Posted: 5/14/2008 4:13:48 PM EDT
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I used to buy Dean Markley Signature Series medium... 11, 13, 18, 30, 42, 52, 60 but apparently they don't sell them any more on Musician's Friend. I'm on my last set right now but I'd like to at least get the same size, but MF don't have any of the same sizes anymore. What do you 7 stringer's use? FWIW, I would buy the same set for my six strings, minus the 60s. They still have those but I used to just buy 7 string sets for that and keep the extra low B strings. |
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Try Ernie Ball strings. I'm not a 7-string player, but I swear by the strings. 7-string Power Slinky Nickel Wound .011 - .058 Purple pack That's their heaviest gauge set for seven strings. There is another option, though more expensive, you could buy individual strings and make your own custom set. |
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I really can't say I'm that much of a 7 string player... 90% of what I play is on the six string part of it because it's the only guitar that I keep in standard tuning. I actually thought about just buying the six string sets and a bunch of individual .60 strings... but no more than I play anymore I might just pick up the set that you linked. Those are five bucks a pack on MF, so that will probably be what I buy. Then again, my hands aren't as strong as they used to be so I might drop down to 10's. I did find an extra set after I posted this thread, so I'm probably good for another year 
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Been fixing and setting up electric instruments for over 20 years. I still get guitars and basses in the mail from some of my more "serious" clients. I dont really advertise, or do this stuff professionally anymore(weekend work only), but I guess when you find a tech you like, you're prone to stick with em! I have always felt that the gauges of strings in ALL the available 7 string sets were WAY off what they should be (as in TOO light). I've been building custom sets for some of my more discerning clients that play/abuse 7 strings, and some of these players typically downtune them as well. For these players, after many months of experimentation, I developed a great gauged 7 string setup. It is a 6 string set of Zakk Wylde Boomers LOW (11, 14, 18, 36, 52, 70) and just add a wound 26 to the set. Fairly tight feel without any "BOING" on the B string. Makes your 7 play with string tension like a 6 tuned standard, even when tuned low (think down to C or low A) For those clients I had with 7 strings that didnt downtune, I'd use Zakk's other Boomer set (10,13, 17, 36, 52, 60) and again add a wound 26 to this set. Awesome feel, and the right tension for playability, without ANY of the rubber band feel to the action of the guitar. Took me just about a year of research to really get the right combo of gauges to facilitate a low action with proper tension, so it wouldnt have that 'mushy' feel. I developed these sets using my own Fernandes Revolver Pro 7 and a clients Ibanez Jem, and after all the string changing, these two setups were the best feeling in my book. And according to my clients they agree as well. They intonate well and take abuse too. I settled on GHS Boomers not because they were a favorite brand, but moreso for the fact that they made strings in the RIGHT gauges!! There are now other brands that make heavier strings, but I havent tried them, because I wont change what aint broke. This is my standard string sets on ALL 7 strings I work on. And I get nothing but compliments on playability and feel. Hope that helps man. 
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