GHS lottery

August 11 &12, 2006: Venice, Italy. Photo: Polly Samson.As you may know, GHS are putting out some David Gilmour signature strings – Boomers – for the Fender Stratocaster and Gibson Les Paul.

For the very first time, the following string gauges will be available in sets: 0.10, 0.12, 0.16, 0.28, 0.38, 0.48 (Stratocaster) and 0.10.5, 0.13, 0.17, 0.30, 0.40, 0.50 (Les Paul).

They’ll be available in all good shops, starting in the States, but eventually worldwide, within the next week or two.

To win a set, just choose any one string gauge.

If you’d like a set of strings for a Strat, choose one from either: 10, 12, 16, 28, 38 or 48.

If you’d like a set of strings for a Les Paul, choose one from either: 10.5, 13, 17, 30, 40 or 50.

Simply match one of the two numbers selected by me, Lotto-style. Everybody with that number will then be entered into one of two prize draws, from which winners will be chosen purely at random.

Please get your number in by 1PM (UK) Thursday (that’s this Thursday, 29 November). Winners will be announced on Friday.

As usual, it’s strictly one entry per person only – no excuses, no entering on behalf of parents, siblings, friends or pets. And, if you’ve got a Strat and a Les Paul, I don’t care. Just toss a coin and choose one or the other, please.

The best of luck to all.

Here’s the latest instalment from Phil Taylor’s Q&A.

What gauge does David use on his electric guitars? (Frank Par)

Different strings on different electrics. GHS Boomers for Strats/Teles/Gretsches, 10, 12, 16, 28, 38, 48; and for Les Pauls, 10.5, 13, 17, 30, 40, 50. GHS are soon to release these two sets of “David Gilmour” strings.

Which strings do you use on lap steel guitars? (Emilio)

David currently uses D’Addario EHR360 half rounds on his electric lap steels.

Are the lap steel guitars tuned differently to normal EADGBE, or does David prefer to keep everything the same? (Emma)

They are different. His favourites are EBGEBE or EBG*EBE or EBGDBG.

177 comments

  3. dognamedblue

    caption:

    “Dave soon realised that the audience wouldn’t buy his excuse of giving his last set of strings away!”

    12

    er but if I don’t have a guitar is there one thrown in with the strings?

    just checking FE’d just checking :)
    andy

  6. NewYorkDan

    The number I choose is 13.

    Since I don’t play guitar, the strings would be totally lost on me. They would become a gift to my brother who plays a Les Paul (among other instruments).

  7. Taki

    Hi Fed,

    although the right answer should be 42, my number of choice is 48.

    Best regards,

    Taki
    Bavaria

  8. Emilio

    10 for me!

    thanks so much Phil for answering my question for the Strat!

    ciao a tutti!
    emi

  17. LYN (maroonedonanisland) BELLE

    I don’t have an electric guitar so I won’t enter this competition but if you don’t want the packet that they come in, I’ll have that cos there’s a gorgeous pic of DARLING DAVID on the cover.

    Sad I missed chat today but hope everyone had a good time.

    I’ve been sorting out the money men and business plan with dad. We think we have some pretty hot intervestors. zippee kai aye!

    Good luck to everyone who enters competition. XXXXXX

    Love LYN

  22. Matt

    In the immortal words of Ringo Starr…

    “You’re 16, you’re beautiful, and you’re mine”

    ( High Hopes )

    Thanks F*Ed.

  32. Jeremy King

    16 is a nice round number.

    £4,000+, brilliant. The power of the pen.

    For those who were able to buy one of the signed proofs, well done and cherish it.

  35. Ernest Peske

    My number is: 38

    Being a “Stratophistic & Gilmouristic” person, I must say: thanks Phil for writing and publishing the book “The Black Strat”!. This strat is a real “human” guitar, with a lot of charisma and character. Great to see and hear David on stage playing this axe!

    Cheers,
    Ernest

  46. melanie

    Hey Fed,hope you’re well?

    I’d like to pick number 16 please.

    Sorry I missed the chat today,I’m in the middle of helping my mum get her new house ready for xmas.

    I know this no excuse but what can I do,she has a chain around my leg,lol.

    Take care Fed,speak soon

    melanie

    p.s- Congratulations on the excellent result from the auction,Mr Gilmour must be really pleased!

  49. Comfortably Dumb

    38

    that’s my age, so I guess it can finally bring me luck ;-)

    cheers, fed, how are you?

    [Fine, thanks. You? - Features Editor]

  61. Michèle

    I am totally ignorant about guitars, guitar vocabulary, above all in English, so, I didn’t understand anything in most of the Phil’s Q&A, but I was curious enough to try to understand ‘EADGBE’ and that is what I found online :

    EADGBE Eat All Day Get Big Easy
    EADGBE Eat All Dead Gophers Before Easter
    EADGBE Eddie Ate Dynamite Good Bye Eddie
    EADGBE Elephants And Donkeys Grow Big Ears
    EADGBE Even Average Dogs Get Bones Eventually
    EADGBE Every Acid Dealer Gets Busted Eventually
    EADGBE Every Adult Dog Growls Barks Eats
    EADGBE Every Apple Does Go Bad Eventually

    LOL ! I still can’t decide which one is my favourite ! maybe the third one !

    Michèle

    [That reminds me of music lessons at school. All I remember is that 'All Cows Eat Grass', 'Every Good Boy Deserves Football', and that singing really badly in auditions means that you don't get offered a place in the choir and, therefore, don't have stay behind for an hour after school on Tuesdays. Who said that those lessons were a waste of time, time which would have been better spent on what are now known as the three 'core' subjects of English, Maths and Science? - Features Editor]

  63. Ste-phen Barnhart

    10.5

    Green tip: start replacing old Christmas light strands with LED strands.

  64. Cevin

    Hi FEd,

    Haven’t had much time to write or join the chat room lately. I’ve been working long hours. I hope you’ll continue to send me invites to the lock-ins. I enjoy them a great deal. I’ll have to check your web schedule because I’m off Thursday 11/29.

    I’m sure we’re all aware of just how commercialized Christmas has become, and being in retail management I see it first-hand every day.

    Playing guitar and enjoying music is what keeps me grounded. Especially David’s music.

    There have been many great bands and artists to come out of his generation, but few if any in my opinion, are able to excite as well as touch an audience’s soul in David’s special way.

    Music is the one language we can all understand. It brings us together and exposes our true humnanity.

    Thanks to David and all of you at One Fifteen for providing us with this wonderful forum and for all the opportunities it offers us to share our thoughts and feelings with people from around the world.

    Happy Holidays to All,
    Cevin

    [Bless you for that. - Features Editor]

  66. KenF

    FEd,

    Can I pass on my sincere, best wishes to Susan for her forthcoming operation this coming Thursday.

    I trust she will make a swift and full recovery, via the love and respect generated via the Irregulars community here at DG.com

    Love and peace, Susan.

  70. TomiSue

    *Caption*

    You put your right foot in. You put your right foot out. You put your right foot in, and you shake it all about. You do the hokey pokey and you turn yourself around…that’s what it’s all about. Yee Haw. Now everybody…..

  71. George Gipe

    I’ll go with…(drum roll please)

    28!

    Whew…that was a tough decision.

    Good luck to everyone!

  75. Adrian

    10.5

    it’s a decimal # so you know, just makes sense.

    Can’t wait for it in super cold canada (Calgary Alberta if you need to know exactly were)

    Hi Fed

    [Hello. - Features Editor]

  76. tracy

    That is one of my favorite pictures. Thanks Polly for all your hard work. You take such good pictures.

    That is awesome about the live cd, cant wait for that!!

    Hope everything is going good with you fed, getting that christmas shopping out of the way?

    My number is 48.

    [I most certainly have been getting it out of the way, Tracy. I've done brilliantly this year, if I may say so; I'm more or less done, apart from the wrapping of presents and the writing of cards. Next week: wrestling with the tree and getting tangled up in lights. Can't wait. - Features Editor]

  77. MEDDLE

    Hello FED, Happy Wednesday!

    And the number I’m picking is 16. The G string rings a bell for some unknown reason.

  80. Pepe

    It was great news for me when you announced the GHS strings will be released…

    My number is 12… because I love the sound of THAT string :P

  84. Shannon

    48

    I definitely could use some new strings for my Strat. It’s due to have its strings changed, and what better to put on to it than the signature David Gilmour boomers!!!

  85. frank par

    I’ll take Sweet 16.

    Caption:

    While playing, David turns around and says “They’re giving away free GHS Strings? 16, 16, 16!”

  97. Herbert / Germany

    Good morning!

    A string-lottery? Good idea!

    28

    Maybe there’s a bigger chance to win a set of strings than to get Germany’s lotto-jackpot of €30 million tonight

    Herbert

  99. Julie Davies

    Hi,

    String Guage- 16.

    Nothing like a good “g” string bend on a Strat!

    Best regards.

    Julie