On my solidbody partsocaster I use GHS 10's, but that's a 25.5" scale length neck. I used to use 11's on Fender scale length when my fingers were in shape but that's been a while. I like power steering when I bend.

+1 I love TI BBops on my 575!

[knopfler74]

Thought I'd show some pics of the little corner home studio I used to make the recording for this thread. I also took the liberty of posting a pic of the Strat I built this fall...love it!

Oh, and because I'm from Maine and the son of a lobsterman I couldn't resist putting a "This is what it looks like when dad brings home dinner for the family picture"

[knopfler74]

more pics...

[knopfler74]

more