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Joe Bonamassa Forum → Joe's Guitars, Amps and Gear → Proto X Strings - Joe Bonamassa
Can anyone shed some light on the strings they put on my guitar at the Des Moines show?
Plain silver package
Handwritten: PROTO X
BONAMASSA
Thanks,
pattyluvsjoe
Can anyone shed some light on the strings they put on my guitar at the Des Moines show?
Plain silver package
Handwritten: PROTO X
BONAMASSAThanks,
pattyluvsjoe
Why not ask your new guitar tech. JB
pattyluvsjoe wrote:Can anyone shed some light on the strings they put on my guitar at the Des Moines show?
Plain silver package
Handwritten: PROTO X
BONAMASSAThanks,
pattyluvsjoe
Why not ask your new guitar tech. JB
It sounds like Ernie Ball may be developing a set of signature JB strings.
I read in an interview with Guitar Center that Joe has started using these http://www.musiciansfriend.com/accessor … 4000000000
I've tried everything...all makes, gauges, coated with things...even tension correct ones (mad idea)...I just keep coming back to the same sets of Ernie Ball Super Slinky every time...ok, maybe sometimes a hybrid set if needs be.
The new cobalt ones will have to be utter magic to make me change...especially if they are at least double the cost...which is likely.
Has anyone tried them yet? I'm bored of watching Slash and Vai tell me they're good...when they are getting infinite supply of them, plus a fat wad of green...real world says different most of the time....
I like the DR Pure Blues or Pyramid Classics myself. The EBs get corroded too quickly for me. I use the GHS Nickel Rockers (Eric Johnson) set on my Strats…great strings. I may try the .11-.52 on my LPs.
Since the strings are what you are in direct contact with in order to create music, I base a lot of what I like in strings by their feel. I'm certainly not a national recording artist, but I agree with Dave, I've tried a lot and still come back to Ernie Balls.
As far as the strings on your guitar Patty, judging by anything "hand written" on things like that-especially with the word Proto; I'd venture to guess Wharris is on the right track.
I daresay they are just 11-52 cobalts... They'd be special for Joe because 11-52 isn't a gauge that Ernie Ball standardly make.
I like the DR Pure Blues or Pyramid Classics myself. The EBs get corroded too quickly for me. I use the GHS Nickel Rockers (Eric Johnson) set on my Strats…great strings. I may try the .11-.52 on my LPs.
Been using the EJ 11s on both the strats and LPs and have found them great for both.
Patty,
The package was shiny plastic foil like Ernie Ball packages now. Only it had what you said written in Sharpie marker.
I've heard Joe quoted as saying he likes the new Ernie Ball Cobalt strings...
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/accessor … 6000000000
being one of the extremely few people to play your guitar 
after the DesMoines show, I noticed the strings felt new but didn't have the shimmer of a nickel, titanium, or stainless steel shine... and since I don't know what Cobalt looks like - I'm going to assume it was those.
My guess is "Proto X" was the Cobalt strings before they hit the market, and they sent Joe, Slash and a ton of others dozens of sets to try and get feedback on before they went public. Since it makes no sense to put out a strings that the pros do not like. Now that Cobalts are on the market, perhaps either Joe still has sample sets on him, or he gets all of his strings factory direct, and they don't bother to print on the packages to save on costs.
just my two cents. 
Patty,
The package was shiny plastic foil like Ernie Ball packages now. Only it had what you said written in Sharpie marker.
I've heard Joe quoted as saying he likes the new Ernie Ball Cobalt strings...
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/accessor … 6000000000being one of the extremely few people to play your guitar
My guess is "Proto X" was the Cobalt strings before they hit the market, and they sent Joe, Slash and a ton of others dozens of sets to try and get feedback on before they went public. Since it makes no sense to put out a strings that the pros do not like. Now that Cobalts are on the market, perhaps either Joe still has sample sets on him, or he gets all of his strings factory direct, and they don't bother to print on the packages to save on costs.
just my two cents.
They wouldn't need to print on it anyway, because 11-52 isn't a gauge they sell... Ernie Ball artists who use standard gauges would probably have print on the packages because it would almost be harder work to take the packets of strings out halway through the packaging process....
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