Scott_LP Posted February 17, 2014 Share Posted February 17, 2014 (edited) I've been playing around with string gauges recently and have settled on 11's on my Strats and LP. However, feeling brave I restrung the Tele with 12's and what a difference! The Tele sparkle is still ever present yet it's like it's just grown a pair, however after about 30 mins my fingers were beginning to get sore. Still, this happened when I moved up to 11's so I suppose I'll get used to it. Maybe a Strat next? Hmm, we'll see! Has anyone else played around with string gauges? I'd be interested in your thoughts. Edited February 17, 2014 by Scott_LP Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dlloyd Posted February 17, 2014 Share Posted February 17, 2014 [quote name='Scott_LP' timestamp='1392629225' post='2370683'] I've been playing around with string gauges recently and have settled on 11's on my Strats and LP. However, feeling brave I restrung the Tele with 12's and what a difference! The Tele sparkle is still ever present yet it's like it's just grown a pair, however after about 30 mins my fingers were beginning to get sore. Still, this happened when I moved up to 11's so I suppose I'll get used to it. Maybe a Strat next? Hmm, we'll see! Has anyone else played around with string gauges? I'd be interested in your thoughts. [/quote] I'm seriously thinking about getting another jazz guitar... I used 13s on my last one. No string bending, mind! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davedave Posted February 18, 2014 Share Posted February 18, 2014 Yes! I love heavy strings on my guitars. I've just come back to 12s from 13s (I no longer need to be a semitone down). I know it's a subjective thing, but for me guitars sound better with heavy strings. A lot better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigBassBob Posted February 18, 2014 Share Posted February 18, 2014 The lowest gauge I can go on guitar is 11s. Anything lighter just sounds and feels wrong to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssentialTension Posted February 18, 2014 Share Posted February 18, 2014 My son uses 13-56 flatwounds on his Epiphone Casino for a very solid tone but his style does not involve major bends. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
operative451 Posted February 18, 2014 Share Posted February 18, 2014 I use ernie ball skinny top heavy bottom 10-52 on my jazz box. Gives it loads of oomph but i can still bend on the high strings... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kiwi Posted February 18, 2014 Share Posted February 18, 2014 I use the same Ernie Balls too - 009 on top though. I like the lighter top but the lows are good for chunky stumming. Recently I replaced the strings on my Yammie MSG which were 11's and while sparkly, they were too heavy on the top for practicing any solos. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ancient Mariner Posted February 18, 2014 Share Posted February 18, 2014 When I started playing light strings were a bit of a craze - I even found a set of Rotosound 6's. Now that really WAS floppy! Back in the day I used 8s most of the time, and with those on I could solo all day and all night. About 25 years ago I realised that for clean work 8's didn't sound so good after the first few hours, so moved across to 9s, then 10s which is where I've remained. I have experimented with heavier gauges, but bigger strings sound dull and muddy to me - probably down to a combination of equipment and playing preferences. For overdrive tones I think I actually prefer something slightly lighter, and 9.5 hits the spot best. FWIW I also use 10s on acoustic, and again, although I've gone heavier, the restriction on agility and dull tone overcomes the slight gain in volume. To my ears, a part of the Stevie Ray sound is the result of him fighting his heavyweight string gauges. He is one of the very few guitar-greats I can think of who used heavy strings beneficially (Link Wray is another, but his technique didn't involve much bending). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jono Bolton Posted February 20, 2014 Share Posted February 20, 2014 I've got a set of Ernie Ball Beefy Slinkys on my SG at the minute, but I think I'll go back to the Skinny Top Heavy Bottoms, the 11s on the top are too heavy for me. How often do forumites change their strings? I've had mine on since Christmas Day and they sound a bit dead. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaytonaRik Posted February 21, 2014 Share Posted February 21, 2014 I run Ernie Ball Hybrid Slinky's across all of my guitars - 9-46 but that's for rock with a fair bit of lead and bending. I've been known to kill a set of strings in a week...depends on the circumstances. A couple of hot gigs under lights with lots of sweat and bends can destroy a set without any real bother! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ancient Mariner Posted February 21, 2014 Share Posted February 21, 2014 [quote name='Jono Bolton' timestamp='1392937782' post='2374595'] How often do forumites change their strings? I've had mine on since Christmas Day and they sound a bit dead. [/quote] There's a lot of 'depends' in there, but I buy DR tite fit and they seem to last 6-12 months (often longer if not used much & cleaned after playing). For comparison I used to go through a set of rotosound or Fender rock'n'rolls about every 2-4 weeks (when they became impossible to tune) and D'Addarios about every 4-8 weeks. I play less than I did, but those older strings would go dead even if left barely played. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freddy Le Cragg Posted February 21, 2014 Share Posted February 21, 2014 I use heavier strings on me electric than on me acoustic. I think they were 13s... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JapanAxe Posted February 21, 2014 Share Posted February 21, 2014 Depends on the geetar: Strat and PRS - 9-46 Tele, LP, CS336 - 10-46 Gretsch - 10-52 These are all compromises between tone and playability. I would go lower on the Gretsch but the floating bridge would fall off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kiwi Posted February 22, 2014 Share Posted February 22, 2014 9's feel best to me. Lots of control but with the heavier bottom 3 from a set of 10's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leftybassman392 Posted March 2, 2014 Share Posted March 2, 2014 9's for a Fender scale length; 10's for a Gibson scale length; 11's for Jazz (half-round IIRC for a slightly thicker tone). EB Slinky as appropriate. I have the feeling that I was latterly using Thomastics on the Jazz guitar but couldn't swear to it. In the days when I was a busy working guitarist I was changing the strings (and oiling/cleaning the fretboard) every 2-3 weeks. Not so much now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H_Bass Posted March 3, 2014 Share Posted March 3, 2014 (edited) I use D'Addario EXL110+ on 24.75in and 25in scales, Fender Bullet 10s on 25.5in scale - gives a similar feel across the different types. My jazz guitar gets Thomastik Infeld flatwound 12s. Edited March 3, 2014 by H_Bass Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leftybassman392 Posted March 3, 2014 Share Posted March 3, 2014 [quote name='H_Bass' timestamp='1393868295' post='2385278'] My jazz guitar gets Thomastik Infeld flatwound 12s. [/quote] That's them! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt P Posted March 4, 2014 Share Posted March 4, 2014 i fit 10's on anything with a fender scale length and 12's on gibson scale length, rolled on the semi-acoustic my acoustics all have 12's but i use Newtone Heritage strings which are balanced and low tension, all the tone of 12's with a feel that's somewhere between 10's and 11's, highly recommended for anyone who struggles with standard 12's, as a bonus they seem to last longer than d'addario and don't cost that much more, quite a few of my friends have gone over to them as well after trying one of my guitars. matt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott_LP Posted March 5, 2014 Author Share Posted March 5, 2014 After a few weeks of perseverance, I just can't get along with the 12's so will be reverting back to 11's and stick with them. Glad I tried yet just not for me. Interested in folks thoughs so thanks for sharing your experiences! ! :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joeyfivebags Posted March 5, 2014 Share Posted March 5, 2014 I play 12-54 d'addario on electric and 13-56 martin on acoustic, standard tuning's on both as first i could only play for about 15 minutes at a time with the 13s but my fingers eventually got used to it. I know that Rick Parfitt uses 14-56 with a wound G but he does absolutely hammer the strings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott_LP Posted March 5, 2014 Author Share Posted March 5, 2014 [quote name='Jono Bolton' timestamp='1392937782' post='2374595'] How often do forumites change their strings? I've had mine on since Christmas Day and they sound a bit dead. [/quote] Usually about once a month for me and I always give them a good clean after a gig or long practice, along with a good rub of FastFret. As you say, any longer than that and they start to lose their sparkle. And I start breaking them! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skankdelvar Posted March 8, 2014 Share Posted March 8, 2014 [quote name='Jono Bolton' timestamp='1392937782' post='2374595'] .How often do forumites change their strings? I've had mine on since Christmas Day and they sound a bit dead. [/quote] For me, it depends on how much use they're getting. An hour or two every other day and I'd change my Elixirs about once a year. I've had a set of those lads on a bass for seven years now and they still work fine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angel Posted March 23, 2014 Share Posted March 23, 2014 9's on everything for me. I want to make a guitar sing, not wrestle with it. When do I change strings? mostly I swap one out when it breaks, and leave the others. I don't dislike old strings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MacDaddy Posted May 4, 2014 Share Posted May 4, 2014 i use 11's, i play lead with plenty of bending. The only reason i'm not using 12's is because i can only find packs with wound G strings. What do you guys using 12 & 13's use? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greggo Posted May 8, 2014 Share Posted May 8, 2014 I've always used 9s for standard tuning, when downtuning I've upped the gauge but it feels more or less the same. I did standard tuning with 11s but didn't like the feel at all, even dropping action didn't help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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