Sustainer string gauge (EOB Stratocaster)

For guitars of the straight waisted variety (or reverse offset).
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Arthon
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Sustainer string gauge (EOB Stratocaster)

Post by Arthon » Fri Jul 17, 2020 5:47 am

Hi folks,

I bought last week a EOB Stratocaster. Really nice Strat, great neck, cool sustainer, sound sometimes generic but great with effects...

Things is, they come with 9's. To thin for my liking. I normally play with 10-52 in my Fenders, but I can go bigger (I have a JM with 12-54). I read that sustainer system takes better bigger strings. Sometimes, the lower strings can overpower the small one and it can be hard to makes the E/B strings sustain... So I fear that if I put 10-52, the lower strings will overpower more the small one since it's not a balanced set.

Should I go with 10-46 or 10.5-48? Or it doesnt matter and I can go with my standard 10-52 set? Somebody have experience with the Sustainer?
The Blues Cartographer
(sorry for the spelling, I speak french)

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Steadyriot.
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Re: Sustainer string gauge (EOB Stratocaster)

Post by Steadyriot. » Fri Jul 17, 2020 2:49 pm

Go 10-52. Only way to find out if it'll work the way you want it to.
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Gordon
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Re: Sustainer string gauge (EOB Stratocaster)

Post by Gordon » Fri Jul 17, 2020 9:19 pm

Arthon wrote:
Fri Jul 17, 2020 5:47 am
Hi folks,

I bought last week a EOB Stratocaster. Really nice Strat, great neck, cool sustainer, sound sometimes generic but great with effects...

Things is, they come with 9's. To thin for my liking. I normally play with 10-52 in my Fenders, but I can go bigger (I have a JM with 12-54). I read that sustainer system takes better bigger strings. Sometimes, the lower strings can overpower the small one and it can be hard to makes the E/B strings sustain... So I fear that if I put 10-52, the lower strings will overpower more the small one since it's not a balanced set.

Should I go with 10-46 or 10.5-48? Or it doesnt matter and I can go with my standard 10-52 set? Somebody have experience with the Sustainer?
If you can go bigger, why not trying a 11-52 set? Its more balanced, you get your regular lower string(s). Your regular set is also a good starting point, but both are that: starting points. Experience will finetune your favorite set on that guitar. :ph34r:
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Arthon
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Re: Sustainer string gauge (EOB Stratocaster)

Post by Arthon » Sat Jul 18, 2020 4:49 am

It's just costly to change gauge, each time, you have to adjust the guitar.

11-52 is not to heavy for Strats? I feel Strat like lighter gauge. Alot of people likes 9's on Strats. Definitely to thin for me, but maybe I should begin with one step bigger and test 10-46.
The Blues Cartographer
(sorry for the spelling, I speak french)

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Re: Sustainer string gauge (EOB Stratocaster)

Post by sookwinder » Sat Jul 18, 2020 5:48 am

As someone who has 7 strats, 10-46 appear to be the best compromise between how many springs (3) you need to set the trem up and the type of springs used in modern Strat trem units. Once you start going past 3 springs the forces involved just seem to make the trem unit not as responsive as one may require.
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Arthon
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Re: Sustainer string gauge (EOB Stratocaster)

Post by Arthon » Sun Jul 19, 2020 4:58 am

sookwinder wrote:
Sat Jul 18, 2020 5:48 am
As someone who has 7 strats, 10-46 appear to be the best compromise between how many springs (3) you need to set the trem up and the type of springs used in modern Strat trem units. Once you start going past 3 springs the forces involved just seem to make the trem unit not as responsive as one may require.
Thanks for the info! So 10-46 will be for start
The Blues Cartographer
(sorry for the spelling, I speak french)

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