@gianriccardo pera wrote:

Hi everyone, I’m Italian my name is Riccardo. I have a MiM standard telecaster. The neck pickup of this guitar is a little “too much” brilliant for my taste, I as love blues. And the string I use are normally 10-46, although I like 11, but they’re too thick for me. So the question is: which are the 10-46 most indicated for blues?
Thank you!

HI Riccardo

Welcome to the forum, we are glad to have you.

I’ve tried a lot of strings over the years and for blues I suggest that try various brands of strings that pure nickel instead of nickel wrapped. Pure nickel strings are great for single coil or humbuckers and give you a great vintage tone.
Personally, I like DR Pure Blues. These are different from other pure nickel strings by being made with a round core instead of a hex shaped core. The round core makes them easier to bend than those made with a hex core so you might be able to use 11s
Pyramid Nickel Classics also are made with a round core instead of a hex core

Look also at
Ernie Ball 2251 Pure Nickel
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/accessories/ernie-ball-2251-pure-nickel-slinky-electric-guitar-strings

GHS Burnished Nickel Rockers
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/accessories/ghs-light-burnished-nickel-guitar-
strings?rNtt=ghs burnished nickel &index=1

GHS Nickel Rockers
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/accessories/ghs-rrl-nickel-rockers-roundwound-light-electric-guitar-strings?pfm=sp

Pyramid Nickel Classics
https://www.stringsbymail.com/electric-guitar-strings-8/pyramid-electric-guitar-strings-1043/pure-nickel-classics-2568/?zenid=85ujmaejnfi7felkefba1734p2

Dean Markley Helix Pure Nickel
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/accessories/dean-markley-helix-pure-nickel-regular-electric-guitar-strings-10-46?rNtt=dean markley helix nickel &index=2

Fender Pure Nickel Bullets
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/accessories/fender-3150r-original-bullets-pure-nickel-wound-electric-guitar-strings–regular?rNtt=fender pure nickel bullets &index=1

Gibson Pure Nickel
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/accessories/gibson-vr10-vintage-reissue-pure-nickel-electric-guitar-strings–light?rNtt=gibson pure nickel &index=1

Ditto on the DR Blues,

I use the DR Blues 11’s have then both on a les paul and a strat neck.

easy to bend and sound great.
Larry

Here’s a thought, and I’d like to hear some response. I’m not preaching here; I’d just like to know what people think (including Brian, if he’s reading this)

I’m not really a performer. I play a lot, and I play for lots of people, but really, the reason why I play is the way it makes me feel when I play. I’m happiest if somebody else digs it, but that isn’t really the point. I think serious performers are probably a lot less selfish and introverted about this, but still. I play the music I love because I love it, not because I want to sell it to somebody.

So I choose strings that are easy for me to play. I’m not a young man. My hands are a little arthritic. And if I want to make a whole-tone bend, or a tone-and-a-half, I want to be able to do it without injuring myself. I play light strings. I play really light strings–nines, if I can’t find eights. I’ve got an amp and some effects, and if the strings don’t have a lot of ‘tone’, the amp does.

And I’m comforted by something I heard B B King say–“You’re playing heavy strings ’cause you’re looking for tone? You’re working too hard!” He said he plays sevens (which I’ve never been able to find).

@Jim McD wrote:

Here’s a thought, and I’d like to hear some response. I’m not preaching here; I’d just like to know what people think (including Brian, if he’s reading this)

I’m not really a performer. I play a lot, and I play for lots of people, but really, the reason why I play is the way it makes me feel when I play. I’m happiest if somebody else digs it, but that isn’t really the point. I think serious performers are probably a lot less selfish and introverted about this, but still. I play the music I love because I love it, not because I want to sell it to somebody.

So I choose strings that are easy for me to play. I’m not a young man. My hands are a little arthritic. And if I want to make a whole-tone bend, or a tone-and-a-half, I want to be able to do it without injuring myself. I play light strings. I play really light strings–nines, if I can’t find eights. I’ve got an amp and some effects, and if the strings don’t have a lot of ‘tone’, the amp does.

And I’m comforted by something I heard B B King say–“You’re playing heavy strings ’cause you’re looking for tone? You’re working too hard!” He said he plays sevens (which I’ve never been able to find).

Hey Jim

All valid points for sure. Compare BB’s thoughts to the fact that Stevie Ray had a custom set of either 13s or 14s for the high E string. It was very much a part of his tone and the fact that he used a high action. He usually tuned down a 1/2 step which helped some but still – a string set that starts with either a 13 or 14 on the high E string? Gotta have strong hands for either of those.

I use 11s because I tend to over bend if I’m using 10s and I won’t even consider 09s. The 3rd string is only .001 -.002 heavier so its not that much harder to bend but the added resistance helps keep my bends in tune. I use 11s and 12s on my acoustic so my hands are already used to that gauge

I recently put a set of GHS Nickel Rocker Big Core mediums on one of my semi-hollow guitars. The string gauges are 11.5 – 15 – 19 – 28 – 38 – 56 You can quickly tell that you have a grip on a little more that just a set of 11s but they added density of the core gives the pickups a few move waves to process. Jury is still out if I will continue with these or go back straight 11s

I’ve said this before but I used to have a Washburn J6 Montgomery archtop, which is a quality copy of the Gibson L5. I had been using D’Addario Chrome Flat 11s on it and it sounded good. Out of curiosity, I put a set of Chrome Flat 12s.
The difference was immediately noticeable and amazing. The added vibration of the 12s was able to vibrate that arched top more than the 11s. It was like a totally different guitar.

Almost all guitarists have their individual preferences. After years of trial & error, for my 1984 Fender Strat, I like Exilir Nanoweb Super Light .009-.042 and for my Martin D-40 and D-28 acoustics, I like Elixir Polyweb Extra Light .010-.047. I buy all of my guitar strings through Amazon.com. Can you do that from Italy?

I used to use Ernie Ball Purple Power slinkies.

Lately I been using D’addario NY/XL great strings havent broken one yet even wih 2 step bends, Great tone last a long time.

http://www.daddario.com/DADProductFamily.Page?ActiveID=3768&familyid=74&sid=eac73d28-d90f-4d60-8e54-992504dce11a

Ciao Riccardo….

I use DR 10’s on my semi-hollows, and Fender Nickel Bullets 10’s on strats….I am doing an experiment with Ernie Ball Cobalts on my Les Paul, also 10’s…..wow what a different feel, and a very crisp sound, certainly a Les Paul string for harder blues….

While you’re discussing strings, I love the feel of flatwounds, so that’s what I’m using. So far as the sound goes, I’m not sure, because I’m usually playing at home unamplified (or, rarely, through a small solid state practice amp). My Fender silverface and I have been separated, and it may be more than I can do to retrieve it.

My question is, does anyone know of a set of flatwound strings that comes with an unwound G?

I’ve been playing blues almost exclusively and bought the wrong guitar for it. I’m going to be getting a Tele one of these days but until then I’m playing a 2013 Guild hollow-body with a single pickup. I love the way this guitar plays, but the sound isn’t right for the music I’m playing. Thing is, I like the relatively heavier weight of the flats (heavier than most electrics but lighter than my acoustic 12-53, if I remember correctly). This Guild reminded me of the ’64 Starfire that I used to have–I forgot all the drawbacks when I bought this one.

Thanks for your time and effort.