Help! Need to know what gauge strings comes stock on Ibanez SR-300

Byzcat · #1 09-19-2009, 07:45 PM

OK, so, wanting to give my business to a locally-owned music store, well...

I had signed up for lessons (so far my teacher seems really good) and I wanted to switch the stock strings (D'Addario XL roundwounds) on my Ibanez SR-300 for flatwounds.

I told the owner of the store that I wanted light-gauge flats, and he told me flatwounds only came in one gauge. And, like an idiot, I believed him. I've only ever played the stock strings on a bass, so I really don't know from strings. So, I trusted the guy, and ended up with a set of strings that are just too heavy for an instrument with such a slender neck. I don't know if the guy was just taking advantage of me because I'm a woman who doesn't know her way around strings, and just sold me the gauge he normally carries, or if he just doesn't know that string technology has evolved over the years. (note to self- never admit that you don't know what you're doing and expect the person to do right by you.)

The new strings sound great, they have a nice, dark sound, and a solid thump. They've also bowed the neck of my Ibby so badly that it's pretty much unplayable. I've tightened the truss rod as much as I dare, I don't want to strip it or crack the neck. I loosened the strings so that my baby's neck won't hurt. Tomorrow, the old strings are going back on while I wait for the new ones. Guess who I'm not going to have order them for me?

The new strings are pretty heavy. The gauges on them are 50, 65, 85, 100 (Fender nickel flats).

I'm not sure what gauge strings came with the Ibby. I've held them up side by side with the new strings and eyeballed them, and they are noticeably skinnier. If I had to guess, I'd say the gauges are 40-95, maybe 45-95 or 100.

Does anybody know what gauge strings come stock on the SR-300? Because I think I'm going to call Zzounds (who sold me the bass and some accessories, and have treated me very well) and buy a set of D'addario nickel flatwounds, but I want to get them in the same gauges that came stock with the instrument.

lunarpollen · #2 09-19-2009, 08:29 PM

I would try a different store... And most guitar techs will have a micrometer in their set of tools, with which they can measure the thickness of your strings in about 10 seconds flat

Byzcat · #3 09-19-2009, 08:56 PM

Well, I'm definitely not going to be spending any more money there, aside from my lessons. The owner has lost my trust. But I get on very well with my teacher, so I don't want to dump him.

Zzounds has been pretty good to me. Music stores are hard to find around here.

Roadkill · #4 09-19-2009, 09:12 PM

I think you are just being overcautious on the truss rod adjustment. If you aren't comfortable cranking it up to where it needs to be you should have that store's tech look at it. Those strings are a pretty normal tension - the bass may have come with lights (40-95) on it. I've got a .110 "E" on my Ibanez and had to crank it a bit.

Byzcat · #5 09-19-2009, 09:35 PM

I may be being overcautious, but better safe than sorry.

The owner is the tech, and after being mislead about the strings, I'm not sure I can trust him with my bass. I'm guessing you're right about the 40-95', though. I've tightened the truss rod to the point where it won't go any further without being forced, and no way am I going to force it.

Also I have small, and not terribly strong hands (I'm doing exercises with a squeezy ball to strengthen them, but progress has been slow.) I've also had some issues with a hand injury, so the less effort to fret the strings, the better. I think all around I'd be better off with a lighter gauge of string.

My teacher today suggested that I might want to go with lighter gauge strings, and I told him about the owner telling me that flatwounds only came in one gauge, and he said he would have a talk with him. I'd like to be a fly on the wall...

Roadkill · #6 09-20-2009, 09:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Byzcat

The new strings are pretty heavy. The gauges on them are 50, 65, 85, 100 (Fender nickel flats).

Do you know what the model number of the strings are? As far as I can see Fender doesn't make nickel flats

Byzcat · #7 09-20-2009, 11:41 AM

Nah, they're stainless steel. I was thinking of the D'Addarios when I wrote that- also, very tired and irritated and my brain wasn't firing on all cylinders.

I did get my neck adjusted the way I like it- pretty damn close to flat. If my plucking technique were any more aggressive, I'd be getting fret buzz.

I'm still wondering if I wouldn't be better off with a lighter gauge of string, though, and I'm really unhappy about being told that flatwounds only come in one gauge.

I definitely will not be buying anything else from his store. If I had found out sooner that I actually did have options in flatwound string gauges, I wouldn't have bought strings from him at all. Or the gig bag. Or the guitar stand.

The only money that I'm going to be handing across the counter to him from now on will be the payment for my lessons. And I'm thinking about talking to my teacher... the store is in Peabody, and we both live in Lynn.

Roadkill · #8 09-20-2009, 12:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Byzcat

Nah, they're stainless steel. I was thinking of the D'Addarios when I wrote that

Ah - then they would be 9050ML's which are a medium light.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Byzcat

I did get my neck adjusted the way I like it- pretty damn close to flat. If my plucking technique were any more aggressive, I'd be getting fret buzz.

I like mine that way also - plus a little buzz when you dig in isn't always a bad thing depending on style of music. The only problem with running a real flat neck is you have to adjust it more as a small change in weather can make it too buzzy. Hopefully you got to see it adjusted and now are a bit more confident about doin' it yourself

.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Byzcat

I'm still wondering if I wouldn't be better off with a lighter gauge of string, though, and I'm really unhappy about being told that flatwounds only come in one gauge.

Just playing scales will develop your strength in 3-4 weeks and you do get better tone with medium light's than light's. As far as the store goes, I'm guessing you're fairly new to the scene as the majority of music store staff are stoopid same as musicians and venue owners. Best thing to do is educate yourself (you're in the right place

) and learn to deal with these people otherwise you'll end up not being terribly successful, no?

Byzcat · #9 09-20-2009, 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roadkill

As far as the store goes, I'm guessing you're fairly new to the scene as the majority of music store staff are stoopid same as musicians and venue owners. Best thing to do is educate yourself (you're in the right place

) and learn to deal with these people otherwise you'll end up not being terribly successful, no?

Actually, I've been out of the scene for over a decade, and I'm just coming back in.

And staff? What staff? This was the freakin' OWNER that told me that.

Roadkill · #10 09-20-2009, 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Byzcat

Actually, I've been out of the scene for over a decade, and I'm just coming back in.

Welcome back to the jungle

. I've been "out" 5 years myself

.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Byzcat

And staff? What staff? This was the freakin' OWNER that told me that.

The owner is often times the least knowledgeable as to own a store just requires money - to get a job there usually requires knowing more than the idiot that's hiring you

.
"The music business is a cruel and shallow money trench, a long plastic hallway where thieves and pimps run free, and good men die like dogs. There's also a negative side."
- Popular misquote of Hunter S. Thompson -

Byzcat · #11 09-20-2009, 01:57 PM

Roadkill- the owner is the guy behind the counter, the technician, the sales guy, everything. It's a little bitty, cluttered store. I don't think he even has employees, except for the teachers, and they're most likely independent contractors.

Solarmist · #12 09-20-2009, 04:26 PM

Since when does Ibanez use D'Addario strings? Both my SR400QM (07), and SR405QM (08) came with Elixir Nano's - 45 / 65 / 85 / 105 / 130TW (5er)

Roadkill · #13 09-20-2009, 04:31 PM

Only the higher end Ibanez's come with Elixir's. The Mikro I just bought definitely doesn't have coated strings.

Byzcat · #14 09-21-2009, 08:01 AM

Soooo. I had e-mailed D'Addario Saturday. This morning I got my reply. The guy at D'Addario suggested ECB 81's (45-100), and that the chrome strings would give me more bottom end.

I've got 50-100's now. I'm wondering how much a difference it would make in tone to go with 45-100. Most sets I see advertised on the 'net that start with 45 on the G seem to be the same gauges on the rest of the strings, and the 50 G is a bit rough on the fingers (plus I'd like to drop the action on my G string a bit).

Whaddya think?

From what I've been able to tell, strings are like underwear. Once you've bought 'em tried 'em on, you can't take 'em back.