C64 Strings

[bd0104]

Can someone tell me what gauge and what type strings the 325C64 ships?

Being used to having 9's on my Strat, I'm having a hard time doing the bends in G on "You Can't Do That" !!

I've seen older threads where lighter strings could impact the intonation on these shorter scale guitars. I'm wondering if the short neck is providing some of that extra tension as well, even if I were to put lighter strings on it? I've read a lot about the Pyramid flatwounds on this site - will they offer a bit of relief from the tension?

Bear with me, I'm a 325 noob.

[deaconblues]

The c64 ships with 12 gauge Ric strings:

http://www.rickenbacker.com/cart.asp?vi ... ry=Strings

...which I quickly switched to D'Addario .012 Chromes on mine because I didn't like the feel of the RIC strings. You can go to .011s if you want, but thinner gauges are going to feel like rubber bands because there is actually less tension on a short-scale guitar.

Pyramids used to be recommended by many, but people have turned against them in recent years because they are very high tension and could potentially damage the instrument. RIC doesn't cover warranty repairs caused by non-OEM strings.

Hope that helps somewhat.

[JakeK]

Tomastik-Infeld .012 or .013 gauge strings are usually the best if you want to go the flatwound route. They have pretty low tension and (at one point) were considered closest to vintage Pyramids before Pyramid came up with a new round-core formula for their strings. The new Pyramids are available exclusively from Don Butler (The Tone Man)'s website.

If you want to go the roundwound route, try Curt Mangan roundwounds in .012 or .013 gauge. Or you can just simply use D'Addario nickel wounds. Whatever floats your boat.

Here's some links to all of the strings:
http://www.pickofthericks.com/products/ ... 52d54.html
http://www.pickofthericks.com/products/ ... 2d112.html
http://tone-man.com/pyramid.htm

[bd0104]

Thanks for the helpful info.

Based on all of the strings suggested, what would you think will give the greatest ease of bending a full step up in the 3rd-5th fret area? I'm thinking if I have difficulty with the Ric 12's, how much relief would another brand of 12's give??

[kennyhowes]

Thanks for the helpful info.

Based on all of the strings suggested, what would you think will give the greatest ease of bending a full step up in the 3rd-5th fret area? I'm thinking if I have difficulty with the Ric 12's, how much relief would another brand of 12's give??

Should be better with TI's than others. A fine product and the closest thing to O.G. Ric strings that I've seen.