String Guage for Hollowbody

  • Thread starter Thread starter blipndub
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blipndub

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So I just got this Hamer Echotone. Sounds real nice, feels great. It's got crappy strings on it that I need to replace.

I use Fender 11's on my telecaster and like them well enough, but I bet the strings have too high tension for the Hamer. Does anyone know what guages are best for neck-through hollowbodies?

I'ld like to put some DR nickle 10's on it.
 
I've got flatwound 11s on my Ibanez 335 copy, and they dont seem to hurt it. You might have to adjust the action a little, but I don't think you'll damage it.


Seeing as its got a solid center block, I would think you could put just about anything on there. I've got a friend that runs 13s on his Epiphone Joe Pass, and it's fully hollow.
 
I don't own any Hamer guitars, but the ones I've played were all well made, good quality instruments.

I believe the Echotone is a 335 style guitar, so I agree with LT - if it has a solid center block, you should be fine with 11s or 12s or 13s.

Have fun.

foo
 
Oh, one other thing that should be mentioned:

I've heard that some companies use different core sizes for the same gauge strings. This results in different tension levels.

For the record, the D'Addarrio flats that I'm currently using are pretty low tension, I can't comment on the Fenders.
 
Ding, Ding, Ding!!!

My experience exactly Lame Thrower. For some messed up reason, Elixirs are tight as hell. I like the strings but a serious guitar setup is required afterwords since it turns the neck into a moon shape and pulls a tremolo way up. I've encountered, and am still dealing with making the transition on my 335 copy and my Strat. Pain in the ass, but I figure it will be better in the long run.
 
Helpful replies all, thanks.

The Hamer is a 335 copy, to the tee.

The tension thing is really the issue. I too tried some elixers and almost immediately replaced them on my tele, I hated that feeling!

I think the DR 10's will probably work just fine. Although I'm a little curious about trying those acoustic/electric hybrid strings, just for the hell of it.

Having a hollowbody is already prooving fun. I have a little pzm mic that I stuck in the soundhole last night for some really interesting semi-acoustic sounds~!
 
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