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Who plays with a wound "G" string?
Posted: Sat Jan 10, 2009 6:52 am
by Armchair Bronco
On Monday, I took in my CP Jag Special HH for its inagural setup. I asked my tech to put on some 11's with a wound "G" string. I've always wanted to try this but never got around to it.
The strings I picked (some Dean Markley 11-52's) include both wound and unwound "G" strings, so if I don't like it, I can switch to a conventional "G" string.
But I'm a chunky rhythm player, so I think I'm gonna like it.
Posted: Sat Jan 10, 2009 6:57 am
by Haze
did this on my duo w/ 12s
i don't notice as much, only thing i see is it has cut my sustain a tad, but that is probably just in my case
Posted: Sat Jan 10, 2009 7:13 am
by Bacchus
I don't like them. I spend a lit of time bluesing, and usually will be flying up and down that string so I like it to be slinkyish.
Posted: Sat Jan 10, 2009 7:16 am
by Will
I
only use wound Gs.
- stay in tune better
- better intonation (especially in first position)
- break fewer strings
- less string flex = sounding more in tune when played aggressively
- more consistent tone from string to string
- less fret wear
I COULD GO ON. Next you can try Flatwounds (D'Addario Chromes

) - I'll never play anything else.
Posted: Sat Jan 10, 2009 7:57 am
by light rail coyote
I like to be able to play lead and bend so no Do not want. I'e tried them though. I tried flatwounds too, and while they felt cool, they sounded shit, and I couldn't bend with them
Posted: Sat Jan 10, 2009 8:45 am
by Armchair Bronco
This *is* ShortScale.org, so I'm assuming that most folks who post here play a short-scale guitar.
But on a short-scale, even chunky strings are still pretty slinky and therefore easy (or at least easier) to bend.
Posted: Sat Jan 10, 2009 8:47 am
by Will
I can still bend like a whole step on a wound G, especially when I'm wound up as fuck live. Ya'll just have little pussy fingers.
Posted: Sat Jan 10, 2009 8:48 am
by Bacchus
I play with elevens on more less everything. It's not a matter or finger strength (my hands are in good shape, I've been playing the piano since I was five, like), it's a matter of the slippy feekl of the string for me.
Posted: Sat Jan 10, 2009 8:52 am
by Will
BacchusPaul wrote:I play with elevens on more less everything. It's not a matter or finger strength (my hands are in good shape, I've been playing the piano since I was five, like), it's a matter of the slippy feekl of the string for me.
Slippy-slide wise is why I go for the flatwounds - I hate finger noise more then Mike hates most things.
I like my strings to have a little fight in them cause it makes bends sound epic.
Posted: Sat Jan 10, 2009 8:59 am
by Bacchus
I like my guitars to have fight because, I don't know, I sort of just do sometimes. It depends on the guitar. My jag-stang is super low action and plays like a dream, my Squier '51 is high action and has twelves or something on it.
I've never tried flatwounds. I keep meaning to.
Posted: Sat Jan 10, 2009 11:29 am
by othomas2
G Strings yeah...
I moved from 11-52 (wound G)... extremely warm sounding strings... almost to the extent they're dead on a Jag... I was really surprised at the difference when I moved to slinky 10s, seems to show more of the jags true character IMO... brighter and more chimey.. with the humbucker I'm sure it'll be different again.
I do continue to use the Dean Markleys on my jazzmaster though, that seems like a nice mix with the longer neck etc...
I think I prefer unwound generally though...
Posted: Sat Jan 10, 2009 11:29 am
by othomas2
oops... double post....
LOVE G STRINGS !!
Posted: Sat Jan 10, 2009 11:36 am
by kim
i just noticed i have a wound g and b string on my hondo (?)
Posted: Sat Jan 10, 2009 11:38 am
by kim
i want sets with a wound (high) E now
Posted: Sat Jan 10, 2009 1:26 pm
by william
on guitars with preset or uncompensated saddles, a wound g is usually preferable, particularly if the guitar is vintage. i run a wound g in an 11 set on my melody maker and it is pretty much perfectly intonated. used to be that the g string would go progessively sharper on fretted notes up the neck.
i dont bend really, so that part doesnt bother me. i do miss the feel of my familiar 10's sometimes.
Posted: Sat Jan 10, 2009 2:27 pm
by More Cowbell
If you can't bend a wound G when tuned "G" then you are a pussy and should stop playing guitar.
Posted: Sat Jan 10, 2009 2:40 pm
by william
Posted: Sat Jan 10, 2009 2:42 pm
by kim
gripmaster = gay
just play bass in standard tuning with 110's for a while and you'll have enough power in your hands for anything lol
Posted: Sat Jan 10, 2009 2:54 pm
by Reece
More Cowbell wrote:If you can't bend a wound G when tuned "G" then you are a pussy and should stop playing guitar.
This.
I prefer wound.
Posted: Sat Jan 10, 2009 3:15 pm
by Josh
you have to adjust your bridge for the g string though