guitar strings

[old-wos-is-name]

Does anyone know if the Fender strings give the Fender tone, or will any string on a Fender guitar sound like the Shadows Fender sound? I have some GHS boomers, (which are a bit thicker than the Fender strings on a guitar that I just bought) , I don't want to kill the lovely tone.

[patchett]

It mainly falls down to the type of guitar you are using, the pickups and the amp you use, you can't expect to sound like the shadows with a Flying V, and a high gain marshall amp. If you have a strat then you're heading in the right direction. Having used GHS Boomers before I think you'd be fine, there are more crucial things to think about in your setup than your strings.

[owdhamer]

Naz is your man.

[slinky.kate]

Make sure to get the correct gauge of strings, for example lower tuning get lower gauge (I Think). Go for 11's which are good for standard tuning (Again I think it's 11's). If you are an amateur, I wouldn't worry about the kind of strings and experiment a bit, you may prefer some strings and after a while you will find yourself looking for a certain type.

If in doubt best to ask in a guitar store. They all seem really good and I've never been in a shop which has tried to con you.

[ludwig]

The make of string doesn't matter. The sound is all about the gauge of string, the guitar (or more accurately the pickups), and the amp.

[henrythewasp]

The thicker the strings the better,start with a guage you can bend easily at fifth fret and then work up to a thicker guage as yer fingers get stronger,also invest in an analogue delay pedal to give that vintage sound.

[old-wos-is-name]

thanks gents,
I am going to fit the boomers and see what the result is, and I am going to order a couple of sets of fender strings from Ebay.

[Richard1966]

I have had a couple of Strats and a Tele for years. In that time I have used all makes of strings, from incredibly cheap to big brand strings. The gauge makes a difference to tone, but the make doesn't. It will effect how they feel and how long they last, but not tone. Now a start played through a fender twin with a touch of reverb, is a gorgeous combination.

[whatmeworry]

i've been playing for 35 years, strings do make a difference to sound, guage and maker, but fender strings wont give a fender sound.
To get a shadows sound you'll need a vintage strat and a vintage amp and Hank marvins touch.

generally light strings give a light sound and heavy strings....

Go for a set thats 10 to 52 or 9 - 46.
most electric players using heavier than that Stevie Ray Vaughn for instance had top E of 13 but also tuned down a half step to Eb, thats part of what got him his sound.

also depending on what kind of trem (if you have one) will also affect tone .
A heavier set will need trem adjustments to take account of the extra tension to get the strings to pitch

Jazzers tend to go for very heavy strings because generally they dont do the sort of bending other style use and they get a nice deep stron mellow tone from them.

In my opinion the best strings around at the moment are Elixir, expensive but keep thier tone for ages