Ed's strings back in '78

[JohnnyGtar]

I've read that Ed used Fender strings gauged 9-40 back in the 70's.
Were those strings pure nickel wrap or nickel plated steel wrap?

[Tone Slinger]

Fender XL150's 9-40 (besides the 40 low E, the G is a 15 instead of a 16 which is unique and cool to this set as compared to other 9 guage sets). They say 'pure nickel' but I dont think that the three unwound strings are, as well as the core of the wound ones......thats probably steel.

[plexified]

Its a good question ,
I believe he had come from days where guys were putting together their own sets . like Clapton using banjo strings to get a certain set up. I would say fender xl , which are burnished nickel . Or meaning the wound strings are either solid steel of round core or hex core with a nickel wrap that was slightly rolled or burnished. The unwound strings were standard steel. He did for some time in the mid seventies use a heavy bottom light top set . I would have to check my notes to give you the exact gauges. But figure a morphing of a 46 burnished nickel wound E to a light .008 high E. This would be White and Black days. Very dropped pickup on the low E while the high E side was high. He bought individual strings which were packaged with an 8 inch circular packaging , meaning less influence than a tight four inch pack like modern strings. I guess a bulk pack is more appropriate description. He boiled them in water to loosen them up or pre stretch so they did not loose tune so much like we mortals work with while using a 'new' set. I'll dig up the spec , it was kinda cool. Told me his amp was kinda bright needing that big E . Most guys fight the bass on a Marshall to keep it tight without the flub and a smaller gauge does that . So you opened a can of worms or silly strings man .

[fivecoyote]

Told me his amp was kinda bright needing that big E.

He told you that man? Find those notes!!!!

Edit: Magic word = please!

[guitar007]

I tried the "boil your strings" method when that article first came out. 'Fantastic if you need rusty strings...