Wow, that is different. I went and bought a few new sets of strings two days ago. Since I get my strings pretty cheap I figured if I don't like them I can always go back to the original set up and make due with what I have. One set was the set of 13-56 - the gauge Stevie used. The second set was a set of GHS Boomers that are 11-50 gauge. The night before last I re-strung the beast with the 13-56 just to see what it was like. Big MISTAKE, it really was difficult - major change. I think had I strung it with 11-50's played for a month or so then went to the 12-54s (I believe its the next size up) then played another month or two it would have been so bad making the transition to the 13-56's. I lasted maybe an hour after stringing it up and just couldn't do it anymore. It was more than I felt I could get use to.
So last night once again I cut off the old and re-strung with the new GHS Boomers which are 11-50's. They are a big difference in my opinion from the flimsy 10-46's the tone is a really difference than from before. My guitar now has a real warm bluesy tone which is what I was after from the start. In my opinion they have almost an identical tone to the 13's with a lot less stress on my hands. The 11's still put a big hurt on my fingers if I set and try to play a lot all at one time but since yesterday I am slowly getting use to them and love the new tone. Best of all they still fit in with my style of music blues, country and some rock.
I highly recommend them to anyone who wishes to change up there tone for a fair reasonable expense. I paid 5.00 at retail for them which is cheaper than most stores. You can get them off of the Musicians Friend site of other site for like 4.99 I believe. So I paid a penny more, not a big deal.
Now I am extremely close to an SRV tone. Although I can tell the next step will be to change the existing pickups to the legandary Fender Texas Specials.
Thanks allthumbs, for the picture of the swimming pool.
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