E9 string gauges for push pull

[Dave Zirbel]

New to push pulls (GS-10) and wondering if the heavier B (.018) and G# (.022) is commonly preferred over the B (.017) and G#(.020).

Thank you
Dave

[Ian Worley]

I use an .018 and .022 on 5 and 6 on my PP, also a .012 on 3, but I have no idea if that is common among other PP players. The GS10 changer fingers are much shorter than a regular pro model PP, they're 3-3/4" long vs. 4-1/4" for normal C6 (or std S10) and 4-1/2" for E9, so pedal and lever feel is going to be different, tighter, but string tension up top would be the same.

20250929_091644.jpg

[Dave Magram]

Hi Dave,

Here are the E9 string gauges for the sets that Emmons Guitar sold for many years, as shown in their 1973 catalog.
They were nickel and came in a package with a green "Emmons Guitar" label. I learned from the SGF several years ago that they were made by GHS to Emmons Guitar's specs.

Emmons guitar E9 String set gauges.jpg

I still use these gauges today, except for the 3rd string, for which I use an .011 or .012.

Unlike other mfrs' student models, the GS-10 used basically the same changer as their pro models, so you should have no worries about your GS-10 (It was my first PSG).

- Dave

[Val Drummond]

I use the Curt Mangan Nickel Wound on my P/P.
I noticed they are similar to the strings that Dave Magram posted.

[Dave Magram]

I just found an old thread (posted in 2009 by Jack Strayhorn, who worked at the Emmons Guitar Company) with some more info on the old Emmons Guitar strings...

viewtopic.php?p=1333758

The Extra-Lively string is nickel-round wound, the old green pack strings are nickel smooth-wound or semi-flat. As of 1999, Emmons did not sell any stainless strings. Ron Sr. did not like the sound of stainless and we had very few calls for them.

During my twelve years there, the strings were manufactured by GHS. The 11's and 11 1/2's were high-break tested. Of course all plain strings were just steel wire. I have no idea who manufactures the strings now. GHS is one of only about 3 or 4 manufactures in the world and probably the largest. When comparing brands, keep in mind they may all be made by the same company.

I hope this information is helpful and certainly not disputed. I ordered the strings in bulk from GHS from 1987 until 1999.

- Dave

[Dave Zirbel]

The GS10 changer fingers are much shorter than a regular pro model PP, they're 3-3/4" long vs. 4-1/4" for normal C6 (or std S10) and 4-1/2" for E9, so pedal and lever feel is going to be different, tighter, but string tension up top would be the same.

I did not know this, thanks Ian. A looser pedal is desirable to me, maybe a pro model is in my future.

Thanks everyone for the input!

Dave