Rory Gallagher’s Fender Rock’n’ Roll 150 Electric Guitar Strings

On most of this guitars, Rory used the standard set of Fender Rock’n’ Rolls (.010, .013, .015, .026, .032, .038). In Fender Catalogs From 1953 to 1979 (specifically from 1968), you’ll find the information that Fender branded this specific set (150) as “Spanish Guitar light gauge Rock ‘N’ Roll”.

On the guitars that were set-up for slide he used a custom mixture of Fender Rock’n’ Rolls (.013, .015, .018, .026, .032, .038). [International Musician and Recording World, April 1977]. Rory also stated that he wasn’t completely satisfied with the standardized set, and would sometime change the bottom two or the top ones even on the guitars that weren’t used for slide.

Well, I use a mixture of Fender Rock’n’ Rolls. The first is a .013. the second is a .015, and I used to buy wound .020 strings for the 3rd, but I found it was best to stick to unwounds for tuning and so I use an .018 for a 3rd. Then the 4th is a standard 4th, as is the 5th and 6th. I’d put heavier on if I was tuning down, but I generally tune the Tele to A or E and use a capo. Whereas, if I was playing in D, like Ry Cooder does a lot, I use acoustic. D is a bit low on electric sometimes. I could always get another guitar and have it tuned down, whereupon you would need heavier strings.

International Musician and Recording World, April 1977

Occasionally I change bottom strings to beef them up, on a Gibson scale guitar I’ll probably go slightly lighter on top, slightly heavier on bottom.

Rory Gallagher, Words by Max Kay, Photos by Barry Plummer

In case you’re looking the buy the same set – at this moment, Fender sells 10-38 sets branded as Jimi Hendrix Voodoo Signature strings.