FenderStratocaster

GHS Nickel Rockers in SRV's signature 13-58 gauge on the Fender Stratocaster is the Texas blues legacy that Stevie Ray Vaughan refused to compromise on. As SRV told Guitar Player magazine in a 1990 interview: "If I put smaller strings on there so they don't hurt, I can't get the same sound. Then my tendency is to play harder, and I just tear things off… But when I get on stage, I really need the big strings." His longtime tech René Martinez confirmed the exact custom gauge SRV ran on Number One: .013 / .015 / .019 plain / .028 / .038 / .058 — distinctively lighter on top and heavier on bottom than typical 13-58 sets. SRV tuned down a half-step specifically to manage these strings. Conventional wisdom: every Strat thread defaults to 9-46 or 10-46 nickel rounds for bend comfort. Mismatch logic: 13s give massive fundamental authority and pick-attack resistance — the SRV blues tone where physical pressure becomes voice. You cannot play them gently. Best for blues purists chasing the SRV Number One tone who can build the fingertip toughness; skip if you bend constantly, value finger health, or play long sets without tuning down a half-step.