What kind of strings did they use in the early-mid 70's?

robgilmo

Were they pure nickel? And was the third still wound at this time? Im doing some reading and apparently 10-38's were popular?

mbe

Rotosound,  Picato and Black Diamond brands. Then was a fashion for light gauge and I don't recall a wound third. Strings were generally steel and some nickel plated. 

guitars4you

10-38 gauge was fairly popular especially amongst Fender sales - F150 set - Can't recall any other brand offering 10-38 gauge but some might recall otherwise - The F150 and other Fender gauges were pure nickel but I found they went 'dead sounding' very quickly - Nice tone but lasted 1 gig - Ernie Ball were big in the 70's and 80's - In the UK so was Rotosound, Piccato, Gibson amongst others regarding sales- D'addario were not as well known then

Most sets were plain 3rd, but a wound 3rd available if required

Pure nickel was available mainly via Fender, but most others were as now with nickel over a steel core on wound strings

tekbow

Don't forget Monels, they were a lot more common back then. Great on a strat. Have a kind of airy sweet sparkliness to them without too much reduction in output.

terada

Proper strings? Luxury.

All we had was discarded socks dipped pulled taught but we made do

SteveRobinson

In the early-mid-70s I used Ernie Ball Ultra Slinkys (8-38) which were exactly the same as they are now.

crunchman

SteveRobinson said:

In the early-mid-70s I used Ernie Ball Ultra Slinkys (8-38) which were exactly the same as they are now.

In the early-mid 70's I used to watch things like Play School and Andy Pandy

Bridgehouse

crunchman said:

SteveRobinson said:

In the early-mid-70s I used Ernie Ball Ultra Slinkys (8-38) which were exactly the same as they are now.

In the early-mid 70's I used to watch things like Play School and Andy Pandy

What strings did they use?

SteveRobinson

Bridgehouse said:

crunchman said:

SteveRobinson said:

In the early-mid-70s I used Ernie Ball Ultra Slinkys (8-38) which were exactly the same as they are now.

In the early-mid 70's I used to watch things like Play School and Andy Pandy

What strings did they use?

Andy Pandy had very thin ones, as did Teddy and Looby Loo

guitars4you

Bridgehouse said:

crunchman said:

SteveRobinson said:

In the early-mid-70s I used Ernie Ball Ultra Slinkys (8-38) which were exactly the same as they are now.

In the early-mid 70's I used to watch things like Play School and Andy Pandy

What strings did they use?

you had to sit in the pram and watch with mother whilst dad was at the counter buying them - And remember you were in to wooden tops then and not flamed maple tops

ESBlonde

SteveRobinson said:

Bridgehouse said:

crunchman said:

SteveRobinson said:

In the early-mid-70s I used Ernie Ball Ultra Slinkys (8-38) which were exactly the same as they are now.

In the early-mid 70's I used to watch things like Play School and Andy Pandy

What strings did they use?

Andy Pandy had very thin ones, as did Teddy and Looby Loo

Not as many as spotty dog though!

SteveRobinson

ESBlonde said:

SteveRobinson said:

Bridgehouse said:

crunchman said:

SteveRobinson said:

In the early-mid-70s I used Ernie Ball Ultra Slinkys (8-38) which were exactly the same as they are now.

In the early-mid 70's I used to watch things like Play School and Andy Pandy

What strings did they use?

Andy Pandy had very thin ones, as did Teddy and Looby Loo

Not as many as spotty dog though!

He was the biggest spotty dog you ever did see.

Roland

The two brands I remember were Rotosound and Picato. At the time I was using 10-46s. Not long after I changed to Ernie Ball 10-52s. As I remember wound 3rds only turned up in acoustic string sets, and nickel wasn’t mentioned. In 1969 there was talk of lighter top strings, but mainly along the lines of “thank god we don’t have to use banjo strings any longer”.

guitars4you

Roland said:

The two brands I remember were Rotosound and Picato. At the time I was using 10-46s. Not long after I changed to Ernie Ball 10-52s. As I remember wound 3rds only turned up in acoustic string sets, and nickel wasn’t mentioned. In 1969 there was talk of lighter top strings, but mainly along the lines of “thank god we don’t have to use banjo strings any longer”.

slightly before my time regarding the late 60's - But from stories I've picked up, Ken Achard (later MD of Peavey UK and Europe for many years) co ran Top Gear on Denmark Street with the Bradley Bros, who owned Strings n Things distribution business - Ken was one of the first to attend USA shows and quickly picked up on slinky strings by Ernie Ball - They might not have being the first and indeed Ken might not have been first, but like a few other such stories he was certainly one of the early dealers/pioneers to pick up on such products for a UK distributor and his store

Roland

Slinky Top Heavy Bottom 10-52s served me well for years. I can’t remeber when they first came in, but I’m sure I was using them by 1973.

ICBM

The Fender ‘Rock’n’Roll’ F150 10-38s were that gauge because the wound strings were lightly rolled to reduce finger noise. That compresses the outer diameter while keeping the mass and tension the same, so they’re actually no different from a modern set of 10-46 really.

drwiddly

As far as I can remember I used mostly Rotosound strings back then. Probably 9's with a plain third. Moved on to Ernie's for a while, dallied with Dean Markley's and now settled with D'Addario's.

guitars4you

I recall Picato strings in a round see thru plastic box

I recall Roto's when they all had names like  something King - loads of different gauges - Yet I can't remember what their names were

Black Diamond Strings

La Bella Strings

west

SteveRobinson said:

ESBlonde said:

SteveRobinson said:

Bridgehouse said:

crunchman said:

SteveRobinson said:

In the early-mid-70s I used Ernie Ball Ultra Slinkys (8-38) which were exactly the same as they are now.

In the early-mid 70's I used to watch things like Play School and Andy Pandy

What strings did they use?

Andy Pandy had very thin ones, as did Teddy and Looby Loo

Not as many as spotty dog though!

He was the biggest spotty dog you ever did see.

and muffin the mule was not a sexual offence .....

west

And pogles Wood could be seen from miles around ...

uncledick

Fender 'Light Rock n Roll' iirc.  Ernie Balls were just as sterile then as now, Picato (bought because Blackmore used them) lasted about a day before going rusty.  Rotosound were the other big name but can't remember ever trying them.