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I just installed ernie ball beefy slinkies in my sg... the action is uneven(I think the nut was too small for the bottom strings), they feel stiff and ****ty, and I just generally don't feel right playing the guitar now. *runs to gc to pick up normal slinkies again* the added tone, and stability for fast riffing is NOT worth it IMO for the absolute ****e feel of thick strings.

Before going up in gauge, you've got to decide if you want to permanently change the nut, since you'll have to widen the slots. If you don't, you'll run into the problem of the strings not seating properly. Even if they do sit at the bottom of the nut, they may stick in the slots, causing tuning headaches. If you've ever wondered what that ping noise is, when you tune a string, it's the strings sticking. That means you need to widen the slots.

Well... I did widen the bottom string slot a bit- is it going to mess up when I change the strings back? If so.. I may have a problem.


Originally Posted by Death's AcreI just installed ernie ball beefy slinkies in my sg... the action is uneven(I think the nut was too small for the bottom strings), they feel stiff and ****ty, and I just generally don't feel right playing the guitar now. *runs to gc to pick up normal slinkies again* the added tone, and stability for fast riffing is NOT worth it IMO for the absolute ****e feel of thick strings.

Yeah, you better leave the heavy strings to the men in the room

Just pullin' yer leg. I like the beefy slinkies, but I tune them down a whole step. I actually like thicker strings better for fast stuff, more tension, quicker return.

haha- well for fast metal riffing it is nice, but I've grown so close to my normal slinkies over the years.. I should have never thought of changing. Plus, yea- normal tuning doesn't make it any better. Maybe I should detune the guitar until I replace the strings again!

just dont use that thick of strings

i tried the 12-56 on my les paul and it was intense!!!

Just to clarify.... are those Beefy Slinkies 11-52? Buddy, don't buy thick strings if you can't play them. Why would you just randomly move up from 10-46 anyway? You should've been expecting this kind of thing! But I did exactly what you did once and it caused problems lol.... Widening the nut slots won't create problems for lighter strings will it?

Well.. I randomly moved up because sometimes I do l like to downtune so I can play covers but the normal slinkies get too floppy. I bought these a long time ago and never bothered putting them on- until I broke my strings on some fast riffs the other day and didn't have other strings lying around. Problem is almost all my stuff is in normal tuning, so downtuning is fairly rare for me I guess. And yes, someone please answer- will widening the nut slot cause issues when I move back down? God I hope not, these aren't gonna stay on for long.

edit- btw, yes they are 11-52. That bottom string is massive. Absolutely massive.

bump.

I use two different sets of strings on my electrics. My Les Paul amp; Tele get a stainless steel version of Ernie Ball's Skinny Top Heavy Bottom (10-52). Everything else gets a stainless steel Hybrid Slinky (9-46). Just works for me.

i went from 9-42 straight to 11-49 and im loving it, next im going 11-52

I had been using 11-52s for a while, then they got pretty flimsy for me, i usually tune to Eb and do lots of bends and blues, so I tried some Ernie Ball 12-56, man those ****ers were massive, i didnt expect such a huge change, i could only handle them a few days, and today my fingers got sore after all the tearing, so back to my 11-50 DRs, now i can bend like no other once again. Ill try that 12 thing again in the future though, when i get a bit older. I really dont see how dudes can use anything less than an 11 set.

i use 11s normally, but i have 10-52 on my guitar that i keep in Db most of the time. i dont see how people can like the sound of really thick strings for downtuning. the 10-52 is just right i think. but if you have 13s or something, and your playing in Db, it just doesnt sound right. i mean it might just be me, cause it depends a lot on what you do when your downtuned, but really thick strings loses a lot of the sludgy qualities of downtuning that i like to have when playing stuff like sabbath. but in E, these days anything lower than 11s sounds a little thin to me


Originally Posted by JB_From_HellI like the beefy slinkies, but I tune them down a whole step. I actually like thicker strings better for fast stuff, more tension, quicker return.

I currently swear by beefy slinkies. I tune then b f# b e g# c# and there pretty good. I like them alot better for fast stuff then power slinkies and skinny top heavey bottoms.

I've been using 11-60's on my LP for a long time, I had to widen the nut. If I ever want to switch to lower, i'm screwed, but I've been looking for an excuse to get a Graph-tech nut anyways

try using the 12-70 Zakk Wylde GHS boomers, those are BIG! i have em on my strat (tuned down to B)

heh, you weaklings I use 11-52 in standard E and I have been thinking about getting those not even slinky strings for Eb. I hate a flabby E string! The only time I want to see spaghetti is on the dinner table!


Originally Posted by AcidBurnheh, you weaklings I use 11-52 in standard E and I have been thinking about getting those not even slinky strings for Eb. I hate a flabby E string! The only time I want to see spaghetti is on the dinner table!

I have my Schecter strung up with 11-52 cause that's the only way the body seems to resonate enough. I actually don't notice any dramatic difference between it strung with 9s and 11s in terms of how much strength I apply. I prefer 10s because I like slinky bends.

slade

currently i use 2 guitars with 11-49 tuned CGCFAD and one guitar 10-46 EADGBE, im going to stick with the 10-46 for standard tuning on one guitar, but with the dropped tuning CGCFAD 11-49 arent quite thick enough(almost) and i hate floppy strings, ive seen people who tune down using 9-42 and its absolutely rediculous and sounds crap so next im upping to 11-52.

Excuse my lack of knowledge! haha, But if you were going to upgrade string size how would you go about makig the slots in your nut a little bigger. I have been planning on going from GHS 10s to the beefy.


Originally Posted by AcidBurnheh, you weaklings I use 11-52 in standard E and I have been thinking about getting those not even slinky strings for Eb. I hate a flabby E string! The only time I want to see spaghetti is on the dinner table!

I just tried that, its a huge difference, good luck!