360/12 String Experimentation
Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2019 2:31 pm
Hi Folks,
I'm experimenting with different kinds of strings on my 360/12. Compressed Roundwounds from Pick of the Ricks sound great on my Fender Electric XII but the Ricky they just don't work. The roundwound low strings are overpowering their octave counterparts too much and single notes on the bass side of the fretboard sound almost like a 6-string guitar (no good!).
So I need to go flatter on the low end. I've decided that until I find exactly the kind of string I want, it makes most sense to just replace all strings except the 10s and 13s, because those are already "flat." There's 6 strings that would be wound on a traditional roundwound set, that I would need to go flatter on, all E A D pairs and the low G, which is usually a .20wound.
So I've ordered some singles of GHS Pure Nickel Rockers (rollerwound) string, which is like half way between a compressed round and a flat. See this diagram for explanation https://sep.yimg.com/ay/stringsandbeyon ... ale-18.gif. I tried the whole set that they sell for 12 strings but their low strings are too damn thick for a Rick (46 instead of 42!).
I also want to try some straight up flat wound strings, but I don't want to commit to Thomastick Flats due to price. Can I try any old flat wound string and get the same idea? What makes the Thomastiks so special?? I can get some D'Addario Chromes for half the price if I want to try flats. Whats the difference?
Also, I don't get the wild variation in string gauges across various string sets. A new set of Rick 95404 rounds has a .46 low! The Pick of the Ricks Compressed Rounds have a 42 low. But the Thomastik flats have a .44 low. So weird.
So far, I have found on a Rickenbacker it's best to have the E A and D pairs as close together in gauge as possible. With a 46/26 E you barely even attack the octave E because the low E is so much fatter. Anyways...
Curious to hear what others have found.
Thanks!!
I'm experimenting with different kinds of strings on my 360/12. Compressed Roundwounds from Pick of the Ricks sound great on my Fender Electric XII but the Ricky they just don't work. The roundwound low strings are overpowering their octave counterparts too much and single notes on the bass side of the fretboard sound almost like a 6-string guitar (no good!).
So I need to go flatter on the low end. I've decided that until I find exactly the kind of string I want, it makes most sense to just replace all strings except the 10s and 13s, because those are already "flat." There's 6 strings that would be wound on a traditional roundwound set, that I would need to go flatter on, all E A D pairs and the low G, which is usually a .20wound.
So I've ordered some singles of GHS Pure Nickel Rockers (rollerwound) string, which is like half way between a compressed round and a flat. See this diagram for explanation https://sep.yimg.com/ay/stringsandbeyon ... ale-18.gif. I tried the whole set that they sell for 12 strings but their low strings are too damn thick for a Rick (46 instead of 42!).
I also want to try some straight up flat wound strings, but I don't want to commit to Thomastick Flats due to price. Can I try any old flat wound string and get the same idea? What makes the Thomastiks so special?? I can get some D'Addario Chromes for half the price if I want to try flats. Whats the difference?
Also, I don't get the wild variation in string gauges across various string sets. A new set of Rick 95404 rounds has a .46 low! The Pick of the Ricks Compressed Rounds have a 42 low. But the Thomastik flats have a .44 low. So weird.
So far, I have found on a Rickenbacker it's best to have the E A and D pairs as close together in gauge as possible. With a 46/26 E you barely even attack the octave E because the low E is so much fatter. Anyways...
Curious to hear what others have found.
Thanks!!