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Joe Bonamassa Forum → Joe's Guitars, Amps and Gear → The case against heavy strings
9's on a les paul are just scary, flop around like a beached fish to me! Not too bad on a longer scale guitar, still didn't really care for them on my strat either though. Tried it and went straight back to 10's, just what I'm used to now I guess!
No Fair switching guitars! You can only do this test on 1 guitar, doesn't matter if its a Strat, Tele, Les Paul or what ever. If you go down in size the string tention is less. If you increase length of neck your right the string travel is more narrow, but thats a different test. Lets say you put these strings on a weight guage and pull on them until you either reach the note you want or you pull on it until it breaks. What will the difference be?
stefanhauk wrote:AD3THREE wrote:It makes perfect sense to me. It takes less tention to tune to pitch on lighter strings. The tighter the string the less vibration. The bigger the string the tighter you have to tune it to reach the same note as the lighter string. It physics 101.
Ah but the more tension on the string the longer it will take for the entire amount of energy to leave the string. It's same principle as to why a les Paul sustains longer than a strat, the sheer mass of the les Paul does not resonate and expel the energy as a fast as a light resonate strat causing the notes to ring longer. Having more tension on them they vibrate in a narrower field, meaning you can also run your action lower with thicker strings.
I did say it is the same principle, I didn't say it was directly connected to the topic.
If you take a drum head for instance... You tune it too low it won't ring, you tune it too high it will choke out and not ring. Where guitar string gauge sits is right in the middle of this, so you're 1. Going to find no lack of sustain from either string and 2. You're never going to reach a stage where the strings flop around or reach a stage where the strings choke out due to their own tension! But the lower in gauge you move you will find that you'll have no power, nor sustain. The thinner your string the higher your action will be, more excited vibration = slightly less sustain.
A simple test for anyone playing 11's, compare B's.
Your Hi E string is 0.011 inch thick. In a set of 9's, the E is 0.009 but the B string is 0.011.
With your guitar setup with 11's, tune down your hi E to B, unison. Pluck each string and listen to the difference.Same trick goes for those who play 10's and want to compare to 8's.
Just did your test with a stop watch on my strat with 10's, the 10 tuned down to B rang for 6.2 seconds and the original 12 tuned to B rang for 8.4 seconds!!
Ok now set the intonation to match that strings new tuning. I'm not saying the guys right I'm just saying I think it makes sense. BTW I'm not physics major.
And what it all boils down to is what feels right in your hands. I do not like .009's on anything with a 9º radius of curvature. 7.25º .009's feel pretty good.
Ok now set the intonation to match that strings new tuning. I'm not saying the guys right I'm just saying I think it makes sense. BTW I'm not physics major.
And what it all boils down to is what feels right in your hands. I do not like .009's on anything with a 9º radius of curvature. 7.25º .009's feel pretty good.
Okay just checked the intonation (which wouldn't affect the open note anyway and my results were still the same!!
I prefer 11's from a feel point of view, I can't play with power when I use 9's, with 11's I play a bit more like I mean it!
The guy says it is basic physics but doesn't his hypothesis. He's full of **##. He doesn't even mention kinetic energy and is obviously afraid to properly 'play' his guitar with decent gauge strings.
You need to factor in the magnetic field effect of the pickups when talking about string diameter and vibration/sustain…
Everything else aside, I'm not a fan of 11's..Don't like the feel. 10's are alright but thats it for me on a LP. All others get 9's.
I highly doubt an audience is going to be able to discern the difference my difference in string gauge let alone what amp I'm using and if they even pay that close attention. AD3 is right, its whatever you prefer. These days, its not too hard to make skinny strings sound fat. -S
It's a messy site - but read it all - see what you think.
http://zacharyguitars.com/Strings.htm
I got a set. They are dirt cheap. Personally, I have no idea what he is on about with any of his products. I think he is insane. His playing on youtube is dreadful.
Just give me SuperSlinkys and I'm okay.
I'm sticking with GHS Boomers on my Fenders .010-.046 and .011-.052 for Shorter scale necks like I always have. .009's for when I'm out of practice. I don't give a darn about the math its more of a feel thing for me. I tend to over bend with .009's and who wants that?
Really interesting responses thanks all.
At a quick count from what people have posted that's approximately:
3 playing 9s
6 playing 10s
5 playing 11s
(Where people post Strat and Les Paul I took the Les Paul gauge being used).
Thinking back over 15 years of playing I have tried all manner of brands of picks and all thicknesses but to date .... only 3 brands of strings!
Nearly always gone to Ernie Ball Slinkys as a default choice but did use Fender Bullets when I had a Strat.
Currently enjoying the Brite Wires but perhaps in a spirit of experimentation the next pack should be Rotosound or GHS or D’Addario or Dean Markley. However, that could get costly as its better to buy in bulk at the moment.
Prices here in the UK are steep over the counter £6-10 (US$11-15)depending on the brands. Ernie Balls are currently about £7-7.50 here in Manchester.
What does a pack of strings over the counter in the US cost?
I personally use Rotosound reds 11-48's. Always do. Maybe I should check others but I'm happy with them. About £3.50 a set (includes a spare 11 which is good).
Ernie Balls and GHS at local stores cost around $6 here in North Carolina, but I found out last week Best Buy sells both brands for $3.97 pretty cool, but I don't get to talk shop to the sales cleark.
I used to use Ernie Ball because Eric Clapton used them. I played others such as Fender, and Gibson strings. Always like Ernie Ball better. 3 years ago I bought a bulk pack and they must have a defect with that lot, because one of my strings would come unravaled every time on the same string and the string would let go of the ball. Ernie Ball really didn't pay me any attention when I emailed them about it. So I tried GHS Boomers. Boomers are Brighter sounding then Ernie Ball, and they feel like they are a bit more stiff when you try to bend. But the big seller for me was I've used them for 3 years and have yet to have any of them come unravaled at the ball.
I also really liked DR strings but they were not that cheap. I loved the pure blues string set with the round core. The round core really makes the string have more mass then the hex cores. Simply put a .042 has the same mass as a .043 to a .044. I belive it when you read into how they do it. In America they cost around $10.
Yeah, I've used he Rotosounds before and liked them very much. A touch on the bright side, but sounded and felt really good. And the GHS Boomers are nice too but bright. Then again, I seem to always have a darker tone even with the bass knob low, so the brightness seems to help me a bit. Must be the way I play..I don't know.
I use 10s on my electrics, and 11's on my acoustics
I've never used 11's on a LesPaul but used to on my strats. Would like to at least try 11's on one of the LPs one day just to see.
It's a messy site - but read it all - see what you think.
http://zacharyguitars.com/Strings.htm
I got a set. They are dirt cheap. Personally, I have no idea what he is on about with any of his products. I think he is insane. His playing on youtube is dreadful.
Just give me SuperSlinkys and I'm okay.
Did you get these ZOG strings in yet?
The progressive tension idea is interesting. would be cool to see if there's a difference in feel or sustain there. Looks like you have to order 5 sets of strings at $5 per set, and pay $5 shipping so $30 total for 5 sets isn't bad.
Plus I have a fret-less wonder LP custom and JB recommended I try 9.5+ strings on it, and it looks like he offers those so who knows I might get a couple different sets.
but if these are crap or indifferent, let me know before I order some 
DaveWammbarro wrote:It's a messy site - but read it all - see what you think.
http://zacharyguitars.com/Strings.htm
I got a set. They are dirt cheap. Personally, I have no idea what he is on about with any of his products. I think he is insane. His playing on youtube is dreadful.
Just give me SuperSlinkys and I'm okay.Did you get these ZOG strings in yet?
The progressive tension idea is interesting. would be cool to see if there's a difference in feel or sustain there. Looks like you have to order 5 sets of strings at $5 per set, and pay $5 shipping so $30 total for 5 sets isn't bad.Plus I have a fret-less wonder LP custom and JB recommended I try 9.5+ strings on it, and it looks like he offers those so who knows I might get a couple different sets.
but if these are crap or indifferent, let me know before I order some
I would say it is something you absolutely have to try yourself. It comes down to personally preference. They seem to be good quality...haven't broken on my two guitars yet. Sound acoustically louder on my Les Paul..for some reason. Personally, I didn't notice much difference on the 'feel' and the bends when put against Ernie Balls, but they are more alive than say..the Elixir electric sets. I think they are worth the money alone as strings even if you don't notice the immediate change.
I find his sales technique interesting. The entire website tells you how stupid you are if you don't use "optimized" strings. I am feeling pretty dumb right now, but just not feeling like I should get my credit card out. 
Joe Bonamassa Forum → Joe's Guitars, Amps and Gear → The case against heavy strings
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