Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Hi,
I have fitted a set of (7k4) scatter wound toasters to my 1994 330-6.
I have a selection of strings but which would give a more authentic 60's sound?
Strings I have available : -
Rickenbacker compressed round wound set 10-13-17-26-34-42
E.Ball Hybrid Slinkys round wound set 9-11-16-26-36-46
GHS Precision Flat Wound set 9-11-16-24-32-42
D'Addario EXL120 round wound set 9-11-16-24-32-42

Thanks
TRM

D'Addario EXL120 round wound set 9-11-16-24-32-42 - are excellent strings and the string gauges help easy bending, great intonation and low action (lower tension on the neck too). I prefer these strings myself on all my guitars - Fender scale lenghts as well as Gibson/Ric. That said authentic 60's sound maybe get the final touch with flatwounds. But still I would personally prefer the D'Addario due to the fact that the sound of the 60's is much more than just the string type: Amp, technique, chord structures, and feeling (=the way you think it should sound). Flatwound string are after all the smallest part of it.

IMHO, from your choices I would use the Ric strings or the GHS flatwounds.

GHS also makes a set of .10 and .11 strings.

You may find the thinner strings just a little too floppy. on the .09 set.

If truth be told, the majority of the sound comes from the wound 1-4 strings, and pretty much any decent plain string will do for the top 2. Too many folks insist on the wound third string being a key to their sound to ignore.

Try those options. They are really cheap.

Then try a set of Thomastic-Infled flat wound which really bring back the 60's sound, if that's what your're looking for.

Kind of silly to spend a ~week's pay on toasters and then ignore an ~extra hour's worth of labor to buy the better strings.

I have Extra Light gauge D'Addario Chromes on my '67 330, which of course has toasters on it. Sounds like a Rick should.