One reason SRV was able to stretch those strings was because he played in Eb in addition to using heavies. Also, he used bass wire for the frets for sustain. Still have the memory of hearing him for the first time in Yosemite Park, late at night after a gig over an AM radio...awesome experience. Was with a group of musicians, all of whom have gone on to careers of some note and I'll never forget the room being silenced 1 by 1 as 'Rude Mood' played over the radio. None of us had ever heard of him to that point and as he just kept going and going and going...still one of my alltime best musical memories. A couple of the guys are now 1st call session guys in LA and Nashville and another went on to write several films. Another has a song in the Smithsonian Institute and one of the 'girls' is a major label session singer in Nash. To watch the entire room of major talent silenced by SRV was truly amazing. Remember one of the girls saying, "Who the f**k was THAT?!" Nobody knew and someone called the radio station and it was like..."Stevie who WHO?" He sold at least 10 LPs that following Monday, I'll guarantee you.