• Guys, we've spent considerable money converting the Les Paul Forum to this new XenForo platform, and we have ongoing monthly operating expenses. THE "DONATIONS" TAB IS NOW WORKING, AND WE WOULD APPRECIATE ANY DONATIONS YOU CAN MAKE TO KEEP THE LES PAUL FORUM GOING! Thank you!

Early Clapton string gauge?

Beano Geno

Active member
Joined
Mar 12, 2007
Messages
3,631
Does anybody know what gauge strings Clapton used with Mayall (LP) and with Cream (SG)? I've heard different stories. Thanks!
 

Desertdawg

Active member
Joined
Nov 25, 2001
Messages
2,057
I doubt he even knew. Makers didn't sell strings marked with gauges until the first Slinkys which would be about 1969.

He probably bought Black Diamonds then messed with the third string. I saw saw a lot of players back then just using a second B string as a G......same gauge too.
 

MRG

Member
Joined
Apr 25, 2002
Messages
672
I doubt he even knew. Makers didn't sell strings marked with gauges until the first Slinkys which would be about 1969.

He probably bought Black Diamonds then messed with the third string. I saw saw a lot of players back then just using a second B string as a G......same gauge too.

That brings back a memory. I was just starting to play back in 1969, and I remember asking an older player about strings. He just said to get light-gauge, which I guess was easy since EB Slinkys was it. IIRC, there was only one Crest toothpaste as well.
 

trisonic

New member
Joined
Mar 31, 2003
Messages
195
He used to buy his strings from a store in Earlham Street near the Seven Dials in London - I can't remember the name of it.
Not a lot of choice until about 1969. He would buy "Light Gauge" and then shift them down by one (in other words the Light Gauge top E would be the B etc) using a Banjo string for the high E.
Trust this crappy information helps anyway.

Best, Pete.
 

Beano Geno

Active member
Joined
Mar 12, 2007
Messages
3,631
He used to buy his strings from a store in Earlham Street near the Seven Dials in London - I can't remember the name of it.
Not a lot of choice until about 1969. He would buy "Light Gauge" and then shift them down by one (in other words the Light Gauge top E would be the B etc) using a Banjo string for the high E.
Trust this crappy information helps anyway.

Best, Pete.

That's what I've heard, but I never knew if it were true or not. Thank you!:salude
 

Drawrein

New member
Joined
Jan 2, 2005
Messages
1,075
He used to buy his strings from a store in Earlham Street near the Seven Dials in London - I can't remember the name of it.
Not a lot of choice until about 1969. He would buy "Light Gauge" and then shift them down by one (in other words the Light Gauge top E would be the B etc) using a Banjo string for the high E.
Trust this crappy information helps anyway.

Best, Pete.

Wow, an untapped endorsement opportunity for EC, Seven Dials Vintage Beano Strings!
 

trisonic

New member
Joined
Mar 31, 2003
Messages
195
What gauge? Dunno!
By 1969 an English maker was making guitar strings that you just picked out what gauge you wanted across the board - i.e. you made up your own sets. Holy Grail, Baby! My high E was .007!

Ernie Ball strings were not available in London till the seventies, I think. Actually when were they first available in the USA?
You got to remember that there was a big difference in what was available in 1965 compared to 1970, the OP is asking about early Clapton - the strings effects everything kind of exploded on both sides of the Atlantic by the seventies.

Best, Pete.
 

carlygtr56

Les Paul Froum Member
Joined
Nov 25, 2003
Messages
311
I recall a Cream era Rolling Stone interview mentioning Fender Rock & Roll light gauge
 

TM1

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 27, 2003
Messages
8,349
Ernie Ball's first appeared here in the States in 1966 or `67. I do recall having some sets with Eric's piccy on the pack that were called "Sound City" Strings around 1971 or so. I know Dallas-Arbiter had some hand in them, but don't recall actually who made them(maybe Rotosound or Picato?) The photo was a Blind Faith era photo of Eric.
 

Desertdawg

Active member
Joined
Nov 25, 2001
Messages
2,057
I was able to buy Fender Rock 'n' Roll strings for my Stratocaster in Scotland in 1966. Fabulous sound for about 3 days.........then dead....a bit like Dean Markley "Cryogenics" today. They appear to still be the same nickel wind too.
 

trisonic

New member
Joined
Mar 31, 2003
Messages
195
I was able to buy Fender Rock 'n' Roll strings for my Stratocaster in Scotland in 1966. Fabulous sound for about 3 days.........then dead....a bit like Dean Markley "Cryogenics" today. They appear to still be the same nickel wind too.

I used to use Fender Superbullets for years, got thru many sets.......
So many puns in that sentence, sorry!
Which British maker used to sell their strings in long straight packs i.e. not coiled up?

Best, Pete.
 

carlygtr56

Les Paul Froum Member
Joined
Nov 25, 2003
Messages
311
I used to use Fender Superbullets for years, got thru many sets.......
So many puns in that sentence, sorry!
Which British maker used to sell their strings in long straight packs i.e. not coiled up?

Best, Pete.

Picato?
 

Kap'n

New member
Joined
Jan 2, 2002
Messages
1,678
Ernie Ball's first appeared here in the States in 1966 or `67. I do recall having some sets with Eric's piccy on the pack that were called "Sound City" Strings around 1971 or so. I know Dallas-Arbiter had some hand in them, but don't recall actually who made them(maybe Rotosound or Picato?) The photo was a Blind Faith era photo of Eric.

I had a pack of those, though they were very old stock by the time I got my hands on them. They started with 0.009.
 

Bluespower

Les Paul Forum Member
Joined
Feb 26, 2003
Messages
3,487
In the Bloomfield book, he also mentions using lights and ditching the low E, moving everything down and then using the banjo string as a high E. I wonder who started this idea? Probably common practice among early 60's blues players.............B.B.?
(after T-Bone, who obviously used heavier jazz type strings.)
 
Top