Metropoulos Forum

I was curious what you guys have found.

With my strat, I started out on 11's, and for me, that tone was to die for. Tight, focused, and loud. At the time I was really into SRV, and that paired with my Bassmaster tubed with 6ca7's into a pair of Vintage 30 was some killer tone.

As my tastes shifted and I got really into Jimi (read obsessive fanboy), I read that he used Fender 150's gauged 10-38. Being the warped fanboy that I am, I ordered a couple sets and tried em out. At first I really disliked em, but once my heavy handedness started to diminish, I discovered that I really liked the elasticity that they imparted on my tone, and they seemed way more sensitive to picking dynamics. They have more sparkle. Since then, they're the only gauge I use on that guitar. However, they are way too floppy on a Les Paul, for me anyways. They don't give enough bounce on the low E, just sounds squishy, which is cool for some gainy fun, but I like big ringing tone.

I want to go for the Peter Green thing with my Les Paul. My question is this:

What gauge did Pete use (sounds like 12's to me)? My biggest concern is that the switch to a heavier string will impart a darker tone through my neck pickup, which I really don't want. Not darker in a muffled sense, but darker in the sense that the pickup will be pushing more signal to the front of the amp, providing too much drive. To me, 10's don't sound like Pete, nor do 9's, they lack the tightness.


Any thoughts? What're you cats using? Is my heavy string thru neck bucker theory hogwash?

Travis

There is a thread on this site on how Green's pickup heights are a crucial ingredient in his tone. Apparently, his pickups were a lot higher than most set their guitars up, and that allowed thinner strings for the same effect that you're looking for.

Interesting, I'll try to mess a bit more with the pickup heights. One of the things that I've noticed is that for that quintisessential Peter Green middle sound, the pickups need to be set in relation to one another. It's kinda like compensating your tuning. You gotta work towards the best compromise between all three positions.

I'll try raising both up and then working at getting that middle tone again.

I was watching on youtube, there's a couple of angles that kinda show how the bridge and tail are set, I'm gonna look at that too. High-ish action?

Travis

I think you should try out a set of "Heavy Bottom Skinny Top" from Ernie Ball.
Failing that a 10 - 52 gauge from you're favourite brand.

I'm an Elixir man myself.