Strings for my strat

StefStoep

I've had a couple different gauge strings on different guitars over the years and I kinda settle on .10's.
I bought my strat about 6 years ago and was super happy with the combo of the git and the .10's.
About a year ago a got a Gibson SG and immediately put new strings on, again .10's.
Like with all new things you tend to use them more so the Strat was set aside for a while.
I recently got the Strat out of it's case, put some new .10's on it and was kinda disappointed.
I'm not as happy with the combo as before, I feel like trying .11's!

Is that to heavy?
Does any one else use .11's on a Strat?

costafonix

Shouldn't be a problem, you may need a slight neck adjustment...
Stevie Ray Vaughan used 13's on his axe... ?

StephenG

i'd say leave it and you'll get used to it again.

i got the exact same strongs on all my electrics - 10's - but when I or whomever picks up the Classic 50's after having played any of the others, it immediately feels like 9's on there... so i reckon it must be because of the different neck profiles.. that creates the feelings of a different gauge string, even though its all the same.

after a few minutes its back to feeling like 10's again.

slyd

Strings will always feel lighter on a Gibson . . . .
quote "Being shorter than the Fender 25-1/2" scale, the Gibson 24-3/4" scale has a lower tension/easier to play feel, and a warmer tone" ( http://www.stewmac.com/freeinfo/Fretting/a-scalelength.html )
. . . So it's wierd you want move up in guage on the strat ???

But each to his own, and , . . . just try it . . . maybe you like it ?

I use the hybrid .009 to .046 on my strat, which allows me extreme bends on the higher notes, and still keeping the chunkier bass tones.

If it feels good, . . . do it ?

VellaJ

StefStoep wrote:
I recently got the Strat out of it's case, put some new .10's on it and was kinda disappointed.
I'm not as happy with the combo as before, I feel like trying .11's!

Just to clarify, are you disappointed with the sound or the feel?

Heavier strings won't necessarily be a problem, a slight tweaking of the truss rod perhaps... They'll give you better tone, but will be harder to bend, etc...

StefStoep

The action on my git is very good, maybe a bit low for some player. The git's setup is faultless.
I don't know why I'm not all that happy with the strings, it's just weird. Maybe I should give it some time on play more on it.
And if it still bothers me try the .12's.

PS. I love my little MIM strat!!!

Highway-Chile

I use .011's on almost all my electrics ........ mostly because I use heavy picks.....1.2mm thru 3.5mm and I alternate pick extremely hard. So while I think I prefer the feel of .010's, they flap around too much for me when I am digging in.

Getting used to the heavier strings and increased tension makes it easier going from my solid bodies, with .011's, to my archtop and acoustic's with .012-.053's.

AlanRatcliffe

I use .011s on my electric guitars (Strat scale lengths). Anything else feels too soft and floppy. But you can get used to anything...

slyd wrote: . . . So it's wierd you want move up in guage on the strat ???

It's quite common actually - .010s on a LP and .011s on a Strat accentuates the difference between the two.