Which string gauge do you prefer?

Werner-Carstens · 2009-02-03T11:24:50+00:00

Hi all, in every interview with respected guitar players I always look for the section where they discuss string gauges. It seems to me that heavier gauges are preferred by blues and most rock players (heavy metal obviously due to the downtuning). With heavy I mean 11 gauge and up for the E string. I was wondering which string gauges you prefer on your various instruments and why? I use the following: On all my electrics = 10 to 46 Accoustic = 11 to 48 I have tried 09 to 42's but the feel too thin to me, allthough they bend easier. I have become used to the 10's and find 11's too difficult to bend. Will that make me a light player?

andrewjbryson

Ernie Ball SuperSlinky's (Pink Packet)

PS..

has anyone tried the Coated Ernie ball range?

Does it really help in terms of durability?, they are a bit more pricey

andrewjbryson

Packet reads -> Ernie Ball Coated Strings "Titanium re-enforced Technology"

AlanRatcliffe

andrewjbryson wrote Packet reads -> Ernie Ball Coated Strings "Titanium re-enforced Technology"

Haven't tried them yet, but will do ASAP.

Riaan-Combrink

Ecstatic to report I finally changed the strings on my gig guitar. I'm now a believer. It was like playing a new guitar! Put on Elixer Nano 10s, and everything sounded better, brighter, punchier, etc. So I won't wait nine months again - promise. :-[

AlanRatcliffe

So I won't wait nine months again - promise.

Durn right you won't

JoEllis

I am using 11-50 on all my electrics at the moment. I started on 9's waaaayyyy back and then moved on to 10's, but the moment I strung my guitars up with 11's it just seemed to make them sing in a way they never did before. It was a bit of an adjustment playing-wise, but the tone more than makes up for the effort. I really like GHS Boomers (which I import in bulk if I can), but I'll take Ernie Ball Power Slinky if I have to (although they're only 11-48 I think).

Heath

wow , 9 months , i don't even think i get past 6 weeks before i put new strings on my guitars ..

Squonk

Riaan C wrote So I won't wait nine months again - promise. :-[

You just wont believe what my wife has been hatching in nine months ? due anyday.
Jokes aside Do these Elixirs really last longer, and how does it effect the tone with that Nano stuff?

AlanRatcliffe

Yes they last much longer - about three times as long, but even longer if you don't play the guitar much. Tonally, they are like day old strings - some of the brash "new string" tone dulled, but they stay stay sounding exactly like that until you have to change them.

josh

Fender Standard Tension ST250L, Nickel Plated Steel, Gauges: 009, .011, .016, .024, .032, .042
:?

aubs1

My favourites have always been super light gauge, 9-42s, but recently switched to 10's on my PRS CU24, I found that when just playing chords, rhytthm, it may be sounding a bit more full...(I find this a tad difficult to explain). However for picking, (lead), I'll stick with 9's, i just like the "soft" feel.

As for tone ...... that is such an individual choice/preference ..... If you asked 10 people to individually comment on any single piece of art (music, painting, sculpture etc.), you would get 10 different interpretations ...... but yes, I suppose your string preference does determine the sound/tone you like/prefer.

Geez, this sounds complicated...ha ha ha.

Dirk

On accoustic (for home use), I stick to extra light. but on electric, 11s or 12s for me are the most comfortable with the biggest tone.

Squonk

bLuEs wrote On accoustic (for home use), I stick to extra light. but on electric, 11s or 12s for me are the most comfortable with the biggest tone.

I tried the extra lights but felt that the top E string just offered nothing, I was scared it would break any second. ???

@ Blues can you still bend the 11s and 12s quite easily, I have never tried anything other than 10s before, but am quite comfortable with them.
To get that Bonamassa or Gary Moore sound would the heavier guage be better? ?

Dirk

The 11s still bends very easy, but the 12s gets a bit harder to bend, specially towards the end of a gig.

Give it a try, but maybe move up to 11s first and then later 12s. It just gives your tone that extra b@lls. However, it does depend on what type of music you play, If you're a shredder, 9s and 10s will probably make you play much faster than the heavier strings.

cain

Ive played on a tons of different strings. Currently 9" elixers on the ibanez, 10" on the fender which i will be changing to 11"s at the next set up. On floating tremelo's there are sometimes issues with the gauge string you use, my old ibanez couldn't go more than 9" in standard tuning and 10" in dropped C.

Banditman

I've got 11s on the Les Paul & 10s on the Strat. Just seem to work for me. I find that 9s just feel too light, and similar with 10s on the LP's scale length.

TomCat

Quick Question

On a Ibby AFS75T (Shallow Holly body, Floating bridge with Bigsby) we currently have 9's. The tuning is a little unstable.

Would changing to 10's improve the tuning stability as there would be slightly more pressure on the bridge. The guitar originally had 10's on it...

AlanRatcliffe

You need at least .010s IMO. Shorter scale length = lower tension, so you usually go up a gauge from what you would use on a Strat. Also, archtops are partly acoustic and need the extra mechanical energy of heavier strings get the top to "talk". They were originally designed around a standard gauge of .012s or .013s with a wound third. Modern designs usually are designed around a gauge or so lighter, but that still means an .011 or .012

TomCat

Alan Ratcliffe wrote You need at least .010s IMO. Shorter scale length = lower tension, so you usually go up a gauge from what you would use on a Strat. Also, archtops are partly acoustic and need the extra mechanical energy of heavier strings get the top to "talk". They were originally designed around a standard gauge of .012s or .013s with a wound third. Modern designs usually are designed around a gauge or so lighter, but that still means an .011 or .012

Thanks Alan. Makes perfect sense. I agree with what you say about the top "talking".
I noticed that the guitar seemed to sound much thinner with the lighter strings. The guitar also sounded a lot more "Twangier" (only way I can describe it ???)

We only went lighter as Mariann was starting to play and the lighter strings would be kinder to her fingers. We need to replace the strings now so I will try the 10"s. (I can hear the protests from Mariann already ? ?)

Banditman

This probably needs Alan's answer but apart from heavier gauge strings for TomCat's Ibanez would it not help to have a decent luthier find the sweet spot for intonation & fix the floating bridge? I know that Gretsch did that when they issued the Billy-Bo Jupiter Thunderbird. Billy Gibbons' original (as given to him by Bo Diddley) had a typical period Gretch floating bridge. For ease of use they made the production model a fixed bridge.

Alan - would that be feasible for TomCat, both physically in terms of construction (it being a hollowbody) as well as cost? Or would the cost outweigh the benefits on the AFS75?

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