Hittin' Ezine Interview w/René Martinez - "Breakin Strings"

[@surfer1211]

Stevie is a monster! So willing to stick with such heavy gauge strings at the cost of raw finger tips; all for the tone! He's incredible. Rene Martinez is an awesome guy also. He's always worked with premier guitarists; now tech'n for John Mayer. But seriously, SRV was something else to want such heavy strings. I read that it forced him to play much simpler using less bends. All that time w/the dread lock thick strings is what gave him the finesse to own 13s, which are still no easy playing hah!

[@KevyNova]

People don’t seem to realize that all electric guitars in the 1950s and early ‘60s came stock with 12 or 13 gauge strings, with a WOUND G! That was standard back then. They didn’t even make 9 gauge E strings until guys like Jimmy Page were buying banjo strings for the High E and then using the standard E as their B, the B for a G, etc... and throwing away the Low E. Stevie wasn’t doing anything new, he was playing “old school” strings like his heroes used.

[@RobertLandrum13]

I don't think anyone claimed Stevie was doing something new. He was however playing a different style on those thick ass strings that they weren't playing on in the 50s.

[@jamesprice6381]

Rene, put my first WARMOTH GUITAR together at EUGENES GUITAR Oak Cliff Tx in 1986! Sure wish i still had it it...... got stolen at my apt, played too loud! lol

[@lacewoodstrat]

Great vid. SuperGlue was originally not intended as a glue. It was developed by the Eastman labs and was tried for different things, including a spray form used by Army medics in Viet Nam for battle field wound closures. I find the "gel" version works the best. Use just a little and wash your hands before applying. Allow a few minutes for it to dry before playing.

[@shable1436]

How about just going to 11s 😂 and yes i know they will tear your skin up to, i play very aggressive as well, i have to use graphite coated saddles and nuts so my strings don't snap every solo

[@guysherf7693]

I heard that at one point SRV would start tours with 11's and work his way up to 14's by the end of the tour.

[@Nitsua_Atayha]

At one point in his career he was playing .17 gauge strings

[@icedragonlm]

Austin Beaty I just don't believe that lol..17's..that's just mad

[@Nitsua_Atayha]

Y Tho yea rene said so i saw it in a video once

[@Zocrates8]

@@Nitsua_Atayha the video pleaaaase

[@onelanebridge_]

Haha Stevie playing those early boomers

[@rollastoney]

Stevie asks for my skin.... take it bru, from wherever you want!

[@alohamark3025]

Stevie suffered for you and me.

[@Nitsua_Atayha]

I use 12 gauge strings on my strat and i play alot of srv so thats y my fingers hurt and get raw so much thx rene for the super glue trick

[@stevehogan8829]

So it no wonder my wimpy ass isn't wailing on guitar..

[@estoy1001]

I play heavies for the depth of sound, but I'm also a hobbyist, so it's not like I play nightly or anything. Fingernails are the worst part, especially when they split right down the middle.

[@onpsxmember]

if you play a lot with your nails, invest the money to go to a nail studio. The gel gets very hard and will last quite a while. Was a suggestion by a friend that plays a lot of flamenco style.

[@shawtyx33]

@@onpsxmember you can buy any uv lamp and a gel clear top coat a lot cheaper and do it yourself, I have a whole nail studio in my room.

[@onpsxmember]

@@shawtyx33 Any brand you'd recommend?

[@shawtyx33]

@@onpsxmember bio seaweed gel it’s expensive I believe $18.00 for a base and top cost set. But any topcoat will do honestly

[@onpsxmember]

@@shawtyx33 Thank you. I'll give some gel top coat a try and I'll keep that seaweed gel one in mind.

[@nickfanzo]

save your fingers folks.