Streching New Stings

That1Guy · Little Guppy Joined: 27 Nov 2003 Posts: 34

I just bought some elixirs. Oh yeah. I've noticed that they dont bend that much right now. I was wondering if there was anyway to strech brand new stings. Any suggestions.

Help would be apreciated. Thanks

Yoda · Posted: Tue Jan 27, 2004 7:02 pm Post subject:

I use a very special hand operated string stretcher. It's pretty pricey though. Prolly over your budget. It's called a LP. They can be found in better music stores everywhere. When the strings have been stretched to an appropriate tension you simply plug a tuner into this special little hole and the PAFs tell the tuner how stretched the strings are.

That1Guy · Little Guppy Joined: 27 Nov 2003 Posts: 34

Could you maybe give me a link, pic, price, or a way to rig somethin. Anything. I thought about shovin some socks in there or sometin. I'm not sure.

Thanks for your help.

Geoff · Kitten Joined: 14 Sep 2003 Posts: 149

Cool, lets see that link Yoda!

Sindlei · Cobra Joined: 03 Jan 2004 Posts: 468 Location: New York

playing with stiff strings will strengthen your fingers, and eventually you'll be able to bend fine. as for me there's little i can do right now..since my thumb somehow got *Golly Gee* up, yesterday i couldn't move it right, and today it hurts, all the while my guitar playing is suffering greatly, double picking and alternate picking are not an option.

Yoda · Posted: Wed Jan 28, 2004 12:27 pm Post subject:

That1Guy,

I was just pooping you. I was describing a Gibson Les Paul. I thought maybe somebody would catch it and laugh at it thus giving the joke away. Sorry, I guess it either wasn't that funny or else it went over everyone's head. (possible exception, Geoff)

I will now take your question more seriously, but first you need to answer a couple of mine.

Are these Elixers for acoustic or electric?

Are you using them on the right kind of guitar? (acoustic/electric)

What gauge are they?

You say they are difficult to bend. Compared to what?

Did someone tell you stretching them will make a difference?

Sindlei · Cobra Joined: 03 Jan 2004 Posts: 468 Location: New York

i got it yoda, but didn't want to comment.

Geoff · Kitten Joined: 14 Sep 2003 Posts: 149

You're a clever guy Yoda. I like being the exception...my counsellor says I'm an exceptional case.

Postwar_Breakout · Posted: Fri Jan 30, 2004 9:27 pm Post subject: Re: Streching New Stings

Geoff · Kitten Joined: 14 Sep 2003 Posts: 149

The tension of the strings is determined by the thickness or gauge of the strings, stretching them won't make a difference. Provide more info, and the good people that peruse these forums will provide more useful advice.

Sindlei · Cobra Joined: 03 Jan 2004 Posts: 468 Location: New York

an example of getting used to bending strings of varying guages: for quite a while i was playing with 10-52 and 9-52, why? so i could shred on the high strings and play nice heavy chunky rhythm on low strings...but this meant 11 bucks everytime i broke a string and had to replace the set, and 6 strings that were useless to me. so i switched back to just a regular set of 10-46, and for a week or so i was bending the low strings quite far, so it gave quite a wide vibrato, i prefer a slightly smaller vibrato, although i still play it wide, just not wide as in 3 tones, but after that week i just fell into not bending them as far, just because i got used to the thickness of the strings again, so all it takes is practice, if you can't bend the strings, especially the lower strings, then perhaps you just need alot of practice to strengthen your fingers.

Geoff · Kitten Joined: 14 Sep 2003 Posts: 149

Ya, I think what Sindlei was trying to say there is that string and string gauges are particular to the player and the playing style, so try out different sets and see for yourself.

Sindlei · Cobra Joined: 03 Jan 2004 Posts: 468 Location: New York

omg you know me so well

ccwilde · Fierce Puppy Joined: 12 Nov 2003 Posts: 242

Whats the best gauge of string for rock... I have 9's on my jackson soloist, and tens on my les paul. I don't know if i should put 10s on my jackson tell me your opinion guyz

Sindlei · Cobra Joined: 03 Jan 2004 Posts: 468 Location: New York

best guage for any style is the best guage for you, like 10s? use 10s, like 9s? use 9s, like both? use both.