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Tension Optimized Guitar String Sets
Optimized Electric Guitar Roundwound 6-string $5
9 Nickel Roundwound ZOG 9
This is the perfect set for any true Tele-style guitar and Tele-freak. Standard on all Zachary F1. It will give you all the twang and spank your sick dirty mind desires. Think Roy Buchanan, Vince Gill, Johnny Hiland or Redd Volkaert. Don't you ever think of putting this on a Gibson-scale guitar. A Gibson is too short scale to handle anything less than a 10 set. Don't let me catch you putting this on anything less than a 25.5" scale.9 Nickel Roundwound PLUS ZOG 9+ *Extra Optimized 9 set
Here is a set which will save your ass if you really must use a 9 set to tune down or use alternate tunings by tuning down some of the strings. The extra optimization, resulting in a more extreme incremental increase in tension as string pitch drops will enable your low notes to actually work and not just sound like a puking shrew.
Here is also a 9 set that will identify you as a nut and gain you some respect if you are one of those who uses a 9 set on a short scale guitar. This set may just redeem you and I will look the other way.
Or use this ZOG 9+ set if you just like to dig in and play with a heavy hand but still insist on using a 9 set.
10 Nickel Roundwound ZOG 10
This should be your standard electric guitar string set. Its your meat and potatoes set. So sell whatever 10-46 sets you may have. If you have the heart, sell it to some poor bastard who does not know. You no longer have any use for them and your guitar will thank you.
Stick this ZOG 10 set on any guitar you want, except a Tele or a an archtop. It will not give you the Spank for Tele tone and its too light for a hollowbody, but use it on anything else. So use your brains when choosing strings or I will find you.10 Nickel Roundwound PLUS ZOG 10+ *Extra Optimized 10 set
I developed this set specifically for shorter scale guitars, like the very popular Gibson Les Paul and its countless copies. As I hope you know the Les Paul has a scale length of approximately 24.75". I say "approximately" because most Gibson guitars are designated to be 24.75" scale but are actually even shorter. They vary depending on model and year made. Most Gibson models (solid bodies, semi-acoustics and archtops) are actually shorter in scale than 24.75". It seems to be a metric scale they have used and are using, with no explanation.On a short scale guitar like a Gibson, there is a real fight to get those lower string to make a descent sound. They have a hard time functioning the lower the pitch goes. People usually refer to them as "muddy". They are muddy and this is because the tension is not optimized and even more insufficient and this is why it sounds muddy. The higher the string the better but the lower the string the sloppier the tone gets. Putting a set of 10-46 on a Les Paul is totally idiotic. I certainly hope Slash is not doing that. Do you think he is smart enough to know about the ZOG Optimization rule, or does he have a muddy low end and is clueless about it? Someone please ask him and get back to me on that. I have to set him straight. Being rich does not make your smarter.
So, what I am getting at and what you should have figured out by now, is that the shorter the scale the more extreme the OPTIMIZATION must be. Optimization is not a finite number. It can and must vary according to the scale length. The shorter the scale the more the Optimization must be for the strings to function best and feel balanced.
To repeat for the slower ones among us, Optimization is the even gradual increase of tension within the set as pitch drops.
I developed this new set called ZOG 10+. It starts on a .010 high E but gradually drops in pitch to a higher tension, in order to compensate for the shorter scale of some instruments. Instead of the regular ZOG 10 set which ranges from 16.2 lb - 19.7 lb, the ZOG 10+ is 16.2 LB - 22.0 lb.
If you are too stupid to realize what I am saying then just find an upright piano somewhere and look inside. As you know, an upright piano can have a very short scale length. Much shorter than a 9 foot concert grand, right? Well, take a look at how thick the strings are inside an upright piano as compared to a concert grand. They must compensate for the short scale of the upright piano by increasing the mass and tension of the strings as they drop in pitch.
So, you guessed it. The result is that for the first time you will have a really nice strong low end on a Gibson. The guitar will sound healthy and simply work better. Using ZOG 10 is great but for short scale guitars ZOG 10+ gives you just that little extra optimization which is needed. Give it a try and experiment and see which you prefer ZOG 10 or ZOG 10+
Also, if you are like me and often use some alternate tunings by tuning down your A and/or E strings or if you do a drop D or drop C tuning, then this set will be a must. The ZOG 10+ set will be very nice to play and solve your balance problems on any short scale guitar. Put this set on your short scale Gibson and it will actually handle the job.
If you put these strings on your Les Paul, you may be smarter than Slash. Which may not really be an accomplishment.
Just like I am smarter than any string company, which is not much of an accomplishment either.Now, where else would you get this kind of an education? From the large string companies or guitar rags? That's a joke. They are too busy putting condoms on strings and missing the point entirely. When it comes to guitars, why are they putting condoms on everything? LOL
11 Nickel Roundwound ZOG 11
This is the perfect set for any guitar other than a Tele. No spank from this set, just solid thick tone. This is the prefect set for Gretsch hollow bodies since it will give you brightness and good twang but no Tele spank. In fact if put anything else on a Gretsch you will be lashed 52 times, even if you enjoy it. Just ask Brian Setzer and he will tell you the same thing, 11 roundwounds are the strings for Gretsch. You must always put roundwounds on a Gretsch, never anything else or you will be committing a crime. If you ever put flatwounds on your Gretsch you should be shot. You will kill the spank and the twang, and you will no longer have a Gretsch. Flatwounds are too dark and its a sacrilege to put them on a Gretsch.
You can also put these on any solidbody (other than a Tele) if you think you are a tough guy and pretend to be SRV, bending these thicker strings until you kill the ligaments in your hand.
Optimized Electric Guitar Roundwound 6-string - Drop D $7
9 Nickel Roundwound - Drop D
10 Nickel Roundwound - Drop DDon't tell me you didn't realize that you were sounding like a shit when dropping your low E tuning to D? Especially when using a conventional string set. Did you ever wonder why? What the hell were you using for that low D anyway? Were you mindlessly following your idiot heavy metal guitar heroes. Remember those slobs with all the tattoos and piercings are nothing more than uneducated fools. Did you actually think you were sounding mean with your sloppy sound? With conventional strings for a drop D, all you have is a muddy and weak tone, which is not cool at all. Well, now its time to give your head a shake and smoke less dope. Here is your chance to redeem yourself. Get the ZOG set specifically Tension Optimized for drop D tuning. Guess what? Your guitar will actually work. Guitars do not work if the tension of the strings are not correct to produce a certain pitch of note. Does that make sense to you? Is that too hard to understand? When using ZOG Optimized drop D strings, your intonation will also be good for the first time. If you don't have enough tension on a string, you don't have any intonation to speak of either. Now you will finally get a strong healthy note when playing on that low D string. Amazing!!!
Your dick might me nothing more than a limp noodle but that does not mean your low D string has to be. Get your shit together and tell your metal heroes, you are smarter than they are. You have been Zeducated.
Optimized Electric Guitar Roundwound - Baritone 6-string (with wound 3rd) $8
10* Baritone Nickel Roundwound B F# D A E B
11* Baritone Nickel Roundwound B F# D A E B*Theoretical high E
These sets are optimized to a hypothetical high E. We know there isn't one in a Baritone set but if there was one this is the gauge it would be.
You Baritone players also deserve to play a correctly tensioned Optimized set. In fact its crucial for you to do so, or your instrument will simply not work correctly. You cannot play arbitrary undertensioned and systematically unrelated strings on an instrument and expect it to work in the physical domain. You have to be a mindless fool of a guitar consumer to believe that. If you haven't realized this yet and if you haven't noticed that there is no correctly designed string set out there for you and if you haven't noticed that you are taken for fools by the string companies, than you are too stupid to be even be ready to be on this website. Go buy a PRS with a 10 top, that's what you really need.
Optinized Electric Guitar Roundwound - 7-String Guitar $8
Designed for either low B or low A tuning.
9 Nickel Roundwound 7-string (for low B tuning)
9 Nickel Roundwound 7-string (for low A tuning)10 Nickel Roundwound 7-string (for low B tuning)
10 Nickel Roundwound 7-string (for low A tuning)
11 Nickel Roundwound 7-string (for low B tuning)
11 Nickel Roundwound 7-string (for low A tuning)
You 7 string players are treated as total Idiots by the string manufacturers. You have been fucked up the ass for so long and don't even know it. Are you really the stupidest of all guitar players??? That is so bad, its not even funny. I sure feel sorry for you.
Maybe you are Idiots and deserve to get the under-tensioned, grossly unbalanced, whacked out strings that string companies give you. Do you like you low string. Do you like the way it feels like a limp noodle? You stupid moron, get a brain or take up another hobby. Guitar is not for you.
Those large companies you love to support so much are laughing their guts out because they are giving you atrocious strings, which simply do not work. And you say you haven't noticed? Fuck, you are dumb. Does your mother know how stupid you are?
Its a terrible practical joke that the guitar mass producers, string companies and even Steve Vai are playing on you. You are idiots if you haven't noticed.
Well I am here to save you and educate you. This is your perfect set and beautifully optimized. I worked really hard at providing this for you, so don't be angry at me, be angry at the nasty-ass guitar companies, string manufacturers and Steve Vai who ripped you off and laughed all the way to the bank. They want to keep you stupid and take your money. I want to make you smart and I don't want your money. Go ahead, this will change your life forever and you will now look at Steve Vai as the shyster businessman that he really is. Isn't that signature guitar of his disgusting? What you say? You bought one? You Fucking Dummy. Get off this website, you disgust me.
Optimized Electric Guitar YUF - Flatwound - with plain 3rd $8
What is YUF you ask ???10 YUF Nickel Flatwound, with plain 3rd
This is a cool set you can interchange at any time with your regular 10 roundwound set. No adjustment to the neck is needed. Its virtually the same exact total tension as a 10 roundwound set. If you get bored with roundwounds, put these on and feel the smoothness and the dark thumpy wound strings. Remember you will still have a plain 3rd to play with, so you can bend these strings the same way on top. If you are some sort of neurotic freak you will want to re-intonate the bridge but I would leave it alone and instead take your medication and try to find a girlfriend or boyfriend, whatever your choice may be.11 YUF Nickel Flatwound, with plain 3rd
This is interchangeable with your 11 roundwound set. It still has a plain 3rd. No neck adjustment needed. Feel the familiar plain strings and the super smooth thumpy flatwound lower strings. If you are some sort of neurotic freak you will re-intonate the bridge but I would leave it alone and instead take your medication and try to find a girlfriend or boyfriend, whatever it may be, no questions asked. If you ever put this on a Gretsch, you will be captured and reprogrammed the hard way. Remember nothing goes on a Gretsch hollowbody, other than 11 Roundwounds. Why? Because Alex and Brian Setzer say so.
Optimized Electric Guitar Flatwound - Full Flatwound with wound 3rd $9
11 Stainless full Flatwound, with wound 3rd
Put this full flatwound set on all archtops. This is the only thing that should be on them. Except for Gretsch archtops of course. Never put flatwounds on a Gretsch because you will loose the twang of the Gretsch sound and instead sound dark and thumpy, like a Gibson ES 175 or any other Gibson archtop You will also tell the world you are an idiot when it comes to knowing guitars. Put this on all Gibson archtops, like the ES 175 and similar guitars.
Optimized Acoustic Guitar - Phosphor Bronze with wound 3rd $8
10.5 Phosphor Bronze Acoustic
I developed this specifically for any Cedar top acoustic guitar. Did you hear me? Cedar (not Spruce). If you don't even know what top you have on your acoustic then get off this site and immediately hide in shame. Spruce has no business being on an acoustic guitar. It has no sound, unless you beat the hell out of it. So if you are smart enough to play a Cedar top acoustic you should know that it should never have any heavy strings on it. It is not needed and in fact detrimental. Cedar is so light and soft and so responsive that heavy strings will actually overwork the top and it will sound harsh, overly loud and actually hurt the light constriction of the guitar. So this is the set for you smart people who have a Cedar top acoustic.
11 Phosphor Bronze Acoustic
Here is just a slightly heavier set than the 10.5 and you can go ahead and use it on your Cedar top acoustics, especially if you like to to use alternate tunings at times. This set will handle tuning down a whole step on the lower two strings and the upper two strings, all the strings for that matter. You will do well with this set. Don't even put anything heavier than this set on your Cedar top acoustic or you will be sorry. You can go ahead and try to put this on your Spruce top Martin-style acoustic but good luck trying to get any sound out of it. Spruce does not belong on an acoustic since spruce does not respond easily, needs heavy strings to get the top resonating to produce tone and volume. This means you need to beat the hell out of it when you play.12 Phosphor Bronze Acoustic
You say you don't have a Cedar top acoustic? Well what does that say about you? In that case, this is a set specifically designed for Spruce top acoustics. You need a heavier set to get sound out of that stiff spruce top. So good luck, this is a nice Optimized set for all Spruce top acoustics.13 Phosphor Bronze Acoustic coming up soon
11 Phosphor Bronze Acoustic 12-string $16
Someone was getting a custom 12 string acoustic guitar made and asked me if I had a ZOG set for acoustics. I then looked at the conventional sets on the market and had another WTF moment. I thought I better do something about this. Well here it is, a very nicely optimized set for you 12-string players who had your heads in the sand all your guitar playing lives. That includes you Leo Kottke as well. Let Zach come to your rescue and do something good for you. You will hate me now but will thank me later when you realize how much I care about you. Your 12-string acoustic will love the new ZOGs as well.13 Phosphor Bronze Acoustic DADGAD tuning $10
You DADGAD players are a weird bunch. Is there even a string set created just for you? Or do you put on a conventional acoustic set and then tune down. Shame on you for even thinking of doing that. I know, you had no choice. Your string tension balance must be totally whacked out. Your guitar tone, string response and the feel of the strings must feel like you have just been sniffing glue or something.
Well, I did not forget about you. I have a perfectly Optimized set for you, which will make you feel like a regular guitar player again. You will love it and your life will never be the same again. You will never forget me as long as you live. What is my reward? Not too much. Why am I even doing this? Just call me a genius and its good enough for me.Alex, I just wanted to follow-up with you and let you know the DADGAD set works awesome!! After a few modifications to the nut and 6th string bridge pin my Martin OMC-28 WITH ADIRONDACK TOP HAS COME ALIVE!! I finally have a bottom end! I will continue to order strings and recommend your services!
I have sent your web info to a few musician friends... Pierre Bensuan, Lawrence Juber, Eric Schoenberg & John Storpes! I really think you have something here!!! Thanks! David
Optimized Bass Strings
IMPORTANT!!! Instrument Setup information for ZOG strings
4-String Bass Nickel Roundwound Long Scale tension in lbs. (33.7 - 51.0) $25
You bass players think you are so cool. Slapping away and playing fancy instruments with active this and that, but you have not been smart enough to realize that your bass string sets are a joke. The tension balance sucks big time and your bottom end was suffering and made your bass sound like shit. So wake up. Take a look at a standard bass set and you will see that your high (G) string is always over-tensioned and the low string is way under-tensioned. Did you not notice this yet? Man... go take a feel right now. If you read my explanation on string Optimization, which I invented, since I am smarter than you are and most everyone else, you will now realize that what the string companies do is totally the opposite to Optimization. Not too much brains. Shame on them and shame on you for not getting your head out of your ass.
Here is your chance to change your life and never buy a regular bass set again.
4-String Bass Nickel Roundwound Short Scale $25
This is the same set as the ZOG 4-string round wound long scale set (above), but in a short scale version. These are the exact same tension strings but shorter. So you can fit them into the tuners of a 30" scale instrument. As simple as that.If you think Optimized string sets are crucial for long scale basses, wait until you see what they will do for a short scale instrument. Short scale basses are in agony when conventional crap strings are used. They are crying out in pain because they literally cannot function. You have never heard the true tone of your instrument until you get ZOG. You have never really felt what your instrument truly feels like, until you put ZOG on it.
You should be smart enough by now to know that the shorter the scale the more necessary optimization becomes and in fact, a more severe degree of optimization is usually required to compensate for the shorter scale. Again, I must bring up the example of comparing the strings of a long grand piano and a small upright piano. The small upright needs much thicker strings to work. I hope its not going over your head.
If you read this website this far, you are certainly about 32% more intelligent overall and 80% more intelligent about guitars, compared to what you were prior to finding the Zachary website. Please get out there and use your newfound knowledge. Here is your chance to make your pro bass playing hero look like a fool. Take any revered fucking icon of a bass player and tell them what idiots they are and how much smarter you are than they. Tell them what you have learned on the Zachary site. Tell them its time to stop smoking crack or shooting heroin and instead they should read this website as you have, maybe they will learn something. Its time for them to come out of their stupor. Find Jack Bruce, who likes short scale basses. Tell him if he does not give his head a shake, he does belong in a white room, the kind that is padded on all sides. In fact, go up to any arrogant bass player and tell them they are not as great as they think they are. Not even close. They have just been taken to the woodshed for being brain-dead morons. Tell them to spend a little time thinking instead of sucking up to large corporations for endorsement money by using any crap gear, which pays for their drug habit. You are now smarter than all of them ... yes, you welcome.
4-String Bass Stainless Flatwound Long Scale $35
This is a very nicely optimized flatwound bass set and everything will apply to this set as it applies to the roundwound set, so don't make me repeat it.
5-String Bass Nickel Roundwound Long Scale (low B to high G) $30
AVAILABLE NOW! I designed a custom low B string for this set, based on the ZOG principle and as a perfect match to the ZOG 4-string bass set. Special setup is needed for its manufacture. They tell me its never been done before. Does that mean that tension balance has never been done before? I am not surprised. All that should matter to you is that you will blow away any other bassists no matter who the hell they are (or think they are). You can go up to them, even if they are icons and kick sand in their faces for using those wimpy rubber bands of a 5th string, which makes their tone as limp as their string and most likely their dick as well. How embarrassing for them. Set them straight, will you and "do" their girlfriends while you're at it. The chicks will thank you. It really is not cool to be undertensioned. Just ask the girls, they know it.
5-String Bass Nickel Roundwound Long Scale (low E to high C) $30
AVAILABLE NOW! This is my favorite way to string a 5 string bass, Low E to High C.
This set is now available and ready to ship. It is the same set as the ZOG 4-String bass set with the addition of a perfectly balanced High C string. Here is your perfectly Optimized 5 string set, if you like to go to high C that is. Perfect for all those guitar players who want to play 5-string bass.
6-String Bass Nickel Roundwound Long Scale (low B to high C) $35
This awesome ZOG 6 string bass set is now here. It will make you wonder how you could play without it. It took me to come along and have the brains to do things right for you. You bet I am full of myself. I have reason to be.
Now if you are like me, you will go to the smartass bass community and point out what idiots they are. Can you imagine these self professed know-it-alls playing on spaghetti strings, totally unbalanced and the tension embarrassingly wrong between the strings. Their expensive basses struggling to even function right and make sloppy weak tone at best. What an embarrassment they are. They should drop their heads in shame for being that stupid. Its because they did not think, they did not even realize there was something seriously wrong. They thought, if as long as they buy a stupidly expensive instrument with disgustingly figured wood, they will get a great instrument and its all take care of. It does not work like that people. They forgot to realize that the people making their instrument are just as stupid as they are, which is where the problem is. Makes me sick of the ignorance out there.
You on the other hand have read this, are smart enough to comprehend it, and now it will change your life forever.
7-String Bass Nickel Roundwound Long Scale (low B to high F) $40
B, E, A, D, G, C, F
What can I say? If you think you're a tough guy having one of those monster basses with the awkward body and huge wide neck and you think you are the man for playing such a monstrosity, I have news for you. Playing a 7-string bass with strings that are the wrong tensions and are not optimized, is like a huge guy with a tiny dick... embarrasing! Its laughable!
Despite your large instrument, with the strings you got on presently, it sounds weak and lame. Shame on you, and you thought you were the tough guy with the "big instrument".
Let me come to the rescue. Here is your chance to match the proper Optimized strings to your monster bass. Now you will have the hard Dick to match. For an instrument with such a large range, Optimization is absolutely crucial.
So now you know. Put the ZOG custom-made Optimized strings on, which will make your 7 string bass play as it should for the first time. With power and strength. The ladies will also be happy with your powerful new instrument, instead of your former limp noodle.
