Optimum Gauge Strings? Anyone tried these?

[NPauly]

Excerpt from website ...

ZOG Guitar Strings Website
http://www.zacharyguitars.com/Strings.htm


Your strings are all wrong!
...
Would you agree with me that every string on your guitar should have equal tension? In other words, each string should have exactly the same tension when tuned to pitch. Would you agree with me on that?
...
I researched this string gauge problem for several years. I was very blatant and I noticed it right away after building my first guitar. After installing a regular set I purchased at a music store, I was horrified to find the lower strings, especially the lowest string, to have the least amount of tension and the thinnest string having the most tension. Horrible! Having a top that has more tension and a bottom with not enough tension is totally the opposite of how it should be according to the rules of physics and also for proper tone and feel.
...
Rock stars knew that something was wrong with standard sets but they did not systematically understand why and they did not look at each string and evaluate its tension in relation to the other strings. They simply slapped on some thicker strings on the bass side. They also did not take into consideration the linear increase whenever possible in the string tension from high to low. They just added some heavier gauges to the bottom and called it a "Signature Set" with their name on it.
...
The standard commercially available sets, which you are currently playing, don't even follow any logic. As you will see, the tension of the strings don't even correspond to any system.
...

There is much more on his site. It's pretty verbose though, so you've been warned.

Anyway, has anyone tried these strings? And if so, what was your experience?

Thanks,
~Nick

[Cranium]

How do you order those, I want them really bad. :DR

[NPauly]

How do you order those, I want them really bad. :DR

I just used the string tension info available on the D'Addario website and put together my own "optimum" guage set using string singles of my favorite brands.

I have found that JustStrings.com has a huge selection of string singles from dozens of different brands and in any guage imaginable.

http://www.juststrings.com/guitarsinglestrings.html

Here are the "Optimum Gauge" string sets that I put together ...

** 9s
(standard)
.009 - 13.1 lbs
.011 - 11.0 lbs
.016 - 14.7 lbs
.024 - 15.8 lbs
.032 - 15.8 lbs
.042 - 14.8 lbs

(optimum)
.009 - 13.1 lbs
.013 - 15.4 lbs
.017 - 16.6 lbs
.026 - 18.4 lbs
.036 - 19.5 lbs
.049 - 19.7 lbs

** 10s
(standard)
.010 - 16.2 lbs
.013 - 15.4 lbs
.017 - 16.6 lbs
.026 - 18.4 lbs
.036 - 19.5 lbs
.046 - 17.5 lbs

(optimum)
.010 - 16.2 lbs
.0135 - 16.6 lbs
.017 - 16.6 lbs
.026 - 18.4 lbs
.036 - 19.5 lbs
.049 - 19.7 lbs

** 10+
(standard)
.0105 - 17.9 lbs
.0135 - 16.6 lbs
.018 - 18.6 lbs
.028 - 21.3 lbs
.038 - 21.6 lbs
.048 - 18.9 lbs

(optimum)
.0105 - 17.9 lbs
.014 - 17.8 lbs
.018 - 18.6 lbs
.028 - 21.3 lbs
.038 - 21.6 lbs
.052 - 22.0 lbs

** 11s
(standard)
.011 - 19.6 lbs
.014 - 17.8 lbs
.018 - 18.6 lbs
.028 - 21.3 lbs
.038 - 21.6 lbs
.049 - 19.7 lbs

(optimum)
.011 - 19.6 lbs
.016 - 23.3 lbs
.022 - 23.8 lbs
.030 - 25.0 lbs
.042 - 26.3 lbs
.056 - 26.3 lbs

** 12s
(standard)
.012 - 23.3 lbs
.016 - 23.3 lbs
.020 - 22.9 lbs
.032 - 28.1 lbs
.042 - 26.3 lbs
.054 - 24.6 lbs

(optimum)
.012 - 23.3 lbs
.016 - 23.3 lbs
.022 - 23.8 lbs
.030 - 25.0 lbs
.042 - 26.3 lbs
.056 - 26.3 lbs

Give 'em a try and let me know what you think ...
~Nick

[ibanez_freak36]

Well I guess I just don't get it, aren't strings just strings and that alone?? Even if the right tension is on all of them eventually they will break or get worn out. Strings should be changed every 24hrs of playing or so, so I just dont get the need for specially optimized sets, if they are all in tune and your going to change them anyway why the need , am I missing something...................the freak:DR

[marnold]

Seems like hooey to me. The site kind of looks like he's advertising for Llap Goch (http://www.llapgoch.org.uk/) or using the My First Website kit. Some of his guitars look kinda cool though.

I don't really see how equal tension (especially since his aren't equal either, close maybe, but not equal) makes that big of a deal. As a matter of fact, I specifically went for a heavy top, light bottom set so that power chords sound more, well, powerful but the higher strings are lighter and easier to bend.

[NPauly]

Well I guess I just don't get it, aren't strings just strings and that alone?? Even if the right tension is on all of them eventually they will break or get worn out. Strings should be changed every 24hrs of playing or so, so I just dont get the need for specially optimized sets, if they are all in tune and your going to change them anyway why the need , am I missing something


I don't really see how equal tension (especially since his aren't equal either, close maybe, but not equal) makes that big of a deal. As a matter of fact, I specifically went for a heavy top, light bottom set so that power chords sound more, well, powerful but the higher strings are lighter and easier to bend.

I'm still just experimenting with "optimum" gauge strings, but I can already feel and hear the advantages to the "optimum" 10s set that I listed above. I haven't tried any of the other sets yet, but I might bump things up to the 10+ set soon since I'ms till not getting the sound and feel that I want out of the high E string.

Basically "optimum" gauge strings give the strings a more balanced feel across the fretboard and some people claim that they sound more balanced from string to string. I do however want to stress that the strings are not all the same tension, they are just more evenly graduated from the lightest to heaviest strings.

I really do suggest that people buy a set of singles as per the guages that I outlined in a previous post instead of buying from the Zachery Guitars. Based on his website I've started to think that the guy may have a screw loose, but I do think he is onto something when it comes to better string guages.

Just my 2 cents ... :)

[tot_Ou_tard]

** 9s
(standard)
.009 - 13.1 lbs
.011 - 11.0 lbs
.016 - 14.7 lbs
.024 - 15.8 lbs
.032 - 15.8 lbs
.042 - 14.8 lbs



** 10s
(standard)
.010 - 16.2 lbs
.013 - 15.4 lbs
.017 - 16.6 lbs
.026 - 18.4 lbs
.036 - 19.5 lbs
.046 - 17.5 lbs



** 10+
(standard)
.0105 - 17.9 lbs
.0135 - 16.6 lbs
.018 - 18.6 lbs
.028 - 21.3 lbs
.038 - 21.6 lbs
.048 - 18.9 lbs



** 11s
(standard)
.011 - 19.6 lbs
.014 - 17.8 lbs
.018 - 18.6 lbs
.028 - 21.3 lbs
.038 - 21.6 lbs
.049 - 19.7 lbs


Those standards in the .009-.011 range have a drop in tension on the b-string.
Sounds reasonable t'me for b-bending delight.

As far as the drop on the low E. I dunno, but I kinda like it slack.

The odd thing about that guy's site is all the manic mental verbiage that tries to obscure the fact that all he is selling is is a list of string gauges. He won't tell you what these are. As NPauly shows, it is easy to do this oneself if you are so inclined.